SPEAKERS CONTENTS INSERTS
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42–322 CC
1997
MARKUP OF H. CON. RES. 99 AND
H. RES. ——
MARKUP
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED FIFTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
JUNE 24, 1997
Printed for the use of the Committee on International Relations
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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
MARSHALL ''MARK'' SANFORD, South Carolina
MATT SALMON, Arizona
AMO HOUGHTON, New York
TOM CAMPBELL, California
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JON FOX, Pennsylvania
JOHN McHUGH, New York
LINDSEY GRAHAM, South Carolina
ROY BLUNT, Missouri
JERRY MORAN, Kansas
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
WALTER CAPPS, California
BRAD SHERMAN, California
ROBERT WEXLER, Florida
STEVE ROTHMAN, New Jersey
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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 Africa
EDWARD R. ROYCE, California, Chairman
AMO HOUGHTON, New York
STEVEN J. CHABOT, Ohio
MARSHALL ''MARK'' SANFORD, South Carolina
TOM CAMPBELL, California
VACANCY
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey
ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida
JIM DAVIS, Florida
TOM SHEEHY, Staff Director
GREG SIMPKINS, Professional Staff Member
JODI CHRISTIANSEN, Democratic Professional Staff Member
SHANNON GAWRONSKI, Staff Associate
C O N T E N T S
Markup of H. Con. Res. 99, Expressing concern over recent events in the Republic of Sierra Leone in the wake of the recent military coup d'etat of that country's first democratically elected President
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APPENDIX
Text of H. Con. Res. 99
Text of H. Res. ——
MARKUP OF H. CON. RES. 99 AND
H. RES. ———
TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 1997
House of Representatives,
Subcommittee on Africa,
Committee on International Relations,
Washington, DC.
The Subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 1:05 p.m. in room 2200, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC, Hon. Edward R. Royce, chairman of the Subcommittee, presiding.
Mr. ROYCE. This meeting will now come to order. The Subcommittee on Africa meets today in open session pursuant to notice for the purpose of marking up House Congressional Resolution 99 expressing concern over recent events in Sierra Leone and for marking up a second resolution expressing concern over the outbreak of violence in the Republic of the Congo.
So we have before us today two measures to express the sense of Congress regarding violent attempts to overthrow constitutional governments in both Sierra Leone and the Republic of the Congo.
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In Sierra Leone, voters braved great hardship last year in turning out to vote in the midst of a rebel war. Many, many voters had their hands amputated for participating in that election which returned constitutional government to Sierra Leone after years of military rule.
Unfortunately, a group of rogue military officers overthrew that elected government several weeks ago and now hold the country hostage to their shifting demands.
This resolution calls upon those military officers to surrender control and return the reins of government to the duly elected officials.
At this point, I would like to offer the two cosponsors present an opportunity to make a statement. So I will ask Mr. Houghton and then Mr. Hastings. Mr. Houghton.
Mr. HOUGHTON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the graciousness with which this is done. I would like to also thank you for being a cosponsor and being supportive of this. Of course, I want to thank my friend, Alcee, for being with us all along. Alcee and Tony Hall and Doug Bereuter and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and the Chairman have been big supporters of not only the position our country has taken on Sierra Leone, but particularly this resolution.
This is a very simple, straightforward resolution. And what it does, as the Chairman has said, is call for an end to violence and the resumption of democracy in this great country. It almost seems like yesterday we had a resolution congratulating the people of Sierra Leone. And then on March 25th of this year, things were absolutely upside down.
So I realize that this does not have the force of many of the other bills that come before Congress. But it is an important statement. And I think the people of Sierra Leone, if they are able to get this message, realize how strongly we do believe, either through this or the Chairman's resolution or the things we did before, how much we believe in democracy and our participation in it.
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So I want to thank you again, the Chairman, and also I want to thank John Hirsch who is a good friend, wonderful guy, as the ambassador there, and also George Moose for his help. Maybe I would like to turn this over now to Mr. Hastings.
Mr. HASTINGS. All right. Thank you, Mr. Houghton and thank you, Mr. Chairman, for expediting this particular concurrent resolution that is in fact concurred in by not only you, Mr. Chairman, but the ranking member, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Payne, Mr. Sanford and Mr. Campbell and Mr. Davis of Florida. Mr. Chabot who just came in does not know I just put him on this bill if he is not on it.
Anyway, I would like to express my strong support for this legislation that condemns the military coup of May 26th in Sierra Leone. This recent military coup, Mr. Chairman, threatens to destroy the new foundation for democracy built in Sierra Leone and has taken a great toll on human lives and liberty. The people of Sierra Leone under difficult circumstances at one point signified their determination to have a democratic country by voting in elections. And those elections as we all know were held some 14 months ago.
