Rights violations persist in E. Timor

DILI: Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo said yesterday he had not seen any improvement of human rights in the youngest province despite continuing criticism.

The 1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate told reporters he had just completed a tour of the territory and found the young complaining about rampant human rights violations.

"The situation has not changed,' he said.

The bishop pointed out that the government, the Armed Forces, community leaders and the public have yet to really apply themselves to improve respect for basic rights in the former Portuguese colony.

He called on the youths not to be antagonized by what they consider to be human rights violations. (33)