[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E331-E333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE NOBEL LECTURE GIVEN BY THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE 1996, CARLOS 
                          FILIPE XIMENES BELO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TONY P. HALL

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 1997

  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit for the Record 
the Nobel lecture given by Bishop Belo upon his acceptance of the 1996 
Nobel Peace Prize. I had the honor of nominating him for this 
prestigious award and hope this award will lead to a lasting peace in 
East Timor.

The Nobel Lecture Given by the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 1996, Carlos 
             Filipe Ximenes Belo--Oslo, December 10, 1996.


                           acceptance speech

     Your Majesty.
     Dear Members of the Norwegian Noble Committee.
     Honorable Prime Minister.
     Excellencies, Ministers.
     Members of Parliament.
     Members of the Diplomatic Corps.
     Regarded friends.
     Distinguished guests.
     Friends, ladies, and gentlemen.
       ``Nations will proclaim his wisdom, the assembly will 
     celebrate his praises. If he lives long, his name will be 
     more glorious than a thousand others, and if he dies, that 
     will satisfy him rest as well.''--Wisdom 39, 10-11.
       Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I start with this 
     biblical passage from the Book of Wisdom because it expresses 
     with deep significance the memory of the man we remember this 
     day whose esteemed Peace Prize bears his name. Today, the 
     tenth of December, we celebrate the centennial anniversary of 
     the death of a wise benefactor of humanity, a Peace worker, 
     Alfred Nobel.
       Men of competence will never be extinguished from the 
     memory of humanity because his wisdom, his dedication for the 
     improvement of humanity, his tenacity for the progress of 
     science in favor of mankind, makes people everywhere, all 
     believers, all ideologies, feel in one way or another under 
     the obligation of his talents and his boldness.
       These men of competence are constantly disturbing the 
     consciences of those who do not attend to the improvement of 
     humanity. For it is a matter of fact that everyone should 
     contribute by any kind or form so that mankind become more 
     and more humane.
       What reasons, brought the Catholic Bishop of East Timor to 
     be here in the presence of this assembly? I come from a 
     social context that is already known to your Excellencies, 
     where, due to circumstances, the aspirations and desires of 
     the people are limited.
       Taking the words from Terentius: ``Homo sum; humani nihil a 
     me alienum puto.''--Terentius 1, 25.
       As man, as human being, I can not stay indifferent in front 
     of what concerns man.
       As a member of a people, I have to share the destiny of the 
     people, taking upon myself completely this mandate, knowing 
     the risks that such attitude will involve. Striving for the 
     defense of the rights of all peoples is not only the 
     privilege of these guiding the destiny of the people or those 
     enjoying lofty positions in society, but it is the duty of 
     everyone whatever rank or status.
       As a member of the Church, I take it upon myself the 
     mission of enlightening and denouncing all human situations 
     which are in disagreement with the Christian concept and

[[Page E332]]

