Bishop Belo pressured to sue 'Der Spiegel'

BANDUNG (JP): The East Timorese bishop's denial and apology has failed to please government officials offended by his remarks published in a German magazine.

Information Minister Harmoko and Home Affairs Minister Yogie S.M. advised yesterday Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo to sue Der Spiegel to prove he didn't lie when accusing the magazine of twisting his comments.

They made it clear that the controversy surrounding remarks made by this year's co-winner of the Nobel peace prize is not yet over.

"Bishop Belo has the right to sue Der Spiegel if he is sure the misquotation of his comments has cost him his good name," said Harmoko, who heads the ruling Golkar.

Although denying he meant to discredit the government or the Armed Forces, Belo said Monday he would personally bear the moral responsibility for the substance of the interview.

Government and military officials were angered by a statement in the magazine attributed to Belo which said the armed forces treated East Timorese like "scabby dogs" and "slaves".

The bishop categorically denied the remarks and apologized to those offended by the substance of his interview with Der Spiegel.

However, the 48 year-old respected Roman Catholic leader said he would continue voicing the grievances of the powerless "simple people" of East Timor.

Harmoko said he was ready to help Belo file the law suit if the religious leader should encounter any technical problems.

Separately, Yogie strongly rejected suggestions that Belo's explanation has ended the controversy.

"If Belo believes his remarks were manipulated, he should sue Der Spiegel, this legal action would be good to restore his reputation," he said.

Earlier, Army Chief Gen. R. Hartono, who described Belo's remarks as unpatriotic and hurtful to the nation's pride, had made a similar demand of Belo.

Meanwhile, in the East Timor capital of Dili, the Nov. 25 anti-government demonstration held in support of Bishop Belo remained the talk of the town yesterday.

The local chapter of the Indonesian Youth Committee, which is affiliated with Golkar, pressed its demand for security authorities to take harsh action against the demonstrators.

Spokesman for the organization Agustinho dos Santos Goncalves said the protesters could not claim they represented East Timorese youth.

The demonstrations took place at the Dili diocese premises where Bishop Belo gave a press briefing about his scabby dog remarks to local and foreign journalists.

East Timor police chief Jusuf Mucharum said the authorities have arrested three of the demonstrators on suspicion of insulting President Soeharto. (pan/21/33)