Bishop Belo pressured to sue 'Der Spiegel'
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)