From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: AI CALLS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CONSIDERATION IN US APPROPRIATIONS
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 21:27:56 GMT

/** reg.easttimor: 351.0 **/
** Topic: AIUSA calls on Congress re Indones **
** Written 10:23 am  Sep 26, 1992 by fbp in cdp:reg.easttimor **
From: Foreign Bases Project <fbp>
Subject: AIUSA calls on Congress re Indones

/* Written 10:02 pm  Sep 25, 1992 by aiusala in cdp:ai.general */
/* ---------- "AIUSA calls on Congress re Indones" ---------- */
MEDIA ADVISORY
September 21, 1992

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA CALLS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CONSIDERATION IN
APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS WASHINGTON, D.C. --

Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) today called on the United States Senate
to urge the Government of Indonesia to improve its human rights record by
taking strong specific steps.

        On the eve of mark-up by the Senate Appropriations Committee of the
Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 1993, Amnesty
International USA expressed its support for the recommendations proposed by
Foreign Operations Subcommmitte Chairman Senator Leahy (D-VT).

        The Leahy proposals are a part of several recommendations Amnesty
International has repeatedly communicated to the Indonesian government to
implement as future protection of human rights in East Timor and Indonesia.

        "These represent the first steps that the Government of Indonesia could
take to fundamentally change its human rights practices." said John G.
Healey, Executive Director, AIUSA.  "If the Senate weakens these steps,
it's members will certainly send the mes sage that it is not serious about
seeing change in Indonesia's egregious human rights record."

     Amnesty International USA noted that the Leahy proposals are obviously not
an exhaustive list of actions the Government of Indonesia could undertake.
The human rights organization would welcome Senate endorsement of
additional recommendations that Amnest y International has conveyed to the
Indonesian government.

     Amnesty International does not take a position on imposing sanctions on a
government, but strongly advocates that human rights be an integral part of
foreign policy debates, such as the foreign aid appropriations.


                  RECOMMENDATIONS PROPOSED
                             BY
                SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY (D-VT)


          (1)  the Government of Indonesia has published a
     list of names of all those killed and missing as a
     result of the November 12 massacre and indicated what
     steps are being taken to determine the identity of
     those responsible for disposal of bodies;

          (2)  the Government of Indonesia has identified
     all military personnel who were responsible for
     ordering, authorizing, or initiating the shooting of
     demonstrators at Santa Cruz, East Timor, and is taking
     steps to bring them to justice;

          (3)  the Government of Indonesia has undertaken to
     review the sentences of all East Timorese civilians
     convicted in connection with the November 1991
     demonstrations in Dili and Jakarta for the purpose of
     their commutation, reduction, or remission;

          (4)  observers representing international human
     rights organizations are being permitted access to East
     Timor.
** End of text from cdp:reg.easttimor **

Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive