Timorese attend mass together in Austria

Timorese attend mass together in Austria

JAKARTA (JP): East Timorese leaders of opposing factions
yesterday put their differences aside and for the first time in
nearly two-decades stood side by side for Sunday mass before the
second-day of talks in the Austrian town of Stadtschlaining.

Speaking in Portuguese, Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo
spoke in his sermon of the wisdom of peace, friendship,
brotherhood and unity of the congregation.

The mass was held in the church of Burg Schlaining castle in
the small town of Stadtschlaining, 100 kilometers southeast of
Vienna.

Clementino Dos Reis Amaral, a member of Indonesia's National
Commission on Human Rights, said Belo's sermon was very fitting,
since it embodied the spirit of the dialog currently taking place
in Austria.

Thirty delegates are taking part in the reconciliation dialog
which began last Saturday. The dialog brings together pro- and
anti-integrationists, both from Indonesia and abroad.

Belo and Amaral are among the 16 East Timorese from the
Indonesian delegation, led by politician Lopez da Cruz. Fourteen
East Timorese from abroad are taking part, representing various
separatist movements. Fretilin leader Ramos Horta is
participating in the meeting.

The non-political dialog is a follow-up of last January's
meeting between Indonesian and Portuguese foreign ministers to
help create a conducive atmosphere for the ministers to find an
internationally acceptable solution to East Timor.

The former Portuguese colony became Indonesia's 27th province
in 1976. However, the UN still regards Lisbon as the
administrative power.

East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, who is part of
the Indonesian delegation, also commented on yesterday's mass and
Belo's message.

"There was an impression that it was a call for us to forget
each other's mistakes," he said.

According to Abilio, the usually critical Horta so far seems
to be more moderate. "Ramos Horta even wants to be the moderator
so he won't have to talk too much," governor Soares said as
reported by Antara.

The first two-days of the dialog are still focused on
determining the agenda and are not expected to tackle any
substantive issues until today.

Indonesian legislator Salvador Ximenes Soares supported
Abilio's statement on the seemingly moderate line being taken by
the anti-integration side and added that they were no longer
pushing the discussion of political issues in this informal
dialog.

Amaral also said that despite the occasional spat, the first
day of the dialog was held in a friendly atmosphere with everyone
showing a desire to do what was best for East Timor.

Horta himself was quoted by Reuters as saying that the dialog
broke new ground. Nevertheless he contended that East Timor was a
non-self-governing territory and called for a referendum.

As reported, Horta also delivered a message from jailed
Fretilin leader Xanana Gusmao asking the delegates not to forget
"the thousands of people who have died in the last 20 years."

Separately, Bishop Belo expressed great hope for
reconciliation as a result of the dialog. "I am optimistic. Why
shouldn't we ask for peace and reconciliation," said East Timor's
influential bishop. (mds)