[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 93 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 93

      Concerning democracy and human rights situation in Cameroon.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 4, 1995

  Mr. Engel submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
      Concerning democracy and human rights situation in Cameroon.
Whereas Cameroon held its first multiparty legislative election in March 1992 
        and its first multiparty presidential election in October 1992;
Whereas the legislative elections were conducted relatively well, the October 
        1992 election was described by a multinational observer mission as 
        highly unfair and strongly biased in favor of the current President, 
        Paul Biya;
Whereas the Department of State's Country Reports for 1992 and the National 
        Democratic Institute for International Affairs Report outlined numerous 
        voting irregularities, including vote counting by authorities who had 
        partisan leanings, underage and multiple voting, and electoral reports 
        from ``ghost precincts'';
Whereas the United States suspended $14,000,000 in aid to Cameroon in November 
        1992 due to problems arising from the presidential election and 
        subsequent harassment by the government of the leading opposition party;
Whereas 34 Members of the House of Representatives wrote a letter to President 
        Biya on March 25, 1993, expressing disappointment over the failed 
        electoral process and concern about human rights violations in Cameroon;
Whereas immediately after assuming the presidency, President Biya promised 
        constitutional reform and meaningful participation by opposition parties 
        in the process;
Whereas a draft of a new constitution, initiated by a broadly representative 
        committee, was taken over by the Government of Cameroon in 1993;
Whereas the Government of Cameroon has not committed itself to a national 
        referendum on the constitution, instead suggesting endorsement of minor 
        changes by the government-controlled national assembly;
Whereas President Biya hastily convened a Consultative Constitutional Review 
        Committee (CCRC) on December 15, 1994, but hand selected its members, 
        closed its deliberations to the public, and never announced whether or 
        when its recommendations for a new constitution would be approved;
Whereas the Government of Cameroon has retained control of electronic media by 
        refusing to grant licenses to private radio and television stations and 
        has intensified political attacks against the independent press;
Whereas the Department of State's Country Reports on Cameroonian authorities 
        ``continued to commit serious human rights abuses, including a number of 
        extrajudicial killings'';
Whereas, in an almost unprecedented maneuver, on March 25, 1994, the Department 
        of State blocked an Export-Import Bank loan of $22,000,000 to the 
        Government of Cameroon, invoking the rarely implemented Chafee Amendment 
        to the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945, marking only the fifth time the 
        Secretary of State invoked the amendment and the first time it was 
        invoked in regard to human rights violations in a Sub-Saharan country;
Whereas the United States and other countries have suspended economic assistance 
        to the Government of Cameroon since November 1992, and the International 
        Monetary Fund (IMF) suspended support payments in May 1994, due to the 
        high level of fiscal fraud and continued deterioration of public 
        services, such as education, health, and infrastructure;
Whereas the IMF is set to review a new standby arrangement for Cameroon for 
        September 1995;
Whereas the United States has strongly supported the transition of Cameroon to a 
        democratic society: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) urges prompt implementation by the Government of 
        Cameroon of long postponed steps to promote further 
        democratization in Cameroon, including--
                    (A) separation of executive, legislative, and 
                judicial powers, and decentralization of authority;
                    (B) full and open debate on the constitution;
                    (C) ratification of a new constitution respectful 
                and representative of the democratic aspirations of the 
                multiethnic Cameroonian people;
                    (D) assuring a free and fair electoral process, 
                including access by international election monitors;
                    (E) guaranteed equal access to the media and the 
                political process by all political parties; and
                    (F) elimination of media censorship and issuance of 
                licenses to private radio and television stations;
            (2) urges the Government of Cameroon to undertake measures 
        to address human rights abuses, including--
                    (A) immediate release of persons detained solely 
                for their political views;
                    (B) introduction of safeguards to protect all 
                prisoners from torture and ill-treatment, and 
                institution of impartial investigations into 
                allegations of such activities, including alleged 
                extrajudicial executions by security forces;
                    (C) sustained human rights education programs for 
                the security forces of Cameroon; and
                    (D) prohibition on the intimidation, harassment, 
                and wiretapping of opposition leaders and political 
                dissidents; and
            (3) urges the Government of Cameroon and Cameroonian 
        political parties to cease violence among ethnic groups and 
        against foreign nationals.
            (4) commends the Administration for steps taken in support 
        of Democracy and human rights in Cameroon and urges the 
        Administration to explore additional measures, both unilateral 
        and in coordination with other governments to promote improved 
        human rights and restoration of full democratic rule.
                                 <all>