[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 94 (Monday, June 24, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               MORE DECLASSIFICATION NEEDED FOR HONDURAS

                                 ______


                          HON. ELIZABETH FURSE

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 24, 1996

  Ms. FURSE. Mr. Speaker, it was a privilege that Dr. Leo Valladares 
Lanza, human rights ombudsman for the nation of Honduras, was here in 
Washington, DC, earlier this month. He was the featured speaker at a 
briefing hosted here on Capitol Hill by the Congressional Human Rights 
Caucus, of which I am a member.
  The Honduran Government, through its National Commission for Human 
Rights headed by Dr. Valladares, is making a concerted effort to 
identify and prosecute those persons responsible for human rights 
violations in their country in the 1980's.
  The Clinton administration is making strides in beginning the process 
of declassifying documents that no longer need to remain secret. In 
response to a request submitted to the United States Ambassador in 
Tegucigalpa by the Honduran Government on August 1 of last year, this 
administration agreed to expedite the declassification of documents 
relevant to Honduras.
  Documents were requested from several Government agencies, including 
the Departments of State and Defense, the Defense Intelligence Agency, 
and the U.S. Army. While the Department of State has been quite 
forthcoming with information, I am told that these other agencies have 
yet to make information available to Honduran authorities.
  The sooner declassified documents can be released the better as the 
information they contain may serve as evidence in ongoing and future 
court proceedings against rights violations. Prompt declassification 
will help promote the independence of the judiciary system and 
strengthen democracy in Honduras.

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