| Subject: CONG: Senate Foreign Ops. bill
Indonesia and East Timor provisions in the Foreign Operations
Appropriations bill passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee on July
17.
108TH CONGRESS Report SENATE 1st Session 108-106 FOREIGN OPERATIONS,
EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATION BILL, 2004
July 17, 2003- Ordered to be printed
Mr. MCCONNELL, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the
following REPORT [To accompany S. 1426]
INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
The Committee supports international conservation programs that
preserve endangered species and maintain their natural habitats. The
Committee recommends that USAID consider funding conservation proposals
and programs in Malaysia, Indonesia, Namibia, Trinidad, and Brazil.
The Committee remains concerned with the destruction of orangutan
habitat in Indonesia, and expects USAID to provide at least $2,500,000 for
continued support through nongovernmental organizations, including the
Orangutan Foundation and others, for activities to save the orangutan from
extinction. The Committee expects these funds to be used to work with
local communities to protect orangutan habitat in both Borneo and Sumatra,
including, if appropriate, to support law enforcement activities, and
requests to be consulted prior to the obligation of these funds.
INDONESIA
The Committee appreciates the Indonesian Government's efforts to combat
terrorism, and deplores the recent bombing of the Indonesian parliament.
The Committee is pleased that suspected Islamic militants continue to be
apprehended and that ammunition, chemicals and explosives were recently
seized by the Indonesian police. The Committee supports the continued
provision of counterterrorism [CT] assistance to a police CT unit. The
Committee recognizes the serious danger Jemaah Islamiya poses to
Indonesian and American interests in that region.
The Committee remains concerned with the situation in Aceh and reports
of internally displaced persons that are being prevented by the Indonesian
military from receiving humanitarian assistance from international relief
organizations. The Committee expects the State Department to use its
influence with the Indonesian government to ensure that relief and human
rights organizations receive unimpeded access to this area. The Committee
believes that this conflict will only be resolved through a political
process, and urges Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri to use
maximum restraint in military operations in Aceh in order to safeguard the
lives of innocent civilians.
The Committee continues to closely follow progress in the investigation
into the attack in Papua on August 31, 2002 that murdered Americans Ted
Burgon and Rick Spier and Indonesian Bambang Riwanto. The Committee
expects President Megawati to use the full authority of her office to
bring to justice the perpetrators of this crime. The Committee is also
concerned that the Ad Hoc Human Rights Court on East Timor has failed to
deliver justice for crimes committed by the Indonesian military against
the people of East Timor. The Committee expects the Indonesian Government
to cooperate with the U.N.-East Timor Serious Crimes Unit.
The Committee is deeply disappointed by President Megawati's lack of
effort and interest to promote political, economic, legal and military
reforms in Indonesia. This failure of leadership may empower segments of
Indonesian society disinterested in reforms, including Islamic extremists
and the Indonesian military, which could have adverse effects on regional
security and stability.
The Committee remains concerned that a large portion of the Indonesian
military's budget comes from business enterprises, including illegal
activities, which contributes significantly to corruption within the armed
forces. The Committee has continued conditions on FMF and licenses for
export of lethal defense articles for the Indonesian armed forces.
The Committee expects the State Department to provide increased
assistance for democracy and rule of law programs in Indonesia, and
believes that President Megawati must not allow upcoming parliamentary and
presidential elections to become missed opportunities in that country's
political democratic development.
TERRORISM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
The Committee remains concerned with the ability of terrorists to gain
footholds in Muslim communities throughout Southeast Asia, including in
Indonesia, Malaysia, southern Thailand, the Philippines, and Cambodia. The
Committee strongly recommends USAID and the State Department to fund
programs that bolster the efforts of Asian democratic political parties,
nongovernmental organizations and individuals to further economic,
political, social and legal reforms that may serve as a bulwark against
terrorism.
The Committee expects that not less than $2,000,000 be made available
to support the Alliance for Reform and Democracy in Asia [ARDA]. The
Committee commends the membership of ARDA for their collective commitment
to further freedom and liberty throughout Asia.
FREE AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA
The Committee continues to support programs to promote free,
independent and professional media in developing nations. The Committee
expects USAID and the State Department to fund new, and bolster ongoing,
media programs and activities in predominately Muslim countries, including
Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt and Indonesia. The Committee expects
that funding will be used primarily to support programs that provide
skills development and promote a deeper understanding of the United
States. The Committee believes that free, independent and professional
media will provide objective news and credible information throughout the
Muslim world, which may help to counterbalance political and religious
extremism and terrorism.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR-LESTE
Like last year, the Committee provides $25,000,000 in ESF assistance
for East Timor. The Committee intends that, in a shift of emphasis from
prior years, these funds will be used to address conditions of poverty
through programs to support subsistence agriculture and other income
generating opportunities, expand basic education and vocational training
especially for unemployed youth, strengthen the judiciary, promote good
governance and the sustainable use of natural resources, and improve
health care and other basic human services and physical infrastructure.
The Committee is aware of negotiations between East Timor and Australia
over petroleum reserves, which will be of critical importance to the
future economic development and security of East Timor. The Committee
urges both governments to engage in good faith negotiations to resolve
their maritime boundary expeditiously in accordance with international
legal principles. The Committee is aware of concerns regarding
accountability in East Timor for future petroleum revenues, and supports
the early establishment of mechanisms to prevent corruption and ensure
that these revenues are used effectively to improve the lives of the
people of East Timor.
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM
The Committee notes with the appreciation the support of numerous
nations in the liberation of Iraq, including Albania, El Salvador,
Macedonia, Mongolia, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, and Uganda.
The Committee recommends increased FMF support for these countries,
specifically not less than $6,500,000 for Albania and $12,000,000 for
Macedonia.
BILL LANGUAGE
INDONESIA
SEC. 669. Funds appropriated by this Act under the heading `Foreign
Military Financing Program' may be made available for assistance for
Indonesia, and licenses may be issued for the export of lethal defense
articles for the Indonesian Armed Forces, only if the President certifies
to the appropriate congressional committees that--
(1) the Indonesia Minister of Defense is suspending from the Armed
Forces those members, of whatever rank, who have been credibly alleged to
have committed gross violations of human rights, or to have aided or
abetted militia groups;
(2) the Indonesian Government is prosecuting those members of the
Indonesian Armed Forces, of whatever rank, who have been credibly alleged
to have committed gross violations of human rights, or to have aided or
abetted militia groups, and is punishing those members of the Indonesian
Armed Forces found to have committed such violations of human rights or to
have aided or abetted militia groups;
(3) the Indonesian Armed Forces are cooperating with civilian
prosecutors and judicial authorities in Indonesia and with the joint
United Nations-East Timor Serious Crimes Unit (SCU) in such cases
(including extraditing those indicted by the SCU to East Timor and
providing access to witnesses, relevant military documents, and other
requested information);
(4) the Indonesian Government and Armed Forces are cooperating with the
Federal Bureau of Investigation's investigation of the killings and
wounding of American and Indonesian citizens in Papua on August 31, 2002;
and
(5) the Minister of Defense is making publicly available audits of
receipts and expenditures of the Indonesian Armed Forces.
Other Bilateral Economic Assistance
ECONOMIC SUPPORT FUND
Provided further, That of the funds appropriated under this heading,
not less than $25,000,000 shall be made available for assistance for the
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to support subsistence agriculture and
other income generating opportunities, expand basic education and
vocational training, strengthen the judiciary, promote good governance and
the sustainable use of natural resources, and improve health care and
other basic human services and physical infrastructure
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