'Bishop Belo has freedom to express his views'

JAKARTA (JP): The government will not tell East Timor's Roman Catholic bishop, Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, what to say when he receives his share of this year's Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Dec. 10, a senior cabinet minister said here yesterday.

Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman said, however, that although Belo is free to express his ideas, he should not discredit the Indonesian government.

"Neither has the government any special messages for Belo to convey during his speech in Oslo," Soesilo said.

Belo, who shares this year's Nobel Peace Prize with East Timor separatist leader Jose Ramos Horta, is determined go to Oslo to fetch the prestigious award.

The 48-year-old bishop has asked Catholic priest Y.B. Mangunwijaya to go with him. Also planning to attend the ceremony is Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization Abdurrahman Wahid.

Soesilo said the government hopes Belo will not rekindle the controversy he started by allegedly accusing the Indonesian government of abusing East Timorese in a recent interview with a German magazine.

"That is our stand," Soesilo said.

Bishop Belo's plan to fetch the Nobel award has been shadowed by the controversy he triggered when Der Spiegel magazine quoted him saying the Armed Forces treated East Timorese like scabby dogs and slaves.

The article angered the military and provoked protests in Jakarta. The reaction prompted massive counter protests in Dili supporting the bishop and denouncing the treatment he received during his visit to Jakarta to attend the meeting of the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) last month.

Belo denied making the statements and accused the German magazine of manipulating his April interview to make it sound anti-Indonesian government.

He said he had no intention of discrediting the Indonesian government or Armed Forces. He also claimed he had not known the expression "scabby dogs" in English, and only found out after it was quoted and published in the mass media.

The government said it "could understand" Belo's critical remarks but advised him to be careful next time he made statements.

Belo's explanation has not ended the controversy.

Armed Forces Chief for Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid suggested yesterday that Belo sue the German magazine for twisting his comments.

Asked whether it was necessary for Belo to take legal action against the German magazine, Syarwan said the decision would mainly rest with the bishop.

"We will support him if he exercises his right to sue Der Spiegel," Syarwan said.

He said the problem was not between Belo and the Armed Forces, but between the bishop and the magazine.

Syarwan denied reports that the Belo-ABRI relationship has deteriorated since the publication of the article.

"The Armed Forces maintains contact until now. We the Armed Forces need input from a public figure like him," he said. (imn/02)