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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 166 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 166

     Relating to the recent elections in the Republic of Indonesia.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 27, 1999

 Mr. Thomas submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Foreign Relations.

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
     Relating to the recent elections in the Republic of Indonesia.

Whereas the Republic of Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country, 
        has the world's largest Muslim population, and is the second largest 
        country in East Asia;
Whereas Indonesia has played an increasingly important leadership role in 
        maintaining the security and stability of Southeast Asia, especially 
        through its participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 
        (ASEAN);
Whereas in response to the wishes of the people of Indonesia, President Suharto 
        resigned on May 21, 1998, in accordance with Indonesia's constitutional 
        processes;
Whereas the government of his successor, President Bacharuddin J. Habibie, has 
        pursued a transition to genuine democracy, establishing a new 
        governmental structure, and developing a new political order;
Whereas President Habibie signed several bills governing elections, political 
        parties, and the structure of legislative bodies into law on February 1, 
        1999, and scheduled the first truly democratic national election since 
        1955;
Whereas on June 7, 1999, elections were held for the Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat 
        (DPR) which, despite some irregularities, were deemed to be free, fair, 
        and transparent according to international and domestic observers;
Whereas over 100 million people, more than ninety percent of Indonesia's 
        registered voters, participated in the election, demonstrating the 
        Indonesian people's dedication to democracy;
Whereas the ballot counting process has been completed and the unofficial 
        results announced;
Whereas the official results will be announced in the near future, and it is 
        expected by all parties that the official results will mirror the 
        unofficial results; and
Whereas Indonesia's military has indicated that it will abide by the results of 
        the election: Now, therefore be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the people of Indonesia on carrying out 
        the first free, fair, and transparent national elections in 
        forty-four years;
            (2) supports the aspirations of the Indonesian people in 
        pursuing a transition to genuine democracy;
            (3) calls upon all Indonesian leaders, political party 
        members, military personnel, and the general public to respect 
        the outcome of the elections, and to uphold that outcome 
        pending the selection of the new President by the Majelis 
        Permusyawaratan Rakyat (MPR) later this year;
            (4) calls for the convening of the MPR and the selection of 
        the next President as soon as practicable under Indonesian law 
        in order to reduce the impact of continued uncertainty on the 
        country's political stability and to enhance the prospects for 
        the country's economic recovery;
            (5) calls upon the present ruling Golkar Party to work 
        closely with any successor government in assuring a smooth 
        transition to a new government; and
            (6) urges the present government, and any new government, 
        to continue to work to ensure a stable and secure environment 
        in East Timor by--
                    (A) assisting in disarming and disbanding any 
                militias on the island;
                    (B) granting full access to East Timor to groups 
                such as the United Nations, international humanitarian 
                organizations, human rights monitors, and similar 
                nongovernmental organizations; and
                    (C) upholding its commitment to cooperate fully 
                with the United Nations Assistance Mission for East 
                Timor (UNAMET).
                                 <all>
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