Call for prayers for East Timor

Call for prayers for East Timor

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) called
on Friday for the community of faith at large to pray for peace
in the riot-torn East Timor.

The KWI's statement, signed by chairman Josef Suwatan and
secretary-general J. Hadiwikarta, also invited people to attend
on Sunday a national requiem mass.

"There is a systematic massacre and forced removal of people
currently going on in East Timor. Hundreds of East Timorese were
shot and killed, including at least four priests and four nuns.

"Thousands are being forced to leave the country in a sweeping
effort to thin out the population of East Timor," the statement
said.

The statement also said that places which became symbols of
humanity and religiosity -- such as the International Red Cross,
monasteries and even houses of bishops -- had also been attacked.

"KWI has, for several times, voiced demands to halt violence
in the country and tried to create peace, but brutalities still
continuously occurred in the country," it stated. (ind)