The results of their election was a free and fair election by all standards. And if we as democratic leaders of the world do not speak out forcefully, and we do often and rightly in my judgment, against the military overthrow of this elected government, we would be sanctioning blatant robbery of the freedom of the great people of Sierra Leone.
In my view, it is part of the United States policymakers' responsibility to denounce the acts of the Sierra Leone military as an unacceptable rebuff to all those who seek freedom throughout the world. By safeguarding the rights of Sierra Leonians, we are protecting the rights of citizens in the international community. I urge our colleagues, Mr. Chairman, to join me and Mr. Houghton in sending a strong signal to this military regime in Sierra Leone by supporting this resolution.
You know, one of the things that happened in Sierra Leone according to some of the reports is that there was a female judge that was incarcerated pursuant to law by the person now that claims to be in charge in Sierra Leone. We hear reports of raping, looting, killing and burning and folk having their limbs amputated. Obviously, many of those reports have been verified.
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This particular judge was gang raped by 50 persons after this coup. As one citizen in this country and as one person interested in the affairs of the world, I consider that a total abomination. And if the now leader of Sierra Leone has persons under his command that perpetrated such a violent act and as late as last week she was lingering near death, not to mention the others that all of us have mentioned, then this resolution is not strong enough. At some point I would like for us to consider having him clearly understand that that kind of conduct will not be tolerated.
I would hope that there would be an immediate restoration of constitutional order because I feel that order in Sierra Leone as well as order in the other expedited markup or in the Congo and elsewhere throughout Africa with reference to the security of this great continent are critical.
And I for one am just tired of just coming here, saying to people throughout the international community that enough is enough of the killing, maiming and raping of people. These people are wrong for what they have done. Our resolution is right to tell them what they must do if they are to be a part of the international community. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Hastings. Does the distinguished ranking Democratic member have any comments to make at this time?
Mr. MENENDEZ. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of this resolution and I want to also commend both Mr. Houghton and Mr. Hastings for bringing the resolution before the Subcommittee and you, Mr. Chairman, for calling it.
You know, for those of us who have been advocates of this committee in Africa, there are going to be setbacks along the way. This is clearly one.
In 1996, Sierra Leone had a fair and free and democratic election. Those elections and the people's choice of President Kabbah to lead Sierra Leone may not be resolved by the coup, it cannot be erased or suspended by undemocratic or violent means.
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And while the coup is a setback and it is disturbing, I think it is encouraging, as we saw at the OAU opening session, that many African nations and the Organization of African Unity were swift in their condemnation and asking that governments refrain from recognizing or supporting the new regime. That is the type of signal that I think encourages us as we see African nations continue to be moved to the type of development of their promotion of democracy in their own continent that I think is very significant.
So with this resolution, the United States Congress of voices which have spoken out against the coup, calls upon Mr. Koroma and IFRC to return power to the true and democratically elected government, the government that was chosen by the people of Sierra Leone. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. ROYCE. Any further comments by the members?
Mr. CHABOT. Just very briefly, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to associate myself with the comments of the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Hastings. I think he said it exactly right.
And the thing that is most unfortunate in these types of uprisings is the people who generally suffer the most are the most innocent of people, the women and children and civilians who get caught up in the crossfire and who cannot defend themselves. And it is just a shame to see when it appeared that there was some progress being made; then we have this setback. And so I wholeheartedly support this resolution and proudly cosponsor this. And I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Chabot. Mr. Payne, would you like to be recognized on the resolution on Sierra Leone?
Mr. PAYNE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me just say that I certainly strongly support the Houghton-Hastings amendment. It is almost one year ago when we congratulated the people of Sierra Leone for holding elections, held on the 26th and 27th of February, 1996. It was the first time in almost 31 years that the people there were given the opportunity to vote.
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The relief agencies estimated that half of the country's four million people are refugees of war. Life expectancy is 42 years. And the country which was once moving forward certainly has seen much of the gains dissipated through the military leadership there over the years.
I would just like to submit for the record a statement, but say that I strongly support this amendment before us. Very good. The Chair lays a resolution before the Subcommittee. The clerk will report the title of the bill.
The CLERK. House Concurrent Resolution 99 expressing concern over recent events in the Republic of Sierra Leone in the wake of the recent military coup d'etat of that country's first democratically elected president.
Mr. ROYCE. Without objection, the resolution is considered as having been read. Are there any members wishing further recognition? If not, the Chair will put the question of the resolution to the Subcommittee. As many as are in favor of the resolution, say Aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
Mr. ROYCE. As many as opposed say no.
[No response.]
