Ministers question etiquette of Belo's 'slave' comments<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian ministers yesterday questioned
\nwhether it was fitting for Nobel Peace Prize laureate Bishop
\nCarlos Felipe Ximenes Belo to make comments saying the government
\ntreated East Timorese people like slaves.<\/p>\n
\"Let me put it this way, I just want to question again whether
\nit's becoming for someone like Belo, who has received a Nobel
\nprize, to say things like that,\" Minister of Defense and Security
\nEdi Sudradjat replied when asked about the comment.<\/p>\n
\"Is that the reality? We can ask the East Timorese people
\nwhether they agree with Belo's remarks, let the people themselves
\njudge,\" Edi told journalists at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
In a recent interview with German magazine Der Spiegel, Belo
\nsaid Armed Forces (ABRI) soldiers in Indonesia's 27th province
\ntreated East Timorese like dogs.<\/p>\n
The article further described the disquiet on the part of the
\ngovernment over the recent awarding of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize
\nto Belo and the self-exiled East Timor separatist leader Jose
\nRamos Horta. Jakarta questioned the criteria for Horta's
\nselection but some officials have welcomed the award for Belo.<\/p>\n
East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares had openly
\ncongratulated Belo.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono, when asked for
\ncomments, went on to question Belo's Nobel award.<\/p>\n
\"That's why from the beginning I've always questioned the
\ncriteria used by the Nobel Committee for Ramos Horta and Belo,\"
\nMoerdiono said.<\/p>\n
Apart from claiming various military abuses toward the East
\nTimorese people, Belo further said that no less than nine
\nattempts had been made on his life.<\/p>\n
Edi Sudradjat merely smiled when asked about these
\nassassination charges. \"Oh, really?\" he said.<\/p>\n
The tiny province of East Timor was integrated into Indonesia
\nin 1976. However, some countries refuse to recognize it as does
\nthe United Nations. They still regard the former colonial power
\nPortugal as the territory's administrative authority.<\/p>\n
Belo could not be reached for comments yesterday. (mds\/03)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ministers-question-etiquette-of-belos-slave-comments-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }