[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 68 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E893-E894]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       INDEPENDENCE OF EAST TIMOR

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. TONY P. HALL

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 21, 2002

  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. 
Res. 405, Commemorating the Independence of East Timor on May 20, 2002. 
Yesterday's independence of East Timor will make it the first new 
country of the millennium. I extended my full congratulations to all of 
the people of East Timor, their new President, Xanana Gusmao, and Nobel 
Peace Prize Laureates Carlos Xinenes Belo, the Roman Catholic Bishop of 
Dili, and Jose Ramos-Horta who have both worked tirelessly on behalf of 
the people of East Timor. Yesterday was a day which many of us thought 
would never come in our lifetimes.

[[Page E894]]

  Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the 
extraordinary contributions of one individual--Arnold S. Kohen--who has 
made a difference in working for peace and justice in East Timor. He is 
not often recognized but Arnold has worked behind the scenes for over 
20 years raising the issue of East Timor within the U.S. Congress and 
throughout the world. He wrote a book documenting the epic struggles of 
Bishop Belo. Arnold's work has made a contribution to this historic day 
and is a model for me on how one individual can truly make a difference 
in the world. I also want to recognize the hard work and dedication of 
the East Timor Action Network.
  The work in East Timor is not yet finished. However, yesterday was a 
day in which we all can rejoice because an oppressed people have now 
been set free.

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