[Peace] Fwd: ETAN Alert -Stop US support for abusive militaries

[Laura Haber]

ETAN is the East Timor Action Network. Please take action so that Bush can't
use Sept 11 and the war against terrorism to justify supplying the repressive
military of Indonesia.

-Laura
--- "John M.Miller" <fbp at igc.org> wrote:
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 19:20:12 -0400
> To: etankm3a at etan.org
> From: "John M.Miller" <fbp at igc.org>
> Subject: ETAN Alert -Stop US support for abusive militaries
> 
> IHRN/ETAN Urgent Action Alert
> 
> Stop the Bush Administration from renewing support for murderous militaries 
> around the world!
> 
> Make Three Calls this Friday (Sept. 28) and Monday (Oct. 1)
> 
> Call your Senators and Representative this Friday and Monday tell them the 
> U.S. must NOT resume military training and arms sales to Indonesia or ANY 
> militaries known for their human rights abuses.
> 
> Late last week the Bush Administration asked Congress for authority to lift 
> all restrictions on U.S. military engagement with countries willing to 
> support a U.S. response against terrorism.   If this waiver were granted, 
> President Bush could immediately resume ties with the Indonesian military, 
> thereby empowering the force that has terrorized millions of Indonesian and 
> East Timorese civilians and blocked attempts at democratic reform in 
> Indonesia.  Later this week, the Bush Administration limited the scope of 
> the request to lift restrictions on India and Pakistan.  It was only 
> intense criticism from Congress and organizations like ours that forced 
> President Bush to scale back his request.  Congress needs to hear from you 
> on this urgent matter.
> 
> In its drive to build an international coalition in response to the 
> horrific September 11 attacks, the U.S. must NOT sacrifice the lives and 
> safety of Indonesians, East Timorese, or countless others around the world.
> 
> Urge your Representative and Senators to:
>     * Reject any request by the Bush Administration that would lift 
> restrictions on the Indonesian military or any other human rights abusing 
> military around the world;
>     * Support human rights conditions in current legislation, such as the 
> Leahy Conditions, which are responsible for limiting U.S. engagement with 
> the Indonesian military.
> Contact the Washington office of your Representative and Senators and ask 
> to speak with the foreign policy staff person.  All offices can be reached 
> through the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121. To find out who 
> represents you visit http://www.congress.org.
> 
> 
> Background:
> 
> On September 24, the Washington Post reported that President Bush asked 
> Congress for authority to waive all existing restrictions on U.S. military 
> assistance and weapons support for the next five years in an attempt to 
> build an international coalition against terrorism. Although it seems that 
> Bush has rescinded this extreme request for the moment, it could resurface. 
> The Bush Administration has proven that it is clearly willing to destroy 
> decades of work by human rights activists. The current restrictions on 
> military assistance to Indonesia are the only real leverage the U.S. has on 
> the Indonesian military. The Indonesian army continues to repress 
> Indonesian civilians and remains immune from accountability for its 
> crimes.  Over 1,200 people have been killed in Aceh since the beginning of 
> this year.  There has been no justice for the decades of crimes against 
> humanity committed during Indonesia s occupation of East Timor, and 
> one-tenth of the population remains in militia-controlled refugee camps in 
> Indonesian West Timor.  Pro-democracy and human rights leaders in Indonesia 
> and East Timor have repeatedly stressed the importance of the U.S. military 
> embargo on Indonesia.  If President Bush were to lift these restrictions, 
> it would undeniably result in the use of U.S.-supplied weapons, training 
> and other military assistance in the severe repression of Indonesian and 
> East Timorese citizens.
> 
> Last week, after President Bush met with Indonesian President Megawati, the 
> White House announced that it would lift the embargo on commercial sales of 
> non-lethal defense articles. This can include spare parts such as ejection 
> seats, without which fighter planes are grounded. He also committed to 
> increase contact between the U.S. and Indonesian militaries and permit 
> senior Indonesian officers to observe more multilateral military training 
> exercises. These incremental changes reflect prior Bush administration 
> policies, which are nonetheless disturbing because they come with no firm 
> commitment from Megawati to address human rights abuses of the military and 
> police.  The Indonesian President s record of close ties with the armed 
> forces would suggest the opposite.
> 
> Thank you for your actions in support of human rights it DOES make a 
> difference!
> 
> Now is the time when it is essential for Congress to hear your voice for 
> peace! Please let us know the results of your calls.
> 
> For more information contact:
> 
> Karen Orenstein at the East Timor Action Network, 202-544-6118 or 
> <mailto:Karen at etan.org>karen at etan.org, www.etan.org
> 
> Megan Walsh at the Indonesia Human Rights Network, 202-393-4554 or 
> <mailto:megan at IndonesiaNetwork.org>megan at IndonesiaNetwork.org, 
> www.IndonesiaNetwork.org
> 
> 
> 


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