Posted on 08/15/2007 11:41:07 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard
DILI, East Timor (UCAN) – The Baucau diocese has expressed dismay over the rape of convent girls there and the burning of Church property following the announcement of the appointment of the country's new prime minister.
Father Francisco Pinheiro da Silva, vicar general of Baucau diocese, says that around 2 a.m. on Aug. 10, unidentified men raped about nine girls, one of them only 8 years old and the others 15-17, at the Salesian-run convent school in Baguia subdistrict, 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) south of Baucau.
"Indications show that the brutality and immoral actions were done by Fretilin supporters," said Father da Silva, referring to supporters of the former ruling party.
The vicar general, who handles administrative affairs for the diocese, told UCA News Aug. 13 that apart from the attack on the convent there had been attacks on Church and public buildings. During the three days Aug. 7-9, the diocesan office, the Caritas office, the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) office and a Catholic-run kindergarten were burned down, he said, speaking by telephone from Baucau, 120 kilometers (about 75 miles) east of Dili.
After President Jose Ramos-Horta announced Aug. 5 that he would appoint former president and independence hero Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao as become prime minister, Fretilin party supporters demonstrated on the streets in Baucau and Dili. Baucau is considered a Fretilin stronghold.
Fretilin won the most votes in the June national election, but its 21 seats in the 65-member parliament are far short of the majority needed to form a government outright. Gusmao's party picked up 18 seats, but it later formed an alliance with three other parties to form a parliamentary majority.
Fretilin's leaders are still demanding the right to form the government and claim they will take the matter to court.
The vicar general regretted what he described as the "organized" violence that followed Ramos-Horta's announcement. He said he would urge United Nations peacekeeping forces to find and bring to justice those behind the incidents.
The sacking of 600 soldiers in 2006 by former Fretilin prime minister Mari Alkatiri led to clashes between "easterners" and "westerners" that resulted in more than 20 dead and well over 100,000 homeless in this troubled country of 1 million. Many of the displaced people had returned and relative peace had prevailed up to and through the presidential election on May 9 and the parliamentary election on June 30. The August violence shattered that.
Bishop Basilio do Nascimento of Baucau condemned the brutality of irresponsible people who have burned, raped and destroyed public facilities.
"I'm really sad about the immoral actions of irresponsible people," he told local media on Aug. 12. The bishop said he regretted the actions of "stupid people" who do not accept the political reality.
"I do not accuse anybody, but anyone who is behind those violations must bear responsibility," the bishop said.
According to Father da Silva, second-in-charge of the diocese after the bishop, more than 600 houses were burned down and more than 6,000 people have fled into the jungle. It is reported that three villages in Viqueque district, 185 kilometers (about 115 miles) east of Dili, were burned to the ground, he said.
Baucau district is calm now, he said, but many still live in fear and are traumatized because thousands of people have lost their homes and property.
One laywoman in Baucau told UCA News Aug. 13 that she was sad about the action of apparent Fretilin supporters. Veronica Xemenes, 40, said that these people do not respect the Church and do not have a moral conscience.
"This kind of action can only be considered immoral and communist," she told UCA News. One possible reason for it, she claimed, is the perception of some that the church is supporting Gusmao's party and its alliance in order to bring down Fretilin.
The Fretilin government under Alkatiri was at odds with the church leadership on several occasions, including the matter of religious education in schools, on which the government backed down from a proposal to make this optional.
After breaking away from decades of Indonesian rule in 1999 and formally declaring statehood in 2002, Timor Leste, or East Timor, faces major security, humanitarian and economic challenges. Although it has significant offshore oil and gas reserves, its unemployment rate is about 50 percent.
Communist. Can't tell if they're TROP, as well.
Aussies back in?
Aussies back in?
Echo in here?
Echo in here?
Perhaps your suggestion just bears repeating ...
;’}
I see that gun control in East Timor is working correctly.
It works just smashingly in Washington DC and Chicago, too ...
Despite all our problems we are very blessed to live in America.
Unfortunately, I’m afraid we are going to experience some of these atrocities as consequence of our collective ingratitude to God for what we have received.
They’re not Muslim. They were, in fact, anti-Indonesian which means the Indonesians considered them anti-Muslim by association. They were raised Catholic, but once they became dedicated Marxists communism was their only religion.
Filthy cowards!
Filthy cowards!
Christ said that he brought the sword - not peace to the world. Religious in non-christian areas should have mandatory firearms and self defense training - otherwise they are lambs to the slaughter.
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By the wonders of your grace and love your Holy Mother was Assumed into heaven. I pray by the love you bear for her. Lord, Protect your children from the cowards of evil. Comfort the innocent in their sorrows and trials. Give them hope. Be their light in this darkness. Save them who have put their trust in you. Amen
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