See also

• Senator Tom Udall: Indonesia Floor Statement, December 10, 2014
• ETAN Backgrounder: Breaking the Silence: The U.S. and Indonesia's Mass Violence
• Background on The Act of Killing and on 1965-66 and beyond
• TAPOL: Indonesia’s Unresolved Mass Murders September 2012
• Statement by Komnas Ham (National Commission For Human Rights) on the Results of Its Investigations into Grave Violation of Human Rights During the Events of 1965 -1966 (Unofficial Translation by TAPOL)
• ETAN: Accountability for Suharto’s Crimes Must Not Die With Him, Feb. 2008
• Tempo: Requiem for a Massacre October 2012 (PDF)
• U.S.-Indonesia Security Assistancee
• Human Rights, Accountability and Justice page
• Indonesian Struggles

DAV14F37 S.L.C.
113 TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION

S. RES. 596

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the need for reconciliation
in Indonesia and disclosure by the United States Government of events
surrounding the mass killings during 1965–66.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES


Mr. UDALL of New Mexico submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on _______________

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the need for reconciliation in Indonesia and disclosure by the United States Government of events surrounding the mass killings during 1965–66.

Whereas, on October 1, 1965, six Indonesian Army generals were killed by military personnel, including members of Indonesia’s Presidential Guard, and these killings were blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party and labeled an ‘‘attempted Communist coup d'état’’;

Whereas this alleged coup was used to justify the mass killing of alleged supporters of the Indonesian Communist Party, with estimates of the number of dead ranging from 500,000 to 1,000,000 killed;

Whereas the targeted individuals were predominantly unarmed civilians, and often included members of trade unions, intellectuals, teachers, ethnic Chinese, and those involved in the women’s movement;

Whereas these killings and the imprisonment of up to 1,000,000 targeted individuals were done without due process of law;

Whereas the targeted individuals were subject to extrajudicial execution, torture, rape, forced disappearance, forced labor, and forced eviction;

Whereas the United States Central Intelligence Agency in a 1968 research study described the period as one of the worst mass murders of the twentieth century;

Whereas the United States Government provided the Indonesian Army with financial, military, and intelligence support during the period of the mass killings, and did so aware that such killings were taking place as recorded in partially declassified documents in the Department of State history, ‘‘Foreign Relations of the United States’’, pertaining to this period;

Whereas, within months of military leader Suharto’s assumption of the presidency following the mass killing, the United States Government began sending economic and military support to Suharto’s military regime, and played an indispensable role in its consolidation of power;

Whereas aid to the Suharto government continued for more than three decades, despite on-going crimes against humanity committed by the Suharto government, including mass killing and other gross violations of human rights during the invasion and subsequent 24-year occupation of East Timor;

Whereas perpetrators of the 1965–66 mass killings have largely lived with impunity, and the survivors and descendants of the victims suffer continuing discrimination economically and for decades had limited civil and political rights, as noted in the 2012 Indonesia National Commission on Human Rights report;

Whereas the United States Government has not yet fully declassified all relevant documents concerning this time period, and full disclosure could help bring historical clarity to atrocities committed in Indonesia between 1965 and 1966;

Whereas the United States Government has in recent years supported the declassification and release of documents in support of truth and reconciliation efforts following periods of violence in countries such as Chile and Brazil;

Whereas open dialogue about alleged past crimes against humanity and past human rights violations is important for continued efforts to reconcile populations of Indonesia and to ensure a stable, sustainable peace that will benefit the region and beyond;

Whereas, Indonesia has undergone a remarkable democratic transition over the last two decades, and is the world’s third largest democracy with the largest Muslim population in the world;

Whereas through free and fair elections, the people of Indonesia have elected new leaders who now have the opportunity to establish a culture of accountability in partnership with the country’s vibrant civil society, press, academia, and human rights activists;

Whereas the relationship between the United States and Indonesia is strong and involves many shared interests, as reflected in the 2010 United States-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, including democracy and civil society, education, security, climate and environment, energy, and trade and investment;

