Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) termed the announcement that Indonesia has cancelled a deal to purchase nine F-19 fighter planes from the United States, due to the pressure he has applied on the Indonesian government, as a "major human rights victory".

"This is a major victory for all of us who believe in the importance of human rights," said Kennedy. "It is a day that we can be proud of because it shows that when pressure is put on dictatorship governments such as Indonesia's, these countries will be forced to address their outrageous behavior."

Legislation, which Kennedy introduced in March, calling for the elimination of $26 million in military aid to Indonesia until it improves its human rights record, was singled out by Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas in making today's announcement about the fighter jets.

"I am proud of the pressure I have put on Indonesia, and I will continue to fight for the human rights of the people of East Timor and other regions in Indonesia," said Kennedy. "Over the past few months, I have worked with several other members of Congress to call attention to the continued atrocities being committed by the Indonesian government. Today's step taken by Indonesia will further the possibilities for human rights issues finally being addressed."

Kennedy said he was disappointed that Foreign Minister Alatas claimed that the criticism within Congress, which he led, is unjustified.

"The death of one-third of the East Timorese people over the past 21 years, and the recent violence during their "sham" election process in which at least 50 people were killed as a result of a military crackdown, show that these criticisms are indeed totally justified," claimed Kennedy. "I am going to continue to wage this fight in Congress until such time that Indonesia admits that it is abusing human rights and begins to address such critical issues as allowing free and fair elections to be held, protecting the East Timorese people, and releasing and fairly adjudicating political prisoners."

A modified version of Kennedy's Indonesia Military Assistance Accountability Act was unanimously approved on May 1 by the House International Relations Committee. The legislation was offered as an amendmet to the Foreign Policy Reform Act by Congressman Howard L. Berman (D-CA), calling for the elimination of certain US military assistance and arms transfers to Indonesia which are commonly used in direct violation of human rights. Kennedy's legislation approved in committee also eliminated about $600,000 in International Military Education and Training (IMET) funds to Indonesia. Kennedy said he was gratified to learn today that Indonesia has announced that it will pull out of the expanded version of the IMET program.

East Timor declared its independence from Portugal in 1975 and was soon occupied by the Indonesian military. More than 200,000 East Timorese, or nearly one-third of the predominantly Catholic population, have been killed or died of starvation since the occupation.

Kennedy visited East Timor last Christmas, attending Midnight Mass celebrated by Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenese [sic] Belo, the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize winner. Kennedy recently hosted both Bishop Belo and Nobel co-winner Jose Ramos-Horta during their separate visits to Rhode Island.

Kennedy had previously written to President Clinton urging him to cancel the deal with Indonesia for the fighter planes.

"I am hopeful that this latest development will bring further attention to Indonesia's horrific human rights' record," said Kennedy. "This is a victory ... but I'm going to keep on fighting."