SPEAKERS CONTENTS INSERTS
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47–505 CC
1998
H. RES. 364, A RESOLUTION URGING THE INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE OF A RESOLUTION ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AT THE 54TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS; H. RES. 361, A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR FREE AND IMPARTIAL ELECTIONS IN CAMBODIA; AND H. CON. RES. 218, A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE URGENT NEED TO ESTABLISH A CEASE FIRE IN AFGHANISTAN
MARKUP
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED FIFTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
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ON
H. RES. 364, H. RES. 361, AND H. CON. RES. 218
MARCH 5, 1998
Printed for the use of the Committee on International Relations
COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, New York, Chairman
WILLIAM GOODLING, Pennsylvania
JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa
HENRY J. HYDE, Illinois
DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska
CHRISTOPHER SMITH, New Jersey
DAN BURTON, Indiana
ELTON GALLEGLY, California
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida
CASS BALLENGER, North Carolina
DANA ROHRABACHER, California
DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois
EDWARD R. ROYCE, California
PETER T. KING, New York
JAY KIM, California
STEVEN J. CHABOT, Ohio
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MARSHALL ''MARK'' SANFORD, South Carolina
MATT SALMON, Arizona
AMO HOUGHTON, New York
TOM CAMPBELL, California
JON FOX, Pennsylvania
LINDSEY O. GRAHAM, South Carolina
JOHN McHUGH, New York
ROY BLUNT, Missouri
KEVIN BRADY, Texas
LEE HAMILTON, Indiana
SAM GEJDENSON, Connecticut
TOM LANTOS, California
HOWARD BERMAN, California
GARY ACKERMAN, New York
ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American Samoa
MATTHEW G. MARTINEZ, California
DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey
ROBERT ANDREWS, New Jersey
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio
CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY, Georgia
ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida
PAT DANNER, Missouri
EARL HILLIARD, Alabama
BRAD SHERMAN, California
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ROBERT WEXLER, Florida
STEVE ROTHMAN, New Jersey
BOB CLEMENT, Tennessee
BILL LUTHER, Minnesota
JIM DAVIS, Florida
RICHARD J. GARON, Chief of Staff
MICHAEL H. VAN DUSEN, Democratic Chief of Staff
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska, Chairman
JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa
DANA ROHRABACHER, California
PETER T. KING, New York
JAY KIM, California
MATT SALMON, Arizona
JON FOX, Pennsylvania
JOHN M. McHUGH, New York
DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois
EDWARD R. ROYCE, California
HOWARD L. BERMAN, California
ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American Samoa
ROBERT E. ANDREWS, New Jersey
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio
MATTHEW G. MARTINEZ, California
ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida
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ROBERT WEXLER, Florida
MIKE ENNIS, Subcommittee Staff Director
RICHARD KESSLER, Democratic Professional Staff Member
DAN MARTZ, Counsel
HEIDI L. HENNIG, Staff Associate
C O N T E N T S
APPENDIX
H. Res. 364
Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 364 offered by Mr. Smith of New Jersey
H. Res. 361
Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 361 offered by Mr. Bereuter of Nebraska
H. Con. Res. 218
Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Con. Res. 218 offered by Mr. Bereuter
MARKUP OF H. RES. 364, H. RES. 361, AND H. CON. RES. 218
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1998
U.S. House of Representatives,
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific,
Committee on International Relations,
Washington, DC.
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The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:10 p.m., in room 2255, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Doug Bereuter (chairman of the Subcommittee) presiding.
Present: Representative Bereuter.
Mr. BEREUTER. The Subcommittee will come to order. The Asia Pacific Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee today meets in open session to consider three resolutions:
First, H. Res. 364, addressing U.S. consideration of a resolution condemning China at the U.N. Human Rights Commission; second, H. Res. 361, calling for free and impartial elections in Cambodia; and, third, H. Con. Res. 218, urging a cease-fire in Afghanistan.
On each of these resolutions, there are a number of modest changes that have been requested by the Administration and by various Members of the Committee. These are changes that I believe staff have worked out to the satisfaction of the interested Members, as far as I know.
