Senate Approves Feinstein - Hagel Resolution Expressing Sympathy with the People of Australia Over Bombing
October 18, 2002
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Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate last night approved a resolution sponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) expressing sympathy with the people of Australia for those murdered and injured in the terrorist attack in Bali on October 12, as well as solidarity with the government of Australia in the continued war on terrorism.

"The United States has always shared a close bond with the people of Australia," Senator Feinstein said. "I want to extend not only my own thoughts and condolences, but also the deepest sympathy of 35 million Californians to the people of Australia. Our hearts, our thoughts, and our prayers are with the relatives and friends of the dead, the injured, and the missing. Your country's loss of nearly 200 of its citizens is comparable to that of America's loss in the September 11th attacks. During that trying time, America came together in collective grief and did its best to derive strength from the horrible events of September 11th, and I hope that Australia can do the same for the heinous act of October 12th."

Jemaah Islamiah, an Islamic fundamentalist group, has been implicated in the attack. The group began as a religious movement in the 1970's, and in the 1990's it became affiliated with Al Qaeda. The group was also implicated in the plot to attack the American and Israeli embassies in Singapore last year.

Specifically, the resolution would:
• Express condolences to the people of Australia, and the families of those murdered and injured;
• Condemn "in the strongest possible terms" the attack of October 12, 2002;
• Express solidarity of the United States with Australia in the common fight against terrorism;
• Support Australia in its call for Jemaah Islamiah to be listed by the UN as a terrorist group;
• Liken the events of September 11, 2001 to those of October 12, 2002; and
• Call on President Bush to bring to justice the perpetrators of both attacks.

The death toll in Bali has risen to nearly 200, with an additional 300 injured. One hundred forty bodies have still not been identified. The list of victims includes citizens from many countries: 9 Indonesians dead, 195 injured; 2 Americans dead, 3 injured, 5 missing; 1 German dead, 8 injured, 2 missing; 9 Britons dead. However, a significant number of those killed and injured were Australian. At the latest count, 33 Australian citizens are dead, and 114 more remain missing.

"My deepest sympathies go to the families and friends of those who perished in the attacks," Senator Feinstein said. "Like September 11, this attack affected many different people from many different countries and stands as an example of why the international community must unite in the fight against terrorism."

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