[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 25775]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         PROGRESS ON EAST TIMOR

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr President, the Indonesian Parliament acted wisely 
today in ratifying the overwhelming vote of the East Timorese people 
for independence and recognizing the right of self-determination for 
these people.
  The militias that have terrorized the East Timorese people since the 
historic August 30 referendum must end their campaign of violence. From 
their bases in West Timor, the militias have continued to act with 
impunity against East Timorese refugees in camps in West Timor. Through 
intimidation tactics, they have undermined the efforts of international 
humanitarian agencies to provide assistance and to facilitate 
repatriation.
  Many of us have been alarmed by persistent reports that the 
Indonesian military has continued to aid and abet the militias. On 
October 11, the commander of the international peace
keeping force in East Timor demanded a formal explanation from the 
Indonesian government as to whether any Indonesian soldiers or police 
officers were involved in a militia attack against the international 
peacekeepers on October 10. Officials from the peacekeeping force said 
that uniformed soldiers and police officers had escorted the militias 
and did nothing as militia members opened fire on the peacekeepers. I 
urge the Indonesian military and security forces to sever all links 
with the militias.
  I welcome the establishment by the United Nations Human Rights 
Commission of a commission of inquiry to investigate the atrocities 
that occurred in East Timor following President Habibie's decision to 
hold the referendum on East Timor's status. The Indonesian government, 
which has announced its own investigation of the atrocities, must end 
its collaboration with the militias if its investigation is to be 
credible.
  In the coming weeks, the United States should do all it can to see 
that the transition to independence is accomplished peacefully and that 
those responsible for atrocities are brought to justice.

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