Belo unable to attend meeting with Alatas

JAKARTA (JP): Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo is unable to attend a dialog he was invited to between Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and dozens of East Timorese figures slated to be held in Denpasar, Bali on Thursday, Antara has reported.

"I regret that I will not be able to accept Minister Alatas' invitation to meet in Denpasar for a dialog with other East Timorese leaders because I have to conduct religious services scheduled long ago by the Catholic community," Belo said in the East Timorese capital on Wednesday.

He expressed hope the dialog's participants would be able to represent the East Timorese people and convey their aspirations.

It was also reported on Wednesday that Baucau Bishop Basilio do Nascimento would not be able to attend the meeting either.

The two bishops have sent Jose Antonio da Costa and Rui Filomeno de Jesus Gomes to take their place.

Among the dialog's 65 confirmed participants are Domingos MD Soares, Mateus Maia, Fransisco Carvalho and Filomeno de Jesus Hornay. East Timor military chief Col. Tono Suratman and police chief Col. G.S. Timbul Silaen are also scheduled to attend.

In New York on Tuesday, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for a cessation of all military activity in East Timor and a substantial reduction of the government's military presence there.

In a statement issued through a UN spokesman, Annan said he was disturbed by rising tension in the former Portuguese territory, particularly reports of armed clashes and remarks attributed to local officials that have apparently provoked large-scale protests in recent days.

Anti-Indonesian protests escalated this week after the Jakarta-appointed governor, Abilio Soares, told civil servants they risked being fired if they opposed the government's proposals on granting autonomy, but not independence, to the territory.

The UN does not recognize Indonesia's 1976 integration of East Timor. UN-sponsored talks in August involving the Indonesian and Portuguese foreign ministers made progress toward finding an internationally acceptable resolution of the problem.

"He calls for a cessation of all military activity and for a substantial reduction of the Indonesian military presence in the territory," the spokesman added.

Following talks in New York last week between senior Indonesian and Portuguese officials, Annan indicated he would intensify his consultations with East Timorese leaders to try to ensure their active involvement in the negotiating process. (33/01)