Returning Timorese must pledge allegiance to Pancasila

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)