Golkar urges restraint in East Timor uproar

Golkar urges restraint in East Timor uproar

JAKARTA (JP): The ruling Golkar has joined the chorus of calls for restraint over the alleged anti-Indonesia remarks by East Timor Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo in a German magazine.

Golkar chairman Harmoko yesterday called on the public not to take hasty action in relation to the alleged remarks, and to give Belo time to think and clarify matters. His call was seconded by human rights activists Marzuki Darusman, Clementino Dos Reis Amaral and Asmara Nababan.

"We should wait for Belo's explanation about the statement in the Der Spiegel magazine. Only after that can we know whether he was right or wrong," Harmoko said in Semarang yesterday.

He said he expected Belo would soon clarify matters to the government and the House of Representatives. "If it was true that he defamed Indonesia, then he must be held accountable," he said.

The Oct. 14 edition of the magazine quoted the Nobel Peace Prize laureate as saying that Indonesian troops treated East Timorese people like "scabby dogs and slaves." This report sparked wide controversy, making the headlines of many Jakarta- based newspapers for days.

Marzuki, deputy chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights, said yesterday the commission has decided to wait for Belo's explanation before taking further action.

"The bishop said he would explain things on Nov. 24. We should all respect his decision," Marzuki said, adding that the public had been unfair in launching excessive and groundless accusations toward Belo.

Asmara Nababan, another commission member, said the uproar over the statements did not help solve the problems that actually exist in East Timor.

"It only adds fuel to the fire," Asmara said. He said that the people who acted so defensively over Belo's statement might be those who were ignorant of matters in East Timor.

Hendardi, executive director of the newly-established Association of Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Protection (PBHI), said Indonesia would improve its international image if it gave Belo the opportunity to clarify matters.

"Engineering anti-Belo demonstrations will, on the contrary, damage Indonesia's image," he said, pointing out that the United Nations has yet to recognize East Timor's 1976 integration into Indonesia.

Belo, a native East Timorese, has not denied the comments and has promised to explain in the East Timor capital of Dili on Nov. 24.

Meanwhile, support for Belo continued to grow, especially in Dili. Some 3,000 high school and university students, government and private employees, marched along the streets of Dili.

The six-hour march started at the East Timor University and ended at the center of city.

"Long live Belo! Viva Belo!" the supporters yelled. (imn/har/06)