[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H10880-H10882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONCERNING THE SITUATION IN KENYA
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 130) concerning the situation in
Kenya.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 130
Whereas on July 7, a large and violent confrontation
occurred in Kenya when police stormed Nairobi's All-Saints
Cathedral and attacked those present at a prayer meeting;
Whereas prodemocracy activists throughout Kenya have
demonstrated in favor of reform of Kenya's constitution and
the repeal of repressive colonial laws;
Whereas the bloody suppression of the constitutional reform
rallies, the disruptive behavior of some demonstrators, and
the recent ethnic confrontations in Kenya's Coast Province
have jeopardized both the safety and the political rights of
average Kenyans;
Whereas the Government of Kenya has continued to disrupt
opposition rallies and meetings even after pledging to take a
more tolerant approach to them in late July;
Whereas these events led to the consideration in early
September of a package of democratic reforms by members of
parliament representing the government and the opposition,
but not including representatives of Kenyan civil society;
Whereas it remains unclear whether long-discussed political
reforms can be effectively implemented in the time remaining
before anticipated elections in 1997; and
Whereas colonial laws have given Kenyan President Daniel
Arap Moi sweeping powers to suppress political opponents and
thwart reform throughout his 19-year rule: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress--
(1) recognizes and commends those Kenyans who have
demonstrated their love of peace, law, and order;
(2) condemns those who are inciting others to violence,
looting, and destroying property;
(3) urges an immediate cessation to the violence in Kenya;
(4) urges the Government of Kenya to take all necessary and
lawful steps to avoid more violence in the future;
(5) recognizes President Moi's response to domestic and
international pressure to allow meaningful constitutional and
legal electoral process reform through the current package of
legislation agreed to by the ruling party and opposition
party representatives;
(6) calls for the prodemocracy movement to remain unified
in working toward implementing constitutional, statutory, and
administrative reforms;
(7) urges rapid progress toward conducting free and fair
elections; and
(8) urges the United States Government and the
international community to continue to work with all parties
to encourage the Government of Kenya to ensure a lasting and
committed transition to democracy, including an immediate
review of the propriety of the time of the next elections.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California [Mr. Royce] and the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Hastings]
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Royce].
[[Page H10881]]
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 House Concurrent Resolution 130, the matter now under consideration.
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.
Mr. Speaker, when the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Hastings]
introduced this resolution last July, I felt it was timely and much
needed, given the violence that prodemocracy demonstrators experienced
at the hands of the Kenyan police. Since that time, after the
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held a hearing, the gentleman from
Florida [Mr. Hastings] updated this resolution so that it is relevant
for the situation existing today. This includes the recent announcement
that elections will be held in Kenya on December 28.
Despite the recent actions by the Kenyan Parliament to put in place
legal reforms to the electoral process, there are serious doubts about
the Government's willingness to honor its commitments. Last July,
President Moi promised to allow opposition political party meetings
without permits. Since then, even opposition events with permits have
been disrupted. This reform is supposed to allow for political parties
to be registered, but the Safina Party still has not been registered
nearly 2 years after applying for approval.
In short, the Kenyan Government has shown little commitment to follow
through on its promises to implement democratic reforms. This is why
this resolution is so important. The U.S. Government must be on record
as strongly encouraging genuine reform. We also must firmly oppose the
violence threatened in advance of the December elections.
This resolution is balanced, and it will be noted in Kenya. The
Kenyan Government takes notice of what the United States Government
thinks about its actions. Kenya is too important to east Africa and too
important to the continent for the United States to stand by without
supporting true reform. If we do not stand firm in opposition to
electoral violence and vote fraud, a bad election could produce chaos
in what has been an island of stability in east Africa.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I offer this resolution today in response to the ongoing
violence in Kenya that has just been talked about by our distinguished
Chair of the Subcommittee on Africa, the gentleman from California [Mr.
