by Eric S. Piotrowski, Sep 10, 1999

MAKE THREE CALLS... AND DEMONSTRATE!

IMPORTANT BREAKTHROUGH: Clinton Announces Suspension of U.S. Military Assistance, and Pending IMF and World Bank Loans to Indonesia, Belatedly Responds to International, U.S. Public and Congressional Outrage at Attempted Genocide in East Timor

SENATE (S.1568), HOUSE (H.R. 97) INTRODUCE BILLS, OTHER HOUSE AND SENATE OFFICES INTRODUCE RESOLUTIONS AND SEND LETTERS, CALL FOR SUSPENSION OF ALL U.S. AID TO INDONESIA AND SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL MISSION IN EAST TIMOR.

Background: The world is reacting with shock and horror as the extent of the killing and destruction in East Timor at the hands of the Indonesian military and paramilitary forces since August 30 becomes known. Observers estimate that 90% of the capital, Dili has been burned to the ground and virtually emptied of its inhabitants. Perhaps one-fourth of the population of East Timor has been forcibly relocated or made refugees. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, have been killed, and tens of thousands are at risk of death from starvation, dehydration and disease. The few remaining UN officials and foreign journalists in East Timor state that the Indonesian miIitary, in cooperation with police and paramilitary forces, are engaged in a full scale, coordinated military operation. The Vatican has announced that church workers and priests are now being discriminately targeted and killed. There is no more time for delay!

The U.S. must ban commercial military sales (as well as government transfers). The U.S. must suspend all bilateral financial assistance (as well as international financial institution funding). The U.S. must fully back an international force to support the UN in taking control of security, ending martial law, demanding Indonesian military withdrawal, and disarming and arresting paramilitaries. A very short deadline (days only) should be issued, after which this mission should go in -- with or without Indonesian government invitiation. This IS legally possible.

• CALL: Your Senators and Representative. Urge them to call President Clinton, Defense Secretary Cohen and Treasury Secretary Summers. Ask them to co-sponsor and support HR 97 in the House and S. 1568 in the Senate, and other resolutions introduced by Reps Capuano (D-MA), Hastings (D-FL), Weygand (D-RI) and Senator Harkin (D-IA).

  Also, don't forget HR 1063, a binding bill with over 80 co-sponsors, that would ban all U.S. combat training (under law) to any country currently banned from receiving any single training program due to human rights violations.

  The congressional switchboard number is 202-224-3121 or check www.congress.gov for additional contact information.

  Senate 1568 was introduced by Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and others. It calls for: the immediate suspension of all U.S. military assistance to Indonesia, including licensing of military exports; and U.S. support for an international mission in East Timor.

  HR 97 was introduced by Reps Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Nita Lowey (D-NY), suspends all U.S. military and economic assistance to Indonesia until the results of the August 30 ballot in East Timor have been implemented.

• CALL: Defense Secretary William Cohen at 703-692-7100 (fax: 703-697-9080). Demand that the U.S. cut off ALL remaining military assistance to Indonesia, including all government transfers and military training programs (as announced), and also all commercial sales.

• CALL: Treasury Secretary Laurence Summers at 202-622-5300 (fax: 202-662-0073) . Demand that the U.S. cut off BILATERAL-- as well as international financial institution funding (as announced)-- to Indonesia until the UN and the international community have taken control of security in East Timor.

• IF YOU'RE STILL READY FOR MORE, CALL: President Clinton at the White House Comment Line at 202-456-1414.

Please contact Karen Orenstein at ETAN NY at 914-428-7299 or salama74@aol.com, ETAN DC, or Brad Simpson and Kristin Sundell at 773-255-7949 at ETAN's field organizing office.

Support the International Federation for East Timor's Observer Project
Phone: 831-728-4190 Fax: 831-761-1401

Eric S. Piotrowski
IFET-OP U.S. Interim Coordinator
altin@atlantic.net