[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 138 (Tuesday, October 6, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H9647-H9648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN INDONESIA MUST STOP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the many people in 
Indonesia suffering from religious and ethnic hatred and abuse. The 
recent reports of riots and mass rapes of Chinese women has shocked the 
world. The extreme nature of these stories and the human rights abuses 
have made many wonder if the stories can really be true. Unfortunately 
they are.
  Earlier this year riots broke out in major cities of Indonesia. As 
people

[[Page H9648]]

stood and watched in horror rioters looted and destroyed Chinese 
businesses. Authorities arrested and even killed students, and 
assailants brutally raped and murdered Chinese women and girls.
  Reports suggest that groups of unknown assailants would descend on a 
community, enter businesses, demand money, rape women who were present, 
often while uttering anti Chinese rhetoric and loot and sometimes burn 
the businesses. Horrifying testimonies of rapes of girls, young women 
and older women revealed what some believe to be a calculated attempt 
to humiliate and terrorize the population into becoming followers of 
the government and military.
  The actions of the rapists and looters are cowardly, should be 
internationally condemned. In addition, although the Indonesia 
government has acknowledged that the rapes occurred, it must engage in 
a thorough investigation. They must be held accountable before the 
world community for the riots and mass rapes and bring to justice those 
who are responsible for these terrible atrocities.
  This summer I cohosted a Congressional Human Rights Caucus briefing 
on human rights abuses in Indonesia. The courageous panel of witnesses 
put their own lives in danger by sharing their stories and experiences 
in Indonesia. Father Sandyawan, the leader of the team that testified 
is now on the run. His offices, his house, have been ransacked, his 
assistants have been harassed, and his wife has been threatened.
  Unfortunately reports reflect that the minority Chinese ethnic and 
religious population has been the target of most of the riot activity. 
This reflects a terrible violation of human rights and raises the 
possibility that there could be an increase in human rights abuses and 
a limit to basic freedoms for the general Indonesian population as a 
whole.
  It is an understatement to say that the economic and political 
situation in Indonesia has been highly unstable in these past 8 or 9 
months. Indonesians have lost their life savings, they have struggled 
to get food for their families, they live in fear of losing their lives 
in the riots which occurred.
  Reports suggest that the ethnic Chinese only leave their homes to go 
to and from work. Otherwise they stay hidden.
  Despite the change in the leadership of Indonesia's government on May 
21, the rapes and other human rights abuses continue. In the midst of 
this turmoil and even before the current chaos began another group has 
suffered and continues to suffer as victims of violence and arson. The 
Indonesian Christian population has borne tremendous difficulty as 
government troops have closed churches and places of worship. Further, 
angry mobs have ransacked and destroyed their churches.
  Since independence in 1945, and especially since the inception of the 
Suharto regime in 1966, reports reveal that mobs have burned or 
otherwise destroyed 483 churches, and 228 of those churches were 
destroyed after January 1996. Attackers destroyed the churches with 
Molotov bombs, fires and mob action.
  I have besides me photographs which show the devastating effects of 
the attacks on the churches. In addition, there is a photo of a young 
woman who was burned to death in East Java while in her church. 
Unfortunately, although the new president of Indonesia promised change, 
churches continue to fall under attack. Fifteen churches have been 
destroyed during the four months since President Habibie assumed power.
  Let me show you these photographs. The top photograph is of a 
Catholic church in West Java while it is burning. The bottom photograph 
is another church in South Kalimantan. The top photograph here is this 
same Catholic church after it has been burned. The congregation is 
sitting in the shell continuing to worship, but with no roof top. Here 
is another Indonesian Christian church that has been burned and 
ransacked. Here is a Protestant church in South Kalimantan, and here is 
remains of the lady who was burned in that church.
  Indonesia is a member of the United Nations, but it is not party to 
any of the U.N. agreements which protect basic human rights such as 
freedom of religion.
  Mr. Speaker, the human rights violations in Indonesia must stop, and 
the world community demands that they investigate and pursue justice.

  A news article from June 18 states that ``Indonesia's politics is 
becoming more Islamic.''
  Although there are numerous moderate Muslims in Indonesia who would 
protect the right of their Christian brothers and sisters to worship 
and share their faith freely, there are extremists who appear intent on 
securing power and ruling according to Shari'a (pronounced Shar-ee-aa) 
law.
  Recent laws have been passed which restrict freedom of speech and 
conversion to another religion; restrict licensing for building places 
of worship; restrict Muslims from marrying non-Muslims; and restrict 
the religious education of private schools. In addition, the government 
must approve of religions--certain religions are illegal in Indonesia.
  There are a few other nations of the world which have extremist 
governments, who do not respect freedom of belief for Christians, 
animists, or other non-Muslim religions.
  And reports from Christians in Indonesia show their fear of being 
ruled by extremists.
  As the world works to help Indonesia recover economically, it is 
vital that those solutions also address underlying issues in the 
culture, such as ethnic and religious prejudices, and the ensuing 
restrictions on fundamental human rights.
  The government of Indonesia should thoroughly investigate the mass 
rapes of Chinese women as well as the destruction of churches and bring 
those responsible for these organized terrorist attacks to justice.
  The world community of civilized nations demands no less.

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