If you or a congregation member would like to attend, please contact Stan De Boe, OSST, at CMSM offices by July 10. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, established last year under the International Religious Freedom Act, issued its first report on May 1. The Commission reported only on China, Vietnam, Russia, Egypt, Sudan, Iran, and Indonesia. A significant amount of the report focuses on criticism of the U.S. Department of State Human Rights Report, and makes lengthy recommendations for U.S. policy. Considering Restoring Ties to Indonesian Military The administration and legislators are considering restoring ties to Indonesian military in the Foreign Operations budget for 2001.
Current law prohibits weapons transfers and military training for the Indonesian military.
Recently the Indonesian government and civilian leaders in Aceh, West Papua, announced a cease fire agreement that will be signed May 15, but the government has not agreed remove the military from Aceh or to consider independence for the region. In addition to removing restrictions, legislators are considering cutting aid to East Timor by more than 50 percent, which could threaten the fragile process of development, reconstruction, and institution-building. Like the School of the Americas, this program has trained the military personnel responsible for the human rights violations in East Timor and Aceh. Ask your representative to support HR 1063, the International Military Training Transparency and Accountability Act and to oppose removing restrictions on military trade and training in the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. Seventeen sermons confront the death penalty from a variety of religious traditions, underscoring the religious community's moral imperative against state-sanctioned killing.