Social and Pastoral BulletinNo. 93 15 Dec.1999

INTERVIEW WITH Fr. JOVITO REGO (EAST TIMOR)
East Timorese Fr. Jovito Rego (36 year old) just arrived in Japan, December 7 to receive the 1999 Human Rights award from the Japanese Foundation of Asian Human Rights. He visited our social center December 8 and was interviewed there by Ando Isamu.

1. What is your present position in East Timor?
I am a diocesan priest. I worked as a prefect of studies in the Minor Seminary for two years. Now I work as Vice-chancellor of Dili diocese. One of my main tasks is to coordinate Catholic youth groups. Our youth are the main victims of the ET conflict. They need to be liberated from the past fears, in order to build the present and the future of East Timor. We are free now, but the cost in lives (300,000) for the last 24 years was very expensive. These are challenging times for our youth.

2. How did you feel when you were told about the Asian Human Rights award?
The Foundation of human rights delivered the price to East Timor. I was surprised to be selected; I am just a young priest, but I feel glad. I came to Japan on behalf of my people.

3. What was the motive or reason for receiving the award?
The Foundation must have its own reason. As for us, we fought for our own dignity for 24 years, always with hope. East Timor has often been a forgotten place, till Nov. 1991 when the massacre of Santa Cruz cemetery took place. About 300 people were killed there and their blood cried load enough for the world to hear. East Timor could become the sign of freedom for other provinces in Indonesia.

4. You remained in Dili during the most difficult period of September; did you feel any danger at the time? Could you tell us something of your experiences?
I became a priest to be of service to my people. Priests are feared by the military and much respected by the people. When in January 99 the Indonesian president showed two options, independence or assimilation, to us, I felt the responsibility of encouraging the people to stay, to act responsibly on the selection to do.
When I was young I had been on hiding in the woods for three years. I selected to remain in Dili no matter what might happen. My past experience showed me that if I stayed, 50 per cent of my life was in danger, but I could also be free about 50 per cent, because I knew how to go about and where to find basic things to survive.
I had great peace of mind. In our seminary we sheltered 6,000 people. On September 6 all forcibly left the place and went to the police. They went as refugees to West Timor. Every day the militia came to the seminary, sometimes 20 times a day, to take all the belongings of the refugees. I always met the militia, and my life was in danger, because I was good related to the guerrilla, but I had great peace of mind. I visited daily the people to make them feel that the Church was with them.

5. When did you visit Darwin? Which were the reasons that brought you there?
My father died there on October 4 and I went there. During my stay in Australia I paid visits to ET refugees, always encouraging them to go back. About 700 of them returned and maybe 500 or more are still waiting to go back.

6. We have plans of sending small groups of volunteers (5 to 7 persons, each time) to East Timor. Can they be of some help, even it they are there for a short time (2 or 3 weeks)? What kind of service can they do? Can you give us advice?
Our people need everything: housing, food, etc. People feel much alone and without support; their community systems have been destroyed, mainly by the military. There is freedom now, but people can not enjoy it. There is a need of leaders everywhere.
The presence of volunteers gives support to the people, when they are able to listen to the people. They can make the people feel that they are precious, by listening to their experiences and assisting them to heal their wounds. They can help to communicate in Japan and other countries their voice.

7. Which are the most basic needs of the East Timorese people now?
We are poor but free. Freedom helps us to realize our human dignity. We need not only material support, but also spiritual. Security is a basic need, and is now safeguarded by the presence of the multinational forces. Humanitarian aid: food, shelter, clothing is provided now through international assistance. Health care is a big need and foreign doctors are already working in ET.
Now is the rainy season and people can not find ordinary things to buy. There is much confusion, because there are practically no shops for daily ordinary goods. On the other hand, foreign companies are selling very expensive cars. But, what we need is public transport.

8. What about the education needs?
UNICEF has already got involved in many educational programs. There is a need of teachers. The language problem is very serious. Most of the youth know the Indonesian language, but our politicians have selected Portuguese as the official language, for political reasons. I think this will create future conflicts.


[FROM THE EDITOR]
It is believed that the first country in the 21st century to become independent will be East Timor. But, as you can guess from the interview printed in this issue, many problems have still to be resolved beforehand. Independence is surely its beginning.
The Jesuit Japanese province, willing to assist somehow the East Timorese people from the start, is watching the possibilities of sending volunteers there, through the auspices of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) that operates from Dili. The volunteers will assist with distribution of food, medical activities and taking care of children, during 2 or 3 week-terms.
There are plans to start sending the first group during February of next year. We plan to make known the conditions for applying in January 2000. If you are interested, please contact Ando at our center.
Shibata Yukinori