[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 118 (Monday, September 13, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H8102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               EAST TIMOR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year I had an opportunity 
to travel with a congressional delegation chaired by the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe) to 
the island Nation of Indonesia.
  There we had an opportunity to meet with President Habibie, to meet 
in prison with Jose Alexandre Gusmao, who is likely to be the president 
of an independent East Timor, should that ever come to pass, as well as 
maybe of Indonesia's military leaders, people who appear to be 
sophisticated, many of whom are United States-educated.
  Again and again we heard of Indonesia's commitment to democracy and 
its determined effort to undo the damage done by the Asian financial 
crisis and its need for our support. The scheduling of an election on 
independence for East Timor was perceived as a positive sign. But over 
the last 8 months we have been watching those events unfold in East 
Timor, hoping for the best, but with a growing sense of apprehension. 
Last month's election results and the carnage that followed realized 
our worst fears.
  East Timor is in fact different from Indonesia's other areas of 
ethnic tension. Its history is different. It was ruled for hundreds of 
years by the Portuguese, not the Dutch. It is overwhelmingly Roman 
Catholic, not Muslim, like most of Indonesia.
  The people of East Timor have done everything that the world 
community could have expected in seeking their independence. They have 
suffered 25 years of repression at the hands of Indonesian military and 
paramilitary groups. In August, over 98 percent of the 450,000 eligible 
voters braved grave personal peril to journey to the polls.
  Only 2 weeks ago, those election results were described as a model 
vote, and the results, of course, were overwhelmingly clear. By a 
majority of more than three to one, East Timor voted for independence 
from Indonesia. But the reaction to this vote was chilling. Military 
groups have gone on a rampage. Innocent civilians, United Nations 
personnel, priests, nuns, women, and children have been attacked and 
killed. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of deaths have been added to the 
over 200,000 lives that have been lost on this troubled island over the 
last 25 years.
  The situation in East Timor is indeed complex and delicate, because 
Indonesia is simultaneously trying to restore its own democracy after 
years of military dictatorship, repair a shattered economy, and retrain 
its military to respect civilian authority.
  Whether it will be able to do those things is very much an open 
question. There is a great deal at stake in Indonesia's resolving these 
problems. It is indeed a huge country, the fourth most populous in the 
world. It has the largest Muslim population in the world. It is rich in 
natural resources. It was, until recently, aspiring to be an Asian and 
a world leader. Now it is just trying to hold itself together. 
Struggling with centrifugal forces of ethnicity are Nation's separatist 
movements that could splinter this vast Nation created and held 
together by force.
  But the greatest threat to Indonesia's future is to allow the 
hardliners to overturn the referendum through violence and fear. 
Tolerating this would send exactly the wrong message to the 
Indonesians, their military, and people struggling to make democracy 
work.
  The credibility of many is on the line. The United Nations did not 
create this crisis, but it must follow through if it is to have 
political and moral credibility. The neighboring Asian countries, 
through ASEAN, have a chance to be heard and a chance to play an 
important role in events of such direct interest to them, and perhaps 
putting a more Asian face on any peacekeeping effort.
  The United States should continue to exert pressure and influence 
through every means possible to restore peace and bring democracy to 
East Timor. For 20 years, we have erred on the side of caution. We have 
been timid in seeking to protect East Timor. Perhaps that role is 
changing, as it should. I am greatly encouraged by the United States' 
role over the last 96 hours.
  There are some that argue that we have to be selective in playing a 
role as the guarantor of freedom and the protector of those who seek 
democracy worldwide. There are limitations, it is argued, on the powers 
and realities in the many potential areas of involvement.
  But the people of East Timor have already earned our support, paying 
a horrible price over the last 25 years. The world community needs to 
prove its capacity to keep its commitments to people aspiring to 
freedom. Indonesia must be strongly encouraged in new directions of 
tolerance and democracy, lest this vast island country dissolve, with 
enormous consequences to world stability, as well as to the 211 million 
Indonesians.
  The United States has the opportunity and the responsibility to help 
Indonesians and the world keep their commitments. We in Congress should 
use every opportunity in the days ahead to keep the spotlight trained 
on this troubled island.

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