Dili bishop invites national human rights commission

Dili bishop invites national human rights commission

DILI, East Timor (JP): Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, the
head of the local Roman Catholic Church, is appealing to the
National Commission on Human Rights to come to the area where
tension has emerged in the past two weeks.

Belo said the Jakarta-based commission should come to East
Timor to view the situation, especially given that one of its
members hails from the area.

He was referring to Clementino Dos Reis Amaral, one of the
most vocal members of the 25-person commission.

Belo also defended himself against his critics in Jakarta who
have accused him of fanning religious sentiments among East
Timorese by suggesting that recent conflicts have had some
religious connotations.

Calm has been restored in Dili after the massive demonstration
on July 13 at the government-run East Timor university. The
protest turned into a disturbance when police tried to break it
up on July 13.

The authorities said the few people who were injured were
discharged the following day and a number of demonstrators who
were detained were all released the next day. The military
justified the police action to disperse the protest saying that
demonstrators were getting out of control.

Earlier reports suggested that the protest was held because
four non-East Timorese were found to have harassed two local nuns
who were taking entrance tests at the university. The military
said later investigations discovered that the four men were
victims of malicious slander.

The local military chief has also made a public apology to the
church in response to a protest regarding an incident on June 28
in which two soldiers interrupted a holy communion at a church.

Wisdom

Meanwhile, Antonio Freitas Parada, the speaker of the East
Timor legislative council, has appealed to all concerned parties
to refrain from making statements that could escalate the tension
in the province.

"I appeal to everyone to deal with the situation with a cool
head and to exercise wisdom," Antonio told The Jakarta Post.

He said that trading accusations will only prolong the tension
and could "boomerang" because it is East Timor and its people who
will suffer most.

Addressing his appeal to the government, the military, the
church and local public figures, he said they should work
together to safeguard the peace in East Timor.

"I fear that certain third parties might try to take advantage
of the situation for their own benefit," he said.

Antonio urged the government and law enforcement agencies to
punish those who originally caused the troubles in accordance
with the law.

He appealed to everyone concerned to resolve their remaining
differences and to join forces to build a better future for East
Timor. (yac/emb)