Resoluton adopted by 214th General Assembly of Presbyterian Church USA on June 21, 2002

The Committee voted to adopt this recommendation, as amended:

Amend Recommendation 1 as follows:

"1. Call on the president of the United States, the secretary of state, ]and the U.S. Congress to

"a. support and participate in strong international security and peacekeeping forces in East Timor until such time as the United Nations Security Council has determined that security and stability have been established in East Timor;

"b. support and contribute to international reconstruction and development aid for the people of East Timor;

"c. help ensure the safe return to East Timor of all its refugees in West Timor and elsewhere who wish to return and to provide resettlement assistance for the returnees;

"d. cooperate with the United Nations in bringing to justice under international law Indonesian military personnel responsible for crimes of war and crimes against humanity committed during the years of conflict; and

"e. refrain from all support for the Indonesian military until those responsible for the crimes have been brought to justice and the military has been reformed."

2. Instruct the Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to immediately send copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, the U.S. Secretary of State, and to the U.S. Congress, through the offices of the speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Majority Leader.

Original Resolution

Commissioners’ Resolution 02-7. On Concern and Justice for East Timor.

That the 214th General Assembly (2002) do the following:

1. Call on the president of the United States and the U.S. Congress to

a. take all necessary administrative and legislative steps to ensure the continuation of the strong security arrangements and international peacekeeping forces in East Timor, especially in light of the emphasis of Nobel Peace Prize -winning Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo on the need for stability to help East Timor recover from its ordeal since 1975;

b. increase appropriate international reconstruction aid and support for employment for local people;

c. help ensure the safe return to East Timor all of its refugees in West Timor and elsewhere who wish to return, as well as provide resettlement assistance for the returnees; and

d. ensure that the Indonesian military figures responsible for the terror inflicted on East Timor be brought to justice through an international war crimes tribunal.

2. Instruct the Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to immediately send copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, the U.S. Secretary of State, and to the U.S. Congress, through the offices of the speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Majority Leader.

Rationale

In recognition of the fact that on May 20, 2002, East Timor became the world’s newest nation; and in view of the fact that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has played an active and crucial leadership role in supporting the long struggle of the people of East Timor for self-determination and justice; and at the request of the Protestant Church in East Timor, did send a delegation to witness and assist in the referendum that the East Timorese people overwhelmingly passed in August 1999, to become an independent nation, free of the domination and occupation of the government of Indonesia. The 209th General Assembly (1995) urged, through an overture, that the members of the PC(USA) and the officials of the United States government support the self-determination of the people of East Timor as a priority matter for social justice. This newest member of the world family of independent nations needs and deserves the encouragement, support, and security that can be provided by freedom-loving people throughout the world.

Phoebe McAfee—Presbytery of San Francisco 
John Wichman—Presbytery of San Francisco

se also Religion pages

Back to July menu
June
World Leaders Contact List
Human Rights Violations in East Timor
Main Postings Menu