East Timorese asked to forgive dictator Suharto

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

January 18, 2008


DILI, East Timor - East Timor's president called on his countrymen yesterday to forgive former Indonesian dictator Suharto, who ordered the invasion of the tiny nation in 1975 and then oversaw decades of brutal rule that left up to 200,000 dead.

"It is impossible for us to forget the past," said Jose Ramos-Horta, who shared the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize with countryman Bishop Carlos Belo for leading a nonviolent struggle against the Indonesian occupation. "But East Timor should forgive him before he dies."

Suharto was rushed to a hospital suffering from anemia and a dangerously low heart rate on Jan. 4. He has since developed sepsis, a potentially life-threatening blood infection, on top of multiple organ failure.

"Suharto is now in critical condition," Ramos-Horta told reporters. "He's just waiting for God's decision."

Indonesia ruled the tiny half-island territory until 1999, when a UN-organized plebiscite resulted in an overwhelming vote for independence.

Ramos-Horta said he did not think Suharto should be brought to justice for crimes carried out in East Timor.