[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 251 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 251

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with regard to the 
                   escalating violence in East Timor.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                July 16 (legislative day, July 15), 1999

    Mr. Luther (for himself, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Horn, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. 
    Blagojevich, Mr. Meehan, Mr. Minge, Mr. Visclosky, Mr. Farr of 
    California, Mr. Stark, and Mr. Capuano) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with regard to the 
                   escalating violence in East Timor.

Whereas a May 5, 1999, agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and the 
        Portuguese Republic provided for the establishment of a United Nations 
        mission in East Timor;
Whereas that mission enables the Secretary-General of the United Nations to 
        effectively carry out the referendum on the independence of East Timor;
Whereas the Secretary-General of the United Nations has postponed the United 
        Nations-organized August 8, 1999, vote on the future of East Timor;
Whereas United Nations outposts have been attacked on at least five separate 
        occasions between June 29 and July 8, 1999, and personnel have been 
        threatened and injured;
Whereas militiamen opposed to a referendum on independence for East Timor fired 
        at a convoy of foreign and local humanitarian workers;
Whereas the United Nations staff members are unarmed and rely on the Indonesian 
        police for protection; and
Whereas increasing violence by armed militia groups, backed by the Indonesian 
        military, designed to intimidate the population, has led to the 
        withdrawal of United Nations staff from the towns of Liquica and 
        Maliano: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the May 5, 1999, agreement between the 
        Republic of Indonesia and the Portuguese Republic on the 
        question of the independence of East Timor;
            (2) expresses its concern about the unabated escalating 
        violence in East Timor;
            (3) urges the Indonesian Government to guarantee the 
        protection of United Nations staff members assisting in the 
        preparation of the referendum;
            (4) demands that the Indonesian Government ensure that the 
        vote in East Timor is carried out in a secure atmosphere by--
                    (A) ceasing Indonesian military (known as the TNI) 
                and police support for paramilitary forces;
                    (B) disarming paramilitary units in fulfillment of 
                its responsibilities under the terms of the May 5 
                agreement;
                    (C) opening access to East Timor to independent 
                international monitors, observers, and relief workers; 
                and
                    (D) allowing the return of exiled East Timorese and 
                securing their safety;
            (5) endorses the purpose of the United Nations Assistance 
        Mission in East Timor to carry out a free and fair vote; and
            (6) encourages the Administration to support United Nations 
        action to secure United Nations personnel and to better 
        supervise the vote in East Timor.
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