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)