Bahasa Indonesia Headlines ­ Monday 9 July 2001

1. National Unity Pact signed 
2. Bishop Belo: Timorese people must be agents of peace 
3. FDTL gets overseas recognition

1. National Unity Pact signed (Suara Timor Lorosae, front page headline)

The long-awaited National Unity Pact was at least signed by 14 political parties last night. Only two parties opted to stay out of it ­ the National Party of Timor (PNT) and National Republic Party of Timor Leste (Parentil). All the political parties will be participating in the 30 August election to choose a Constituent Assembly.

The signing ceremony was at the Democracy Field, in Dili’s Guerrilos subburb, where the Peace Week was launched by the Catholic Church.

Present at the ceremony were Dili Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, UN Transitional Administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello, independence leader Xanana Gusmao and Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta.

Political parties that signed the National Unity Pact will be bound by 14 clauses. The most important clause is that all parties must accept unconditionally the results of the UN-supported popular consultation on 30 August 1999, whereby the Timorese overwhelmingly voted to separate from Indonesia. Also the political parties must respect the final results of the 30 August 2001 election which will issued by the Independent Electoral Commission.

Also, all the political parties, in the pact, agreed to refrain from violence and adhere to the Timorese culture of mutual cooperation (Soru Mutu) ­ whereby politicians will respect each other in order to create a harmonious political climate.

2. Bishop Belo: Timorese people must be agents of peace (Suara Timor Lorosae, front page second lead)

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.”

3. FDTL gets overseas recognition (Suara Timor Lorosae, Front Page third lead)

The Commander of the Timor Lorosae Defense Forces (FDTL) Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak said the aid given by countries to the United Nations for aiding the FDTL was a recognition that Timor Lorosae had good foreign relations.

Brigadier-General Taur Matan Ruak said this when presiding, with the UN Transitional Administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello and First Commander Lt Gen Boonsrang Niumpradit, over the two-day long march of FDTL members from Aileu to their new barracks at Metinaro.

“The United Nations has never helped or supported a military, but East Timor seems to be an exception,” said Brigadier General Taur.

“This shows the overall confidence, placed by donors on Timor Lorosae,” he added.

According to Brigadier General Taur, in order to develop a professional and modern defense force proper training was necessary.

He said two FDTL officers would be undergoing a course at the Military Academy in Australia.

“I hope more countries come forth, with training offers, to help our officers,” said Brigadier Taur Matan Ruak.

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