Consistent with the wishes of Chairman Gilman, and without objection, I will be offering these proposed changes as amendments in the nature of a substitute at the appropriate place in the proceedings.
Is there objection?
[No response.]
Mr. BEREUTER. I thank my colleagues for being here on a very busy day. At least we are not expected to be interrupted by votes on the House floor. To my regret, we are also marking up the IMF bill in Banking Committee, so I have a few conflicts.
The first order of business is H. Res. 364, which the clerk will now report.
Mr. ENNIS. ''H. Res. 364, urging the introduction and passage of a resolution on the human rights situation in the People's Republic of China at the 54th Session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights.
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''Whereas the State Department's''——
Mr. BEREUTER. Without objection, further reading of the resolution will be dispensed with, it will be printed in the record, and open for amendment.
[H. Res. 364 appears in the appendix.]
Mr. BEREUTER. Before we begin the formal process of considering the resolution, I would like to make a few comments. I will then recognize the Ranking Member and other Members of the Subcommittee for any comments they might wish to make.
I would also alert my colleagues that, at the appropriate time, I will offer an amendment that updates the original draft and addresses a number of concerns.
H. Res. 364 was introduced on February 12th by our colleague, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, and addresses the question of whether the United States should propose a China resolution at the U.N. Human Rights Commission.
The Commission begins its annual session on March 16th, so this is an important, time-sensitive resolution for us to consider.
I have, in fact, initiated such actions myself in the past, and I asked Mr. Smith to add me as a co-sponsor to this resolution.
The European Union has, to my regret, announced that it will not support such a resolution, arguing instead for expanded dialog. I think some of you may remember that Denmark was courageous and supported that last year, and they were threatened very overtly for having taken that initiative.
I would tell our friends in Europe that I, too, support expanded dialog, but I also believe it's important to raise very real human rights questions and concerns that the American people have raised regarding the PRC.
The resolution quotes from the State Department Human Rights Report, noting extra-judicial killings, torture, forced abortion, and sterilization, expanded attempts to control religion, and tight controls against China's many minorities.
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Certainly, Beijing is annoyed that, year after year, the United States has raised this issue at the U.N. Human Rights Commission, but, for many of us who are genuinely concerned in better Sino-American relations, human rights is an appropriate U.S. concern.
I am aware that the Clinton Administration is debating whether to advance such a resolution in the upcoming session of the Human Rights Commission.
I would, however, cite the March 3rd editorial in the Washington Post, which states:
''It's not too late for Mr. Clinton to support such a measure. He can still send a message that America supports, or at least sympathizes with, the fighters for freedom inside China.
''Alternatively, he can send a message that his friendship with these oppressors is too important to put at risk with impolitic words.
''For someone who hopes to become, this year, the first President to visit China since the massacre at Tiananmen Square, this should be an easy choice.''
Indeed, I think it should be an easy choice, and I urge my colleagues to support this worthy resolution.
Now, I would like to call on the distinguished gentleman from California, the Ranking Member, for his comments.
Mr. BERMAN. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I agree very much with what you've just said. I think the Administration does need to pay urgent attention, and not just merely lip service, to this issue.
There is nothing about this resolution, or an intense focus on the many abuses of and failures of Chinese policy in the area respecting human rights that are recognized by international standards, that is inconsistent with trying to have a positive relationship with China with embracing engagement, with opposing containment, with acknowledging that, in a number of areas, our relationship with China has improved, that we are hopeful that the recent gains in the area of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are secured and expanded, that we will have commercial relationships, that we will maybe even have, in certain areas, cooperation between our militaries, and still pushing the notion that we do not find their current practices, in a whole variety of areas, acceptable, any more than we should say that we are going to break off our contacts with China because we don't like their criticism of our policy toward Iraq.
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We've just seen a recent arrest by the FBI of two Chinese officials for allegedly marketing human organs from executed prisoners. We all know about the grievous state of human rights in Tibet and Xinjiang, the treatment of religious leaders in China, continued human rights problems within China itself.
These alone are reasons enough for the Administration to take the lead in once again introducing a resolution before the 54th session of the U.N. Human Rights Commission.
