DATE=2/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGRESS - EAST TIMOR (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259034
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The U-S Congress is taking a close look at the
situation in East Timor, as lawmakers prepare to
receive the Clinton administration's aid request. V-
O-A's Paula Wolfson reports from Capitol Hill.
TEXT: For the second time in six months, House and
Senate members came together for a joint hearing on
the situation in East Timor.
When last they met, the area was awash in violence.
The East Timorese vote for independence sent pro-
Indonesian militias on a rampage.
The bloodshed has stopped. But long-term challenges
remain.
/// BEREUTER TEASE ACT ///
...and we have to think of them, I guess, in a
benevolent sense, as an international welfare
case for a while.
/// END ACT ///
Nebraska Republican Doug Bereuter - Chairman of the
House East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee - opened the
hearing with a blunt assessment. He spoke of the need
to ensure basic nutritional, health and housing
services to the East Timorese. But he also mentioned
signs of hope - particularly, the Indonesian
government's investigation of human rights abuses.
/// BEREUTER ACT ///
I also believe that we should give that
important internal tribunal a chance to succeed
before proceeding any further with a Bosnia-
style international tribunal for East Timor.
/// END ACT ////
The State Department's top official for East Asia
agreed. Assistant Secretary of State Stanley Roth
said the Clinton Administration has adopted a wait-
and-see attitude.
/// FIRST ROTH ACT ///
At this point, we would like to give the
Indonesian domestic process on the Commission of
Inquiry a chance to play out.
/// END ACT //
During his appearance before the House and Senate
panels that deal with East Asia, Mr. Roth detailed his
recent discussions with leaders of the East Timorese
independence movement. He said they are trying to
advance the timetable for self-government.
/// SECOND ROTH ACT ///
If you take 18 months to three years as the
expected outcome - and nobody is saying they
have to be fully independent economically before
they can move towards political institutions and
elections and independence - the feeling is that
they are going to get aid after they are
independent as well
/// END ACT ///
Many lawmakers said they were concerned about the high
cost of helping East Timor over the coming years,
though no one raised a voice in strong opposition.
Several of the House and Senate members present
focused on Japan's reluctance to send peacekeepers to
the region. Mr. Roth said it is a point of discussion
between the United States and Japan, but stressed the
Japanese government has been a major contributor of
humanitarian and developmental aid. (Signed)
NEB/PW/ENE/gm
10-Feb-2000 17:14 PM EDT (10-Feb-2000 2214 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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