[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 49 (Tuesday, April 28, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H2357-H2359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING ONGOING VIOLENCE IN ALGERIA

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 374) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives regarding the ongoing violence in Algeria, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 374

       Whereas in January 1992 Algeria annulled the second round 
     of parliamentary elections;
       Whereas the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), which favored 
     the creation of a theocratic state, expected to win in those 
     parliamentary elections;
       Whereas the suspension of the Algerian elections in January 
     1992 triggered an escalation of terrorism;
       Whereas the Islamic Salvation Army (AIS), the armed wing of 
     FIS, started terrorist activities in the wake of the annulled 
     elections, but has since delcared a unilateral ceasefire;
       Whereas the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), a nonpolitical 
     radical Islamic movement, has been responsible for carrying 
     out terrorist activities, particularly since the AIS cease-
     fire;
       Whereas the United States Government has listed the GIA as 
     a foreign terrorist organization;
       Whereas tens of thousands of Algerians have lost their 
     lives since the onset of the violence in 1992, with hundreds 
     estimated to have lost their lives in the holy month of 
     Ramadan that ended in January 1998;
       Whereas the violence perpetrated by terrorists has become 
     increasingly barbaric, leaving thousands of innocent 
     civilians, particularly women and children, dead or injured;
       Whereas the Government of Algeria has not agreed to the 
     establishment of an international inquiry into the massacres;
       Whereas the democratic process has progressed in Algeria 
     despite the current terrorist activity; and
       Whereas the United States has a strong interest in seeing 
     the development of a democratic and peaceful Algeria: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) strongly condemns the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) and any 
     other terrorist groups responsible for the atrocities being 
     committed in Algeria;
       (2) condemns the perpetrators of violence and other crimes 
     against the fundamental human rights of Algerians;
       (3) urges those who continue to engage in violence and the 
     fundamental abuse of human rights to discontinue such 
     activity;
       (4) calls on the Government of Algeria to take all 
     necessary and legal steps to prevent violence and stop it 
     once it occurs;
       (5) encourages the Government of Algeria to cooperate with 
     the international community to ensure transparency in the 
     investigation and combating of terrorist activity, including 
     the use of objective investigators into the massacres;
       (6) acknowledges that the Government of Algeria has made 
     progress toward democratization and urges the government to 
     engage in dialogue with all elements of Algerian society who 
     have renounced violence, in order to further democracy and 
     promote the rule of law;
       (7) urges the United States Government to continue to work 
     closely with the Government of Algeria to bring about the 
     development and implementation of political and economic 
     reforms as well as the full restoration of law and order in 
     Algeria;
       (8) encourages the European Union and the Government of 
     Algeria to further their cooperation against terrorism; and
       (9) encourages the Algerian Government to accept the 
     appointment of a Special Rapporteur by the United Nations or 
     another qualified independent organization to conduct an 
     inquiry into the violations of human rights in Algeria.

  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).


                             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 H. Res. 374.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). 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. ROYCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, this resolution makes note of the ongoing 
crisis in Algeria and condemns the horrific wave of killings there. 
Throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan that begins on December 30 
nearly 1,300 innocent Algerians, including women and children, were 
brutally murdered. Another 100 Algerians were killed earlier this 
month; and, according to the U.S. State Department Human Rights report, 
70,000 Algerian men, women and children have been brutally murdered 
during the last 6 years, 70,000.
  Much of this crisis in Algeria began after the annulled 1992 
elections. An attempt at political reform by the government at the time 
included the legalization of opposition political parties.
  One of the parties, the Islamic Salvation Front, or FIS, wanted to 
create an Islamic state. They were on the brink of a parliamentary 
victory in January, 1992, when the military forced the President's 
resignation and annulled the election. The banned FIS has since 
renounced its violence, but a new

