[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6541-S6542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 596--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE
NEED FOR RECONCILIATION IN INDONESIA AND DISCLOSURE BY THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT OF EVENTS SURROUNDING THE MASS KILLINGS DURING 1965-
66
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Res. 596
Whereas, on October 1, 1965, six Indonesian Army generals
were killed by military personnel, including members of
Indonesia's Presidential Guard, and these killings were
blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party and labeled an
``attempted Communist coup d'etat'';
Whereas this alleged coup was used to justify the mass
killing of alleged supporters of the Indonesian Communist
Party, with estimates of the number of dead ranging from
500,000 to 1,000,000 killed;
Whereas the targeted individuals were predominantly unarmed
civilians, and often included members of trade unions,
intellectuals, teachers, ethnic Chinese, and those involved
in the women's movement;
Whereas these killings and the imprisonment of up to
1,000,000 targeted individuals were done without due process
of law;
Whereas the targeted individuals were subject to
extrajudicial execution, torture, rape, forced disappearance,
forced labor, and forced eviction;
Whereas the United States Central Intelligence Agency in a
1968 research study described the period as one of the worst
mass murders of the twentieth century;
Whereas the United States Government provided the
Indonesian Army with financial, military, and intelligence
support during the period of the mass killings, and did so
aware that such killings were taking place as recorded in
partially declassified documents in the Department of State
history, ``Foreign Relations of the United States'',
pertaining to this period;
Whereas, within months of military leader Suharto's
assumption of the presidency following the mass killing, the
United States Government began sending economic and military
support to Suharto's military regime, and played an
indispensable role in its consolidation of power;
Whereas aid to the Suharto government continued for more
than three decades, despite on-going crimes against humanity
committed by the Suharto government, including mass killing
and other gross violations of human rights during the
invasion and subsequent 24-year occupation of East Timor;
Whereas perpetrators of the 1965-66 mass killings have
largely lived with impunity, and the survivors and
descendants of the victims suffer continuing discrimination
economically and for decades had limited civil and political
rights, as noted in the 2012 Indonesia National Commission on
Human Rights report;
Whereas the United States Government has not yet fully
declassified all relevant documents concerning this time
period, and full disclosure could help bring historical
clarity to atrocities committed in Indonesia between 1965 and
1966;
Whereas the United States Government has in recent years
supported the declassification and release of documents in
support of truth and reconciliation efforts following periods
of violence in countries such as Chile and Brazil;
Whereas open dialogue about alleged past crimes against
humanity and past human rights violations is important for
continued efforts to reconcile populations of Indonesia and
to ensure a stable, sustainable peace that will benefit the
region and beyond;
Whereas, Indonesia has undergone a remarkable democratic
transition over the last two decades, and is the world's
third largest democracy with the largest Muslim population in
the world;
Whereas through free and fair elections, the people of
Indonesia have elected new leaders who now have the
opportunity to establish a culture of accountability in
partnership with the country's vibrant civil society, press,
academia, and human rights activists;
Whereas the relationship between the United States and
Indonesia is strong and involves many shared interests, as
reflected in the 2010 United States-Indonesia Comprehensive
Partnership, including democracy and civil society,
education, security, climate and environment, energy, and
trade and investment;
Whereas the economic relationship between the United States
and Indonesia is strong, with bilateral goods trade exceeding
$27,000,000,000 and with major United States companies making
significant long-term investments in Indonesia; and
Whereas strong relations between the United States and
Indonesia are mutually beneficial to both countries: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) condemns the mass murder in Indonesia in 1965-66;
[[Page S6542]]
(2) expresses great concern about the lack of
accountability enjoyed by those who carried out crimes during
this period;
(3) urges political leaders in Indonesia to consider a
truth, justice, and reconciliation commission to address
alleged crimes against humanity and other human rights
violations, and to work to mend differences and animosity
that remain after the 1965-66 mass killings; and
(4) calls on the Department of State, the Department of
Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, and others involved
in developing and implementing policy towards Indonesia
during this time period to establish an interagency working
group to--
(A) locate, identify, inventory, recommend for
declassification, and make available to the public all
classified records and documents concerning the mass killings
of 1965 and 1966, including records and documents pertaining
to covert operations in Indonesia from January 1, 1964
through March 30, 1966;
(B) coordinate with Federal agencies and take such actions
as necessary to expedite the release of such records to the
public; and
(C) submit a report to Congress describing all such
records, the disposition of such records, and the activities
of the Interagency Group.
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. President, our Nation and Indonesia
enjoy a strong relationship, reflected in the U.S.-Indonesia
Comprehensive Partnership of 2010. This partnership is robust and
growing. It serves both of our countries for bilateral, regional, and
global cooperation. The election of President Widodo in July was a step
forward--part of a great democratic tradition--over the past two
decades in Indonesia. We are working together for economic growth, for
the environment, and for our security.
This is progress--and to be encouraged. Indonesia has a major role to
play as a regional and global leader, but in that role it must be an
inclusive democracy. Key to this is to address past human rights
abuses--specifically the mass murders committed in 1965 to 1966. Next
year is the 50th anniversary of those killings.
I rise today, International Human Rights Day, to submit a resolution
concerning those events, which Indonesia's own Human Rights Commission
has labeled a crime against humanity. But let me be clear. This is not
a censure of the people of Indonesia or Indonesia's new government; it
is an opportunity for justice and for reconciliation.
The events took place decades ago. The reasons behind them are
complex, but that cannot justify the past or forgetting those who
suffered under it, nor can we ignore our own government's role during
that time.
My resolution proposes two things:
First, I urge Indonesia's new government to create a truth and
reconciliation commission to address these crimes. Second, I urge our
own government to establish an interagency working group and to release
relevant classified documents. We should make clear what was known to
us, and we should make this information available.
It is a painful history to recall. On October 1, 1965, six Indonesian
Army generals were killed. According to scholars, these generals were
killed by military personnel, but their deaths were blamed on
Indonesia's Communist Party, which was used to justify mass murders.
The next few months were horrific for the Indonesian people. The CIA
has called it one of the worst periods of mass murder in the 20th
century. Hundreds of thousands were killed. Many others were
imprisoned, tortured, raped, starved, and disappeared across the
country. These individuals were targeted for their alleged association
with communism, but they came from all walks of life, including women's
groups, teachers, intellectuals, and others. Most were unarmed, and
none had due process of law.
The United States provided financial and military assistance during
this time and later, according to documents released by the State
Department, and General Suharto consolidated his power, ruling from
1967 to 1998.
Some may ask, why is this resolution needed? Why now? This is why.
The survivors and descendents of victims continue to be marginalized.
Many of the killers continue to live with impunity. Very few Americans
are aware of these historical events or our government's actions during
this time. These events demand our attention and resolution as we work
together to build a strong Asia-Pacific partnership.
I am proud to serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. An
important goal is the development of peaceful, stable democracies--
democracies that provide security and hope to their own people and
economic opportunity for businesses in my State and across the United
States.
Indonesia is the world's third-largest democracy. Its population is
diverse. It has the largest Muslim majority population in the world. It
has faced many challenges and continues to move forward. A strong U.S.-
Indonesia relationship benefits both of our countries. I offer this
resolution in support of that relationship and Indonesia's continued
progress as a growing democracy and a vital U.S. ally.
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