The European position, which is becoming all too frequent on so many areas, is not an acceptable position for us, and I think this is a good resolution and I urge its passage.
Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you, Mr. Berman. The gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Salmon, is recognized.
Mr. SALMON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to concur with you, Mr. Chairman, and Mr. Berman, that this is a timely measure and it's very, very important.
As one of those Members, along with you, Mr. Chairman, that has consistently supported constructive engagement, I would like to reiterate that I believe that our national policy toward China ought to focus its attention, as a number priority, on the human rights situation in China.
I have supported, in the past, the ability to expand trade with China, because I believed that that was the best mechanism for continued dialog.
However, it seems as though, during the course of the year, the Chinese Government only seems to be receptive to our wants and desires regarding prisoner exchange, giving us the prisoner lists, and allowing prisoner release when the MFN issue comes up.
I continue to be very, very frustrated that the Administration doesn't make more of an issue of human rights when these meetings occur.
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I know, when President Jiang came to the United States, you and I were able to sit down and meet with him, and I believe that Mr. Gephardt and others who shared quite vocally their opinions of this lack of improvement of the human rights situation in China felt this was a very helpful dialog.
I wonder when we're going to get the same kind of attention from this Administration. I dearly hope that, as the President prepares to go to China—and it is a very historic event I think, as Mr. Berman said—I hope that it's going to be much more than just a photo opportunity shoot for both sides, and I hope that there will be some meaningful dialog.
Meanwhile, there are political prisoners and religious prisoners who languish in these gulags, and they're not being treated very nicely, which is probably the biggest understatement of the year.
I had an opportunity to sit down with Wei Jingsheng, I know, as you did, a couple of weeks ago, to listen to the atrocities that still occur in the Chinese prisons.
I, as you, have worked on the issue with Tibet, and know that it continues to be a real thorn in our side, and for anybody who cares about religious freedom.
This step is a good step, but it's the very least that we can do. And, if our allies cannot support us in decrying one of the grossest human rights violators in the world, then I think it goes back to the issue of why so many of our colleagues don't want to update our U.N. dues.
It's because many believe that the United Nations is completely ineffective dealing with important problems like that.
If they can't accept this modest proposal, if they can't take this baby step toward calling upon China to improve its human rights situation, then I've got to question the validity and the credibility of the United Nations as a whole.
This has to go forward, and we're taking the right step right now. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you, Mr. Salmon. Do other gentlemen wish to be heard? The gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Fox, is recognized.
Mr. FOX. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Just today I had an opportunity to meet with Harry Wu for breakfast, along with Wei Jingsheng, and both—as you know, Harry, for 15 years, was in prison, and Wei for 18 years.
It couldn't be more clear to me that this resolution couldn't be more timely, H. Res. 364, because in speaking with them this morning, we learned that almost 4,000 prisoners are killed each year in China, many for minor crimes.
Then, their body parts are sold—a kidney for $20,000 apiece, a liver for $30,000, a lung for $30,000, so on and so forth, but whatever the market will bear. And the recent arrest in New York by two more individuals makes it very much a close-to-home issue.
They even talked this morning about the possibility of having an adopt-a-prisoner program, so we can keep the emphasis on the exposure to this issue.
When we visited China, they said human rights violations weren't going on, and that it was a matter of someone's imagination and that, if there was a problem, they would address it sometime.
I believe, Mr. Chairman, that this resolution goes to exactly the heart of what Mr. Jingsheng and Mr. Wu asked for.
That is, that the House of Representatives urge, in this resolution, that the President initiate an immediate and determined U.S. effort to secure passage of a resolution on human rights violations in China at the 54th Session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights.
I strongly urge the passage of this resolution, and thank the Chairman, Mr. Smith, for the leadership on this issue.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Rohrabacher, I understand you are an original co-sponsor of the resolution.
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Mr. ROHRABACHER. I co-sponsor all three resolution, and I'm very grateful to your leadership, Mr. Chairman, in bringing them forward. That will be very supportive. Thank you very much.
Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you very much, Mr. Rohrabacher.
The Chair has an amendment in the nature of a substitute, which should be in the Members' packets, which the clerk will read.
Mr. ENNIS. ''Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute.
