Bahasa Indonesia Headlines ­ Monday 9 July 2001

Bishop Belo: Timorese people must be agents of peace

Suara Timor Lorosae

The Timorese people must be agents of peace because they can no longer see strive within the community.

“For the past 24 years, there have been tears and suffering and, now, we no longer want it,” said Dili Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo last night.

“We have experienced a long war experiencing extreme suffering. Now when it is over, we have to promise ourselves never to fight again or use violence,” said Bishop Belo.

“For over 500 years we have been engulfed in wars and there was no end to them. Civil wars; the war against the Dutch; the war against the Japanese and the war against the Portuguese and the Indonesians. There seemed to be no end of fighting,” added Bishop Belo.

Bishop Belo advised the Timorese people to be tolerant with one another and be accepting of different religions.

“Only then can we leave behind our egos and respect one another.”

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