Wed, 1 Jul 1998 06:37:14 -0700 (PDT) Wed, 1 Jul 1998 06:36:24 -0700 (PDT) Date: Wed, 01 Jul 1998 09:17:21 -0400 To: (Recipient list suppressed) From: "John M. Miller" Subject: Urgent Action: Help free East Timor please forward to other emails lists and supporters! HELP FREE EAST TIMOR & END 22 YEARS OF OCCUPATION Contact Your Representative & Senators Today! Your Call Can Make a Difference. (see below for action suggestions) On December 7, 1975 Indonesia brutally invaded East Timor. By the early 1980s, the subsequent occupation had claimed the lives of 200,000 East Timorese. For over two decades the United States has supported this horrific war on the East Timorese. (Additional background below.) In recent days, The Indonesian occupation forces are actively organizing pro-integration rallies to provoke clashes with the independence movement. The resulting instability is being used by the military as a justification for its ongoing occupation and a new crackdown. Over the past two weeks, Herman Soares and Manuel Soares, two East Timorese youth, became the latest victims of the occupation; both were shot and killed by Indonesian troops. A number of others have been injured. US support for Indonesia's occupation of East Timor must end! In the 22 years since the killing began, there has never been better opportunity for a change in US policy. Contact Congress urge them to take the actions below. You can help shift US policy towards supporting the rights of the East Timorese. NOW IS A CRUCIAL TIME TO SUPPORT EAST TIMOR. Contact Your Representative & Senators Today! ** Urge your REPRESENTATIVE to co-sponsor ** 1. House Concurrent Resolution (H.Con.Res.) 258, which supports East Timor's right to self-determination. Introduced by Representative Lowey (D-NY), Porter (R-IL), Lantos (D-CA) and Christopher Smith (R-NJ). If your representative agrees to cosponsor or needs a copy of the bill, have them contact Matt Traub in Rep.Lowey's office at 5-6506. 2. Indonesia Human Rights Before Military Assistance Act (H.R. 3918). Introduced by Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), this bill would freeze the transfer of ALL U.S. weapons, spare parts and ammunition for Indonesia's military until a popularly elected government emerges in Indonesia and until substantial human rights improvements in Indonesia and East Timor can be demonstrated. If your Represenative agrees to cosponsor or needs a copy of the bill, have them contact Jamie Roth in Rep.McKinney's office at 5-1605. 3. International Military Training Accountability Act (H.R. 3802), introduced by Rep. Nita Lowey(D-NY), this bill would close loopholes concerning U.S. millitary training of Indonesian troops, banning all such aid. If your Represenative agrees to cosponsor or needs a fax of the bill, have them contact Matt Traub in Rep.Lowey's office at 5-6506. ** Urge your SENATORS to co-sponsor ** Senate Resolution (S. Res. 237), introduced by Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Jack Reed (D-RI) to support democracy in Indonesia and self-determination in East Timor. If they agree to cosponsor or need a fax of the bill, have them contact Linda Rottblatt or Mary Ann in Senator Feingold's office at 4-5323. Call your REPRESENTATIVE & SENATORS via the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Or call their local offices which should be in your phone book. (From June 27 to July 14, many Congress folks will be in their home districts for the recess.) Write to Senator _________, US Senate, Washington, DC 20510 or Rep. _________, US House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515. For a current list of Congressional e-mail addresses, try http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ or This website also include office phone and fax numbers. Please forward the results of your contacts to ETAN's Washington office. ETAN's website at http://etan.org/urgntMnu.htm has the text of the bills and the most current lists of co-sponsors. Contact us if you have questions. Contact us if you have questions. East Timor Action Network Washington Representative 110 Maryland Avenue NE #30, Washington, DC 20002 202-544-6911; 546-5103 (fax); etandc@igc.apc.org or Kristin Sundell, Field Organizer East Timor Action Network 101 Western Ave. # 41, Cambridge, MA 02139 tel: 617-868-6600 x319 (w) or 617-441-5043 (h) pager: 617-673-2429; fax: 617-868-7102 or END etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan John M. Miller Internet: etan-outreach@igc.apc.org Media & Outreach Coordinator, East Timor Action Network PO Box 150753, Brooklyn, NY 11215-0014 USA Phone: (718)596-7668 Fax: (718)222-4097 ETAN's new web site: http://etan.org Send a blank e-mail message to timor-info@igc.apc.org to find out how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan