Political Quotes

“I rise today to inform our colleagues and the Nation of important developments in Indonesia concerning the people of West Papua, New Guinea, or commonly known as Irian Jaya, as it is known by the Indonesia Government. If you recall, Mr. Speaker, I have spoken on the floor before about Jakarta's brutal subjugation of the West Papuan people and their decades-long struggle for independence from Indonesia. Today I welcome the announcement of a significant development in the Indonesian Government's position on West Papua, as described in an article that appeared in the Indonesian language daily newspaper, Suara Pembaruan, on Sunday, September 13, 1999, and I include this newspaper article in the Record. The article referred to is as follows: [Translation--occasionally impossible to read newspaper clipping print] President Habibie Agrees To Conduct National Dialogue on Irian Jaya President B.J. Habibie listened carefully and with full attention to reports of human rights violations which have occurred in Irian Jaya during a meeting with the Reverend Karel Phil Eran on the evening of Friday 11 September at the Palace.”