NGOs concerned about Timor riots<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Eleven non-governmental organizations expressed
\ntheir joint concern yesterday with last month's episodes of
\nreligious and ethnic violence in the troubled East Timor.<\/p>\n
They are demanding that legal action be taken against the
\nrioters for vandalizing properties and harassing migrants.<\/p>\n
The NGOs are Bina Desa, the Communion of Churches in
\nIndonesia, the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy, the
\nInstitute for Economic and Social Research, The Indonesian
\nEnvironmental Forum, The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, the
\nSocial Development and Research Institute of the Indonesian
\nBishops Conference, the Association of Islamic Boarding Schools
\nand Social Development, the International NGO Forum on Indonesian
\nDevelopment, the Indonesian Front for the Defense of Human
\nRights, and the NGO Network for Forest Conservation in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Violent acts committed by the group of East Timorese on other
\ngroups of different ethnic and religious beliefs are criminal in
\nnature and represent violations of human rights,\" the statement
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Their statement came only days after the chief of the
\nIndonesian Moslem Intellectuals Association, B.J. Habibie, said
\nhe was \"astonished\" that local NGOs had little to say about the
\nincidents in the predominantly Roman Catholic territory.<\/p>\n
According to Habibie, who is also the State Minister of
\nResearch and Technology, NGOs were prompt in reacting when
\nchurches were attacked by Moslems in a flare-up of religious
\nviolence in Java several years ago.<\/p>\n
The NGOs called on the government yesterday to investigate the
\nDili incidents and punish those involved.<\/p>\n
They also urged the government to give the public wider access
\nto information on the problems appearing in East Timor and
\nelsewhere.<\/p>\n
Several marketplaces, mosques and Protestant churches were
\nburned down, migrant houses attacked, vehicles set ablaze and
\nmore than a dozen people were arrested in the spate of incidents
\nthat occurred between Sept. 2 and 14.<\/p>\n
The rioting was triggered by a Moslem prison official's
\nstatement that local Catholics found offensive.<\/p>\n
Forum<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Catholic, Protestant and Moslem leaders met in Dili
\non Wednesday to discuss preparations for the establishment of a
\nreligious communication forum. The forum is expected to help
\nreligious harmony in East Timor.<\/p>\n
The meeting, led by East Timor's deputy governor, J. Haribowo,
\nagreed to establish the communication forum in the near future.<\/p>\n
\"Each religious leader (in the meeting) agreed that such a
\nforum is needed and should be established in the near future,\"
\nHaribowo was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
The meeting, closed to the press, was attended by, among
\nothers, chairman of the East Timor office of the Indonesian
\nUlemas Council Abdullah Sagran, Catholic preacher Mgr. Jose
\nAntonio da Costa, and a local NGO activist Florentino Sarmento.
\n(imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ngos-concerned-about-timor-riots-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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