Subject: AUS: Paper chooses its words carefully
Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 09:22:18 -0400
From: "Helen M. Hill" <helenh@alphalink.com.au>AUS: Paper chooses its
words carefully By BRIAN WOODLEY in Dili
4th May 99
IN an atmosphere charged with emotion, sweat and printer's ink, the presses at Suara
Timor Timur roared into life early yesterday morning, putting East Timor's only newspaper
back into circulation. Its offices and equipment had been destroyed by a mob of
pro-integration militiamen less than three weeks ago.
An editorial, headed STT Prints Again and starting "April's been a bad month for
us", declared the newspaper understood and accepted that people would be critical of
its policies.
It restated a commitment to an independent, neutral stance between those pushing for
autonomy under Indonesia and those pressing for independence.
An extremely cautious front page, dominated by news quoting the statements of
pro-integration leaders, was followed inside by messages from militia leaders and other
figures, including bishop Carlos Belo, "advising" the paper on what it needed to
do to guarantee its continuing survival.
All urged caution but the leader of the Besi Merah Putih (Iron Rod of the Red and
White) Militia, Manuel de Sousa, also delivered a blunt warning that the paper should
focus on his version of the truth in its news reporting and commentary. Jose Ximenes, 36,
one of seven co-editors who worked late into the night to ensure the paper would avoid
being too provocative, said STT would follow the urging of Bishop Belo that it try to emit
a sense of peace and not be too radical. He quoted the bishop as saying the true story of
East Timor involved all parties and should not exclude anyone.
"The situation is extremely volatile. It's better to just get the news out than
not at all," Mr Ximenes told foreign journalists.
Asked what he knew of the general situation in the annexed province, he said: "It
is worse now than ever before, bad, very dangerous. It is a climate of fear."
Production difficulties and concerns that some vendors might be too afraid to display
the paper prevented the first issue reaching its usual print run of 8000.
STT, put out of action on April 17 by militiamen thought to be from the Dili-based
Aitarak (Thorn), received an anonymous telephone threat on Sunday, in which the caller
spoke of the militias' continuing "hatred" for the paper.
Back to May Menu
Human Rights Violations in East Timor
Main Postings Menu
June '98 through February '99 |
