[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  EAST TIMOR ABUSES CANNOT BE IGNORED

                                 ______


                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 1996

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, over a decade ago, Indonesia invaded and 
annexed East Timor. While this issue is usually only discussed in this 
body during the anniversary of the annexation or invasion, I would like 
to take this opportunity to point out recent reports which uncover the 
nature of Indonesian rule over East Timor in recent years.
  Since the invasion, it is estimated that over 200,000 people have 
died out of a population of 700,000. To maintain order in the 
territory, Indonesia stations 5,000 troops in East Timor. These troops 
have been used to intimidate the local population into an illegal 
occupation, one which the United Nations has refused to recognize.
  The Indonesian Government has consistently been cited by human rights 
groups such as Asia Watch and Amnesty International for their abuses in 
East Timor. In their annual report last year, Amnesty International 
pointed to the fact that at least 350 political prisoners, many of them 
prisoners of conscience, were held, including some 40 sentenced during 
the year. Hundreds of people were arrested and held without charge or 
trial. Torture of political detainees and criminal suspects was common, 
in some cases resulting in death. Several people were extrajudicially 
executed, and scores of criminal suspects were shot and killed by 
police in suspicious circumstances. The fate of possible hundreds of 
Achnese and East Timorese who ``disappeared'' in previous years 
remained unknown.
  The political dynamics in East Timor seem to be shifting with a 
younger generation emerging, many of whom were born after the invasion 
and annexation, and social and economic strains taking their toll. 
Media reports indicate that the nature of their dispute with Indonesia 
has become more emotional and protests have become more spontaneous. In 
a recent news report from the Sydney Morning Herald, rioting last fall 
has taken East Timor into a new phase. Local people and diplomats said 
previous unrest in East Timor had been largely politically organized, 
but recent disorder has been more widespread and spontaneous, 
reflecting the anger of Timorese buckling under economic and social 
strains.
  Mr. Speaker, while this issue has faded from the headlines and is not 
a hot topic in Congress, I believe we should be mindful of the abuses 
in East Timor and the changing political environment.

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