'East Timor still misunderstood'

DILI, East Timor: East Timor is still widely misunderstood by the government of Indonesia and this lies at the root of some of the recent upheavals and other problems in the province, a member of the House of Representatives said yesterday.

The government still does not understand "the true heart of the East Timorese people," Salvador Jaunario Ximenes Soares said during a visit to his home province and constituency.

Salvador proposed the establishment of a team comprised of military and government officials, scholars and local leaders to formulate policies for East Timor which are more appropriate than the ones currently in place.

He also criticized as "emotional" the tone in which government and military officials and religious leaders spoke of the recent unrest in East Timor. (05)