[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 89 (Tuesday, July 12, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           THE WEEK IN REVIEW: UNITED STATES POLICY IN HAITI

  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, it was a busy district work period for many 
Members, so I want to make sure that no one is unaware of the 
unnecessarily escalated crisis in Haiti brought about by the latest 
clumsy efforts of President Clinton's foreign policy team. Despite a 
weather-related slowdown this weekend, the refugee numbers are still 
staggering. According to the Coast Guard last week was the busiest 
period in its history; 12,539 desperate Haitians took to the seas 
bringing the total to 19,200 since the policy change on June 16.
  Guantanamo is over full, now housing 15,000 Haitians. The 
administration intends to let it go to 20,000 despite the security and 
health risks of such overcrowding. In the July 1 Washington Times, Army 
Colonel Pearson, the man organizing the tent city in Guantanamo, noted 
the base could support no more than 12,500 Haitians due to the limits 
on fresh water and sanitary facilities.
  Even Clinton's special advisor, William Gray, could no longer deny 
U.S. culpability for the human exodus when he admitted to columnist 
Robert Novak that the sanctions ``to some degree'' have increased the 
flow of refugees. Secretary of State Warren Christopher, who arrived 
late and out of breath to the administration's Haiti policy planning, 
still seems unwilling to admit that reality telling the Washington Post 
yesterday it was caused by ``the repressive Government of Haiti, the 
increase of repression in recent months.''
  Somebody needs to explain to the Secretary of State much of the 
economic repression was caused by the United States--deliberately and 
misguidedly. And, if the United States-led misery-inducing embargo were 
not enough, the administration has given Haitians an added inducement 
to leave by quintupling asylum approval rates from 2.6 percent to more 
than 30 percent. As the July 7 New York Times notes, the administration 
fudged again by easing the standards for entry to safe havens, which we 
must remember do not yet exist. All of this despite the personal 
assurances of William Gray to me and other Members of Congress that 
asylum standards would not change.
  President Clinton speaks of increasing numbers of ``people lying dead 
in the streets'' in Haiti in the July 9 Washington Times--I wonder--has 
he looked at what is happening at sea? In the end, we are not doing 
desperate Haitians any favors with our come hither refugee policy--the 
Coast Guard photos tell the story: Overloaded, leaky vessels are very 
often no match for the 12-mile journey out to the 15 waiting cutters or 
for the rescue itself. People are dying in the sea--30 on June 23, 150 
on July 4 another 2 on July 5, and untold other victims whose passing 
goes unnoticed.
  Not only is this inhumane policy, it is a regional and international 
embarrassment. Unwilling to admit their mistakes and desperate to cope 
with the flood, the White House has sent American diplomats to search 
the Caribbean--checkbooks and brass knuckles in hand--to coerce and 
cajole our neighbors into taking on part of the burden of a disaster 
the Clinton administration created. They publicly humiliated President 
Endara of Panama with sloppy diplomacy and gringo intimidation. And, as 
Endara noted: ``U.S. credibility in the region has sunk to an alarming 
new low.''
  The administration does not get it--our Caribbean neighbors are 
worried about the economic implications of having the United 
States deposit thousands of refugees on their doorsteps. Haiti is not 
destabilizing the region--United States policy is. Unforgivably, the 
administration has been unwilling to seek better alternatives. What 
assignments would this gentleman give the B team? Start by reading the 
CIA reports that clearly show a surgical strike to get rid of the 
military junta of Cedras, Michel, and Biamby will not end violence in 
Haiti. Send a commission now to see what the embargo is really doing--a 
decision to lift the embargo should surely follow.

  And, after 18 months of having it in hand, finally take a serious 
look at the Goss safe haven-in-Haiti plan. I call attention to one more 
article that cites a Newsweek poll from yesterday showing that two-
thirds of Americans oppose a United States invasion of Haiti and more 
than 50 percent opposed United States involvement in any intervention. 
The final assignment for the B team: Do not invade Haiti.

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