[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 4 (Monday, February 2, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S278-S279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          VIOLENCE IN ALGERIA

 Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, few weeks pass when there is not a 
report of an appalling atrocity in Algeria. The testimony of 
eyewitnesses echo the same refrain--a tale of slaughter, decapitation, 
mutilation, burning, and shooting of innocent men, women, and children. 
Thousands of civilians have fled their homes as the violence has 
escalated, but the protection and safety they seek is difficult, if not 
impossible to find.
  The reaction of the international community has not been one of 
outrage and alarm, but a quiet, almost uneasy expression of concern. It 
is almost as though the reports are too grisly, too horrific to even 
broach--as though by addressing the subject and opening it up to 
scrutiny, one will somehow be tainted by the extreme levels of violence 
and degradation. However, the subject must be addressed and a credible 
investigation must be carried out.
  Time and again around the world, we have seen the needless suffering 
that occurs when governments and the world community as a whole are too 
slow to shoulder their mantle of moral responsibility. The crisis in 
Algeria presents another opportunity to change this pattern and set a 
new standard for the next century.
  Mr. President, on January 26, 1998, fifteen Members of Congress, 
Democrats and Republicans, Senators and Representatives, sent a letter 
to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on the tragic situation in 
Algeria. I ask that the text of the letter be printed in the Record.
  The letter follows:


                                               Washington, DC,

                                                 January 26, 1998.
     Hon. Madeleine Albright,
     Secretary of State, Department of State, Washington, DC.
       Dear Madam Secretary: We are writing to express our alarm 
     concerning the recent massacres in Algeria, which have 
     brought the toll of those killed in the five-year civil war 
     to an estimated 80,000 persons, mostly civilians. The 
     Algerian Government has consistently failed to adequately 
     investigate the atrocities and bring those responsible to 
     justice. The administration's call for an international 
     inquiry is an appropriate and necessary first step in 
     responding to this crisis.
       Since the civil war erupted in 1992, extremist opposition 
     groups have increased their attacks on innocent people. The 
     tactics of these groups rank among the most inhumane seen 
     anywhere. While their conduct should be strongly condemned, 
     there are persistent reports that Algerian security forces 
     have failed to stop or prevent the massacres or to arrest 
     those involved. Eyewitnesses to the violence report that 
     terrorist groups have operated in collusion with, and under 
     the

[[Page S279]]

     protection of, units or factions of the army, police, and 
     state-armed militias. According to human rights monitors, no 
     one has been arrested by Algerian authorities in connection 
     with a series of bloody attacks that occurred in August and 
     September leaving hundreds of civilians dead. Algerian 
     authorities have made no effort to explain why army and 
     police garrisons located nearby failed to intervene. Since 
     then, the frequency and brutality of the attacks have only 
     increased--over 1,000 Algerian civilians have reportedly been 
     killed in the last month alone.
       Little progress was made during a January 20, 1998 
     diplomatic mission led by British Minister of State for 
     Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Derek Fatchett. 
     Algerian President Liamine Zeroual has reportedly denounced 
     international expressions of concern about possible official 
     complicity in the killings. In addition, the ability of human 
     rights organizations and the media to look into allegations 
     of abuses has been increasingly limited by the Algerian 
     Government and details about armed attacks are often 
     censored.
       We believe it is essential that the administration take an 
     active and visible role in ensuring that an international 
     investigation occurs in an expedient and effective manner 
     with the necessary political and logistical support. We urge 
     the administration to sponsor a resolution calling for such 
     an inquiry to ascertain the facts and make recommendations at 
     the March 1998 meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Commission in 
     Geneva. We further urge that the administration send a clear 
     message of support for this initiative in public as well as 
     in diplomatic contacts with Algeria and other governments.
       Thank you for your consideration.
           Sincerely,
         Patrick Leahy, Senator; Sam Brownback, Senator; Paul D. 
           Wellstone, Senator; Nancy Pelosi, Representative; 
           Robert Torricelli, Senator; Edward Kennedy, Senator; 
           Frank R. Lautenberg, Senator; Tom Lantos, 
           Representative; Chris Smith, Representative; Robert 
           Wexler, Representative; James M. Jeffords, Senator, 
           Dianne Feinstein, Senator; Dick Durbin, Senator; 
           Russell Feingold, Senator; Tom Harkin, Senator.

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