[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E15]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN SUPPORT OF ADVANCEMENT OF DEMOCRACY ELSEWHERE

                                 ______


                       HON. ROBERT G. TORRICELLI

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 4, 1996

  Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. Speaker, President Clinton once wrote:

       . . . the best strategy to ensure and build a lasting peace 
     is to support the advance of democracy elsewhere.

  I concur with this statement, and I add that in order to establish 
security within our own borders, we must also ensure democracy and 
security within the borders of the countries close to the United 
States. Guatemala is one of those countries.
   Mr. Speaker, the second round of elections in Guatemala are to be 
held on January 7, 1996. The people of Guatemala are praying for a 
legitimate, democratic election. One that will guarantee substantial 
changes from the past governments and give them hope for true democracy 
in their own country. If this does not come to pass, then more 
Guatemalans will come illegally into the United States. At this time, 
just in Florida alone, there are more than 50,000 Guatemalan immigrants 
who have come in hopes of finding the American dream of true democracy 
and justice, something they have been denied for years in their own 
country. The corruption in Guatemala must stop, and the United States 
is the only country that has the power to terminate such activity.
  Both the President and Congress should make it a priority to see that 
honest, fraudulent-free elections are held there. As with the elections 
in Haiti and Nicaragua, the United States should send a cadre of 
officials to Guatemala to ensure that the voters will not be coerced in 
any way. The resources that we are currently utilizing to maintain 
illegals within our country would be better spent tending to the 
elimination of such corruption, which drives emigres to our soil. 
Additionally, we should always consider the quality of life for U.S. 
citizens who reside in these strained countries.
   Mr. Speaker, we seek the security of our Nation and we hold dear our 
own ideals, but too often we disregard the ideals of others living in 
nations less fortunate, where corruption runs rampant. By taking 
precautions now, we can lighten the burdens we will have to carry 
later. I therefore urge President Clinton to order the State Department 
to monitor the upcoming election in Guatemala, so as to ensure that 
they are fair and democratic.

                          ____________________