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)