Forum for religious leaders in East Timor inaugurated

DILI, East Timor (JP): Minister for Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher inaugurated yesterday the establishment of a forum of communication and consultancy for religious leaders in a bid to restore religious harmony following the recent riots in the predominantly Catholic province.

Members of the forum consist of representatives of the Roman Catholic Church in East Timor, the local chapters of Indonesian Community of (Protestant) Churches; the Indonesian Ulema Council; the Indonesian Hindu Council; and the Dharma Buddha Foundation.

A document for the forum's establishment was signed by Father Dominggus Sequira of the Roman Catholic Church, Reverend Maria de Fatima Gomes and Thomas Soares, both representing the local chapter of the Indonesian Community of Churches, Abdullah Sagran representing the Indonesian Ulema Council, Ngakan Gede Eka Bawa, representing the Indonesian Hindu Council and Tam Kim Yung of the local chapter of Dharma Buddha Foundation.

It was set up an in an effort to restore peace and harmony in the province following last month's ethnic riots in which many people were injured.

Minister Tarmizi Taher reminded people at the occasion that during Portuguese occupation, only 30 percent of the population adhered to the Roman Catholic faith, but since East Timor's integration into Indonesia in 1976 the figure has reached almost 90 percent of the population of 843,000.

The riots were triggered by an incident which took place inside a local prison where an official had reportedly insulted Catholic teachings.

Hundreds of migrants left the province and headed back to their hometowns following the trouble. (rms)

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