     contrary to the teaching of the Church concerning all 
     mankind.
       The Catholic Bishop is a pastor of a part of God's people. 
     His specific mission is spiritual. Such mission is incumbent 
     upon him basically as a dispenser of spiritual resources for 
     the salvation of persons and consolidating them in faith in 
     Jesus Christ.
       But mankind is not limited to a spiritual dimension, one 
     should be saved as a whole, human and spiritual. In this 
     aspect, any Catholic Bishop shall never be indifferent when a 
     people's possibilities for human realization, in all 
     dimensions, are not respected.
       So the Nobel Peace Prize, attributed to a Catholic Bishop, 
     is not a homage for one person but also basically the 
     gratitude for the encouragement that the Catholic Church has 
     developed over the centuries in defense and promotion of the 
     rights of human beings.
       The teachings of the Second Vatican Council in Gaudium et 
     Spes. states: ``The Church thinks that she will respond to 
     the deep desires of peoples, showing its final hope, 
     preaching freedom, dignity of conscience and rights, that is 
     just, in God's plan of salvation.''
       The duty given to the Church is not socio-political in 
     nature but religious. And thus it is characteristic to the 
     Church, a wellspring of enlightenment and energy, to empower 
     and contribute to the strengthening of the human society.
       It is known to your Excellencies, the effort of the Church 
     concerning the suffering of the people of East Timor over the 
     last twenty one years. As Bishop of this people, I regard the 
     Nobel Peace Prize not as something to merely esteem one 
     person but as the rightful homage for the work done by the 
     Catholic Church in East Timor, defending the inalienable 
     rights of her people.
       ``Yet you have made him little less than a god, you have 
     crowned him with glory and beauty.''--Psalm 8, 6.
       For the composer of this psalm, human dignity is taking 
     root in his divine vocation, created by God.
       This is my belief and knowledge about mankind which guides 
     me and impels me as my conscience considers how I should act.
       However, addressing this distinguished Assembly with 
     beliefs and concepts about mankind may be quite humanistic. 
     But I do believe for sure that among us we have something in 
     common, that is we affirm that the human being is the subject 
     of all concept and human activities. We declare that one's 
     value and dignity does not depend on the individual's 
     belief, religion, politics, philosophy, race or color of 
     skin.
       Man is a being for freedom. It means that one's realization 
     is complete when capable to decide about one's options and 
     taking responsibility for his or her actions without any kind 
     of intimidation.
       Man is a being realized in a community. It means that the 
     social and ethnic group one belongs to is the background for 
     his or her fulfillment.
       Man is a being realized when there is a reciprocity of 
     respect. It means that wherever human beings are not 
     respected in their elementary rights by those in charge or by 
     those responsible in society, as a consequence, we have 
     oppression, slavery, arrogance, arbitrariness, death of 
     individuals and death of a people.
       Ladies and Gentlemen, these principles are valid for 
     everybody and they are valid for the church who also affirms 
     that human dignity is rooted and fulfilled in God Himself.
       Persons have been placed in society by God the Creator, but 
     over and above this, each person is called to be united with 
     Him as children of God and participating in God's happiness.
       Moreover, the Church teaches that if this divine foundation 
     and the hope for eternal life are missing, human dignity is 
     strongly damaged (GS.21).
       The Catholic Church proclaims Jesus Christ as the great 
     deliverer for all mankind. Indeed, Jesus frees each one from 
     every moral and social slavery, giving back his or her true 
     dignity as a human being.
       In making Christ known, the Church reveals to all their 
     true situation and calling, since Christ is the head and 
     model of that renewed humanity imbued with that fraternal 
     love, sincerity and spirit of peace, to which everyone 
     aspires (AG. 8).
       Your Majesty, Members of the Nobel Committee, my friends 
     from around the world. I am profoundly honored to be before 
     you today to receive the Nobel Prize for Peace. But whatever 
     personal compliment I may receive, I believe that I have 
     received this high tribute not because of who I am or what I 
     have done. I firmly believe that I am here essentially as the 
     voice of the voiceless people of East Timor who are with me 
     today in spirit, if not in person. And what the people want 
     is peace, an end to violence and the respect for their human 
     rights. It is my fervent hope that the 1996 Nobel Prize for 
     peace will advance these goals.
       Above all, above all else, I am mindful and humble in my 
     thoughts of Pope John Paul II, who did so much in the face of 
     overwhelming odds in the epochal struggle to remove the yoke 
     of Communism from Poland and other nations who have been told 
     to be realistic and accept their fate. The Holy Father has 
     provided an example and a depth of inspiration to me that can 
     never be equaled. My gratitude to John Paul II can not be 
     adequately expressed.
       I also think of others, especially from Asia who have never 
     stood here. I contemplate with unending amazement the work of 
     Mahatma Ghandi and his creed of non-violence in the movement 
     for change. I think of China, and I pray for the well-being 
