Joe Pitts: “I rise today to protest the widespread violence and killing of innocent people occurring daily in the Malukus, the Spice…”

“I rise today to protest the widespread violence and killing of innocent people occurring daily in the Malukus, the Spice Islands and Ambon in Indonesia. The mass killings in Ambon are deeply disturbing. There are members within the current Indonesia government and former government and the military who do not care how many innocent lives are stamped out. These people simply care about their ultimate goal of controlling Indonesian society and keeping their hold on power. It is deeply disturbing and offensive, Mr. Speaker, that these individuals would allow this. They are in the same league as those who ordered the deaths of innocent people in the concentration camps of World War II. Horrifying reports and photos arrive each day in my office. I have photos of destroyed homes, businesses, churches, places of worship. I have photos of men, women, children, lying in streets with severed limbs, heads blown off, photos much too graphic to bring to the House floor. Mr. Speaker, I traveled to Indonesia at the end of May, met with various leaders, including President Wahid and leaders from both the Christian and Muslim communities. They long for peace to reign again. But it seems impossible because of numerous reports of behind-the-scenes maneuvers by Suharto, Habibie, their cronies, various military officers and others who want to destabilize the present government. These former government leaders and military leaders are really people with no hearts.”