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Senate Resolution 191 (Sept. 29, 1999) and Senate Resolution
181 (Sept. 10, 1999)
EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING EAST TIMOR AND SUPPORTING THE MULTINATIONAL FORCE FOR EAST TIMOR -- (Senate - September 29, 1999) [Page: S11651] --- Mr. HARKIN (for himself, Mr. CONRAD, Mr. MOYNIHAN, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. CHAFEE, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. FEINGOLD, and Mrs. MURRAY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations: S. Res. 191 Whereas on May 5, 1999, the Governments of Portugal and Indonesia and the United Nations signed an agreement that provided for an August 8, 1999, ballot organized by the United Nations on the political status of East Timor; Whereas the agreement gave the people of East Timor an opportunity to accept a proposed special autonomy for East Timor within the unitary Republic of Indonesia or reject the special autonomy and opt for independence; Whereas on August 30, 1999, 78.5 percent of the people in East Timor voted for independence; Whereas after the voting was concluded, the militias in East Timor intensified their ongoing campaign of terror; Whereas it has been reported that thousands of people have been killed and injured since the violence began in East Timor; Whereas the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that as many as 200,000 of East Timor's residents have been forced to flee East Timor; Whereas it has been reported that East Timor militias are controlling the refugee camps in West Timor, intimidating the refugees and denying access to the UNHCR, relief agencies, and other humanitarian nongovernmental organizations; Whereas it has been reported that a systematic campaign of political assassinations that targeted religious, student, and political leaders, aid workers, and others has taken place; Whereas the compound of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) was besieged and fired upon, access to food, water, and electricity was intentionally cut off, and UNAMET personnel have been killed, forcing the closure of the UNAMET mission in East Timor; Whereas Catholic leaders and lay people have been targeted for killing and churches have been burned in East Timor; and Whereas on September 12, 1999, Indonesian President B.J. Habibie announced that Indonesia would allow a United Nations Security Council authorized multinational force into East Timor: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate hereby-- (1) congratulates the people of East Timor for their heroic vote on August 30, 1999; (2) commends the United Nations Security Council for passing Resolution 1264 authorizing a multinational force to address the security situation in East Timor; (3) expresses support for a rapid and effective deployment throughout East Timor by the multinational force; (4) commends Australia for its readiness to lead the multinational force for East Timor and welcomes the participation of other nations in this force, especially Asian participation; (5) expresses approval for the United States to assist in this effort in an appropriate manner; (6) commends the professionalism, determination, and courage of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) personnel; (7) recognizes the overwhelming expression of the people of East Timor in favor of independence; (8) condemns the violent efforts of the East Timor militias and elements of the Indonesian military to overturn the results of the August 30, 1999, vote; (9) notes the failure of the Government of Indonesia, despite repeated assurances to the contrary, to guarantee the security of the people of East Timor and further notes that is the responsibility of the Government of Indonesia to restrain elements of the Indonesian military and paramilitary forces and restore order in East Timor; (10) calls upon the Government of Indonesia to recognize its responsibilities as a member of the United Nations and a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human [Page: S11652] Rights to cooperate with appropriate United Nations authorities in the restoration order in East Timor; (11) urges the Government of Indonesia to allow unrestricted access to refugees and displaced persons in West Timor by UNHRC and other relief agencies and to guarantee their security; and (12) calls upon the Government of Indonesia to hold accountable those responsible for the violence, human rights abuses and atrocities and to cooperate with the international community in establishing an international commission of inquiry to investigate human rights abuses in East Timor as a first step in bringing to justice those responsible. END EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE SITUATION IN EAST TIMOR -- (Senate - September 10, 1999) [Page: S10735] --- Mr. HARKIN (for himself, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. FEINGOLD, Mr. CHAFEE, and Mr. WELLSTONE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations: S. Res 181 Whereas on May 5, 1999, the Governments of Indonesia and Portugal signed an agreement that provided for an August 8, 1999, ballot organized by the United Nations on the political status of East Timor; Whereas under the May 5th agreement the Government of Indonesia freely agreed to be responsible for establishing a secure environment in East Timor that would be free of intimidation and violence; Whereas on August 30, 1999, 78 percent of the people in East Timor voted for independence; and Whereas, after the vote for independence, the militias in East Timor intensified their reign of terror against the people of East Timor unrestrained by the Government of Indonesia: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, SECTION 1. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE SITUATION IN EAST TIMOR. (a) IN GENERAL.--The Senate hereby-- (1) congratulates the people of East Timor for their heroic vote on August 30, 1999; (2) recognizes that the people of East Timor voted for independence; (3) condemns the violence of the militias in East Timor and the inaction by the Government of Indonesia to end the violence; and (4) calls on the Government of Indonesia to end all violence in accordance with the May 5, 1999 agreement. (b) SENSE OF THE SENATE.--It is the sense of the Senate that-- (1) the President of the United States should instruct the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations to immediately seek the United Nations Security Council authorization for the deployment of an international force to address the security situation in East Timor; and (2) the United States should assist in this effort in an appropriate manner. SEC. 2. TRANSMITTAL OF RESOLUTION. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the President. |
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