''Urging the introduction and passage of resolution''——
Mr. BEREUTER. Without objection, the amendment in the nature of a substitute is deemed to have been read and is open for amendment at any point.
[The amendment of Mr. Smith appears in the appendix.]
Mr. BEREUTER. I would like to explain that the amendment is acceptable to the author, Mr. Smith, and is identical, in fact, to the language adopted last week by the International Operations and Human Rights Subcommittee. His staff and our staff here worked on that together.
It addresses a few minor factual issues. For example, the first ''Whereas'' clause on Page 3 now reflects the fact that the United Nations did not participate in the China Resolution of 1991 but has done so every other year since Tiananmen Square.
The amendment also acknowledges, in the final ''Whereas'' clause on Page 2, that Beijing has taken a number of positive steps that advance certain aspects of human rights conditions in China.
Last, reflecting the view that the House of Representatives speaks for itself and is its own master, the amendment deletes references to a number of NGO's that have urged that the House pass such a resolution.
Humanitarian groups certainly are within their rights to urge such action, and even to be commended, I would add, but the House does not require and, doubtfully, should reference such support to justify our action.
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The question is now on the amendment in the nature of a substitute. If there are any Members that want to be recognized, I will certainly hear from them.
[No response.]
Mr. BEREUTER. As many as are in favor will say ''Aye.''
[Chorus of ayes.]
Mr. BEREUTER. As many as are opposed will say ''No.''
[No response.]
Mr. BEREUTER. The ayes appear to have it, do have it. The motion is agreed to.
Are there further amendments or debate on the resolution? The gentleman from California.
Mr. BERMAN. I'd just like to be added as a co-sponsor of the resolution.
Mr. BEREUTER. We will convey that to Mr. Smith, and I'm certain he will be glad to have you as a co-sponsor. The gentleman from Arizona makes a similar request.
Mr. FOX. I believe I've been added, as well—Mr. Fox from Pennsylvania.
Mr. BEREUTER. So that will make it unanimous for the group, here.
If there are no further amendments, the Chair would entertain a motion to report the resolution as amended to the full Committee on International Relations.
Mr. BERMAN. I so move.
Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you, gentlemen. The motion has been made to report H. Res. 364, as amended, with the recommendations that the resolution be favorably reported to the full House.
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The question is on the motion. As many as are in favor will say ''Aye.''
[Chorus of ayes.]
Mr. BEREUTER. As many as are opposed will say ''No.''
[No response.]
Mr. BEREUTER. The ayes appear to have it, and do have it. The motion is agreed to. Without objection, the staff director will be authorized to make technical, grammatical, and conforming amendments or changes to the text just agreed to; and I thank my colleagues.
The second order of business is H. Res. 361, calling for free and impartial elections in Cambodia, which the clerk will report.
Mr. ENNIS. ''H. Res. 361, calling for free and impartial elections in Cambodia.
''Whereas, Cambodia continues to''——
Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I seek unanimous consent that the reading be dispensed with.
Mr. BEREUTER. Without objection.
[H. Res. 361 appears in the appendix.]
Mr. BEREUTER. I would like to address a few comments preliminarily, again, to my colleagues and for the record.
Seven months after a violent coup ousted the democratically elected First Premier Prince Ranariddh from power, Cambodia's prospects for democracy remained a shattered dream. The fragile coalition government finally disintegrated last July when Second Prime Minister Hun Sen violently expelled him from the government.
Many prominent opposition leaders fled into exile. Many of those politicians have now returned to Cambodia to prepare for the elections scheduled for July 26th. However, because of continued intimidation by forces close to the Hun Sen regime, these politicians have been unable to conduct normal political and campaign activities.
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Today, 7 months after the fact, Hun Sen's regime has yet to investigate the many instances of extra-judicial killings that have taken place since the coup, despite repeated calls for accountability from domestic and international groups.
H. Res. 361 cites the coup d'etat of July 1997 and subsequent extra-judicial killings and other improper activities as evidence that conditions do not yet exist to conduct free and fair and credible elections.