     of Mr. Wei Jing Sheng and his colleagues, and hope that they 
     will soon be liberated from their jail cells, just as 
     Indonesian leaders once were freed from the infamous Boven 
     Digual prison after long years of cruel captivity. Surely, 
     these same Indonesian leaders had earned a place here in Osio 
     even before I was born in 1948, at the height of their battle 
     for freedom and dignity. I think of the fearless Indonesian 
     fighters and I realize that history has so much to teach us 
     if we would only take time to contemplate its richness.
       I stand humbled in the august presence of my predecessors 
     in this place here in Oslo. I think of The Reverend Dr. 
     Martin Luther King, Jr., ``standing in the mountaintop, 
     looking out at the promised land.'' These words remind me of 
     the view of the majestic mountains in my beloved East Timor--
     Mount Matabean (the Mountain of the Dead), near where I was 
     born in the east; and Mount Ramelau in the west. As I look at 
     these mountains in my frequent journeys throughout my native 
     land, I feel ever more strongly that it is high time that the 
     guns of war are silenced in East Timor, once and forever, it 
     is high time that tranquility is returned to the lives of the 
     people of my homeland, it is high time that there be 
     authentic dialogue. All people of goodwill must use every 
     peaceful means of human ingenuity and intelligence to find 
     ways to create a genuine peace based on mutual respect and 
     human dignity.
       East Timor is hardly alone in its search for peace and 
     dignity, and it is of great importance to acknowledge the 
     work of others. Last year I was privileged to be the guest in 
     Belfast Northern Ireland, of the 1976 co-Laureate, Mrs. 
     Mairead Corrigan Maguire, whose increasing work for peace has 
     touched many throughout the world. Mrs. Maguire graciously 
     gave me an informative and moving tour of the troubled areas 
     in Belfast, the night after many vehicles had been burnt in 
     protest over the early release of a soldier convicted of 
     killing an 18 year old girl. I pray that the people of 
     Northern Ireland may know genuine peace, justice and 
     tranquility in the near future.
       Last year, I met with His Holiness, The Dalai Lama, and was 
     deeply moved by his wisdom and kindness. The people of Tibet 
     are never far from my prayers, nor are the communities of the 
     indigenous peoples of the world who are increasingly being 
     overwhelmed by aggressive moderity that presumes to call 
     itself civilization.
       I pray for peace in the Middle Esat and Afghanistan, which 
     can not be forgotten, and for the continuation of the peace 
     process in Central America. And no human being can be 
     indifferent to the drama in the Great Lakes area in Burundi 
     and Rwanda, and also Zaire, where the human suffering cries 
     out for a solution.
       In South Africa, the search for peace deepens. For me the 
     work of Archbishop Desmond Tutu is a shining example of the 
     way truth can be combined with the quest for human rights, 
     the way humor and humility can be mixed with righteousness, 
     and I only pray that I may be worthy of his mantle. In Burma, 
     I salute the strength and grace of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and 
     pray that a better day may soon arrive for her and all her 
     people. May the beauty of music from her piano soften the 
     hearts of armies and nations. In Burma and throughout the 
     world, in places known and not well known, let us apply 
     the words in the fifth chapter of Amos of the Old 
     Testament: ``Let Justice roll down like waters.''
       And let us always think of many anonymous people throughout 
     the world, struggling for the protection of human rights. Day 
     by day, working to convince the international community of 
     the justice of their cause, whether they be Moslems or 
     Christians, Protestants or Catholics, Hindus or Buddhists 
     whether they be followers of age-old traditional beliefs, 
     believers or non-believers. I say: press on, take courage, 
     remain true to your ideals, you will not be forgotten.
       The world censures those who take up arms to defend their 
     causes and call on them to use non-violent means in voicing 
     their grievances. But when a people chooses the non-violent 
     path, it is all too often the case that hardly anyone pays 
     attention. It is tragic that people have to suffer and die 
     and the television cameras have to deliver the pictures to 
     people's homes everyday before the world at large admits 
     there is a problem. Therein lies the enormous significance 
     and the brave wisdom of the decision of the Nobel Committee 
     to focus on East Timor this year; it represents the 
     extraordinary recognition of East Timor's quest for peace and 
     the recognition of its pleas for an end to suffering.
       I speak of these things as one who has the responsibility 
     to bear witness to what I have seen and heard, to react to 
     what I know to be true, to keep the flame of hope alive, to 
     do what is possible to warm the earth for still another day. 
     I speak as a spiritual leader, not as a politician, which in 
     fact, I am not. In recent weeks, some articles have described 
     me as ``a former shepherd,'' not realizing that my vocation 
     only evolved from a boyhood job of tending water buffaloes to 
     the grave responsibility of trying to apply my fallible self 
     to the difficult task of providing moral leadership in a 
     situation where almost no one is ever completely happy with 
     my actions.
       Others have written that if there had not been a war in 
     East Timor, I would be spending all my time tending to the 
     needs of troubled youth, which is the special calling of my

