[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 65 (Monday, May 20, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H2637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       EAST TIMOR'S INDEPENDENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, this week, on the other 
side of the globe, the world celebrates the creation of a new 
democracy, the Democratic Republic of East Timor. I congratulate and 
honor the people of this island nation for their perseverance and for 
the triumph of freedom over oppression.
  The effort to bring self-determination to East Timor was a dream back 
in 1994, when I first came to the House. But now, today, it is a 
reality. Since coming to Congress, I have seen how the East Timorese 
people have stood against tremendous odds, resisted military rule, 
despite the killing of one-third of the population in the 1970s and the 
oppression and massacres of subsequent years.
  There have been many of us in Congress dedicated to the plight of the 
East Timorese largely because of the information we learned over years 
of meetings and visits with the residents of East Timor. I personally 
had the opportunity to go to East Timor to visit with Bishop Belo, one 
of the two Nobel Peace prize winners. They and others were willing to 
give me their stories, tell me what was going on.
  In that context, Mr. Speaker, and with the work of groups such as 
Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, U.S. Catholic Conference of 
Bishops, and I might add the Catholic Conference of Bishops was a 
tremendous help in this effort, as well as the Indonesian Human Rights 
Network, and, of course, East Timor Action Network, all who were 
instrumental, everyone should feel very proud of this effort and 
outcome.
  Let me just conclude by saying we are at a critical time now with 
this new democracy. We need to give it all the support it can get so 
that it can establish itself and make a difference for the people of 
East Timor.
  As we move forward, however, we cannot forget the need to continue to 
show our support for East Timor's sustainable development and a 
positive future.
  The United States should work with the United Nations and its members 
to make sure that the job of preparing East Timor for self-rule is 
completed.
  Enough proper expertise and funds must be provided to ensure a smooth 
transition in government services and to train East Timorese to fully 
manage their own affairs.
  After decades of tremendous suffering under military occupation, we 
need to give generously to East Timor to ensure that children are 
guaranteed a quality education, adequate healthcare and shelter, and 
that other needs for a decent standard of living are met.
  This is especially crucial in light of the recently released United 
Nations Development Program Report that classified East Timor as one of 
the twenty poorest countries in the world and the poorest in Asia.
  Life expectancy in the island nation is just 57 years, and nearly 
half the population lives on less than fifty-five American cents ($.55) 
per day.
  This burgeoning democracy will need our hand as we move into the 
Twenty First Century.
  I look forward to working with my Colleagues in Congress on these 
issues and these challenges.
  But today, we celebrate the perseverance and the spirit of the East 
Timorese and we celebrate the creation of democracy.

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