Belo unable to attend meeting with Alatas
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)