By: Francisco Fernandez

The Portuguese occupied Timor around the time the Spaniards came to the Philippines. Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and suddenly the East Timorese had to make a choice between Christianity and Islam. Many people missionaries have stayed with the people in this time of trial. It is particularly. Many people missionaries have stayed with the people in this time of trial. It is particularly difficult for a missionary, who as a foreigner must remain outside the local processes.

Two Important Questions
Why has there been a far larger conversion to the Catholic Church during these 16 years of Indonesian rule than during the 300 years of Catholic Portugal?
And why do the Timorese prefer the Catholic Religion?

Occupation
The answer to these questions may vary in accordance with the different point of view. But for the Timorese, this dramatic conversion is generated by wide- spread atrocities perpetrated by Indonesian armed forces, as well as the policy of Indonesianization implemented by Jakarta since it occupied East Timor in 1975.
The atrocities perpetrated by the military are perceived by the Timorese as a mockery of Indonesian official policy that Jakarta is working for the well- being and interest of the Timorese people.

200,000 Dead
The magnitude of the suffering has generated an anti- Indonesian feeling among the Timorese. The dept of such feeling is commensurate with the price the Timorese payed for the Indonesian occupation. In 16 years about 200,000 Timorese lost their lives facing systematic destruction of their social and economic structures.

Destruction
And those who manage to survive live in a climate of terror, repression and insecurity. According to one Indonesian called Suppratman, who had been in East Timor in 1987: “The Indonesian soldiers were not able to communicate with people, ignored their language which is Tetum’ or Portuguese and started to arrest, to jail, to torture and loot and burn their houses.” (TIMOR- Leste, Paz e possivel, 18/1/1987).

Respect For Church
On the other hand, the fact that the island was discovered by a Portuguese Dominican Monk, has a particular significance for the Timorese traditions, legends and beliefs and its creates an atmosphere of friendships and respect for all that belongs to the Church.
Since the outset, the Church had never known any sort of persecution by the Timorese. At the present time the Church is rooted and implanted in all the levels of the Timorese traditional organizations.
Officially, the East Timorese Church’s attitude to the conflict is neutral. But most of the Timorese Priests refuse to accept willingly Indonesian citizenship and they have psychologically influenced the people in such a way that they have developed a deep anti-Indonesian Church.
Ecclesiastically, the Church is non-aligned, because it is no longer a part of the Portuguese Church and on the other hand, it has not yet integrated with the Indonesian Church.

Bishop Belo
The church is attached to the Vatican, which on the 19 of June 1988 appointed the Priest Fr. Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo as the Bishop of the Diocese of Dili.

Careful Diplomatic Solution
The Vatican was a caution in this appointment as indicated in the official document that Bishops Belo is a ‘titular bishop’ and not a ‘residential bishop.’
As you know, the difference is that the titular bishop could not take any fundamental decision on the Diocese of Dili. So Dili depends directly on the Vatican.
The diocese of Dili does not belong to the conference of the Bishops of Indonesia neither to their counterpart in Portugal.
While the Vatican is very diplomatic in its attitude, the Timorese Church shares the desires, the sufferings and the aspirations of the people for freedom and liberation.

Call for Plebiscite
Its leaders, the late apostolic Administrator, Monsignor Martinho da Costa Lopes (passed away last year, after being virtually expelled by Jakarta) and Bishop Belo have continue  to appeal for UN solution, a genuine plebiscite to determine the people to determine the people’s wishes.

Dramatic Rise of 43%
The full significance of this challenge to Indonesia becomes clear when it realized, that the proportion of the Catholics in East Timor has dramatically risen from 35% of the total population pre-1975 (about 700,000) to more than 80% at the present time, despite the clergy being understaff, (more than 20 Priest left East Timor before and after invasion. And more than 10 Timorese priests ordained after the invasion remain in Portugal, since Jakarta demands an Indonesian passport for those priest who want to return to East Timor).
The clergy, apart from being understaff and overworked are devoid of material resources.

