| Subject: SMH: Forgive
and look to the future, Belo urges mourners Sydney
Morning Herald Date: 13/11/99
Forgive and look to the future, Belo urges mourners
By PAUL DALEY, Herald Correspondent in Dili
East Timor's spiritual leader, Bishop Carlos Belo, has used
the eighth anniversary of the Dili massacre to appeal to his people to forgive the
Indonesian military and militias and to build a tolerant, multi-racial society.
Speaking at a special dawn Mass at Dili's Motael Church,
before 15,000 people marched in procession to the site of the massacre, the Santa Cruz
cemetery, Bishop Belo paid tribute to the many young East Timorese who had given their
lives to the cause of independence.
The young, he said, were the heroes of East Timor's
struggle. At the same time, he urged the young to look forward and not to view their
former oppressors with rancour.
He said between 3,000 and 5,000 people had been killed at
Suai in the south-west of the territory in the three months to last July.
He put the death toll in the Dili massacre at at least 200
- in contrast to the 19 first claimed by the Indonesian military or the later official
figure of 50.
''In Suai during May, June and July the victims are from
3,000 to 5,000, thrown in the lake and eaten by crocodiles. In Maubara and Liquicia many
bodies are thrown between the coffee plants and eaten by pigs,'' Bishop Belo said.
''In September ... many young people are dead and
suffering. So, from now ... let's recognise that the young people are truly heroes. But
I'd like to advise all of you that ... all young people should ... look forward and be
brave.
''Your bravery doesn't mean that you should fight against
the militia or Javanese or Indonesian military. But be brave with high morality and
according to the religious way, that is to get solidarity, mutual respect, peace, justice
and love and work.''
Bishop Belo reminded the congregation of the murder in the
Motael churchyard that led to the massacre in the cemetery two weeks later on November 12,
1991.
On October 28, 1991, 18-year-old Sebastiao Gomes was killed
by Indonesian soldiers who left his body at Motael. Two weeks later, troops fired on
mourners who had marched to Santa Cruz cemetery to commemorate Gomes's death.
Bishop Belo said no territory in the world had gained
independence ''through the condition of happiness, music and songs''. East Timor, he said,
had been no exception.
''Since 1975 until yesterday many ... people died. Among
all the victims ...we take our considerations especially for the young people who
represent the role of the Church in East Timor.''
Pascoa da Costa, a 26-year-old student wounded during the
1991 massacre and a friend of Sebastiao Gomes, said that yesterday was cause for
celebration because it was the first time in 24 years East Timorese could mourn without
the scrutiny of Indonesian troops. ''We have won a very important battle,'' he said.
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