[[Page E333]]

     religious order, The Salesians of St. John Bosco. But this is 
     only a matter of degree: even now, I spend an overwhelming 
     amount of energy in listening to and counseling the youth of 
     East Timor, who urgently need such help because of their 
     history. This is my special obligation, and one which I 
     welcome.
       Thus I must press on, aware of all the task that are far 
     from complete. St. John Bosco once said that we will have the 
     chance to rest in the hereafter, not in this world. And my 
     life in the past thirteen years since I took up the post in 
     East Timor illustrates the accuracy of Don Bosco's judgment 
     in this regard among others. But my own hard work forms only 
     a small part of what is necessary; the participation of 
     others is vital. I extend the hand of friendship and goodwill 
     to all those who provide genuine assistance or moral support 
     in the vital struggle for peace in East Timor, throughout 
     Asia, Africa, in the western hemisphere, throughout Europe, 
     in Bosnia and elsewhere in the Balkans. Everywhere.
       I must also praise the United Nations for its painstaking 
     efforts on the question of East Timor, which have been of 
     central importance in keeping the issue alive over many long 
     years. In the face of great obstacles, in spite of all the 
     difficulties, the United Nations have continued to persevere 
     in the interest of generating dialogue that might one day 
     create a lasting structure of peace in East Timor, and in 
     many other places throughout the world.
       There is no institution that can take the place of the 
     United Nations, especially in the light of the history and 
     credibility of the world organization. We can not overlook 
     the fact that the United Nations played an important role 
     from its earliest days in the 1940's in assisting the 
     struggle of Indonesia's nationalist movement. The young 
     Indonesian Republic fought alone, with supreme courage, 
     against the brute force of colonialism and its allies, 
     ultimately receiving the indispensable moral backing that the 
     new world association alone was able to provide. In the face 
     of the moral weight of the United nations, the Dutch and 
     their allies could not carry on military operations with 
     impunity, as other colonial powers did before the UN was 
     formed in 1945. This must never be forgotten. Thus, the world 
     must do whatever possible to strengthen the United nations in 
     the months and years ahead, in the deepest interests of all 
     the peoples of the world.
       Let it be stated clearly that to make peace a reality, we 
     must be flexible as well as wise. We must truly recognize our 
     own faults and move to change ourselves in the interest of 
     making peace. I am no exception to this rule! Let us banish 
     anger and hostility, vengeance and other dark emotions, and 
     transform ourselves into humble instruments of peace.
       People in East Timor are not uncompromising. They are not 
     unwilling to forgive and overcome their bitterness. On the 
     contrary, they yearn for peace, peace within their community 
     and peace in their region. They wish to build bridges with 
     their Indonesian brothers and sisters to find ways of 
     creating harmony and tolerance.
       Mutual respect is the basis of compromise. Let us start by 
     making a sincere effort to change the very serious human 
     rights situation in East Timor. The Church has played its 
     part. We have formed a Justice and Peace Commission that is 
     always ready to cooperate with the authorities to address 
     problems.
       Independent human rights officials have repeatedly visited 
     East Timor and have recommended what needs to be done. As a 
     first step, the release of East Timor political prisoners has 
     to be given urgent attention, in accordance with the section 
     on Humanitarianism in Panca Sila, The Five Principles of 
     Indonesia's State Ideology. Such a step would help create an 
     important opening on the road to peace.
       Ladies and Gentlemen, taking the liberty to remind, in this 
     assembly, my predecessor's appeal, Israel's former Prime 
     Minister, the late Mr. Itzaak Rabin, speaking in New York, 
     when the first historical meeting with President Arafat took 
     place, he said: ``Stop bloodshed.''
       Making mine this same appeal, I say: ``Stop bloodshed.'' 
     And I add: Stop oppression. Stop violence. Stop conflict. Let 
     us sit down around a table and understand each other, because 
     we can not tolerate extending for a long time the 
     suffering of the people of East Timor. I think this is the 
     fundamental intention of the Nobel Committee in awarding 
     to us the prize, expressed on behalf of its president, Mr. 
     Francis Sejersted.
       Ladies and gentlemen, East Timor was given the possibility 
     to be heard through the voice of her two sons resounding 
