Belo warns of global human rights violations

JAKARTA (JP): Dili Bishop and Nobel peace laureate Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo warned yesterday that the world faced the common threat of human rights abuses.

Belo said in a speech after the launch of his book that although fascism faded long ago, human rights were still violated because governments abused their power.

"Those governments that treat their people not as individuals who deserve respect, but as people who live from the governments' charity," Belo said.

Belo launched his latest book titled Demi Keadilan dan Perdamaian (For Peace and Justice) in a packed hall at Atmajaya Catholic University yesterday.

A book review discussion featuring political analysts Frans Seda and Muhammad A.S. Hikam and cultural observer Mangunwijaya preceded the launching.

The book compiles Belo's letters to Dili's church community over his 12 years of service.

It was Belo's second book launch after his first book, "The Voice of Voiceless", was launched here in April.

Belo did not explicitly touch on the question of East Timor, but reiterated his siding with the people who suffer from human rights abuses.

In a prelude to his speech he said that he won the Nobel peace price on behalf of East Timorese who lived under oppression and those who struggled for justice.

Belo said injustice was caused by tensions stemming from rivalry between East and West, unequal economic distribution between North and South and human rights abuses.

The three speakers agreed the government should pay more attention to human rights issues if it wanted to make Indonesia's integration of East Timor a success.

"The government should not feel upset by foreigners' allegations that human rights violations persist in the former Portuguese colony," Seda said.

Indonesia integrated East Timor in 1976 when it became the country's 27th province.

But allegations of human rights abuses have put Indonesia in the hot seat.

Human rights issues in East Timor have been blamed for the United States' recently foiled plan to sell F-16 jet fighters to Indonesia.

"We must contemplate the allegations. What Belo is struggling for in East Timor is not strange to Indonesian culture because it already embraces human rights principles," he said.

Seda said although Indonesia's integration of East Timor's was completed, the province's political, socioeconomic and cultural systems were not yet the same as the rest of Indonesia's.

Political analyst Hikam from the state-run National Institute of Sciences agreed.

He said the East Timorese, and people across the globe, wanted a guarantee that human rights would be protected.

Literary figure Mangunwijaya, who is also an architect and a priest, did not deliver a speech but read a short story.

When asked about his stance on East Timor integration, he said "integration should be based on moral guidance. If it fails to comply with that, I must oppose it."

Belo will lead a holy mass with Jakarta Bishop Julius Darmaatmadja at the Jakarta Cathedral today. (amd)