[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 68 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       INDEPENDENCE OF EAST TIMOR

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 21, 2002

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 405, 
legislation commemorating the independence of East Timor and expressing 
the sense of Congress that the President should establish diplomatic 
relations with East Timor.
  Independence for East Timor has been a long time coming. It was ruled 
by the Portugese for 400 years and then more recently experienced 25 
years of Indonesian occupation.
  Unfortunately, many East Timorese suffered during the path to 
independence, particularly when Indonesian military backed militias 
went on a murderous rampage in 1999, after the people of East Timor 
voted for independence.
  Thousands of innocent East Timorese were killed and hundreds of 
thousands became refugees because of the violence carried out against 
the East Timorese who were only seeking freedom.
  Fortunately, the East Timorese have benefitted from having solid 
leaders. I met many of these people when I visited East Timor in 1997--
people such as Roman Catholic Bishop Belo, bishop of Dili.
  Bishop Belo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his invaluable work 
on behalf of peace and justice in East Timor. Representative Tony Hall 
and I nominated Bishop Belo for this award of which he so deservingly 
was presented several years ago.
  I met with many other outstanding East Timorese volunteers, local 
leaders, NGO staff and religious leaders who also helped forge the way 
for a peaceful movement of independence. All are to be commended for 
their contributions that have led to East Timor's independence.
  Recently elected President Jose Alexandre Gusmao also appears to be a 
leader who will serve his new country well.
  He is emphasizing reconciliation rather than revenge for the 
sufferings and atrocities the people suffered at the hands of the pro-
Indonesian militias in 1999.
  I am hopeful that the new country of East Timor will be a reliable 
and worthy addition to the international community.
  I want to congratulate the people of East Timor, President Gusmao, 
Bishop Belo, Jose Ramos Horta, and the many other East Timorese who 
brought their people and their nation to this historic point.
  I also want to commend President Bush for his action yesterday 
recognizing East Timor as a nation and establishing diplomatic 
relations.
  Lastly, I want to thank Representative Smith for sponsoring this 
important legislation and for all of his work in this Congress not only 
on East Timor, but for human rights and religious freedom.

                          ____________________