15 September 1999
Text: House Resolution 292 on East Timor
(Urges Administration to consider additional sanctions) (1350)
The House International Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
passed a resolution September 15, condemning the violent efforts of
East Timor militias and elements of the Indonesian military to
overturn the results of the August 30 East Timorese vote for
independence.
The resolution notes "the failure of the Government of Indonesia,
despite repeated assurances to the contrary, to guarantee the security
of the people of East Timor and further notes that it is the
responsibility of the Government of Indonesia to restrain elements of
the Indonesian military and paramilitary forces and restore order in
East Timor."
It calls upon the Government of Indonesia to recognize its
responsibilities as a member of the United Nations and a signatory to
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to cooperate with
appropriate United Nations authorities in the restoration of order in
East Timor.
It also calls upon the Government of Indonesia to hold accountable
those responsible for the violence and human rights abuses and
atrocities in East Timor.
The resolution urges the Clinton Administration to consider additional
measures to end the current civil unrest and violence in East Timor,
"including the suspension of bilateral and international financial
assistance (except for humanitarian assistance and assistance designed
to promote the development of democratic institutions) to the
Government of Indonesia until such time as it has demonstrated
cooperation with respect to the deployment of a multinational force in
East Timor and such force is fully deployed, UNAMET is fully
operational in East Timor, refugees and displaced persons are able to
return to East Timor safely, and order and respect for human rights
are restored in East Timor."
Following is the text of the resolution:
(begin text)
H. RES. 292
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. BEREUTER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the
referendum in East Timor, calling on the Government of Indonesia to
assist in the termination of the current civil unrest and violence in
East Timor, and supporting a United Nations Security Council-endorsed
multinational force for East Timor.
Whereas on May 5, 1999, the Governments of Portugal and Indonesia and
the United Nations concluded an historic agreement intended to resolve
the status of East Timor through a popular consultation based upon a
universal, direct, and secret ballot;
Whereas the agreement gave the people of East Timor an opportunity to
accept a proposed special autonomy for East Timor within the unitary
Republic of Indonesia or reject the special autonomy and opt for
independence;
Whereas on August 30, 1999, 98.5 percent of registered voters
participated in a vote on the future of East Timor; and by a vote of
344,580 to 94,388 chose the course of independence;
Whereas after the voting was concluded, violence intensified
significantly in East Timor;
Whereas the declaration by the Government of Indonesia of martial law
in East Timor has failed to quell the violence;
Whereas it has been reported that hundreds of people have been killed
and injured since the violence began in East Timor;
Whereas it has been reported that as many as 200,000 of East Timor's
780,000 residents have been forced to flee East Timor;
Whereas it has been reported that East Timor militias are controlling
the refugee camps in West Timor, intimidating the refugees and denying
access to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, relief
agencies, and other humanitarian nongovernmental organizations;
Whereas it has been reported that a systematic campaign of political
assassinations that has targeted religious, student, and political
leaders, aid workers, and others has taken place;
Whereas the compound of the United Nations Mission in East Timor
(UNAMET) was besieged and fired upon, access to food, water, and
electricity was intentionally cut off, and UNAMET personnel have been
killed, forcing the closure of UNAMET in East Timor;
Whereas Catholic leaders and lay people have been targeted to be
killed and churches burned in East Timor;
Whereas the international community has called upon the Government of
Indonesia to either take immediate and concrete steps to end the
violence in East Timor or allow a United Nations Security
Council-endorsed multinational force to enter East Timor and restore
order;
Whereas on September 9, 1999, the United States suspended all military
relations with Indonesia as a result of the failure to quell the
violence in East Timor; and
Whereas on September 12, 1999, Indonesian President B.J. Habibie
announced that Indonesia would allow a United Nations Security
Council-endorsed multinational force into East Timor: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives --
(1) congratulates the people of East Timor on their exemplary
participation in the August 30, 1999, popular consultation;
(2) commends the professionalism, determination, and courage of the
United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) personnel in support of
the August 30, 1999, vote on the future of East Timor;
(3) recognizes the overwhelming expression of the people of East Timor
in favor of independence from Indonesia;
(4) condemns the violent efforts of East Timor militias and elements
of the Indonesian military to overturn the results of the August 30,
1999, vote;
(5) notes with grave alarm the failure of the Government of Indonesia,
despite repeated assurances to the contrary, to guarantee the security
of the people of East Timor and further notes that it is the
responsibility of the Government of Indonesia to restrain elements of
the Indonesian military and paramilitary forces and restore order in
East Timor;
(6) calls upon the Government of Indonesia to recognize its
responsibilities as a member of the United Nations and a signatory to
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to cooperate with
appropriate United Nations authorities in the restoration of order in
East Timor;
(7) urges the Government of Indonesia to allow unrestricted access to
refugees and displaced persons in West Timor and to guarantee their
safety;
(8) calls upon the Government of Indonesia to hold accountable those
responsible for the violence and human rights abuses and atrocities in
East Timor;
(9) notes with approval the decision of the United States to suspend
military relations with, and the sale of any military weapons or
equipment to, the Government of Indonesia until order is effectively
restored;
(10) expresses approval of Indonesia's belated decision to allow a
United Nations Security Council-endorsed multinational force into East
Timor and strongly urges Indonesia to accept the rapid deployment of
this force and to cooperate fully without preconditions on the
composition and deployment of this force;
(11) expresses support for a rapid and effective deployment throughout
East Timor of the United Nations Security Council-endorsed
multinational force;
(12) urges that the United States consider additional measures to end
the current civil unrest and violence in East Timor, including the
suspension of bilateral and international financial assistance (except
for humanitarian assistance and assistance designed to promote the
development of democratic institutions) to the Government of Indonesia
until such time as it has demonstrated cooperation with respect to the
deployment of a multinational force in East Timor and such force is
fully deployed, UNAMET is fully operational in East Timor, refugees
and displaced persons are able to return to East Timor safely, and
order and respect for human rights are restored in East Timor;
(13) expresses approval of United States logistical and other
technical support for deployment of a multinational force for East
Timor;
(14) commends Australia for its readiness to lead the multinational
force for East Timor and welcomes the participation of other nations
in this force;
(15) urges the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly to
expeditiously ratify the vote of August 30, 1999, in East Timor and to
otherwise speed the transition to full independence for East Timor;
and
(16) recognizes that an effective United States foreign policy for
this region requires both an effective near-term response to the
ongoing violence in, and progress toward independence for, East Timor
and a long-term strategy for supporting stability, security, and
democracy in Indonesia and East Timor.
(end text)
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