Amendment No. ___________ Calendar No.___________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES _ 106th Congress, 1st Session
Intended to be proposed by Mr. Leahy (for himself, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Reed, Mr. Harkin, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Chafee, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Kerry, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Schumer, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Wellstone, and Mr. Wyden.
Viz:
At the appropriate place in the bill, insert the following:
Self-determination in East Timor
Sec.____. (a) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
(1) On May 5, 1999 the Governments of Indonesia and Portugal signed an agreement that provides for an August 8, 1999 ballot organized by the United Nations on East Timor's political status; (2) On June 22, 1999 the ballot was rescheduled for August 21st or 22nd due to concerns that the conditions necessary for a free and fair vote could not be established prior to August 8th;
(3) On January 27, 1999, President Habibie expressed a willingness to consider independence for East Timor if a majority of the East Timorese reject autonomy in the August 8thballot;
(4) Under the May 5th agreement the Government of Indonesia is responsible for ensuring that the August 8th ballot is carried out in a fair and peaceful way in an atmosphere free of intimidation, violence or interference;
(5) The inclusion of anti-independence militia members in Indonesian forces responsible for establishing security in East Timor violates the May 5th agreement which states that the absolute neutrality of the military and police is essential for holding a free and fair ballot;
(6) The arming of anti-independence militias by members of the Indonesian military for the purpose of sabotaging the August 8th ballot has resulted in hundreds of civilians killed, injured or disappeared in separate attacks by these militias who continue to act without restraint;
(7) The United Nations Secretary General has received credible reports of political violence, including intimidation and killings, by armed anti-independence militias against unarmed pro-independence civilians;
(8) There have been killings of opponents of independence, including civilians and militia members;
(9) The killings in East Timor should be fully investigated and the individuals responsible brought to justice;
(10) Access to East Timor by international human rights monitors and humanitarian organizations is limited, and members of the press have been threatened;
(11) The presence of members of the United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor has already resulted in an improved security environment in the East Timorese capital of Dili;
(12) A robust international observer mission and police force throughout East Timor is critical to creating a stable and secure environment necessary for a free and fair ballot;
(13) The Administration should be commended for its support for the United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor which will provide monitoring and support for the ballot and include international civilian police, military liaison officers and election monitors;
(b) Policy.--(1) The President, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of the Treasury (acting through the United States executive directors to international financial institutions) should immediately intensify their efforts to prevail upon the Indonesian Government and military to --
- (A) disarm and disband anti-independence militias;
- (B) grant full access to East Timor by international human rights monitors, humanitarian organizations, and the press;
- (C) allow Timorese who have been living in exile to return to East Timor to participate in the ballot; and
(2) the President should submit a report to the Congress not later than 21 days after passage of this Act, containing a description of the Administration's efforts and his assessment of steps taken by the Indonesian Government and military to ensure a stable and secure environment in East Timor, including those steps described in paragraph (1).