In response to these problems, H. Res. 361 urges the Cambodian Government to fully enforce the Paris Peace Accords, to restore a nonviolent and neutral political atmosphere, to allow all exiled opposition leaders, including First Premier Ranariddh, to return to Cambodia and engage in political activities without fear of political or physical reprisal, and to take further measures to ensure a credible election.
H. Res. 361 also states its unwillingness to accept as legitimate or worthy of U.S. assistance a Cambodian Government resulting from a fraudulent election.
The Chair's amendment in the nature of a substitute should be in the Members' packets. But I would like to call first upon the distinguished gentleman from California, Mr. Berman, for any comments that he might have.
Mr. BERMAN. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I support the resolution. The Subcommittee held a hearing on Cambodia last week, and that hearing demonstrated the very precarious state of Cambodian democracy.
I think we need to forcefully present and act, early on, on the question of establishing the yardsticks to be met in judging whether or not the elections that are set are, in fact, free and fair.
If we wait too long, the elections will be a fait accompli. We will have lost any possibility of influencing their conduct. We will have, once again, turned our back on the Cambodian people.
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So I urge the adoption of this resolution.
Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you, Mr. Berman. Are there other Members who would like to be recognized? The gentleman from California, Mr. Rohrabacher, who has focused a great deal of his time—to our advantage—on Cambodia.
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Let us note that we just had some talks going on in Manila about Cambodia. Friends of Cambodia, different countries were going to meet and discuss this and try to do something that would, in some way, ease Cambodia back in the right direction.
That group got their message from Hun Sen, I guess—was this today or yesterday? It was yesterday. General Kim Sang, who is the chief of naval police, an opponent of Hun Sen, was gunned down in broad daylight in downtown Phnom Penh, and he was gunned down by two uniformed members of Hun Sen's police.
This was the message that Hun Sen, this dictator in Cambodia, was giving to the people who were about to meet in Manila to try to figure out something that could be done to try to ease Cambodia back in the right direction.
We are not going to succeed with this man with less than a full force approach. This man only understands people who have strength and courage.
Unfortunately, Hun Sen, as we know, he was not elected the leader of Cambodia, yet, as your statement said, he helped kick out, force out of their country, the man, Prince Ranariddh, who was the leader of the last election.
I might add that, in a rigged court decision, in which the kangaroo court only took 2 hours to find Prince Ranariddh guilty of arms smuggling, the man who was not elected to be President of that country has now convicted the man who was elected President, of gun smuggling.
There seems to be something wrong with that formula somewhere.
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I hope that this resolution will bring to the attention of this Administration, and to the attention of our allies, the importance of acting forcefully and together on this, or we are going to face a brutal regime like this in Cambodia for another 20 years.
The people of Cambodia will suffer under this dictatorship, just as they're suffering the corrupt dictatorship in Burma, because the West doesn't have the courage to act.
Mr. Chairman, one last thought—this should serve notice, as well, to the members of our State Department that we expect our State Department representatives, especially during a time of crisis, to be siding with those people who support and believe in democracy.
It took us 5 months to get the cables to determine what our own embassy was doing in Phnom Penh during this coup d'etat of Hun Sen's, and our embassy took a neutral position. It continually told the thugs and the gangsters versus the victims that we were neutral in this, and we should not be neutral.
This resolution today puts us on the side, and lets people know that we're on the side, of democracy. Thank you very much.
Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you, Mr. Rohrabacher. I certainly join you in that expectation and demand, and I'm sorry to hear of the most recent example of political terrorism.
We are honored to be joined, I am pleased to say, by our chairman, Ben Gilman, who is, as the chairman of the Full Committee, an ex officio voting Member of all subcommittees. Welcome, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. GILMAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I'll be brief. I want to commend you and your Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific for introducing this resolution calling for free and fair elections in Cambodia.
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It's an extremely timely resolution, and tremendously important that this body continue to bring to the attention of the American people and to the world the plight of Cambodia.
Although I believe my views on the subject are well-known, I do want to express strong support for the democratic forces in Cambodia and for the Cambodian people who have suffered so much.
We all are disappointed in the current state of affairs, but we are committed to bringing democracy, justice, peace, and freedom once again to the kingdom of Cambodia.
