[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 51 (Tuesday, May 3, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   HAITI: THE POLICY MUST BE CHANGED

                                 ______


                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 3, 1994

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, last month, the world learned that Haitian 
soldiers massacred more than 20 fishermen and merchants in a town on 
the west coast of Haiti. Occurring in an area loyal to deposed Haitian 
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, this brutal attack represented, in 
the words of one Aristide supporter, another effort to ``decapitate the 
democratic movement in Haiti.''
  More than 2 years have passed since the Haitian military ousted 
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from power, yet the despotic 
government of Gen. Raoul Cedras, which took his place, remains in 
power, free to commit one atrocity after another. Although the United 
States has placed some sanctions on the Haitian military regime, 
violations of the economic embargo are common. Indeed, the government 
has built up a large supply of oil and other goods.
  The thousands of Haitians who attempted to escape Haiti immediately 
after the coup are evidence of the repression which has overrun that 
country since the ouster of President Aristide. Unfortunately, under a 
policy established by President Bush and continued by the current 
administration, Haitian's escaping their country's violence are 
intercepted by Coast Guard cutters patrolling the waters off the 
Haitian coast, denied the opportunity to claim asylum in the United 
States, and sailed back to Haiti. This immoral policy represents a 
breach of our country's legal obligations under domestic and 
international law.
  In order to reverse this policy and to press the Haitian regime to 
permit the return of President Aristide, I have cosponsored H.R. 4114, 
the Governors Island Reinforcement Act of 1994. This bill, introduced 
by members of the Congressional Black Caucus, represents the best hope 
to correct the course of America's foundering foreign policy toward 
Haiti. If passed, the bill would halt the interdiction and summary 
repatriation of Haitian refugees and would end the use of United States 
naval and Coast Guard vessels to lock Haitians in General Cedras' cage 
of human rights abuses.
  The Governors Island Reinforcement Act would also tighten economic 
sanctions on Haiti and supporters of the coup. It would impose a 
complete trade and commercial embargo on Haiti, with exceptions for 
food and medicine, sever air links to Haiti, deny visas to members of 
the Haitian military and coup supporters, freeze assets of Haitian 
military officers, and impose sanctions on any country that violates 
these sanctions. Finally, to ensure that the economic sanctions are not 
violated through shipments across the Dominican Republic, the bill 
urges the President to create a multinational border patrol to halt 
proscribed commerce.
  Last week, President Clinton announced that the United States will 
lead the United Nations Security Council in tightening sanctions on 
Haiti. I praise the President for this wise policy change. But the 
President did not decide to end the policy of sending back Haitian 
refugees. I call upon President Clinton to recall his 1992 pledge and 
to give Haitians the opportunity to claims asylum in this country.
  I am proud to note that my constituents are leading the charge 
against the brutal Haitian regime. Three members of Mount Vernon United 
Tenants, Dennis Hanratty, the group's executive director, Gerhome 
Eugene, and Linda Castro have recently completed a hunger strike to 
urge our Government to change its policies. I offer my full support to 
their efforts and urge President Clinton to hear their voices of 
protest.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1939, the Roosevelt administration returned to 
Germany a ship filled with Jews escaping Nazi Germany. Those people 
subsequently were sent to Hitler's death camps. With another 20 to 30 
people killed by the Haitian regime last month, I am afraid that we are 
making that tragic mistake again. We must reverse this unjust policy. I 
strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4114, the Governors Island 
Reinforcement Act of 1994.

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