     throughout the world through this solemn assembly; but I 
     would like that this attention shown by the world to East 
     Timor be given the same intensity concerning the many other 
     problems distressing other people.
       There are similar situations, throughout the world, where 
     people live under horrible conditions as Timor, but they have 
     no possibility to be heard.
       Daily, we get in our home, news and images of suffering, 
     pain, destruction caused by war. ``War, this monster,'' as 
     Father Antonio Vieira states, ``what it is doing, even God is 
     not secure in the altar.''
       I appeal to all men of goodwill and particularly those 
     holding power to find out solutions for these numberless 
     conflicts. Solutions based on justice and solidarity, in 
     order that the fundamental rights would be respected.
       I appeal, as well, to all professionals of the information 
     media, charged with this great mission, that they regulate 
     communication between all latitudes of the globe, doing it 
     with a sense of truth and immunity for building up a society 
     more humane and more just, without tendentious manipulations.
       I would like, before I finish, to address one word to the 
     youth around the world, particularly to the youth of my dear 
     Timor: ``Society is a succession of interwoven rings in which 
     each generation has the duty to the next generation in order 
     to live in the world peacefully fraternally. Under your 
     shoulders, dear young people of the entire world, weigh the 
     responsibility to transform tomorrow's world into a society 
     where peace, harmony and fraternity reign.''
       Dear youth, I quote from memory the great Indian poet 
     Rabindranat Tagore: ``Youth, as a Lotus flower, flourish just 
     once in life.'' Do not let it wither through the way.
       Finally, an event is never a lonely action. The awarding of 
     the Nobel Peace Prize to these two sons of Timor, Dr. Jose 
     Ramos and myself has come about because many people groups 
     and institutions have worked hard so that this event be a 
     reality.
       In this moment I would like, in the first place, to thank 
     Her Majesty the Royalty of Norway, for being susceptible with 
     the suffering of the people of East Timor, and for the 
     generous presence in this solemn assembly.
       My thanks goes to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee for their 
     kind attention and courageous dedication on behalf of the 
     plight of the East Timorese.
       To the government and members of the Norwegian Parliament I 
     thank you for the decision to honor us with the Nobel Peace 
     Prize
       I emphasize a little to thank Portugal and other friendly 
     nations, as well as distinguished personalities who have 
     proposed our names as candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize.
       To the Timorese, here and abroad. I convey my indescribable 
     gratitude and my communion and silent solidarity with you.
       To His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, who has been persistent 
     and attentive in following the situation and the suffering of 
     the people and the Church in East Timor, I submit my filial 
     devotion and the promise of unending fidelity and in union 
     with Christ.
       To the Pontifical Commission of Justice and Peace, 
     particularly in the person of its President, His Eminence 
     Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, who had the opportunity to be in 
     direct contact with the Church of Timor, I submit my deep 
     gratitude.
       I can not forget the contribution of friends from other 
     religions who, with discretion and fearless activity have 
     made it possible that the Nobel Peace Prize for 1996 be 
     attributed to the Catholic Church in East Trimor.
       It would be unjust to forget, although I am aware that it 
     is difficult to count the various Non Government 
     Organizations, Humanitarian Groups, Church related Groups and 
     individuals who have worked hard, in silence and without much 
     publicity, so that the Timorese can receive assistance and 
     that the Timorese issue would not be buried under the dust of 
     oblivion. With them, I share my happiness.
       And finally, my sincere thanks to all the members of the 
     social communication industry from all over the world. They 
     had lent their voice in making known to the world the anguish 
     and the suffering of the Timorese. I would like to pay my 
     tribute to those giving information about Timor, risking 
     their life and some of them falling down in East Timor soil.
       ``The Creator and Father of everything and all peoples will 
     reward all of us and will give us strength, wisdom and 
     courage to struggle for our fellow human beings because each 
     one is the image and the likeness of God.''--Gen. 1, 26.

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