Patrick Kennedy: “I would like to concur with my colleague from Massachusetts in that this bill should not be on the Suspension Calendar…”

“I would like to concur with my colleague from Massachusetts in that this bill should not be on the Suspension Calendar as it relates to the inclusion of an enhancement for Indonesia for the same reasons my colleagues just spoke. Indonesia has proven itself to be someone with no respect and regard for the human rights of the East Timorese in the application of their Government in East Timor. They have systematically used their Government to oppose the East Timorese. They have terrorized, brutalized, they have killed demonstrators in broad daylight in front of international cameras. They will go to no end to show that they are not worthy of the recognition that this enhancement gives them. The whole idea of the enhancement is to say, 'Well, we will work with you.' But understand, we will work to support democratic efforts. But if there are no democratic efforts being undertaken, it is a little presumptuous for us to think that simply by our recognition of East Timor through this enhanced IMET that we are going to replace what is not there. That is the problem with enhanced IMET. My former colleague, Congressman Ron Machtly, was successful in revoking IMET. It was a good thing that this Congress recognized it. Nothing has changed. Indonesia still oppresses these Timorese, and that is why this is not the time for us to be renewing IMET.”