[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 19 (Tuesday, March 3, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H701-H702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN INDONESIA

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to draw attention to the 
human rights abuses taking place in Indonesia. As many of my colleagues 
know, Indonesia is experiencing tremendous economic and social 
upheaval. In the ensuing panic, the people and government have tagged 
the Christian and

[[Page H702]]

ethnic Chinese minority as the scapegoats for these societal ills.

                              {time}  1415

  As a result, massive human rights violations have occurred. Mobs have 
shut down Christian church services and burned down places of worship. 
Between February 14 and 17 alone, rioters destroyed the property of 29 
churches. Churches gathered to find their musical instruments, benches, 
bibles, church documents and entire buildings destroyed.
  Mr. Speaker, the extremists are not the only perpetrators of human 
rights abuses. Government authorities allegedly participate in the 
violence and abuses by failing to protect the churches and communities 
from attackers. By doing nothing in response to these violations, the 
government implicitly collaborates with extremist groups and builds 
anti-Christian sentiment. This is outrageous.
  Mr. Speaker, we should not look the other way while such blatant 
human rights violations occur in Indonesia. I urge Mr. Mondale to raise 
these issues during his meetings with Mr. Suharto and the Government of 
Indonesia to take steps immediately to protect these minorities from 
abuse.

                          ____________________