[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 65 (Wednesday, May 20, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H3493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    END UNITED STATES SUPPORT FOR SUHARTO DICTATORSHIP IN INDONESIA

  (Mr. SANDERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to announce that 2 Members of 
the House have now signed a letter to President Clinton which calls for 
an end to U.S. support for the Suharto dictatorship in Indonesia. I 
hope that more of my colleagues will sign it in the coming days.
  While the transition to democracy in Indonesia will not be easy, the 
United States should play an active role in helping to develop a 
process by which Suharto's political prisoners are released, free 
speech is guaranteed to all, and an approach is created for free and 
fair elections.
  Most importantly, we must let the Indonesian people know that we will 
not continue in any way to support the corrupt Suharto dictatorship, a 
regime which over the last 32 years has not only killed hundreds of 
thousands of people, but which has enabled the Suharto family to 
accumulate over $40 billion in personal wealth in a country where the 
average income is $20 a week.
  Mr. Speaker, tens of thousands of Indonesian students have put their 
lives on the line for freedom. We must listen to their cries.

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