Respect for Culture
The reason of such increase of Catholic may be explained by the fact that during the Portuguese administration, there was respect for the traditional beliefs of the People of Timor, their habits and customs, and way of living. The people felt that they are East Timorese in their beliefs; in their traditions
Indonesia has attempted to reverse this situation, by Indonesiazing the East Timorese through the Indonesian state ideology, by divorcing the people from their own culture and way of living
Option
This policy forced the Timorese People to make an option.
They opted for the Church that that throughout centuries has shared their lot and has affected their social and political condition.

Hamletting
According to an interview of Bishops Filipe Belo, the large scale conversion came from the previous adherents of the local mystical religions. He claims that the resettlements of the rural population into special camps close to main roads, and towns, and Indonesian rule forcing everyone to embrace a recognized world religion were ostensible sociological reasons. He also said; that embracing Christianity, out of all the other religions was one way the people of Timor had preserving their identity and defending their society. (Asia Focus, 20 August 1988).

Not Just A Question of Money
In the long term, the church is attempting to remove the causes that have resulted in the genocide of the Timorese and their culture. The Church understands that any attempt to address the problem of East Timor in humanitarian terms alone, to reduce the East Timor to a question of mere material aid and money is both naïve and unjust. Certainly the Timorese do not see it exclusively in these terms or to think that more aid is the fundamental answer to our problem. Our experience under Indonesia has convinced us, that the key to our dignity and happiness lies in the exercise of our God –given right to self-determination, as stated by Bishop Belo.
“Despite all the forces against us, we continue to hold” and disseminate that the only solution to the East Timor conflict is a political and diplomatic one, and this solution should include, above all, the RESPECT FOR THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO SELF- DETERMINATION”.
Mgr. Belo, 5 December 1984.
This view of Bishop Belo is the line with his predecessor, the late Mgr. Martino da Costa Lopes: “...In the absence of genuine self- determination and independence”; the war and misery in East Timor will continue indefinitely... No material goods can ever compensate for the denial of self-determination and independence, for the unending bloodshed and violence.”

“In 16 years about 200,000 East Timorese lost their lives facing systematic destruction of their social and economic structures.”

“The Church understands that any attempt to address the problem of East Timor in humanitarian terms alone...is both naïve and unjust.”

Church Identifies with People
Despite material rewards for the adherents and Islam and other Christian denominations in the time of fundamental option, the totality of the People of East Timor opted for the Church that had identified with them during the time of oppression and suffering.
In other words, difficult times for the people of East Timor have also been difficult for the Church.
Therefore, in the time of options the Timorese opted for the Catholic Church is rather than for the religious brought in.
Whatever the depth the faith of these recent converts from traditional Timorese religious beliefs, their alignment with the indigenous and highly influential Catholic Church is further evidence of their aspirations for freedom; their search for security and protection.

Church of the Poor
Despite the fact that the Church’s whole fabric has been badly affected by invasions and the occupation army, the Church in East Timor has devoted its limited resources to the victims of the conflict, caring for the thousands of widows and orphans, catechizing coverts, engaging in economic and educational rehabilitations.

Death of Fr. Ernie
Fr. Ernie Santos was a man gifted with temperamental goodness certainly inherited from his deeply Catholic parents. I am convinced that this natural talent he develop into virtue. Several times I myself have received impressions that feedback from the people to substantiate what I say. He was appealing, affable, delicate, educated and refined in manners. People were pleased with Fr. Ernie. Here in Lospalos he will remembered for his listening capacity, eagerness to help, goodness and patience, and especially his ability to encourage everyone.
This quality of goodness made him a “man of service.” Asked of the favor, you could rest assured, Fr. Ernie would do it. With great sacrifice and endurance, hidden behind the smile, he was happy to serve all and do favors, to anyone in need. Maybe this is what brought Fr. Ernie to his quick end. Even though his blood pressure went high and he seemed visibly tired, his desire to served and help others stretched him to his ultimate limits. It is a glorious day for the Congregation, when a Salesian dies “Sulla breccia.”

Fr. Jose Carbonell, SDB
Provincial Delegate
For Indonesia, Timor