There is much work to do between now and then, but this resolution expressing the sense of Congress, I think is an appropriate measure, it's a good start, and I'm proud to be a co-sponsor. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm pleased to have you as a co-sponsor. Mr. Fox.
Mr. FOX. Just briefly, I believe that your amendment in the nature of a substitute has some key provisions.
I just wanted to highlight to the Committee Members, I think it's very important you have in there the language dealing with the Secretary of State working through appropriate non-governmental organizations—again, her work with the Association of Southeastern Asian Nations and members of the Donors Group and, as well, the cooperation needed with the Phnom Penh Office of the U.N. Center for Human Rights.
By adding those provisions in there, I think that you are going to provide the assurances that we need. I thank the Chairman.
Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you, Mr. Fox. The clerk will now read the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
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Mr. ENNIS. ''Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H. Res. 361.
''Strike the preamble and insert the following:
''Whereas, Cambodia''——
Mr. BERMAN. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment in the nature of a substitute be considered as read.
Mr. BEREUTER. Is there objection?
[No response.]
Mr. BEREUTER. Without objection, that will be the order.
[The amendment of Mr. Bereuter appears in the appendix.]
Mr. BEREUTER. I would like to tell my colleagues that the modest changes in this amendment largely came at the request of the Administration. Most are minor factual matters.
For example, the amendment corrects the value of the European Union's contribution to the elections and the amendment provides an update to recognize the cease-fire that came into force last weekend.
I would also note the useful suggestions offered by Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Rohrabacher, which have been included in the amendment.
For example, an additional clause was added that calls upon the Cambodian Government to work with the U.N. Center for Human Rights in Phnom Penh.
In addition, a final ''Resolved'' clause that was included, that states the U.S. unwillingness to accept as legitimate any Cambodian Government that rises out of a flawed election, is very important.
With these amendments, I do believe H. Res. 361 represents a strong expression of concern that hopefully allows the Congress and Administration to speak with one voice.
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Are there any Members that wish to comment upon the resolution, or are there amendments to the resolution?
Mr. BERMAN. I move the passage of the amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Mr. BEREUTER. The question, then, on the motion is on the amendment in the nature of a substitute. As many as are in favor will say ''Aye.''
[Chorus of ayes.]
Mr. BEREUTER. Those who are opposed will say ''No.''
[No response.]
Mr. BEREUTER. The ayes appear to have it, and do have it. The motion is agreed to.
Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I move that the resolution, as amended, be reported favorably.
Mr. BEREUTER. You've heard the gentleman's motion. The question is on the motion. As many as are in favor will say ''Aye.''
[No response.]
Mr. BEREUTER. As man as are opposed will say ''No.''
[No response.]
Mr. BEREUTER. The ayes have it, and the resolution is agree to.
Without objection, the staff director will be authorized to make technical, grammatical, and conforming changes to the text agreed to, and I thank my colleagues.
The third and final order of business today is H. Con. Res. 218, calling for a cease-fire in Afghanistan, and to begin the transition toward a broad-based multiethnic government that observes international norms of behavior, which the clerk will now read.
Mr. ENNIS. ''H. Con. Res. 218, concerning the urgent need to establish a cease-fire in Afghanistan and begin the transition toward a broad-based multiethnic government that observes international norms of behavior.''
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Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be considered as read.
Mr. BEREUTER. Is there objection?
[No response.]
Mr. BEREUTER. Hearing none, that will be the order.
[H. Con. Res. 218 appears in the appendix.]
Mr. BEREUTER. I would like to explain the nature of the resolution. It was introduced on February 12th by this Member and addresses the continuing chaos in Afghanistan and the efforts of the United Nations and others to bring about an end to the fighting.
Today, Afghanistan, of course, has no central government. It's a country torn apart by civil war carried out by two major warring factions known as the Taliban and the Northern Alliance. No parties to the conflict are heroic. All must share the blame for the destruction and division. And, of course, there are other factions, too.
Due to chaos and destruction brought about by the extended warfare, Afghanistan is now one of the world's leading producers of opium.
Other problems now facing Afghanistan include serious and repeated human rights violations occurring throughout the country, an alarming rate of infant and child mortality, and the use of Afghanistan as a safe haven for terrorist leaders and activities.
