[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 224 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 224

Recognizing the increasingly beneficial relationship between the United 
                 States and the Republic of Indonesia.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 24, 2009

     Mr. Bond (for himself and Mr. Inouye) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the increasingly beneficial relationship between the United 
                 States and the Republic of Indonesia.

Whereas the historical ties between the United States and the Republic of 
        Indonesia began during the struggle of the people of Indonesia to become 
        independent and the early years of independence beginning in 1945;
Whereas the constitutionally required ``free and active'' foreign policy of 
        Indonesia resulted in a close relationship with the United States, and 
        this relationship reflects growing connections between the developed and 
        the developing world;
Whereas, following the 1998 financial crisis of Asia, Indonesia instituted 
        numerous democratic reforms, including amending the constitution of 
        Indonesia in order to become more democratic and transparent, holding 
        the first direct presidential election in 2004, and direct, nationwide 
        local elections beginning in 2006, and giving the judicial branch 
        independent administrative and financial responsibility for all courts 
        in 2004;
Whereas the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the first 
        President of Indonesia elected directly by the people, is strongly 
        committed to strengthening democracy and remains focused on developing 
        good governance and promoting and protecting human rights, civil 
        liberties, a free press, and a vibrant civil society;
Whereas the Government of Indonesia continues to reform the military in 
        accordance with internationally accepted democratic principles;
Whereas Indonesia signed a peace agreement in August 2005 that ended the 
        conflict in Aceh, met its obligations under the agreement, oversaw the 
        return of normalcy to Aceh, and held free, transparent, and peaceful 
        elections for local government leaders in December 2006;
Whereas the Government of Indonesia continues to work to peacefully resolve 
        other internal conflicts, including Papua, with concern for the welfare 
        and security of the entire population;
Whereas, following the recovery of economic and political stability in Indonesia 
        after the 1998 Asian financial crisis, the country regained a pivotal 
        role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and continues 
        to work toward a secure, peaceful, and vibrant Southeast Asia, 
        particularly by successfully proposing to establish the ASEAN Security 
        Community, the ASEAN Economic Community, and the ASEAN Socio-cultural 
        Community;
Whereas the Government and the people of Indonesia endured several terrorist 
        bombings, have shown resilience in the fight against international 
        terrorism by apprehending and bringing to justice numerous perpetrators, 
        and remain open to international cooperation in this area;
Whereas the Government of Indonesia, together with the Governments of Malaysia 
        and Singapore as fellow littoral states and user-countries, maintains 
        and is further strengthening efforts to secure the important 
        international shipping lane in the Malacca Strait;
Whereas, as shown in international fora, the Government of Indonesia remains 
        committed to addressing the problems related to the control of the 
        spread of weapons of mass destruction;
Whereas the Government of Indonesia deployed a military battalion to support the 
        peacekeeping operations of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon, 
        and as the largest Muslim democracy in the world, has helped facilitate 
        dialogue among many Islamic factions in the Middle East; and
Whereas, though the Government of Indonesia has shown significant progress in 
        the areas of democracy, good governance, human rights, and 
        counterterrorism, there remains much to be done and many reforms yet to 
        be implemented: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the progress made by the Government of 
        Indonesia in promoting democracy;
            (2) expresses ongoing support for further democratic reform 
        in Indonesia and the efforts of the Government and the people 
        of Indonesia toward developing good governance;
            (3) encourages the Government and the people of Indonesia 
        to continue working to promote and protect human rights, civil 
        liberties, a free press, and a strong civil society in 
        Indonesia; and
            (4) encourages the President, the Secretary of State, and 
        other officials of the United States Government to continue 
        assisting the Government of Indonesia in promoting democracy 
        and ensuring the liberty and welfare of the people of 
        Indonesia.
                                 <all>