[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 ON THE CURRENT SITUATION IN TAJIKISTAN

                                 ______


                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 1994

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my support for House 
Concurrent Resolution 302, which urges the President to promote 
political stability and respect for human rights in Tajikistan. The 
beleaguered people of that country have endured enormous hardships in 
the last 2 years; the grim centerpiece of their afflictions has been a 
brutal civil war that has claimed more victims than any other conflict 
in the former Soviet Union. The conflict was multilayered, with 
regional antagonisms exacerbating a battle between the entrenched 
Communist nomenklatura and opposition forces composed of democratic and 
Islamic groups.
  There is some cause for relief. Many of the displaced persons and 
refugees have now returned, a ceasefire was recently announced, and 
negotiations between the government and opposition forces have taken 
place in Moscow and Teheran, with the next round slated for Islamabad. 
In principle, these talks offer some hope of a reconciliation. On the 
other hand, they have actually brought little to cheer about; on many 
important issues, the sides are as far apart as ever, and dislocation 
and suffering remain widespread.
  The Government of Tajikistan will soon hold Presidential elections. 
Previously, they were scheduled for September, but there were so many 
objections from the international community about the continued ban on 
opposition parties and the impossibility of holding a fair campaign and 
election that they were put off until November 6. Unfortunately, in my 
view, the postponement is far too short, and the conditions are still 
inappropriate for elections. What Tajikistan needs is not elections, 
but the convening of some sort of national forum that would bring the 
contending sides together, rather than force them to compete for seats 
in a Parliament that many Tajiks will not even consider legitimate or 
representative.
  For this reason, I echo the language of the resolution to the effect 
that procedures for nomination, registration and balloting are 
inadequate to ensure that the elections will be free and fair. It may 
no longer be possible to have the elections delayed again, or, even 
better, put off entirely. But at least the Congress should be on record 
as having voiced its doubts and objections in advance.
  At the same time, the resolution calls on President Clinton to 
support existing efforts of the CSCE and the United Nations at national 
reconciliation in Tajikistan, to urge the Government of Tajikistan to 
respect basic freedoms and human rights, and to maintain support for 
humanitarian assistance. The provision of economic assistance to the 
Government of Tajikistan, however, should be conditioned on progress in 
human rights and democratization, including free and fair elections, as 
well as good faith participation in negotiation efforts, cooperation 
with the International Red Cross in visiting prisoners, and 
facilitating the protection and reintegration of refugees.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of Tajikistan have lived through a nightmare 
since 1992, and they need our help in getting the difficult period 
ahead. What their current government needs is to hear from us, and 
other member states of the CSCE, that while we are prepared to offer 
humanitarian assistance, international recognition and legitimacy 
remain a distant goal as long as basic human rights are trampled upon, 
and democratization remains illusory. The mere holding of elections, in 
conditions wholly unconducive to a reliable reading of the national 
will, is not tantamount to democratization.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleagues, 
particularly Mr. Andrews and Mr. Gilman, for bringing this resolution 
to the floor. It is important that the Congress be engaged in Central 
Asia, and help foster its democratization.

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