[[Page H2358]]

group, the radical Armed Islamic Group, or GIA, is a terrorist group 
that neither the FIS nor the government can control.
  These radical Islamic insurgents, many of whom were trained and 
fought in Afghanistan, call themselves holy warriors and believe that 
during holy periods like Ramadan their barbarism will be doubly blessed 
by God. Some of the arbitrary and radical decrees of the GIA state that 
women who pursue formal education or fail to wear a veil are infidels 
deserving of having their throats cut. But this violence really extends 
to any Algerian who fails to join with the GIA. Combating this 
fanaticism has taxed the Algerian government.
  Despite this crisis, Algeria has made some progress toward building 
democracy, even with the random violence that is bleeding the country. 
Among the positive measures is a new law that would extend the 
political and social rights of Algerian women.
  Yet the Algerian government has been sharply criticized for human 
rights abuses and its inability to prevent these terrorist attacks. 
Because of these concerns and the sheer scale of the killing, pressure 
has been building on the Algerian government to allow international 
observers to investigate the massacres. In mid-January, the European 
Union was permitted to send a delegation of junior ministers to 
Algeria, but the dialogue was limited. More needs to be done.
  Recently, the Algerian government arrested two mayors and 10 other 
local officials for suspected involvement in the massacre of civilians. 
Religious and ethnic disputes as well as attempted extortion were cited 
as reasons for the alleged killings. While some see these arrests as 
evidence of government involvement in the massacres, others see the 
arrests as a positive indication of the government fighting killers 
wherever and whomever they may be, an effort that we need to encourage.
  Offers of humanitarian assistance to the victims of this tragedy have 
been made to the Algerian government. So far, they have been rejected. 
This resolution cites assistance that could be provided to the Algerian 
people in their time of need. Given the arrests of local officials, 
maybe the Algerian government will reconsider its opposition to outside 
assistance. The United States has an interest in seeing an end to the 
suffering and the building of democracy in Algeria.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues on the Subcommittee 
on Africa for their work on addressing the Algerian crisis. We held a 
hearing in February in which we heard differing views of this 
situation. That hearing helped two Members craft this resolution, the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Alcee Hastings).
  Unfortunately, Mr. Chabot of Ohio could not be with us at this time 
due to the death of his father. The funeral was this morning, and he is 
expected back in Washington later today.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the distinguished Chairman 
of the Africa subcommittee, the gentleman from California, Mr. Royce, 
for his exemplary leadership. He and the top-notch staff of the 
subcommittee have worked tirelessly to ensure that human rights issues 
in all of Africa are adequately addressed by the Congress.
  I want to express a special thank you to the chief co-sponsor of this 
resolution, my good friend from Florida, Alcee Hastings. Mr. Hastings 
has provided invaluable counsel and assistance during this process and 
I very much appreciate the hard work of he and his very able staff.
  I also want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Payne, the 
Ranking Member, Mr. Menendez, and the gentleman from California, Mr. 
Rohrabacher, for their invaluable contributions to this bi-partisan 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, tens of thousands of Algerians--many of them women and 
children--have lost their lives since violent terrorist attacks began 
in 1992. Hundreds more perished during the holy month of Ramadan that 
ended just a few weeks ago. As many as 120 people--including 32 
children under the age of 2--were killed by axe-wielding assailants 
during the last weekend in March.
  This resolution strongly condemns the perpetrators--the Armed Islamic 
Group, or GIA, and any other terrorist groups responsible for the 
atrocities committed in Algeria, and urges those who continue to engage 
in violence and the fundamental abuse of human rights to discontinue 
such activity immediately.
  The legislation, while acknowledging that the Government of Algeria 
has made progress toward democratization, calls on the Government to 
take all necessary and legal steps to prevent violence and stop it once 
it occurs, and encourages the Government to cooperate with the 
international community to ensure transparency in the combating of 
terrorist activity.
  Additionally, H. Res. 374 encourages the European Union and the 
Government of Algeria to further their mutual cooperation against 
terrorism. And, at the suggestion of Mr. Menendez, encourages the 
Algerian Government to accept the appointment of a Special Rapporteur 
by the United Nations or another qualified independent organization, to 
conduct an inquiry into the violations of human rights in Algeria.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank the distinguished Chairman of the 
Africa Subcommittee, Mr. Royce, as well our esteemed Chairman of the 
full International Relations Committee, Mr. Gilman, for their support 
in this effort. I believe it is a very timely resolution. I hope it 
will be helpful in bringing an end to the senseless tragedies. And I 
urge my colleagues to support it.
  I urge adoption of the resolution.
  Mr. ROYCE. 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, first let me thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Royce) and offer my condolences to my colleague and cosponsor of this 
resolution, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) whose father passed. I 
regret very much that Mr. Chabot, who was the spearhead for our 
resolution, is unable to be here.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my continued support for H. Res. 
374 offered in response to the ongoing spiral of violence in Algeria. 
That violence was very adequately described by the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and I thank him for that and will expedite my 
remarks in that regard.
  Pointedly, this legislation strongly condemns those who continue to 
perpetrate acts of violence and other crimes against humanity and 
violations of fundamental human rights.
  Mr. Speaker, the situation in Algeria is not only an internal problem 
but one that should concern the world. These acts of violence continue 
to target innocent civilians. As the torture continues, relatives of 
the so-called disappeared are still wondering if their loved ones are 
dead or alive. Children continue to be hacked to death; and, very 
recently, as the gentleman from California pointed out, it has been 
reported that women have been raped before their throats are cut; and 
even a four-month-old baby was slaughtered.
  Mr. Speaker, 6 years of this tragedy have left tens of thousands of 
civilians dead. Six years of violence is too long for us to remain 
silent to this vast human rights crisis which has sporadically grabbed 
international attention. We, as legislators, truly are, here in our 
House, democratic leaders of the world.
  We must also heed the call of the world's citizens who are seeking 
peace and social justice, which are the principles that we adhere to, 
those principles being life, liberty and the rule of law, and we have 
to do that whether it is in Algeria or in Bosnia or Rwanda. Thus, Mr. 
Speaker, we cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the plight of these 
Algerian victims.
  Mr. Speaker, I recognize the efforts of the Algerian government in 
providing housing and financial support for displaced people and 
encourage them to continue to build on existing cooperation with 
humanitarian organizations, as the gentleman has pointed out and has 
been offered.
  I also acknowledge that Algeria has made some modicum of progress 
toward a multi-party democracy and toward a freer press, and it is 
rather encouraging to see that Algerian authorities have begun to allow 
some Algerian newspapers to publish reports for the first time. 
However, I would like to encourage the Algerian government under 
international law to allow and to cooperate with a fact-finding mission 
by the United Nations special rapporteur. This would be an initial step 
to address the situation and to ensure long-term transparency and 
scrutiny.
  Mr. Speaker, the situation in Algeria is not something abstract. It 
is all about saving lives. I believe that this

