[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 346 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 346

 Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the first democratic elections 
 held in South Africa, recognizing the historical significance of the 
 momentous event, and honoring the South Africans who dedicated their 
             lives to promoting and championing democracy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 8, 2003

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the first democratic elections 
 held in South Africa, recognizing the historical significance of the 
 momentous event, and honoring the South Africans who dedicated their 
             lives to promoting and championing democracy.

Whereas many pivotal events in South Africa's history mark that country's 
        struggle for democracy and racial equality;
Whereas in 1950 and 1952 the South African Government created race base policies 
        that severely restricted access to land and movement by blacks;
Whereas during the 1950's the African National Congress (ANC), formed in 1912 to 
        bring all Africans together as one people to defend their rights and 
        freedoms, was reenergized to aggressively fight for the rights of 
        blacks;
Whereas a mass mobilization campaign began shortly thereafter in reaction to 
        these laws, a consequence of which was the creation of the Freedom 
        Charter, based on principles of human rights and racial equality adopted 
        in 1955 at the Congress of the People in Soweto;
Whereas on March 21, 1960, during a rally protesting the laws that restricted 
        movement of blacks, 69 unarmed people were killed by police officers in 
        the Sharpeville incident;
Whereas in 1962, a new stage of international pressure on the South African 
        Government to change its repressive policies began when the United 
        Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 1761 which called on its 
        members to institute economic sanctions against South Africa;
Whereas Nelson Mandela, who secretly exercised his leadership in the ANC, was 
        arrested and sentenced to five years imprisonment in 1962 for 
        incitement;
Whereas several of Mandela's senior ANC colleagues, including Walter Sisulu, 
        were arrested and Mandela was brought from jail to trial with his ANC 
        colleagues resulting in sentences of life imprisonment for Mandela and 
        his colleagues;
Whereas during a protest march against being taught in the Afrikaans language in 
        1976, police fired on youth in Soweto killing 13 year old Hector 
        Petersen and at least three others precipitating a massive flood of 
        violence;
Whereas Stephen Biko, the founder of the new Black Consciousness movement, was 
        killed as a result of police brutality in 1977;
Whereas in 1990, South African President F.W. de Klerk lifted restrictions on 33 
        opposition groups, including the African National Congress;
Whereas Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years of imprisonment on February 
        11, 1990;
Whereas Nelson Mandela and President F.W. de Klerk were jointly awarded the 
        Nobel Peace Prize in 1993;
Whereas on April 27, 1994, South Africa held its first democratic elections and 
        Nelson Mandela, as the leader of the ANC party, was elected unopposed as 
        President of South Africa in 1994; and
Whereas during his presidential inaugural speech, which was attended by the 
        largest gathering of international leaders ever held in South Africa, 
        Nelson Mandela called for a ``time of healing'' and stated that his 
        government would fight against discrimination of any kind: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) recognizes and commemorates the tenth anniversary of 
        South Africa's first democratic elections;
            (2) remembers and honors the individuals who contributed to 
        and dedicated their lives to promoting championing democracy in 
        South Africa, most notably Nelson Mandela, Stephen Biko, F.W. 
        de Klerk, Chris Hani, Helen Joseph, Thabo Mbeki, Walter Sisulu, 
        Joe Slovo, Helen Suzman, Oliver Tambo and Desmond Tutu;
            (3) recognizes the exceptional character of Nelson Mandela 
        for his dedication to humanity, commitment to democratic 
        ideals, and continued display of tolerance and spirit of 
        conciliation for the world; and
            (4) recognizes the pivotal events in South Africa's history 
        that mark the struggle for democracy and racial equality.
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