In the past, Afghanistan's neighbors have perpetuated the struggle by supporting various militia leaders in an effort to gain significant influence in Afghan affairs.
However, these outside parties now appear willing to participate in negotiating a solution that encourages stability.
The United States officially supports no party or faction in this conflict and backs U.N. negotiation efforts to establish a coalition government where all factions are fairly represented.
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H. Con. Res. 218 urges the various factions and the nations of the region to use all avenues to work toward peace and stability in Afghanistan.
The Chair would like to express my appreciation—especially to Mr. Rohrabacher, but also to Mr. Hamilton—who provided constructive contributions to this legislation, which have been included, I believe, in an amendment in the nature of a substitute. That was my intent.
I also thank Mr. Royce's and Mr. Rohrabacher's authorship of H. Con. Res. 218.
At this point, the Chair has an amendment in the nature of a substitute, which should be in the Members' packets, which the clerk will read.
Mr. ENNIS. ''Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H. Con. Res. 218.
''Strike the preamble and insert the following:
''Whereas peace and stability has not returned''——
Mr. BEREUTER. Without objection, the amendment in the nature of a substitute is deemed to have been read and is open for amendment at any point.
[The amendment of Mr. Bereuter appears in the appendix.]
Mr. BEREUTER. I'll explain the amendment and then Members will be recognized to comment upon the product before us.
The amendment makes a number of factual changes and slight textual changes that have been requested by the Administration.
The amendment also incorporates changes, as I mentioned, by three Members—Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr Hamilton, and Mr. Royce.
For example, the amendment makes specific references to the Taliban rule as having a major role in the ongoing troubles in Afghanistan.
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The amendment also updates the resolution by referencing the suffering caused by the February 4th earthquake which resulted in approximately 5,000 deaths.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I call upon the senior Democrat Member, the distinguished gentleman from California.
Mr. BERMAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to commend you for the crafting of H. Con. Res. 218 concerning the Afghanistan situation. I wish we could do more to influence positively the developments in that region.
Afghanistan has tremendous potential in this new world of independent states in the Caucasus. It could play a vital role in encouraging economic development throughout the South Asia region by providing a transit point for oil-gas pipelines.
Sadly, that potential will probably not be realized, as long as Afghanistan continues to be rent by internal strife. This resolution sends a signal of our continued concern and, for that alone, it is worthwhile.
Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you, Mr. Berman. Do other Members wish to be recognized? Mr. Rohrabacher.
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate you and Mr. Gilman providing leadership and a vehicle for people who are involved in this issue to try to do something, as much as we can do, to change the tragic situation that continues in Afghanistan.
I hiked into Afghanistan 10 years ago, with the Mujaheddin, and I thought the fighting would be over by then. I remember there was a young man who came up to me—we were hiking into the battle of Jalalabad—and he must have been about 16 years old, and he had the AK–47 over his shoulder.
And he said to me, ''I understand that you're from the United States.'' I said, ''Yes.'' He said, ''You're in politics?'' I said, ''Yes.'' And he looked at me, and he said, ''Are you a donkey or an elephant?''
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And I told him I was an elephant. And he said, ''I thought you were. I thought you were.'' Although he was rather non-partisan, I might add.
We talked a little bit, and he wanted to be an architect and an engineer, wanted to build things. He wanted to rebuild his country, is what he wanted to do. And here he was, in the middle of this thing.
I don't know if he lived or died, but it is so tragic that this young man now, who is 10 years older, maybe just getting to the age of looking at 30, probably has not been married, he has no economic hope for himself or he may never even have a family.
We've had two or three generations of Afghans now who face this, and for us to have let this go on now for another generation is just a horrible thing.
These people contributed so much to the ending of the cold war with their courage, raw courage. We just have not repaid that debt.
This resolution today states that the Taliban bear at least some of the responsibility for the continuing of the ongoing violence and frustrations that people have had with bringing peace to that country.
That's really important, because we must note that the Taliban, I believe, are a negative force. I was hopeful, when they first appeared on the scene, that they might become a positive force, but they have, instead, because of drug money and because of other things, have become an incredibly negative force in Afghanistan.
