Bishop Belo not enthusiastic on statue inauguration

JAKARTA (JP): East Timor's Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo gave a cool response yesterday to news that the Jesus Christ statue will be inaugurated by the government.

He said the government's mega project of a 25-ton statue called Kristus Raja (Christ the King) is full of political overtones.

The project, which is 75 percent complete, is estimated to have cost up to Rp 40 billion (about US$17 million) so far. It is scheduled to be inaugurated by President Soeharto later this year.

He told The Jakarta Post yesterday that he would only be present to bless the statue but would refuse to come it is officiation by the President.

"I will only send a priest to represent East Timor's Catholic community if the government does inaugurate the statue," he said.

A former colony of Portugal, East Timor integrated into Indonesia on July 17, 1976. The United Nations, however, has not recognized the integration.

Last year, East Timor's Governor Abilio Jose Osorio said that the statue would cost about Rp 40 billion.

Last March, the provincial administration raised more funds by taking deductions from Christian civil servants' salaries for a year.

Civil servants of the lowest level, whose average monthly wage is about Rp 60,000 (US$25) had their salaries cut by Rp 500, while those in the highest category, with salaries of about Rp 400,000, had their wages cut by Rp 5,000.

Last week, Abilio asked regents to pay their "debts" to complete the project, which he calls "the source of pride for local people, especially Christians".

Abilio expected regents to pay their debts soon, so that the statue could be "completed during my tenure".

Bishop Belo claimed the statue was proposed by the governor without consulting the local Catholic community.

The statue is being erected on a 27-meter tower built on Fatucama Bay. It depicts Christ stretching out his arms in a gesture symbolizing his followers to follow him.

The project, which began in 1994, was expected to be completed in time to mark East Timor's 20th anniversary of integration into Indonesia on July 7 this year. The project remains uncompleted.

Legislator Manuel Viegas Carrascalao also expressed disagreement over the amount of money spent for the government's political purposes when the majority of East Timorese are living in poverty.

Manuel added that many locals, especially the younger generation, questioned the government's sincerity in building the statue here.

They also urged the government to include local people when they make decisions concerning the province's development projects. (yac/14)