Whereas the economic relationship between the United States and Indonesia is strong, with bilateral goods trade exceeding $27,000,000,000 and with major United States companies making significant long-term investments in Indonesia; and

Whereas strong relations between the United States and Indonesia are mutually beneficial to both countries: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) condemns the mass murder in Indonesia in 1965–66;

(2) expresses great concern about the lack of accountability enjoyed by those who carried out crimes during this period;

(3) urges political leaders in Indonesia to consider a truth, justice, and reconciliation commission to address alleged crimes against humanity and other human rights violations, and to work to mend differences and animosity that remain after the 1965–66 mass killings; and

(4) calls on the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, and others involved in developing and implementing policy towards Indonesia during this time period to establish an interagency working group to—

(A) locate, identify, inventory, recommend for declassification, and make available to the public all classified records and documents concerning the mass killings of 1965 and1966, including records and documents pertaining to covert operations in Indonesia from January 1,1964 through March 30, 1966;

(B) coordinate with Federal agencies and take such actions as necessary to expedite the release of such records to the public; and

(C) submit a report to Congress describing all such records, the disposition of such records, and the activities of the Interagency Group.

Indonesia Floor Statement

Senator Tom Udall

December 10, 2014

Madame President, our nation and Indonesia enjoy a strong relationship, reflected in the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership of 2010. This partnership is robust and growing. It serves both our countries, for bilateral, regional and global cooperation. The election of President Widodo in July is a step forward, part of a great democratic transition over the past two decades in Indonesia. We are working together -­ for economic growth, for the environment, and for our security.

This is progress, and to be encouraged. Indonesia has a major role to play, as a regional and global leader. But, in that role, it must be an inclusive democracy. Key to this is to address past human rights abuses, specifically the mass murders committed in 1965 to 1966.

Next year is the 50th anniversary of these killings. I rise today -­ International Human Rights Day -­ to introduce a resolution concerning these events, which Indonesia’s own Human Rights Commission has labeled a crime against humanity. But, let me be clear. This is not a censure of the people of Indonesia or Indonesia’s new government. It is an opportunity for justice and for reconciliation. The events took place decades ago. The reasons behind them are complex. But, that cannot justify ignoring the past or forgetting those who suffered under it. Nor can we ignore our own government’s role during that time.

My resolution proposes two things. First, I urge Indonesia’s new government to create a truth and reconciliation commission to address these crimes. Second, I urge our own government to establish an interagency working group and to release relevant classified documents. We should make clear what was known to us, and we should make this information available.

It is a painful history to recall. On October 1, 1965, six Indonesian Army generals were killed. According to scholars, these generals were killed by military personnel. But their deaths were blamed on Indonesia’s Communist Party, which was used to justify mass murders.

The next few months were horrific for the Indonesian people. The C.I.A. has called it one of the worst periods of mass murders in the twentieth century. Hundreds of thousands were killed. Many others were imprisoned, tortured, raped, starved, and disappeared across the country. These individuals were targeted for their alleged association with Communism, but they came from all walks of life, including women’s groups, teachers, intellectuals, and others. Most were unarmed, and none had due process of law.

The U.S. provided financial and military assistance during this time and later, according to documents released by the State Department, and General Suharto consolidated his power, ruling from 1967 until 1998.

Some may ask. Why is this resolution needed? Why now? Here’s why. The survivors, and descendants of victims, continue to be marginalized. Many of the killers continue to live with impunity. Very few Americans are aware of these historical events, or our own government’s actions during this time. These events demand our attention and resolution, as we work together to build a strong Asia Pacific region.

I am proud to serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. An important goal is the development of peaceful, stable democracies -­ democracies that provide security and hope to their own people, and economic opportunity with businesses in my state and across the U.S.

Indonesia is the world’s third largest democracy. Its population is diverse. It has the largest Muslim majority population in the world. It has faced many challenges, and continues to move forward.

A strong U.S.-Indonesia relationship benefits both our countries. I offer this resolution in support of that relationship, and Indonesia’s continued progress as a growing democracy and a vital U.S. ally.