[ETAN-key] CONG: Reps Call on U.S. to Support Robust UN Mission for ET

[John M Miller]

U.S. Representative Allyson Y. Schwartz
Representing the 13th Congressional District of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 18, 2006
CONTACT:  Rachel Magnuson, 202-225-6111


U.S. Representative Schwartz Calls on Secretary 
of State Rice to Support Robust United Nations Mission to East Timor

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Allyson Y. 
Schwartz, joined by 44 of her congressional 
colleagues, called upon Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice to support a robust United 
Nations mission to East Timor, where violence has 
caused civil unrest over the past several months.

Located in Southeast Asia near Indonesia, East 
Timor voted for independence from Indonesia in 
1999. Following the vote, militias backed by 
elements of the Indonesian military ravaged the 
country. The United Nations and the international 
community played an instrumental role in helping 
East Timor restore order and move toward 
stability and democracy. However, as the United 
Nations has rapidly scaled back its mission 
post-independence, serious problems within East 
Timor’s police and military infrastructure have 
been exposed. These problems, in part, 
contributed to the outbreak of violence in March 
between disgruntled soldiers and government 
troops. The recent clashes have led to the 
dislocation of more than 100,000 civilians – the worst violence since 1999.

As an appointed member of the bipartisan House 
Democracy Assistance Commission, Representative 
Schwartz traveled to East Timor in February 2006. 
This trip marked the first-ever congressional 
delegation visit to the nation, and was seen by 
many as an important step in helping to 
strengthen democracy in East Timor. During the 
visit to East Timor, Schwartz, along with other 
members of the congressional delegation, provided 
assistance to members of the parliament on how to 
structure an accountable and transparent government.

“I saw firsthand East Timor’s potential to thrive 
as a democracy, and I believe strongly that the 
United Nations has a responsibility to assist 
East Timor at this critical juncture. It is 
paramount that the United Nations play an active 
role in East Timor, with both a significant 
police and peacekeeping presence, in order to 
ensure that the country continues to move forward 
on a path towards democracy, stability, and 
self-sustainability,” said Rep. Schwartz.

A full copy of the letter sent to Secretary Rice 
follows below. For an official signed copy of the 
letter please contact Rachel Magnuson at 
<mailto:Rachel.Magnuson at mail.house.gov>Rachel.Magnuson at mail.house.gov.


July 17, 2006

The Honorable Dr. Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State

U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Madam Secretary:

We have been watching the violence that has 
ensued in East Timor with a great deal of 
concern.  Just months ago, East Timor was viewed 
as a model for international 
nation-building.  However, today, the progress 
East Timor has made as a young democracy is under 
serious threat.  The United Nations Security 
Council recently voted to renew its political 
mission in East Timor, and U.N. Secretary-General 
Kofi Annan has indicated that the return of 
peacekeeping forces is under consideration.  At 
this crucial juncture, we urge you to support a 
robust United Nations mission that includes a 
significant police and peacekeeping presence - 
with all foreign troops under UN command - to 
ensure that East Timor continues to make progress 
on the path to democracy, stability, and 
self-sustainability.  The East Timorese 
government has requested such a robust mission.

  As you know, following East Timor’s vote for 
independence from Indonesia in 1999, militias 
backed by elements of the Indonesian military 
ravaged the country.  Yet East Timor - with 
significant support from the United Nations and 
international community - was able to restore 
order and has made substantial strides toward 
stability and democracy as evidenced by a United 
Nations report stating that East Timor has “made 
remarkable progress in laying the foundations for 
a functioning civil society.”  Additionally, an 
agreement with the Australian government on 
shared revenues from offshore oil and gas fields 
is beginning to provide critical funds to the 
government and in February 2006 members of the 
U.S. House of Representatives Democracy 
Assistance Commission visited East Timor to 
provide advice on structuring an accountable and transparent government.

However, much work remains and as the United 
Nations has rapidly scaled back its mission 
post-independence, serious problems within East 
Timor’s police and military infrastructure have 
been exposed.  The recent violence is an 
indication that the United Nations cannot 
draw-down its presence precipitously, and that it 
must continue to play a critical nation-building 
role - assisting East Timor with its efforts to 
consolidate and expand on the gains it has 
made.  Therefore, we respectfully request that 
U.N. Ambassador Bolton strongly support a United 
Nations mission to help maintain order and 
provide support at least through next year’s 
crucial parliamentary and presidential 
elections.  This mission should focus on enhanced 
police assistance and training to prevent 
violence.  Additionally, a United Nations mission 
should help East Timor address the deeply-rooted 
poverty and unemployment that plagues the nation; 
build strong public institutions that will ensure 
a stable and lasting democracy and promote rule 
of law; bring justice and reconciliation for 
crimes against humanity committed during the 
Indonesian military occupation; and investigate the recent criminal violence.

Supporting the development of strong and 
self-sustaining democracies throughout the world 
is a vital component of U.S. foreign policy.  In 
this case, this goal would be best advanced by 
supporting a robust United Nations mission 
working in cooperation with a sovereign East 
Timorese government.  We thank you for your 
attention and we look forward to working with you on this matter.

Sincerely,


Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz

Rep. Patrick Kennedy

Rep. Lois Capps

Rep. Adam Schiff

Rep. Tom Lantos

Rep. Chris Smith

Rep. Tammy Baldwin

Rep. Betty McCollum

Rep. Jim McGovern

Rep. Howard Berman

Rep. Jim Oberstar

Rep. Nancy Pelosi

Rep. Ed Towns

Rep. Mike McNulty

Rep. Barney Frank

Rep. Eliot Engel

Rep. David Price

Rep. Donald Payne

Rep. Joe Crowley

Rep. Sam Farr

Rep. Earl Blumenauer

Rep. Nita Lowey

Rep. Michael Honda

Rep. Edward J. Markey

Rep. Joseph R. Pitts

Rep. Tim Bishop

Rep. Jim McDermott

Rep. Michael Capuano

Rep. Eni F.H. Faleomavenega

Rep. Raul Grijalva

Rep. James R. Langevin

Rep. Carolyn Maloney

Rep. Zoe Lofgren

Rep. Jose E. Serrano

Rep. Henry Waxman

Rep. Maurice Hinchey

Rep. Robert Wexler

Rep. James P. Moran

Rep. Sherrod Brown

Rep. Dennis Kucinich

Rep. Dale E. Kildee

Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky

Rep. Barbara Lee

Rep. Ellen Tauscher

Rep. Chaka Fattah


cc:  Ambassador John R. Bolton

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa13_schwartz/EastTimor.html

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John M. Miller         Internet: fbp at igc.org

National Coordinator
East Timor & Indonesia Action Network:
48 Duffield St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA
Phone: (718)596-7668      Fax: (718)222-4097
Mobile phone: (917)690-4391  Skype: john.m.miller
Web site: http://www.etan.org

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