Rights commission calls for restraint<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): The Secretary General of the National
\nCommission on Human Rights, Baharuddin Lopa, is calling for all
\nsides to maintain restraint to calm ethnic tension in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Lopa made his plea Thursday at Komoro airport as he left for
\nJakarta after a two-day investigation of the recent wave of
\nethnic violence in Dili.<\/p>\n
As Lopa left Dili, two other members of the Commission,
\nlegislators Aisyah Amini and B.N. Marbun, arrived in Dili to
\ncontinue the inquiry.<\/p>\n
In the worst ethnic and religious violence to hit Dili, angry
\nTimorese youths ran amuck a fortnight ago, targeting immigrant
\nresidents from outside East Timor.<\/p>\n
The Komoro market, where migrants dominate trade, was razed
\nand cars were smashed or overturned.<\/p>\n
Though there have been no official reports of casualties,
\nseveral people were taken to hospital.<\/p>\n
It was also reported that just prior to the riots, mobs set
\nfire to a number of mosques and Protestant churches.<\/p>\n
The former Portuguese colony was integrated into Indonesia in
\n1976. It is predominantly Roman Catholic.<\/p>\n
\"The National Commission thoroughly regrets the incidents,\"
\nLopa said.<\/p>\n
He added that the torching of the market was a clear violation
\nof human rights. \"It clearly relates to a person's right to
\nlive,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
Lopa suggested the formation of a council which would allow
\nreligious leaders to exchange views and settle issues that may
\narise.<\/p>\n
Catholic leaders, such as Manuel V. Carrascalao, Louis Gonzaga
\nand Florentino Sarmento, along with Islamic leaders Salem M.
\nSagran and M. Arsyad signed a paper on Wednesday evening to
\nformally establish the Communication Forum of Religious
\nDisciples.<\/p>\n
Leaders of the Christian, Hindu and Buddhist communities
\nexpressed their support by signing the document the next morning.<\/p>\n
Lopa said that all future working mechanisms of the Forum
\nwould have to be worked out by the leaders.<\/p>\n
\"The National Commission merely threw out the proposal and
\nthey accepted it,\" he said, adding that \"this will be a good test
\nto see if they can be united.\"<\/p>\n
However, as reported by Antara, Florentino Sarmento remarked
\nthat such a forum had already existed for sometime but was far
\nfrom successful.<\/p>\n
\"Such a forum already exists with an annual meeting being
\nheld, nevertheless it hasn't been functioning well,\" he said,
\nadding that he had yet to fully conceive how the new forum would
\nfunction.<\/p>\n
Provincial legislator Manuel Carrascalao expressed support and
\nenthusiasm for the forum but couldn't see it working.<\/p>\n
\"We still have to coordinate this internally within the
\norganization, in this case with Bishop Belo, the priests and
\nothers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman said his office
\nwill sanction an official at the Meliana penitentiary in East
\nTimor for the derogatory remark he made against Catholicism.<\/p>\n
The official, identified only as SA, reportedly made the
\nremark while briefing inmates on Sept. 2.<\/p>\n
\"It was not ethical for an admired official to make such a
\nremark, insulting a part of society,\" Oetojo said.<\/p>\n
The official's remark was considered one of the triggering
\nfactors which incited the riots. He is currently in police
\ncustody. (yac\/imn\/mds)<\/p>",
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