Russ Feingold: “as someone gravely concerned with the human rights situation in East Timor, I am pleased to see strong language…”

“as someone gravely concerned with the human rights situation in East Timor, I am pleased to see strong language regarding military sales to Indonesia included in the foreign operations appropriations. I would like to commend the managers of the bill, the Senator from Kentucky [Mr. McConnell] and the Senator from Vermont [Mr. Leahy], for including this provision. The bill states that any agreement to sell, license for export, or transfer lethal military equipment or helicopters to Indonesia must include a statement that these items will not be used in East Timor. I am pleased with this language because it is important to remind Indonesia that Congress is still very concerned about the situation in East Timor. The May 29 Indonesian elections spurred new violence in East Timor. In the weeks surrounding the voting, fighting between Indonesian troops and East Timorese rebels resulted in dozens of casualties on both sides. These deaths were only the latest in the troubled region, which has been occupied by Indonesia since 1975. Human rights monitors estimate that as many as 200,000 East Timorese have died since the occupation. Mr. President, as we all know, the Indonesian Government announced last month that it was no longer interested in participating in IMET or purchasing F-16 fighters. Congress should not relax our scrutiny of Indonesia's human rights practices and policies in East Timor just because these high-profile deals have been canceled.”