|
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. |
|