What kind of politics?

In your Nov. 17, 1996 issue under the headline Thousands welcome Bishop Belo in Dili, you quote Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas as saying "that both Indonesia and the Vatican believed that Belo should stay out of politics". And further, "We can not accept him delving into political affairs. That's not the job he's supposed to do and not the job given him by the Vatican."

Let us now suppose, for a change, that Mr. Alatas had been correctly quoted. I would then comment as follows: I do not know on what reasonable grounds Belo should stay out of politics.

Is it because he is a Roman Catholic priest who is supposedly required to act in that capacity only? Well, there is politics and "politics". Which is which?

Come now, Mr. Alatas. With all due respect to your broad-mindedness and wide foreign affairs experience, you don't fairly expect anybody -- much less a free citizen whose life is being interfered with by some clownery in (power-) politics -- to keep to themselves. In the celebrated case of Bishop Belo, neither you nor any other intelligent citizen would really expect him to remain silent while he, nota bene, being legitimately entrusted with the care of his flock (people like us, of flesh and blood), has been a witness to their plight, would you?

NICO DUMAIS

Jakarta