They are deeply involved with the sale of heroin to the rest of the world. They are the chief enemy of the rights of women anywhere in the world. There is no greater threat to the rights of millions of women on this planet than the acceptance of the Taliban and their principles by Islamic people in other parts of the world.
The Taliban, of course, have to be part of any peace agreement, and we are requesting them to move forward with a peace agreement here.
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But I would like to just, while I have the floor, if you will indulge me 1 minute, I would like to say that I am deeply disappointed in the way our State Department has handled the situation of Afghanistan, but also in concern to the Taliban.
I had reports from friends of mine who I left behind in Afghanistan that the Taliban had not permitted any humanitarian supplies from going into those areas which are not controlled by the Taliban.
There are 400,000 women and children—civilians and unarmed people—who are at this time on the verge of death and starvation in central Afghanistan.
When I went with this report to the State Department, the State Department said that their analysis was it was a chronic need, but not a critical need.
So we ended up with a situation where there was no help from the State Department for 4 million human beings who were not getting humanitarian supplies in central Afghanistan because the Taliban have them blockaded or blocked from outside support.
Mr. Chairman, my office raised enough money and support to send six airplanes of humanitarian supplies—not food, unfortunately, but medicines and clothing and things such as that—to this area, and we sent a team of doctors.
The doctors came back just several days ago and reported that the State Department was totally wrong, that 400,000 women and children will starve to death unless something is done by spring to save them. More than 4 million could be victimized, that 400,000 are at risk.
We owe it to the people of Afghanistan at least not to let them starve like this, and we owe it to them also, which this resolution addresses, that we owe them our attention and our commitment to bring peace to that country so they can live decent lives.
Thank you very much.
Mr. GILMAN [PRESIDING]. Thank you, Mr. Rohrabacher. We want to commend you for your efforts. I was very familiar with your attempting to get aircraft to try to get the supplies over there.
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Mr. ROHRABACHER. Yes, sir.
Mr. GILMAN. But we certainly commend Congressman Rohrabacher, who has been almost our ambassador without portfolio to Afghanistan.
Any other Members seeking to comment?
Mr. BERMAN. With a portfolio.
[Laughter.]
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Fox.
Mr. FOX. I concur with the Chairman's recommendation, and would like to be added as a co-sponsor of H. Con. Res. 218.
Mr. GILMAN. So moved. Mr. Berman.
Mr. BERMAN. I would like to be a co-sponsor, and I move the passage. Did you move it?
Mr. GILMAN. I did not. But withhold a moment. I do want to thank on the record the chairman of our Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee, the gentleman from Nebraska, Mr. Bereuter, and the Ranking Minority Member from California, Mr. Berman, for bringing this important markup today.
The Subcommittee chairman's resolution comes, I think, at a sad period in Afghanistan's history, as so eloquently described by Mr. Rohrabacher. The country is ravaged by war, the Taliban has instituted horrendous treatment of women, and opium is the nation's largest revenue earner today in Afghanistan.
Due to the conflict between the Northern Alliance and the Taliban, thousands of Afghanis are at risk of starving, as Mr. Rohrabacher pointed out. And I commend the gentleman from California for filling in for the Administration, as it continues to drop the ball in responding adequately to the humanitarian crisis, and I urge our colleagues to support the resolution, and I commend the Subcommittee for its initiative.
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Mr. Berman has a motion.
Mr. BERMAN. We've already adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute, I think. So I move the passage of the resolution as amended favorably to the Full Committee.
Mr. GILMAN. The question is now on the resolution. Are there any further amendments to the resolution?
[No response.]
Mr. GILMAN. If not, the motion has been made to report H. Con. Res. 218 as amended with the recommendation that the resolution be favorably reported to the full House.
The question is on the motion. As many as are in favor signify by stating ''Aye.''
[Chorus of ayes.]
Mr. GILMAN. As many as are opposed, say ''No.''
[No response.]
Mr. GILMAN. The ayes have it. The resolution is agreed to. Without objection, the staff director will be authorized to make technical, grammatical, and conforming changes to the text agreed to, and I thank our colleagues. The Subcommittee stands adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 2:50 p.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
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