Jakarta Post [online] May 20, 2002

Belo: RI, E. Timor should omit mutual suspicion

DILI, E Timor: The Indonesian and East Timorese peoples have to try to omit mutual suspicion among them, Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo said here Sunday.

"Cardinal Julius Darmaatmaja (the Jakarta Archbishop) has now been here and President Megawati Soekarnoputri will arrive in East Timor tonight," Belo said hoping there would be visits of officials from and to the two countries in the future.

There must be normal relations like those exercised by other states and nations so that there would be no hostility among them, Belo told newsmen after leading a Sunday mass.

"Let's bury the hatches. I think the Indonesian and East Timorese peoples will see the future, especially the way how they establish good relations," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

On the role of the church, he said, it (the church) would remain to work for peace on society and for mankind, and therefore the church would take part in efforts to create a conducive situation toward good relations between Indonesia and East Timor.

On the response from Vatican to East Timor's independence, Bishop Belo described it as positive. Pope John Paul II through Archbishop Renato asked East Timor to take the most advantage of its independence.

Among figures and leaders who have arrived in Dili to attend the declaration of East Timor's independence is Australia's Prime Minister John Howard.

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