[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 158 (Thursday, October 12, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE IRONY OF SRI LANKA

                                 ______


                       HON. BARBARA-ROSE COLLINS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 12, 1995

  Miss COLLINS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to point out how ironic 
it was just this past week, that this House would commend the Sri 
Lankan Government for its commitment to democracy, and that we would 
declare our belief that a political solution which guarantees 
appropriate constitutional structures and adequate protection of 
minority rights is the best method for resolving their disputes, when 
at the same time, this very legislative body routinely steamrolls over 
the rights of minorities, senior citizens, and the poor. The most 
powerful segments of our society in general run roughshod over those 
same so-called rights supposedly granted to the minorities of this 
country under our own Constitution.
  Maybe someone should tell the Sri Lankans that even though a 
democratic, constitutional form of government is probably the best form 
of government yet devised, it still does not solve the ongoing problem 
of people with power taking advantage of the power for whatever purpose 
they choose.

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