[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 21417]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 21417]]

               INTRODUCTION OF A RESOLUTION ON EAST TIMOR

  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia 
and the Pacific, this Member rises to advise his colleagues that he 
intends to introduce a resolution this afternoon regarding the institution in East Timor. Among its provisions, this resolution notes the abject failure 
of the government of Indonesia to fulfill its responsibility to 
guarantee the safety and security of the people of East Timor and calls 
on the government of Indonesia to terminate the current violence in 
East Timor.
  The resolution also expresses the support of the House for a United 
Nations Security Council-endorsed multinational force for East Timor 
which, under duress, President Habibie has agreed to permit.
  Australia is willing to lead this force and should be commended and 
supported. We need to get that force into East Timor now. The United 
Nations surely knew that some degree of violence would follow the 
announcement of the election results. It is a tragedy they were so 
unprepared for the rampage of the militia forces.
  Given the human tragedy that has been unfolding in East Timor and the 
pressing need for the House to speak out for action against the 
violence and mayhem there, it is the intention of this Member to move 
this East Timor resolution through the Committee on International 
Relations and bring it to the House floor as expeditiously as possible.
  Therefore, any colleagues who would like to be original cosponsors of 
this resolution should contact the subcommittee at 67825 this 
afternoon.

                          ____________________