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DATE=5/5/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249021
TITLE=EAST TIMOR / RESOLUTION (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=CANDACE WILLIAMS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  INDONESIA AND PORTUGAL HAVE SIGNED AN ACCORD ON EAST 
TIMOR, PLEDGING TO LET THE PEOPLE OF THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY
DECIDE THEIR FUTURE POLITICAL STATUS IN A REFERENDUM IN THREE 
MONTHS' TIME.  IN THE MEANTIME, THERE ARE CONTINUING CONCERNS 
ABOUT VIOLENCE IN EAST TIMOR.  IN WASHINGTON, A GROUP OF U-S 
SENATORS WANTS PRESIDENT CLINTON TO PRESS INDONESIA TO DISARM 
PARAMILITARY GROUPS IN EAST TIMOR.  V-O-A'S CANDACE WILLIAMS HAS 
MORE.
TEXT:  SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY HAS SPONSORED A RESOLUTION CALLING 
ON THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO END THE 
VIOLENCE IN EAST TIMOR.  HE SAYS SENATORS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A 
DRAMATIC INCREASE IN VIOLENCE IN THE TERRITORY SINCE JANUARY, 
WHEN INDONESIA'S PRESIDENT B-J HABIBIE ANNOUNCED HE WAS WILLING 
TO CONSIDER INDEPENDENCE FOR THE TERRITORY.  SENATOR LEAHY SAYS 
MILITIAS OPPOSED TO EAST TIMOR'S INDEPENDENCE, BACKED BY MEMBERS 
OF THE INDONESIAN MILITARY, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UNREST.  HE 
WARNS THEY MAY TRY TO SABOTAGE THE REFERENDUM SET FOR AUGUST 
(EIGHTH).
                        /// LEAHY ACT ///
         THE MILITIAS ARE SOWING CHAOS AND TERROR.  FAR STRONGER 
         STEPS ARE NEEDED BY THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT AND 
         MILITARY TO REIGN IN THE PARAMILITARY GROUPS.  THE 
         [SENATE] RESOLUTION CALLS ON OUR PRESIDENT AND OUR 
         SECRETARY OF STATE TO INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO URGE THE 
         INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY TO DISARM THE 
         PARAMILITARY GROUPS.  THAT HAS TO BE DONE.
                         /// END ACT ///
IF VOTERS IN EAST TIMOR CHOOSE AUTONOMY IN THE AUGUST VOTE, THE 
JAKARTA GOVERNMENT SAYS THE TERRITORY WILL BE CONSIDERED PART OF 
INDONESIA.  BUT IF THE PROPOSAL IS REJECTED -- AS EXPECTED -- 
INDONESIA HAS PROMISED TO REVERSE ITS ANNEXATION OF EAST TIMOR 
AND ALLOW THE REGION TO BECOME INDEPENDENT.
// OPT //  INDONESIA INVADED EAST TIMOR IN 1975 AND ANNEXED IT 
THE FOLLOWING YEAR.  // END OPT //
SENATOR RUSS FEINGOLD, ANOTHER SPONSOR OF THE U-S SENATE 
RESOLUTION, SAYS HE HOPES UNREST IN EAST TIMOR DOES  NOT  DERAIL 
THE REFERENDUM.  
                      /// FEINGOLD ACT ///
         WE URGE THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE MILITARY TO 
         DISARM AND DISBAND THE ANTI-INDEPENDENCE MILITIAS AND 
         ALLOW FULL ACCESS TO EAST TIMOR BY INTERNATIONAL 
         MONITORS.  MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE CLIMATE IN EAST TIMOR 
         TODAY, SADLY, MAY -- AT LEAST AS OF THIS MOMENT -- 
         BECOME TOO VIOLENT FOR A LEGITIMATE BALLOT TO TAKE 
         PLACE. ... SO EVEN AS WE CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS WE HAVE 
         MADE ON THE DIPLOMATIC FRONT, WE CAN  NOT  FORGET THAT 
         HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED, WOUNDED, OR 
         MAY HAVE DISAPPEARED IN SEPARATE MILITIA ATTACKS DURING 
         THE MONTH OF APRIL ALONE.
                         /// END ACT ///
THE SENATE RESOLUTION SAYS ANY AGREEMENT TO SELL OR TRANSFER 
MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO INDONESIA SHOULD STATE THAT THE SUPPLIES 
WILL  NOT  BE USED IN EAST TIMOR.  LAWMAKERS SAY THEY DO  NOT  
WANT U-S EQUIPMENT ENDING UP IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE 
TRYING TO JEOPARDIZE THE AUGUST REFERENDUM.   (SIGNED)
NEB/CAW/WTW
05-May-99 8:44 PM EDT (0044 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.