[[Page H2359]]

particular course of action that we embark on here today will assist in 
ending the ongoing conflicts in Algeria, and I would urge the Chair and 
other Members, particularly of the Subcommittee on Africa, to consider 
visiting Algeria under appropriate circumstances so that we may 
firsthand work in cooperation with the necessary mediation that might 
come by way of international involvement.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).
  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me commend the chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Africa for the outstanding work that he has done, and I 
rise in support of H. Res. 374.
  I am disappointed that, after gaining independence from France many 
years ago, Algeria is again plagued with some of the same old travesty. 
After colonialism ended in 1962, the French did little to prepare 
Algeria for independence. When the French left, mosques were reopened, 
people started learning Arabic again and feeling good about the 
religion of Islam.
  While this past year marked the first legislative and local election 
since 1992, it also turned into the bloodiest year in the longstanding 
political strife of power. As we look back, the cancelling or annulling 
of the elections may not have seemed to be the right course of action. 
However, it should be noted that the desire to maintain Islamic 
domination and to radically change the food and clothing habits of the 
people was thwarted by most of Algerian citizens in 1992. Yet this 
explanation can be summed up by saying that the democracy cannot 
benefit if those that desire it want to end it once they are in power.
  It is common knowledge that the first armed Islamic groups were 
organized by veterans of the war in Afghanistan and trained in 
Pakistan. Today, the GIA still receives weapons and money from outside 
sources including Pakistani Islamists, Iran and Sudan.
  Let me just say that I was disturbed by the news of two mayors from 
neighboring towns being arrested for carrying out extrajudicial 
executions. This concerned me because it comes just after the meeting 
by the United Nation's Human Rights Commission report that suggests 
that a special envoy should go to the region.
  As we seek to formulate U.S. policy toward Algeria, we must remember 
that Algeria has helped with the Iran hostage crisis in 1982, continues 
to assist the resettlement of refugees and helped with the Iraqi 
problem in which absolutely no one in the Arab world would consent to, 
not even Saudi Arabia at the time.

