Government says it understands Belo's remarks

JAKARTA (JP): The government "can understand" Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo's critical remarks about the Armed Forces but advises him to be careful in making statements next time.

The government's message was conveyed by Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman yesterday after a monthly meeting with officials under his coordination.

Soesilo, however, questioned the tardiness of the East Timorese bishop's public explanation of his comments in the German Der Spiegel magazine.

"Prompt explanation could have prevented people from emotionally responding to his remarks," he said.

The article angered the military and provoked protests in Jakarta. The reaction prompted massive counter protests in Dili supporting the bishop and denouncing the treatment he received during his visit to Jakarta to attend the meeting of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference (KWI) in the middle of this month.

On Monday, Belo accused the German magazine of manipulating his April interview to make it sound anti-Indonesian government and denied some of the comments attributed to him by the magazine's Oct. 14 edition.

He said he had no intention of discrediting the Indonesian government or Armed Forces, claiming he had not known the expression "scabby dogs" in English and only found out after it was quoted and published in the mass media.

He said he did not mean to attack the Armed Forces by using the word "soldiers" in the interview, as "it is meant to describe the individuals (within the Armed Forces) who do not put into practice Sapta Marga (the Armed Forces oath) and (state ideology) Pancasila."

Journalist Juergen Kremb has insisted he stands by the comments attributed to Belo.

But Belo's explanation has apparently not ended the controversy. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Hartono suggested the bishop sue the magazine to prove his denial was true.

"We are glad of Belo's explanation. Yet, to prove his loyalty to this country, he should sue Der Spiegel," Hartono said, reported Antara here yesterday.

Hartono also wants Belo to prove his allegations that the military has twice tried to kill him.

Human rights activist Clementino Dos Reis Amaral, maintaining that Belo's statement contained truths about human rights conditions in East Timor, praised Belo for apologizing to those offended by his remarks.

"Belo's testimony and apology is the noble action of a religious leader," he said.

Meanwhile, police in Dili said yesterday they have arrested two people on charges of insulting President Soeharto in an anti- government protest Monday.

East Timor Police chief Col. Jusuf Mucharam said the authorities would track down the people who masterminded the demonstration in support of Bishop Belo.

Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares criticized the protest, saying the demonstrators had misused the church for political activities.

Separately, Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said yesterday the government has no objection to a plan of a well known Moslem cleric and a Catholic leader to accompany Belo to Oslo to receive his Nobel peace prize on Dec. 10.

Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem Organization Abdurrahman Wahid and KWI's chairman Julius Darmaatmadja will accompany the bishop. (imn/08/33)