RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE ETHNIC &

RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN INDONESIA - US CONGRESS

February 5, 2000

Resolution No S00-9

Resolution No S00-9 passed by the California Republican Party General Session on February 5, 2000 (California Republican Party Convention in Burlingame)

RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE ETHNIC & RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN INDONESIA

Chris Smith Rep NJ                                        Nita Lowrt Dem NY

WHEREAS, the Independent Joint Investigative Team has reported sixty rape victims in late 1998 and since the report no action has been taken by the Indonesian government; and rape victims included girls, some as young as 9 years old; and

WHEREAS, many churches and temples have been burned, stoned, demolished, looted and closed in the past three years; and

WHEREAS, despite with the New Indonesian President, promising reformation, discriminatory laws and regulations are still not abolished, denying equal rights for ethnic Chinese; such as prohibiting the use of Chinese characters, banning Chinese-language publications and obliging all ethnic Chinese to take Indonesian names; and

WHEREAS, It is reported that more than 100,000 of the 300,000 East Timorese forcibly taken to West Timor and other parts of Indonesia by the Indonesian militaries have not been able to return by year's-end; and

WHEREAS, 3 Catholic Priests were allegedly brutally murdered last year in East Timor by the Indonesian pro-independence militias supported by the Indonesian military; and

WHEREAS, human rights groups worldwide have accused the Indonesian government as represented by security forces, of failing to control the violence and actually encouraging the brutality in Ambon and West Papua; and

WHEREAS, the United States must condemn and denounce these horrific atrocities and express the moral outrage of the American people; now THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Republican Party condemns human & religious rights abuses, persecutions, racial violence; and

BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Republican Party urges its Political Representatives to call for the United States Congress to pressure the government of Indonesia to provide fill protection on the safety and welfare of all Indonesians and minority, religious groups; and

BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Republican Party urges its Political Representatives to support ER. 1063, introduced by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Gary Miller (R-CA), Richard Pombo (R-CA), and Brian Bilbray (R-CA), which would close loopholes that have allowed the Pentagon to train Indonesian troops in violation of Congressional intent; and

BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Republican Party urges its Political Representatives to call for the United States Congress to continue its suspension of military assistance to Indonesia until the Indonesian Generals who were responsible for atrocities in Ambon, East Timor, Aceh and the Riot of May 1998 brought to justice; now

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the California Republican Party urges its Political Representatives to call for United States Congress and United Nations to pressure the Indonesian government to seek accountability and bring to justice those responsible for these outrageous inhumane acts.

Endorsed by: ICANet, Huaren, Global Exchange, East Timor Action Networks, CHI (Committees of Human Rights), Human Rights International, United Front for Human Rights in Indonesia.

Struggle Still Being Waged to Break U.S. Ties with Indonesian Military, Assist East Timorese Refugees

Current U.S. law prohibits weapons transfers and military training to Indonesia. But the Clinton Administration is chaffing under the restraints. It wants to re-engage despite continued military and militia intimidation and violence in East Timorese refugee camps in West Timor and activity on the East-West Timor border, and despite continuing military-backed human rights abuses in some areas of Indonesia, including Ambon, Aceh and West Papua.

Pentagon and State Department officials have already authorized exchanges between the U.S. and Indonesian armed forces. A regional exercise, Cobra Gold, has already gone forward with Indonesian military personnel observing. The administration is also planning to stage a large-scale exercise in July involving Navy, Marines, and other forces along with the Indonesians.

The East Timor Action Network and other human rights groups argue that now is not the time for normalization of military ties with Indonesia. Instead, they say, now is the time for the U.S. administration to increase pressure on President Wahid and the Indonesian government to finally resolve East Timor's refugee crisis. There are still 100,000 East Timorese virtually held captive in West Timor refugee camps.

Human rights advocates

seek the inclusion of the current Leahy conditions pertaining to East Timor in the FY 2001 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. These conditions stipulate that before normal military ties can be restored between the U.S. and Indonesia, the Indonesian government and military must allow "displaced persons and refugees to return home to East Timor" and bring to justice military and militia members responsible for human rights atrocities in East Timor and Indonesia. They also require Indonesia to actively prevent militia incursions into East Timor and cooperate fully with the UN administration in East Timor;
oppose joint military exercises with Indonesia, such as CARAT, until all Congressional conditions have been met;
support the provision of $25 million in aid for East Timor for FY 2001. President Clinton requested only $10 million for East Timor for 2001, down from $25 million for FY 2000. Current levels must be maintained to support development, reconstruction, and institution building for the next several years.
They support the following legislation:

HR 4357, the East Timor Repatriation and Security Act of 2000, introduced by Representatives James McGovern (D-MA) and Chris Smith (R-NJ), and its Senate companion, S 2621, the East Timor Repatriation and Security Act, introduced by Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and others.
HR 1063, the International Military Training Transparency and Accountability Act, introduced by Representatives Chris Smith and Lane Evans (D-IL). S 2621 the East Timor Repatriation and Security Act, introduced by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI).

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