Royce], and I want to thank the chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia
and the Pacific [Mr. Bereuter], as well as other members, not only for
their expeditious handling of this matter, but their conscientious and
expeditious handling of matters as they have arisen on the African
Continent.
In the absence of a genuine commitment to democracy, we have seen
violence be established in Kenya. This resolution calls on President
Moi, the ruling party, opposition leaders, and protestors, to
immediately cease all violence and pursue the constitutional and legal
reforms necessary to bring Kenya from a colonial outpost to a
multiparty democracy.
On Monday, November 12, 1997, President Moi dissolved parliament
after they passed three reform bills which would have paved the way for
general elections, as spoken about a moment ago by the gentleman from
California [Mr. Royce]. These reforms repeal laws restricting freedom
of speech and assembly, give opposition parties greater representation
on the electoral commission, and establish a multiparty commission to
review the constitution after the elections.
Quite frankly, I am outraged that President Moi unilaterally
dissolved the parliament because it was clearly moving in a direction
he had found threatening. This action is unacceptable and must not be
ignored by the international community.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the ranking member of the
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific for his continuing diligence, not
only with reference to this particular matter but others that will be
spoken about later today, as well as on a continuing basis.
To sum up, my resolution lets the Kenyan people know that the United
States is watching and expects progress from all quarters. Please join
me in sending a message to all of the citizens of Kenya, especially
those who have no voice in their governance, that their aspirations for
democracy are attainable.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague, the
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Menendez].
(Mr. MENENDEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank first of all my colleague
on the Subcommittee on Africa, the gentleman from Florida [Mr.
Hastings]. He has been an articulate and thoughtful member of the
committee and has added much to our debates, and I want to commend him
on bringing this resolution, as well as the chairman, for all of the
work we have done this year in a very bipartisan way, and to his
credit, we commend him for the manner in which he has run the
committee.
Mr. Speaker, Kenya is an important and strategic country in Africa,
and it is unfortunate that our consideration of this resolution was
prompted by the violence and political instability in Kenya. I am
pleased to report that since the Subcommittee on Africa held hearings
on the situation in Kenya in July, the situation has improved
considerably. Just this past week President Moi made noted
constitutional changes to allow more room for his political opposition,
and just today the date for presidential and parliamentary elections
was announced: December 29.
It is crucial at this juncture that the international community
insist on continued progress on constitutional and legal reforms, on
improvements in human rights, and on free, fair, and democratic
elections. We cannot allow this opening for reform to close without
cementing substantive changes.
President Moi needs to know that the United States and the
international community will continue to watch his administration, even
now that the violence has subsided, and that we will continue to press
for real reforms which guarantee the Kenyan people access to and
participation in their government.
{time} 1515
That is what we are doing in this resolution. We are sending a
message to President Moi, and on behalf of the Kenyan people, we hope
that he is listening. I congratulate the gentleman from Florida [Mr.
Hastings].
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this
resolution, which makes an important statement on U.S. concern about
possible violence in a country that has been and remains vital to
American interests. It is particularly important for this House to make
this statement now, since we are about to adjourn weeks before the
Kenyan election will be held.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the leadership of the gentleman
from California, Mr. Royce, the subcommittee chairman, for managing
this resolution.
I would like to thank Mr. Hastings for introducing this resolution
and directing the House's attention to the situation in Kenya.
As we all know, Kenya is expecting to have elections later this year
or early next year, and there has already been a high-level of violence
in Kenya in the run-up to the election.
On a positive note, the Kenyan parliament recently adopted a number
of important legal and constitutional reforms. This action was made
possible by brave advocacy of human rights and democracy by activity
Kenyans.
These reforms offer the promise of a significant expansion of
political activity in Kenya.
It is important that the Congress continues to express solidarity
with those in Kenya who advocate democratic reforms and respect for
human rights and civil rights. This resolution is an appropriate method
to do that. Accordingly I urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Snowbarger). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from
[[Page H10882]]
California [Mr. Royce] that the House suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 130, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as
amended, was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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