Religious sensitivities in East Timor

Religious sensitivities in East Timor

East Timor is a province of Indonesia with a very distinct
sociocultural background. Just by looking at its roots we can
understand why acts of violence and the way they are handled are
so different compared to our other provinces. Even the falling of
a leaf, in a manner of speaking, is heard by the international
community and attracts attention. This is what is at present
happening in East Timor, irrespective of whether the trouble was
caused by religious sentiments, envy among the local people
towards newcomers, frustration among high school graduates who
fail to get jobs in the civil service, systematic efforts by
insurgents, or possibly some political game the nature of which
we do not yet know.

By pure chance this time religious factors played a
predominant role in fueling the violence. Because of this we
highly appreciate the stance taken by Bishop Filipe Ximenes
Bello, who -- to quote the chief of the Udayana military command,
Maj. Gen. Adang Ruchiatna -- apologized to the East Timor
community. Because of the actions of a few unruly Catholics,
according to Bello, Protestants and Moslems suffered
considerably.

It is to be hoped that the religious factor in this latest
incident in East Timor was purely coincidental. As it was, this
particular factor played such a big role that the violence went
well beyond its logical boundaries. In such a situation the role
which religious leaders like Bishop Bello play could be of the
greatest help in persuading adherents to heed the true teachings
of their religion.

-- Republika, Jakarta