Outspoken Belo sees progress in E. Timor

DILI, East Timor (JP): Outspoken church leader Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo said yesterday he saw great strides in the progress of Indonesia's youngest province since its integration into Indonesia, but criticized the way family planning programs have been introduced here.

Belo, an outspoken critic of the government's policy in this former Portuguese colony, told a gathering of senior military and police officers that the government has successfully pulled the local people out of poverty, backwardness and ignorance."

This is his first speech before a gathering of officers since the integration 18 years ago. The gathering, held at East Timor military headquarters, was hosted by its commander, Maj. L. Simbolon.

Belo said today there are more and more better educated East Timorese and the people on the whole are enjoying better economic conditions.

"The people in this province, who used to suffer many different types of diseases in the past, are now in good health," he said in his four-page speech entitled To Improve the Welfare and Justice of Mankind from The Roman Catholic Point of View."

"However," he said, "there are still many things in the ethnic, religious and cultural domains which need improvement."

Belo criticized the way the government-sponsored family planning program has been introduced into the province.

He said for East Timorese, 90 percent of whom are Roman Catholics, a "family planning program with the natural method" is more acceptable. He did not elaborate.

The bishop also said the government "should guarantee the people's freedom of expression, association and access to information on various events in the province."

Meanwhile, Governor Abilio Osorio Soares in his speech at the meeting said the province is certainly an integral part of Indonesia.

"It is as sure as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west," he said.

Abilio added that East Timor would be better if all people here unite. (yac/tis)