Mr. ROYCE. In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it. The ayes do have it and the resolution is agreed to. The Chair now recognizes Mr. Hastings.
Mr. HASTINGS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the Subcommittee report the bill H. Con. Res. 99 to the Full Committee with the recommendation that the Committee act favorably thereof.
Mr. ROYCE. The question is on the motion of the gentleman from Florida. As many as are in favor of the motion say aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
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Mr. ROYCE. As many as are opposed, say no.
[No response.]
Mr. ROYCE. In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it. The ayes do have it. And the motion is agreed to. Without objection, the staff director may make grammatical, technical and conforming amendments to the bill prior to its transmittal to the Full Committee.
The Chair will now lay an unintroduced resolution before the Committee for its consideration. And let me say that we are offering a resolution at this time on the situation in the Republic of the Congo.
Violence there has claimed thousands of lives and has been overshadowed by events in Sierra Leone and the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nevertheless, the threat to elected government and rule of law must be commented on as we have now done with Sierra Leone. Not to comment on the dire situation there sends the signal that we in America think it does not matter whether democracy survives there. And I think we must care and I think we do care.
President Pascal Lissouba was duly elected in 1992. There have been questions about the legislative election in 1993, and questions about the election process this year. These are concerns but he is the elected President of the country.
The fighting between his government forces and the militia loyal to former President Denis Sassou-Nguesso threatens the conduct of daily life in Congo and the very foundation of democracy in this central African nation and must be ended.
This resolution calls for a halt to the fighting, calls for a lasting peace that will allow for the humanitarian needs of the people to be met and for the conduct of planned elections in Congo. Moreover we call for the disarming and disbandment of the private militias which are a continuing threat to peace and stability.
We further commend the African nations who have undertaken diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and support those efforts considered reasonable and necessary to secure the peace.
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And finally, we call upon the parties involved in the elections to address and resolve questions concerning the election process so that there will be a free and fair election in that nation.
We have discussed this measure with the Administration and Subcommittee offices and have improved the legislation based on these conversations.
The Chair will now look to the Committee for amendments and if we can agree on a text, I will introduce a resolution for consideration in the Full Committee tomorrow when we will also bring up Mr. Houghton and Mr. Hasting's resolution. Yes, Mr. Menendez.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Chairman, I do not have any amendments, but I do want to share my concern with you about the ongoing violence in the Republic of the Congo. And although a truce was called between President Lissouba and former President Nguesso, on June 17th reports of gunfire and shelling continue. It has been estimated that between 1,000 and 3,000 people have died as a result of the fighting.
The President won his seat in 1992 in an election that was determined to be free and fair. And as in Sierra Leone, I do not think we can tolerate violence as a format for change.
The Congo is scheduled to hold elections on July 27th. Those elections are the appropriate format for change if the people of the Congo decide that it is appropriate to change.
It is crucial that the two parties come together to negotiate a real truce and to reschedule elections. It is not too late in my view to get things back on track.
The draft declaration issued by the Foreign Ministers of the West African Economic and Monetary Union in which they stated that they are prepared to join a U.N. peacekeeping force to restore peace in the Congo, again, in my view is demonstrative of a growing consensus among African nations for a proactive and African response to the outbreak of violence on the continent. It is something that I believe we should welcome.
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I want to thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am normally not supportive of resolutions that have not been introduced yet, but I believe that the nature of the urgency of the moment dictates that we be supportive of this. I want to thank you for working with our offices, for suggestions to the resolution.
I do believe it is important that the Congress clearly condemn the fighting, place its support behind democracy negotiation, elections, peace and ultimately the will of the people in the Congo as they determine to be, not as someone seeks to do it by the gun.
Mr. ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Menendez. Any other members seeking recognition at this time?
Mr. HOUGHTON. I support the resolution.
Mr. ROYCE. Thank you. The clerk will read the preamble and operable language of the resolution for amendment.
The CLERK. Whereas, President Pascal Lissouba defeated former Denis Sassou-Nguesso in a 1992 election that was determined to be essentially free and fair, whereas President Lissouba and former President Sassou-Nguesso are longstanding rivals for power—
Mr. ROYCE. Without objection, the resolution is considered as having been read. Are there any amendments? If not, the Chair asks unanimous consent that he be authorized to request the chairman of the Full Committee on behalf of the Subcommittee to consider this resolution without further action by this subcommittee. All those in favor signify by saying aye.
[Chorus of ayes.]
Mr. ROYCE. Those opposed.
[No response.]
Mr. ROYCE. The ayes have it. Thank you. And that concludes the markup to these two resolutions. We will now proceed to today's hearing.
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[Whereupon, at 1:26 p.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]