Dr. Jose Ramos Horta, one of the political leaders of East Timor, thinks that reconciliation among the people of East Timor must be carried out in two areas i.e., political reconciliation and criminal reconciliation.

The Secretary-General of UNTAS, Filomena de Jesus Horany Political said on Tuesday in Kupang, that reconciliation will be carried out according to East Timor culture, whilst criminal reconciliation will be carried out at the proclamation of the independence of East Timor around 2002. Filomena de Jesus Horany disclosed this when he presented the result of the visit of the UNTAS team to East Timor two days ago, at the invitation of the UN Transitional Administration.

Filomena also said that according to Ramos Horta, there would be a general amnesty or total pardon in 2002, for all the people of East Timor who had committed crimes from 1975 till today. After that, all the people of East Timor would take a traditional oath and celebrate a pardon mass together.

"This is a personal idea of Horta and he admits that he has not spoken to Xanana or other people about it," said Filomeno. Filomena also said that UNTAS' stand in principle, is that the global solution to the problem of former Indonesian colonialism can only be through total reconciliation without condition. Through unconditional reconciliation, all people can unite and build the future of an independent and sovereign nation together. During its visit, UNTAS team met with Bishop Belo, Xanana Gusmao and other political leaders.