[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 96 (Thursday, July 21, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                     UNITED STATES POLICY ON HAITI

  Mr. DOLE. Madam President, the Washington Post ran an article this 
morning with the headline ``Haitian Military Rulers Bank on Support in 
Washington.'' Unfortunately, it appears that a paper as sophisticated 
as the Post fell victim to an obvious disinformation campaign. The Post 
article accepts at face value statements made by Haitians the article 
attempts to discredit.
  Let me make it clear: If the thugs running Haiti's illegal government 
are banking on support from me or the Republican Party, they will not 
get it. If any Haitians think they have a back channel to me, they are 
delusional.
  I have repeatedly and unequivocally condemned the military regime in 
Haiti, calling them ``bloodthirsty killers,'' ``despicable,'' 
``cowardly,'' and ``thugs and murderers.'' I ask consent that excerpts 
from my statements be printed in the Record at the end of my remarks.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection it is so ordered.
  (See exhibit 1.)
  Mr. DOLE. Let us put the facts on the record. First, neither I nor 
any member of my staff has met or communicated with any representative 
of the Haitian Government.
  Second, I have not met or talked to any Haitian Parliamentarians. I 
received an unsolicited letter on July 1, 1994--almost 2 months after I 
first formally proposed a fact finding commission to look at policy 
toward Haiti on May 5. That was the first time we proposed that idea. I 
first suggested such a commission on October 20, 1993. This idea was 
not made in Haiti.
  Third, the 47 Haitian Deputies who signed the letter I received were 
duly elected in the same electoral process as President Aristide--a 
general election on December 16, 1990, and a run off election on 
January 20, 1991. According to the State Department, four deputies were 
elected in sham elections in 1993--but none of them signed the letter. 
And, I might say, the letter went to me and other leaders, Republican 
and Democratic leaders, in the House and Senate. Some of the 47 
Deputies may have supported the coup. Some of the 47 Deputies may have 
supported mob violence when Aristide was in power. But the fact remains 
that a majority of the Chamber support a bipartisan commission--and 
they are just as legitimate as Aristide.
  I have never endorsed any Haitian politician or faction. I note, 
however, that at least seven of the signatories of the July 1 letter 
were elected as members of Aristide's own leftist political party--the 
FNCD. Some of the others are Socialists, Social Democrats, and 
Christian Democrats. One signatory was exiled as an opponent of the 
Duvalier dictatorship. Many of them opposed the October 1991 coup and 
supported the Governors Island accord. Maybe that is not centrist 
enough for the Washington Post reporter, but I would not dismiss their 
views if I were making Haiti policy.
  Madam President, Haiti is deeply divided. Efforts to build a 
political center have been abandonded by the administration. As ousted 
special envoy Lawrence Pezzullo noted in the Washington Post,

       The administration's inability to stay the course on 
     something as fundamental as building a political coalition in 
     a parliamentary democracy does not provide much hope that it 
     will be able to stay any course.

  The White House claims it may invade Haiti to restore democracy. I do 
not know how you can restore democracy while ignoring the 
democratically elected Parliament.
  There are a lot of news stories that could be written about United 
States-Haiti policy--about seeking a U.N. resolution authorizing an 
invasion this week, or about the one-half billion dollars necessary to 
rebuild Haiti thanks to our scorched earth sanctions policy. I hope we 
quit hyping up the disinformation and look at the real issues in 
Haiti--and whether we should risk American lives in support of the 
administration's failed Haiti policy.

                               Exhibit 1


          senator dole on the illegal haitian military regime

       Finally, I want to make crystal clear that nothing in my 
     amendment should be read as any comfort to the bloodthirsty 
     killers running wild in Haiti. I condemn, as I am sure every 
     member of this body condemns, political murder and 
     intimidation in Haiti--and everywhere else.--October 20, 
     1993.
       Yes, the thugs and murderers running the country have 
     committed horrible human rights violations * * *.--May 5, 
     1994.
       Haiti's military regime is despicable * * *.--
     May 23, 1994.
       I join with the international community in condemning 
     Haiti's expulsion of United Nations human rights observers--
     it is a cowardly and deplorable act.--July 13, 1994.
       Let me clear up one issue: I do not care what General 
     Cedras or the other thugs running Haiti think about this or 
     any other proposal. I do not check with Cedras, Aristide or 
     any other Haitians on my view of American national 
     interests.--July 14, 1994.

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