[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 21222-21223]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                               EAST TIMOR

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, in the final 1 minute--and I did not 
bring any talking points; I do not have it written now--I would like to 
thank the President. I was critical of the President last week about 
East Timor, but I think we ought to give credit where credit is due.
  I am glad he spoke out. I am glad he put pressure on the Indonesian 
Government. I know there are a number of important questions to resolve 
about the nature of whatever kind of peacekeeping force goes in, but 
the sooner the better because this has been genocide. An awful lot of 
people have had the courage to stand up against the repressive 
government, or in this particular case, stand up for the independence 
of East Timor, that have been murdered. The sooner we get an 
international presence, an international force in there, the better.

[[Page 21223]]

  I think the President was forceful this past weekend and should 
continue to be forceful. We should not let the Indonesian Government 
delay. The sooner we get a force in there to protect people, and to 
follow through on the mandate of the people--which was something the 
United Nations sponsored and supported, where the people voted for 
their own independence--I think the better off the world will be 
because whenever our Government can be on the side of human rights, 
then we are living up to who we are as a Nation.
  I thank my colleagues and yield the floor.
  Mr. WYDEN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, before he leaves the floor, I commend the 
Senator from Minnesota for an excellent statement. I happen to think 
those statements reflect his commitment to justice, both here at home 
and overseas. I commend him for an excellent statement.
  I also, before I begin, thank my colleague, the distinguished whip 
from Nevada. I understand he had the time, and he was gracious enough 
to give me this opportunity to speak briefly. I thank my good friend 
from Nevada for the opportunity to speak this afternoon.

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