Returning Timorese must pledge allegiance to Pancasila

BANDUNG, West Java (JP): Some East Timorese living in Portugal may be allowed to regain their Indonesian citizenship, on the condition that they pledge allegiance to the national ideology Pancasila, East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Osoriao Soares says.

"By all means come here. They can become Indonesian citizens but they must be ready to adopt the country's ideology," Abilio told reporters on Wednesday.

The governor was in town after witnessing a ceremony for 19 Timorese polytechnic graduates who are now employed by the national carrier Garuda Indonesia.

Abilio said the East Timor provincial government is currently processing requests by two women to regain their Indonesian citizenship, having abandoned them earlier to become Portuguese citizens.

The two are Florentino, 60, who was recently widowed, and Esperanca (30) who left East Timor eight months ago to attend the burial of her father in Portugal and then decided not to return.

Both women were among the 24 Portuguese of East Timor origin who are currently visiting Indonesia for a family reunion. They announced their intention to stay while in Dili, capital of East Timor.

The delegation is expected in Jakarta today before flying back to Portugal.

"Their requests are being considered," Abilio said. "Mrs. Florentino is old and still has children in East Timor, while Mrs. Esperanca has a husband here," he said.

"We don't have any intention of making their life miserable by separating them from their families," Abilio said. "In principle, I agree that their requests should be granted."

Abilio added however that there are criteria to fulfill before their request could be granted so that they do not set a bad precedent in the future.

East Timor has unemployment problems, so it should be selective in accepting anyone who wants to settle there with priority going to people with skills, he said.

"The government will refuse requests from people who have denounced their Indonesian citizenships but then changed their minds after finding the conditions in Portugal were not what they had expected," Abilio said.

"It would be a different case if they abandoned their citizenships because of pressure. In that case, the process of repatriation would be smoother," he said.

Thousands of East Timorese left their homes in the wake of the territory's integration with Indonesia in 1976, mainly settling in Portugal and Australia. Many of them have waged their campaign against the integration in exile but now a spirit of reconciliation prevails following talks between leaders of East Timor communities in Indonesia and overseas.

The current visit of the 24 people is part of this process.

Abilio acknowledged that reconciliation is a long process because of the civil war in East Timor. "They have yet to forget the hatred and animosity caused by the war. And this is the main barrier to progress," he said.

"The reconciliation takes second priority after integration," Abilio said, adding that it is up to the East Timor people to make the reconciliation work.

"It must use an East-Timorese approach," he said while urging the use of a similar approach for the development which is underway in the province. (pet/prs)