Cool heads must prevail in East Timor: Bishop Belo
By Lourenco Vicente Martins
DILI, East Timor (JP): With tension in East Timor escalating following the government's announcement that it is now prepared to let the territory go its own way, many people are turning to Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo for comfort and guidance.
In the following interview the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize winner talks about the Indonesian government's new policy on East Timor and the impact it is having on the territory's people and future.
He also comments on the military's policy of arming civilian militias (Wanra, Garda Paksi and others) to defend themselves against attacks from Falantil, the armed resistance group.
Question: What is your reaction to the two options proposed by the Indonesian government?
Bishop Belo: These options are not exceptional. They are not heaven sent. East Timorese must look at these offers calmly, with a cool head.
Take the first option, let's all sit down and talk. Supporters of integration must show a big heart, and invite those supporters of a referendum and independence to sit together with them and find the best solution for East Timor. There should be no mutual suspicions. If they cannot agree on the first option, they have to remain calm. The world will not end with the second option.
Q: What are the costs and benefits of these two options?
B: Whatever they are, we have to face them.
Q: What about the situation in Los Palos and Baucau?
B: It's calm. I gave a public address there on Saturday. I used it to explain the two government options. When I explained that the government would give wide ranging autonomy, and I said let's accept it, they kept quiet. No applause. And then I said that if the autonomy option was rejected, the government would let East Timor go, and they all shouted: "viva".
Q: What about the East Timor representatives who traveled to Jakarta this week?
B: I hope they speak with the interests of the East Timorese people in mind. If they speak only for their own groups, I disapprove.
Q: What if they only push for the autonomy plan?
B: They have to explore every possible option.
Q: What about the threats made by Falantil and Wanra?
B: I disapprove of violent threats, whether from Falantil, Wanra, or Garda Paksi. Making threats is inhuman, uncivilized, and uncharacteristic of peace-loving East Timorese. I hope they don't carry out their threats. You cannot solve the East Timor question with weapons or violence. You have to negotiate. Both camps, the pro-autonomy and pro-referendum, if they are sincere about putting the interests of the East Timorese people first, must resort to negotiations.
Q: What about reports that the Armed Forces has been arming East Timorese?
B: That's confusing. They have the police, the 744th and 745th battalions and other military units. What do they need Wanra for? I pity my brothers who join Wanra. They get sent to the jungles. What are the professional soldiers doing? What are they getting paid for? We don't need Wanra, or Garda Paksi, or any other militia. They said they needed these militias because of Falantil. But Falantil exists because of ABRI's presence. I think these two forces are balanced. The others must be disbanded.
Q: After 23 years of development under Indonesia, why do people still want independence?
B: That's just it. These people want to be loved and respected, they want to lead their own lives. These are little things. You have to win their hearts and minds. I have not seen any effort on this front. Instead, they (the government) are arming East Timorese to fight East Timorese. That won't win you their hearts.
Q: Many people here now want to leave East Timor after the government's announcement...
B: They are probably not happy here. If they feel their lives are threatened, they should leave. We need true nationalists.
Q: They are probably restless...
B: Why are they restless? We have lived in restlessness. But I tell you that in the 15 years I have lived here, I've never heard of a Fretilin band raiding a village and causing up to 6,000 people to flee. Yet, as soon as Wanra was established, we heard 6,000 people evacuated Suai in Covalima regency last week.
Q: Does the government have the political will to free East Timor?
B: I hope this political will is shown by inviting everybody, not just the pro-Indonesia faction Apodeti, to sit and talk. I mean those who support a referendum and Falantil too.
Q: What about fears of a civil war in East Timor?
B: This is something that we have to prevent. If the Indonesian government leaves East Timor in a state of civil war, then the Indonesians are worse than the Portuguese colonialists. I think it would betray the principles of the 1955 Bandung Declaration.
Q: Do you think the Indonesian government is trying to impose the autonomy option by threatening separation?
B: You cannot impose your will on others. This is what we have been telling everyone, Fretilin, supporters of a referendum and those of integration. We should sit and talk.
Q: People in 26 other provinces in Indonesia say the government is spoiling East Timor, although East Timor is not all that different from Aceh, Lampung and Irian Jaya?
B: I think they should insist on their rights. But they are quiet. Why? They are not different from the East Timorese. Their culture may be different. In Javanese culture, all the people are subjects who have to obey their king. But now, in a democracy, we don't have to live as subjects forever.
Q: What about the suggestion that the two bishops in East Timor act as mediators?
B: We have been doing that, without getting paid by the government. Yet, we are doing the work that those paid government officials are supposed to do. Many people seek sanctuary in our churches, and we have to sort out their problems. But those government officials who are paid to do this job are traveling, drinking beer, and enjoying themselves. This is not Pancasila. I think these people should be thrown out of here.
Q: What about the prospect of pro-Indonesia East Timorese fleeing the territory?
B: That's a possibility. But they are East Timorese and have the right to live here. There should be talks to build mutual understanding between all the East Timorese factions. Those who support a referendum and those who support autonomy should sit together and hammer out a common vision. We don't want the East Timorese divided. We need a win-win solution. That can be achieved through peaceful negotiations. I hope our politicians are prepared to negotiate rather than taking up arms. If they take up arms, they are not good Catholics.