Belo stands as voice for peace, justice

Voice of the Voiceless

Editors: Frans Sihol Siagian and Peter Tukan

Penerbit Obor, Jakarta, 1997

279 pages

Demi Keadilan dan Perdamaian (For Peace and Justice)

By Peter Tukan and Domingos de Sousa

Committee of Peace and Justice Dili, Dili, 1997

474 pages

JAKARTA (JP): "You are on the ground. You know the problems and the history. You are the man to be mediator," former UN secretary-general Boutros-Boutros Ghali told Bishop Belo.

Belo shares something in common with Dr. Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi as the voice of the voiceless. Although from disparate backgrounds, they all fought for justice, peace, an end to violence and their people's human rights.

In his acceptance speech at the 1996 Nobel Prize ceremony, Belo found himself not alone. He was accompanied by the memory and spirit of Gandhi with his "creed of nonviolence in the movement for change". He was also thinking of Dr. King, who had a dream of "standing on the mountaintop, looking out at the promised land".

Peace and justice are the most fundamental aspects of life, Belo believes, as they would "orderly place anyone in his or her position. They can manage the relationship between every member of society and create as well as harmonize public activities with a guarantee of freedom for each individual".

The absence of this would lead to chaos and destruction. However, the promotion of peace and justice is still far from ideal. In many cases, especially in East Timor, Belo sees that "we have been blinded by ambition and power. We have lost the idea of affection and solidarity. We have created parties and considered our brothers as enemies. We have killed each other."

The books are, basically, Bishop Belo's thoughts concerning the never-ending search and call for the promotion of peace and justice in East Timor. Voice of the Viceless is a series of his interviews in several publications, while Demi Keadilan dan Perdamaian is a collection of his sermons and speeches. Both books emphasize Belo's principals of life: the necessity of peace and justice in life.

In Voice of the Voiceless, Belo believes that he is essentially the voice of the voiceless people of East Timor, who are always with him in spirit. He realizes that as a religious leader, he has a moral responsibility to fight and struggle for the poor and the weak, who lack the ability to defend themselves against terror and intimidation.

This belief is based on the task of a Catholic Bishop as the pastor for God's people. The spiritual mission is incumbent upon him basically as a dispenser of spiritual resources for people's salvation and consolidating their faith in God (pp. 239 to 243).

In almost all of the interviews and speeches in the books, Belo is obviously emphasizing the urgency of restoring peace and justice. After witnessing what has happened in East Timor, Belo believes that the nonviolent approach in settling differences must take place.

"It's tragic that people have to suffer and die, and that television cameras deliver the pictures to people's homes everyday before the world admits there is a problem." (p. 248). He appeals for the realization of peace and justice, that we must truly recognize our own faults and move to change ourselves in the interests of making peace.

In solving East Timor's problems, it is more useful to use intellect and reasoning rather than emotions and weapons. Mutual respect is the basis of compromise, as Belo calls for people to understand each other. "Stop the bloodshed. Stop oppression. Stop the violence. Stop the conflict. Let us sit around the table and understand each other because we cannot tolerate extending for a long time the suffering of the East Timor people."

Universal Humanism

Promoting peace and justice, as well as avoiding violence, is further discussed in Demi Keadilan dan Perdamaian. The book contains three major parts: the introduction, with forewords by several distinguished figures, including Y.B Mangunwijaya, Frans Seda, Domingos Sequera, FX Prajasuta, Abilio Jose Osorio Soares and J. Ariwibowo; Belo's brief biography; and a collection of thoughts through his speeches.

The collection of speeches is the most important part because Belo shares his views on universal humanism, family values, maintaining an identity, ethnic issues, religion and culture, the role of religion and the church and solidarity among religions. The distinction of these views will likely promote peace and justice.

The most important element to obtaining peace and justice is through what Belo believes as the values of universal humanism. The values of universal humanism include: first, the sociability as well as ability to love anyone sincerely. An individual can never be complete without others. Loneliness, both physically and spiritually, will always create an incomplete person. People are created to interact with others because they will not obtain perfection by being along.

Second, the ability to communicate. Communicating involves loyalty, humility, patience, respect and openness.

Third, sociability is rooted in attitudes of openness with accepting others from every culture and belief. The ability to cooperate will enable us to abandon egoism as well as to help relations with others.

Fourth, the sincerity and loyalty to exist the way we are.

And last, the ability to improve justice with a sense of respect toward ourselves and others. To respect the rights and personality of others, especially the weak and the poor. (pp. 69 to 71).

Peace and justice are values needed by every individual. The term "peace and justice", like "freedom and love" is without boundaries. They are the very dynamics of a relationship with oneself as well as others. "Therefore, peace and justice in this modern age have greater meaning. They include the aspects of life which generate individual, social, political, economic and international freedoms" (p. 212).

These books are very important to anyone who wishes to promote peace and justice. Belo provides a realistic view on how to solve the continuing problems in East Timor. He proves to be the mediator to solve the problem because, as Boutros-Boutros Ghali puts it, he is on the ground, he knows the problems and the history. He is the man to be mediator. It is our hope that what Belo has proposed as an effective dialog for better results can be fully implemented.

Again, Bishop Belo is not Dr. Martin Luther King or Mahatma Gandhi. However, together with these two distinguished figures, his presence, as well as these books, will prove that the power of the voiceless through peace is always stronger and more effective than the power of weapons for justice in the world.

-- Nanda Hasibuan

The reviewer is a researcher in the Department of Politics, Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta.