Xanana blames protests on church<\/p>\n
Michael Casey, Associated Press\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
East Timor's president on Saturday accused the country's Roman
\nCatholic Church of instigating anti-government protests demanding
\nthe introduction of compulsory religious classes in schools.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people have taken part in peaceful rallies in the
\ncapital Dili over the past week. About 6,000 people protested on
\nSaturday, demanding that the leftist government of Prime Minister
\nMari Alkatiri resign over the issue.<\/p>\n
President Xanana Gusmao said he welcomed the protests as a
\nsign that East Timor is a democracy but he criticized
\ndemonstrators who are calling for the sacking of Alkatiri.<\/p>\n
\"We are thankful that (people) are calling attention to the
\nproblems but the change of the government must be done according
\nto the constitution,\" Gusmao said on the sidelines of the Asian-
\nAfrican summit in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"If not, then every time you don't like a prime minister you
\ncan just ask him to resign,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Gusmao blamed the church for the protests, which come a month
\nbefore the fledgling nation marks the third anniversary of its
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
\"The church is organizing this,\" he said. \"I don't believe
\nit's appropriate for the church to do this.\"<\/p>\n
\"If it is about religion, we can accept this. If it is for
\npolitical motives, we don't accept too much involvement of the
\nchurch in these demonstrations.\"<\/p>\n
East Timor is one of two predominantly Catholic nations in
\nEast Asia. About 96 percent of its 800,000 people are Roman
\nCatholics, and there are small Muslim and Protestant minorities.<\/p>\n
The country's secular government decreed in February that
\nreligion should not be a compulsory subject in government
\nschools, although it would be made available as an option for all
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
East Timor gained independence in May 2002 after a U.N.-
\nsupervised referendum in 1999 brought an end to Indonesia's
\noccupation of the former Portuguese colony.<\/p>\n
During Indonesian rule, religion classes were mandatory in all
\nschools.<\/p>\n
In addition to demanding more religion in schools,
\ndemonstrators also have pressed for justice for victims of the
\n1999 violence, when up to 2,000 people were killed by withdrawing
\nIndonesian troops and their militia proxies.<\/p>\n
Political and economic ties with Jakarta have blossomed since
\nindependence, and the two governments have agreed not to
\nprosecute those responsible for the bloodshed. Instead, they have
\nformed a joint commission aimed at bringing about reconciliation
\nbetween the two sides.<\/p>\n
Gusmao also said the country faced a long list of problems -
\npoverty, joblessness and lack of infrastructure. He said he would
\nencourage donor nations that are scheduled to meet in the capital
\nDili next week to continue providing aid to his country.<\/p>\n
\"As president, my concern is about the economic situation of
\nthe people,\" he said. \"For us to solve this, we need money. We
\ncannot have plans without money. Basically, we (want donor
\ncountries) to continue to help us.\"<\/p>",
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