[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 116 (Thursday, September 9, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H8004]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AS THE CHAMPION OF DEMOCRACY, OUR VOICE SHOULD BE THE LOUDEST FOR 
                  PROTECTING THE PEOPLE OF EAST TIMOR

  (Mrs. LOWEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, on August 30 the world watched as the 
people of East Timor exercised their right to self-determination for 
the first time with nearly full participation of eligible voters; and 
by a staggering margin, the East Timorese chose independence from 
Indonesia over autonomy within it. This courage has been rewarded with 
the destruction of East Timor, the displacement of its people, the 
inaction of the Indonesian government. Since the election, hundreds 
have died; and nearly one-quarter of the East Timorese have been forced 
to flee their homes. Indonesian officials have done nothing to stop the 
violence and to protect the U.N. personnel there.
  For the people of East Timor time is running out. We must do our part 
to stop the horror; we must pledge logistical support to an armed 
peacekeeping force to restore order in East Timor. Until order is 
restored, all bilateral nonhumanitarian assistance to Indonesia should 
be suspended; and we should use our leverage in international financial 
institutions to cut off multilateral assistance. We should advocate in 
the U.N. Security Council punitive measures against Indonesia if 
Habibie fails to cooperate.
  As the champion of democracy, our voice should be the loudest.

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