East Timor issue keeps dioceses out of KWI

DILI, East Timor (JP): East Timor's Dili and Baucau dioceses will only be affiliated with the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) after the so-called East Timor issue has been completely settled, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said here yesterday.

"That the two dioceses are still directly under the Vatican is a fact of life which the Holy See said will only change following the complete settlement of the East Timor issue at the United Nations," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

East Timor, a Portuguese colony for more than 400 years, was integrated into Indonesia in 1976.

Although the UN still considers Lisbon as the administrating power in East Timor, several countries have indicated their acceptance of its integration with Indonesia.

These countries include Japan, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, some members of the European Union, India, Australia and several Arab League nations.

The Dili diocese is led by Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo and the Baucau diocese by Bishop Basilio Do Nascimento, who was appointed by Pope John Paul II last year.

Alatas said Jakarta had suggested that the Vatican place the dioceses in East Timor under the KWI.

"The answer that we received was that the dioceses will remain directly under the Vatican so long as the issue of East Timor has not been settled at the UN," he said.

Alatas described the Vatican's decision as a fact of life which, for the time being, had to be received with an open mind.

The Dili diocese supervises the parishes in Dili, Aileu, Ermera, Ainaro, Manufahi, Covalima, Bobonaro, Ambeno and Liquisa and the Baucau diocese supervises the parishes in Baucau, Manatuto, Viqueque and Lautem.

East Timor originally had only one diocese, the Dili diocese.

Before flying home to Jakarta yesterday afternoon, Alatas met Belo and Nascimento for about an hour, which he said was an opportunity to get acquainted with Nascimento.

"I also used the occasion to give input on developments in efforts to settle the East Timor issue in various international forums," he said.

He said there were three pillars of development in East Timor.

"They are the government, the Armed Forces and the church which have been able to gain common understanding about their respective roles," he said.

It was separately reported that Belo and Do Nascimento will come to Jakarta for a dialog with Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman.

No date has yet been set, according to Belo on Sunday.

The meeting was originally scheduled for March 3 but was postponed due to the inauguration of the Baucau diocese and preparations for the Holy Week.

Belo said he did not oppose to having a dialog with the minister alone. "But since East Timor now has two dioceses, it would be better if Bishop Nascimento joins us," he said.

Political observers Indira Samego and Antonio Castro da Silva hailed the planned meeting as a constructive effort to bring Jakarta and Dili closer. (33/swe)