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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;
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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

1 Resolved, That the Senate—

2 (1) congratulates the people of Indonesia on

3 carrying out the first free, fair, and transparent na4 tional elections in forty-four years;

5 (2) supports the aspirations of the Indonesian

6 people in pursuing a transition to genuine democ7 racy;

8 (3) calls upon all Indonesian leaders, political

9 party members, military personnel, and the general
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1 public to respect the outcome of the elections, and

2 to uphold that outcome pending the selection of the

3 new President by the Majelis Permusyawaratan

4 Rakyat (MPR) later this year;

5 (4) calls for the convening of the MPR and the

6 selection of the next President as soon as practicable

7 under Indonesian law in order to reduce the impact

8 of continued uncertainty on the country’s political

9 stability and to enhance the prospects for the coun10 try’s economic recovery;

11 (5) calls upon the present ruling Golkar Party

12 to work closely with any successor government in as13 suring a smooth transition to a new government;

14 and

15 (6) urges the present government, and any new

16 government, to continue to work to ensure a stable

17 and secure environment in East Timor by—

18 (A) assisting in disarming and disbanding

19 any militias on the island;

20 (B) granting full access to East Timor to

21 groups such as the United Nations, inter22 national humanitarian organizations, human

23 rights monitors, and similar nongovernmental

24 organizations; and
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1 (C) upholding its commitment to cooperate

2 fully with the United Nations Assistance Mis3 sion for East Timor (UNAMET).

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