[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 318 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 318

 Expressing the sense of Congress regarding democratic reform and the 
                  protection of human rights in Laos.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 7, 2002

Mr. Kind (for himself, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. Green of Wisconsin, and Mr. 
Kennedy of Rhode Island) submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
     which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of Congress regarding democratic reform and the 
                  protection of human rights in Laos.

Whereas Laos has been under the authoritarian control of the Lao People's 
        Revolutionary Party since the overthrow of the Royal Lao Government in 
        1975;
Whereas the Lao Constitution purports to guarantee the people of Laos a wide 
        range of freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, assembly, and 
        religion;
Whereas the only political party allowed by law in Laos is the communist Lao 
        People's Revolutionary Party;
Whereas all candidates for public office in Laos must be approved by the Lao 
        People's Revolutionary Party;
Whereas political dissent is not allowed in Laos and is often severely punished;
Whereas the Government of Laos does not protect the basic human rights of its 
        citizens;
Whereas the United States Department of State reported in its most recent 
        Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Laos that the Government of 
        Laos restricts the people of Laos from practicing the freedoms of 
        speech, assembly, and religion, and from undertaking activities to 
        change their government;
Whereas elections for the Lao National Assembly are scheduled for February 24, 
        2002;
Whereas without a democratic electoral system that provides for openly 
        contested, free, and fair elections by secret ballot, the upcoming 
        elections in Laos will not fairly represent the will of the Lao people; 
        and
Whereas the United States has a vital interest in the worldwide promotion of 
        democratic principles and supports democratic reform in Laos: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress urges the Government of Laos to--
            (1) ensure that all adult citizens of Laos are able to vote 
        and run for public office regardless of their gender, race, 
        ethnicity, religion, economic standing, or political 
        affiliation;
            (2) allow the citizens of Laos to assemble and peacefully 
        protest against the Lao Government and public officials and to 
        organize themselves into political parties; and
            (3) allow unrestricted access by international human rights 
        and election monitors.
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