[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 21, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 21, 1994]



                            MORNING BUSINESS

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be 
in morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I voted today for the Haiti resolution 
sponsored by the majority leader. I do not want to repeat what others 
have already said, but I do want to say a few words on the subject of 
amnesty for the Haitian military.
  I first want to commend President Clinton, former President Carter, 
General Powell, and Senator Nunn for their achievement. It is far 
preferable that the crisis in Haiti be resolved without bloodshed. The 
agreement signed on Sunday which paved the way for our troops to enter 
Haiti without firing a shot was an enormous relief to me and the 
overwhelming majority of Vermonters. There has been far too much 
suffering in Haiti. If democracy is restored and takes root in Haiti, I 
suspect we will look back on this chaotic episode with satisfaction.
  It is far too soon to say how the situation in Haiti will evolve. 
President Aristide should be returned at the earliest possible time. 
Our troops should come home as soon as the United Nations can take over 
responsibility for maintaining security. General Cedras, General 
Biamby, and Police Chief Francois should face the fact that they are no 
longer wanted in Haiti. They are responsible for outrageous crimes 
against the Haitian people, and they should have no future in Haiti.
  There are many questions about the interpretation of the agreement 
which will not be answered for some time. However, one item especially 
concerns me. The agreement requires General Cedras and General Biamby 
to step down as soon as the Haitian Parliament enacts a general 
amnesty. According to President Clinton, the amnesty law is to be as it 
was called for by the Governors Island agreement. That agreement, which 
General Cedras and President Aristide signed in July 1993, called for 
President Aristide to grant an amnesty within the framework of article 
147 of the Haitian Constitution. Article 147 states that an amnesty may 
be granted by the Haitian President only in political matters.
  Mr. President, I believe this is extremely important. Those 
responsible for the unspeakable violations of human rights in Haiti, 
which have resulted in the deaths of thousands of people there, should 
not escape prosecution for murder, rape, torture, and other such 
crimes. I am concerned because the Haitian Parliament is widely 
regarded as sympathetic to the Haitian military. The administration 
should make clear to the Haitian Parliament that any amnesty law needs 
to be fully consistent with the Governors Island agreement, if it is to 
conform to the agreement signed on Sunday in Port au Prince.

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