Belo calls on migrants to return to E. Timor

JAKARTA (JP): Bishop of Dili Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo called Saturday on the thousands of people who fled East Timor over the past week to return because the territory is safe.

On his arrival in Dili from Jakarta, Belo said that jailed rebel leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao, whom he met in prison last week, also wanted to see the migrants go back to and participate in developing East Timor.

"Besides, Xanana also asked that East Timor University be reactivated so that the learning-teaching process can resume," the 1996 Nobel peace laureate said on his arrival in the province, as quoted by Antara.

Belo said that he and Xanana also agreed that pro- and antireferendum activists in East Timor should stop staging demonstrations to avoid clashes and to restore peace.

"I think Xanana and I are not the only people who cherish such a hope. The people of East Timor and the whole world also want to see it reign here," he said.

An estimated 50,000 migrants have left over the past week, claiming they were intimidated by pro-independence indigenous East Timorese. Some reported being harassed and having their houses stoned.

The panicky exodus of people from other provinces, who dominate commercial activities in East Timor, has reportedly badly affected business in the territory.

They fled in panic on hearing rumors that widespread violence would take place on Friday when prointegration people celebrated the 22nd anniversary of East Timor's integration into Indonesia.

The celebration, which took place under heavy security, passed without incident.

Belo went to Jakarta last week on the invitation of opposition figures Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati Soekarnoputri. Together they called for a national coalition to end the economic crisis.

Armindo Soares Mariano, the leader of the East Timor provincial legislative council, criticized migrants who fled east Timor over a "small problem".

He said that East Timorese welcomed people from other provinces who sincerely want to help develop the poor province and not just make money.

"Many of them (migrants) have been doing good business for many years here. How is it possible that the indigenous people would reject them?" he said.

"But if their motive is simply to do business and make money, people who have fled should not come back."

He said people who fled the territory because of the threats "must have a poor sense of nationalism". (pan)