Trust in the Government

QUOTE
When governments state that certain events have not happened, and yet we have the victims before us to testify that they did, governments lose their and their credibility and authority.

We see before us today governments that lack the real authority that can only come from the support their people give them, and have to make up for that lack by the use of force.

They do not have the support of the people because they are not trusted by their own people. We hear many fine words seeking national unity, cooperation and harmony; yet, almost in the same breath orders are given to military units to shoot civilians, round up civilian protesters many of whom either simply disappear or are subject to inhumane torture.

Governments which govern by the use of force are able to remain in power by the use of force. And there is no going back because force begets force, and the perpetrators of crimes live in fear that they might become victims of their own evil deeds
UNQOTE

Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo
Reconciliation Speech of 24/2/99 at St Mary's Cathedral Hall, Sydney, NSW