Xanana blames protests on church

Xanana blames protests on church

Michael Casey, Associated Press/Jakarta

East Timor's president on Saturday accused the country's Roman Catholic Church of instigating anti-government protests demanding the introduction of compulsory religious classes in schools.

Thousands of people have taken part in peaceful rallies in the capital Dili over the past week. About 6,000 people protested on Saturday, demanding that the leftist government of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri resign over the issue.

President Xanana Gusmao said he welcomed the protests as a sign that East Timor is a democracy but he criticized demonstrators who are calling for the sacking of Alkatiri.

"We are thankful that (people) are calling attention to the problems but the change of the government must be done according to the constitution," Gusmao said on the sidelines of the Asian- African summit in Jakarta.

"If not, then every time you don't like a prime minister you can just ask him to resign," he said.

Gusmao blamed the church for the protests, which come a month before the fledgling nation marks the third anniversary of its independence.

"The church is organizing this," he said. "I don't believe it's appropriate for the church to do this."

"If it is about religion, we can accept this. If it is for political motives, we don't accept too much involvement of the church in these demonstrations."

East Timor is one of two predominantly Catholic nations in East Asia. About 96 percent of its 800,000 people are Roman Catholics, and there are small Muslim and Protestant minorities.

The country's secular government decreed in February that religion should not be a compulsory subject in government schools, although it would be made available as an option for all students.

East Timor gained independence in May 2002 after a U.N.- supervised referendum in 1999 brought an end to Indonesia's occupation of the former Portuguese colony.

During Indonesian rule, religion classes were mandatory in all schools.

In addition to demanding more religion in schools, demonstrators also have pressed for justice for victims of the 1999 violence, when up to 2,000 people were killed by withdrawing Indonesian troops and their militia proxies.

Political and economic ties with Jakarta have blossomed since independence, and the two governments have agreed not to prosecute those responsible for the bloodshed. Instead, they have formed a joint commission aimed at bringing about reconciliation between the two sides.

Gusmao also said the country faced a long list of problems - poverty, joblessness and lack of infrastructure. He said he would encourage donor nations that are scheduled to meet in the capital Dili next week to continue providing aid to his country.

"As president, my concern is about the economic situation of the people," he said. "For us to solve this, we need money. We cannot have plans without money. Basically, we (want donor countries) to continue to help us."