Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VATICAN88
2006-05-26 14:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:
VATICAN: EAST TIMORESE ACTIVIST CALLS FOR ATTENTION
how-toVZCZCXRO9393 PP RUEHDT RUEHROV DE RUEHROV #0088 1461446 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 261446Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0343 INFO RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0045 RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI PRIORITY 0005 RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0371
UNCLAS VATICAN 000088
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/WE LARREA;
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM VT ID
SUBJECT: VATICAN: EAST TIMORESE ACTIVIST CALLS FOR ATTENTION
UNCLAS VATICAN 000088
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/WE LARREA;
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM VT ID
SUBJECT: VATICAN: EAST TIMORESE ACTIVIST CALLS FOR ATTENTION
1. (SBU) Fernanda Borges, the founder of East Timor's National
Party, was in Rome recently pleading for greater international
attention to the disorder and violence in her country. We met
with Borges at the headquarters of the Community of Sant'Egidio,
the Catholic lay group best known for conflict resolution and
HIV/AIDS work in Africa that was hosting her. Borges told us
she was a former government minister who had also worked for the
East Timor Bishops Conference. She said she didn't like the
direction of the current government and that her party aimed to
rectify the situation by more accurately representing the will
of the people. "The people don't feel the government represents
them," she claimed. Borges criticized the corruption and lack
of accountability of local governments in East Timor and called
for a better educational system, particularly at the
post-secondary level.
2. (SBU) Borges said she enjoyed close contact with the U.S.
and Australian embassies in Dili, and made a convincing case for
why East Timor "should still matter" to the U.S. and others.
Her connections with Sant'Egidio are worthy of note. We
understand the Community currently has little or no presence in
East Timor, but with an active Catholic Church and such a high
percentage of believers, the nation could be fertile ground for
the movement. Sant'Egidio stays out of politics, but is active
on migration, poverty, and health issues, in addition to
maintaining an active portfolio on inter-religious dialogue and
conflict-resolution efforts.
SANDROLINI
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/WE LARREA;
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM VT ID
SUBJECT: VATICAN: EAST TIMORESE ACTIVIST CALLS FOR ATTENTION
1. (SBU) Fernanda Borges, the founder of East Timor's National
Party, was in Rome recently pleading for greater international
attention to the disorder and violence in her country. We met
with Borges at the headquarters of the Community of Sant'Egidio,
the Catholic lay group best known for conflict resolution and
HIV/AIDS work in Africa that was hosting her. Borges told us
she was a former government minister who had also worked for the
East Timor Bishops Conference. She said she didn't like the
direction of the current government and that her party aimed to
rectify the situation by more accurately representing the will
of the people. "The people don't feel the government represents
them," she claimed. Borges criticized the corruption and lack
of accountability of local governments in East Timor and called
for a better educational system, particularly at the
post-secondary level.
2. (SBU) Borges said she enjoyed close contact with the U.S.
and Australian embassies in Dili, and made a convincing case for
why East Timor "should still matter" to the U.S. and others.
Her connections with Sant'Egidio are worthy of note. We
understand the Community currently has little or no presence in
East Timor, but with an active Catholic Church and such a high
percentage of believers, the nation could be fertile ground for
the movement. Sant'Egidio stays out of politics, but is active
on migration, poverty, and health issues, in addition to
maintaining an active portfolio on inter-religious dialogue and
conflict-resolution efforts.
SANDROLINI