[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 96 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 96

  Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding a peaceful process of 
       self-determination in East Timor, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 5, 1999

    Mr. Leahy (for himself, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Reed, Mr. Harkin, Mr. 
    McConnell, Mr. Moynihan, and Mr. Kohl) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding a peaceful process of 
       self-determination in East Timor, and for other purposes.

Whereas United Nations-sponsored negotiations between the Governments of 
        Indonesia and Portugal have resulted in significant and encouraging 
        progress toward a resolution of East Timor's political status;
Whereas on January 27, 1999, President Habibie expressed a willingness to 
        consider independence for East Timor if a majority of the East Timorese 
        reject autonomy in a planned August 8, 1999, ballot organized by the 
        United Nations;
Whereas despite President Habibie's efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution 
        of the political status of East Timor, the arming of anti-independence 
        militias by some members of the Indonesian military has contributed to 
        increased political tension and violence;
Whereas since January 1999, violence and human rights abuses by anti-
        independence militias has increased dramatically resulting in the 
        displacement of thousands of East Timorese villagers and scores of 
        deaths;
Whereas since March 1999, hundreds of civilians may have been killed, injured, 
        or disappeared in separate attacks by anti-independence militias;
Whereas there are also reports of killings of anti-independence militia members;
Whereas the killings in East Timor should be fully investigated and the 
        individuals responsible brought to justice;
Whereas access to East Timor by international human rights monitors, 
        humanitarian organizations is severely limited, and members of the press 
        have been threatened; and
Whereas a stable and secure environment in East Timor is necessary for a free 
        and fair ballot on East Timor's political status: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the United States should promptly contribute to the 
        United Nations Trust Fund which will provide support for the 
        East Timor ballot process;
            (2) the President, Secretary of State, and Secretary of 
        Defense should intensify their efforts to urge the Indonesian 
        Government and military to--
                    (A) disarm and disband anti-independence militias; 
                and
                    (B) grant full access to East Timor by 
                international human rights monitors, humanitarian 
                organizations, and the press;
            (3) the President, after consultation with the United 
        Nations Secretary General, should report to the Congress not 
        later than 15 days after passage of this Resolution, on steps 
        taken by the Indonesian Government and military to ensure a 
        stable and secure environment in East Timor, including those 
        steps described in subparagraphs (2) (a) and (b); and
            (4) any agreement for the sale, transfer, or licensing of 
        any military equipment for Indonesia entered into by the United 
        States should state that the equipment will not be used in East 
        Timor.
                                 <all>