[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 108 (Monday, July 28, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H5847-H5848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER VIOLENCE IN REPUBLIC OF CONGO

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 175) expressing concern over the outbreak of 
violence in the Republic of Congo and the resulting threat to scheduled 
elections and constitutional government in that country, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 175

       Whereas President Pascal Lissouba defeated former President 
     Denis Sassou-Nguesso in a 1992 election that was determined 
     to be free and fair;
       Whereas losing candidates raised questions concerning the 
     results of the 1993 legislative election and used those 
     concerns to cast doubt on the entire democratic process in 
     the Republic of Congo and as the rationale for creating 
     private militias;
       Whereas thousands of citizens of the Republic of Congo have 
     been killed in intermittent fighting between Government 
     soldiers and private militiamen since 1993;
       Whereas there are concerns about the unfinished census and 
     resulting electoral list to be used in the scheduled July 27 
     election;
       Whereas the recent fighting resulted from the Government's 
     attempt to disarm former President Sassou-Nguesso's ``Cobra'' 
     militia in advance of the scheduled July 27 election;
       Whereas the fighting and uneasy peace has caused serious 
     loss of life and diminished ability to care for those who are 
     without access to adequate medical care or food and water;
       Whereas the fighting between Government troops and 
     militiamen have forced the evacuation from the country of 
     foreign nationals and endangered refugees from both Rwanda 
     and the former Zaire; and
       Whereas African governments have attempted to bring about a 
     negotiated settlement to the current crisis: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) condemns the current fighting and urges the warring 
     parties to reach a lasting ceasefire that will allow for 
     humanitarian needs to be addressed as soon as possible;

[[Page H5848]]

       (2) calls on all private militia to disarm and disband 
     immediately to end the continuing threat to peace and 
     stability in the Republic of Congo;
       (3) commends African leaders from Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, 
     Cameroon, Benin, Central African Republic, Senegal, and Chad 
     for their efforts to negotiate a peaceful settlement and 
     encourages their continuing efforts to find a sustainable 
     political settlement in this matter;
       (4) supports the deployment of an African peacekeeping 
     force to the Republic of Congo if deemed necessary;
       (5) urges the Government of the Republic of Congo, in 
     cooperation with all legal political parties, to resolve in a 
     transparent manner questions concerning the scheduled 
     elections and to prepare for open and transparent elections 
     at the earliest feasible time; and
       (6) encourages the United States Government to provide 
     technical assistance on election related matters if requested 
     by the Government of the Republic of Congo.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Royce], and the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton], 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Royce].
  (Mr. ROYCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on this resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Since violence in the Republic of Congo escalated several weeks ago, 
an estimated 3,000 lives have been lost there. What started as an 
effort by Congo President Pascal Lissouba to safeguard upcoming 
elections by neutralizing the so-called Cobra militia, operated by a 
political rival, has degenerated into ethnic cleansing.
  All this has developed beneath the media's radar. As the world 
watched the unraveling of the Mobutu regime in the neighboring country 
then known as Zaire, the Republic of Congo was seen as a safe haven for 
refugees from that collapsing nation.
  But today nearly a quarter of the population of the city of 
Brazzaville has left town to avoid being caught in the fighting. 
Unfortunately, these refugees have found themselves stopped along the 
way and killed if they belong to the wrong ethnic group. This 
resolution is a reinforcement of our Government's commitment to the 
democratic process in Congo-Brazzaville. It calls for a disengagement 
of forces and a lasting cease-fire and applauds the African efforts to 
resolve this crisis. It unanimously passed the Committee on 
International Relations several weeks ago.

                              {time}  1545

  Mr. Speaker, when this resolution was before the House last week, 
there was some confusion over whether it called for an international 
peacekeeping force. Let me say clearly that this resolution calls for 
any such force to be an African force.
  Mr. Speaker, a resolution of the crisis in Congo-Brazzaville is not 
only a priority for regional strategic reasons, but the example of a 
democracy unraveling is a poor one for other African nations. I ask for 
my colleagues' support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
and I rise in support of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I support the resolution because I believe it does draw 
attention to an explosive situation in central Africa, and I want to 
express my appreciation for the leadership of the distinguished 
gentleman from California [Mr. Royce], for his sponsorship of the 
resolution and for putting the resolution forward.
  I do think the gentleman's explanation is important to notice. There 
was a misunderstanding on the floor of the House last week. This 
resolution supports the deployment of an African peacekeeping force to 
the Republic of Congo, and only supports it if it is deemed necessary. 
I think the resolution was not fully understood at the time of the vote 
last week.
  This resolution reflects the views of the U.S. Congress on the 
importance of this issue. I hope the resolution will encourage the 
parties to maintain the current cease-fire and to reach a political 
solution in the ongoing talks. I urge the adoption of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to 
thank the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton] and ask my colleagues 
to support this resolution, which sends an important message to the 
region.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Goodlatte). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from California [Mr. Royce] that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 175, as 
amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution as amended, was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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