                              {time}  1515

  In conclusion, we must not confuse the nonviolent Islamists with 
Islamic fundamentalism. I think that this political war to win at all 
costs has alienated the very people on whose behalf the struggle was 
designed to help.
  Let me once again thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) and the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) for trying to constructively deal 
with this crisis.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
distinguished chairman of the Committee on International Relations, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, since our committee marked up this 
resolution earlier this month, scores of Algerians, mostly civilians, 
have been killed in a barbaric civil war. Last night, Mr. Speaker, 40 
Algerians had their throats cut by fundamentalist rebels. The massacre 
coincided with the feast of the Moslem New Year.
  The horror of this violence is unimaginable. Since 1992, over 65,000 
Algerians have been killed. It is vital that the Congress speak out on 
this issue. The resolution before us today I think sends the right 
message, Mr. Speaker. This resolution rightly calls on the Government 
of Algeria to allow neutral, independent international investigators to 
examine the violence that has racked Algeria since 1992. There should 
be no mistake, my colleagues, that the thrust of this resolution is to 
strongly condemn the Armed Islamic Group and the other terrorists 
inside Algeria who have slaughtered, in a barbaric fashion, tens of 
thousands of innocent Algerians. There is no place in this world for 
such atrocities.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) and the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) for bringing the resolution 
before us today, and in addition, I want to thank the distinguished 
chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) 
and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) of the Subcommittee on 
Africa, who have done such an excellent job of finding consensus to 
what could have been very difficult issues. Again, I thank the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) for introducing this resolution, and I 
urge my colleagues to adopt it.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This is a balanced statement of the U.S. House of Representatives' 
views of the troubling situation in Algeria. It takes into 
consideration the democratic progress being made by the Algerian 
Government, but does not ignore human rights concerns involving the 
government either. I call on my colleagues to make a positive statement 
on the crisis in Algeria at this crucial time in this country's 
history.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, violence has become an integral part of 
life in Algeria--it consumes the country and it has temporarily 
derailed the future of what should be a vibrant Nation, politically and 
economically. Since 1992, as many as 80,000 people have died and 
thousands of others have been injured.
  While socio-economic development will help the people of Algeria 
rebuild their lives, the government must also commit itself to stopping 
the massacres. The recent arrests of local officials and commanders of 
pro-government militia groups in Algeria on charges of carrying out 
massacres of civilians gives cause to those of us who have called for 
independent rapporteur to address the situation in Algeria.
  In March, the Congressional Human Rights Caucus sent a letter to 
Secretary Albright in which we asked that the United States introduce a 
resolution a the U.N. Commission on Human Rights to appoint a Special 
Rapporteur for Algeria. Unfortunately, the United States decided 
against offering such a resolution. This resolution does call for such 
a rapporteur.
  The United States and the international community have attempted to 
reach out to Algeria, to offer assistance and guidance, but they have 
been largely rebuked.
  While the Algerian Government has made progress and increased 
transparency through the recent arrests, Algeria's efforts to handle 
this crisis have been largely ineffective. Progress will require 
Algeria opening up to the world. This means allowing the U.N. and other 
bodies to look at what is happening inside Algeria. Since the 
fundamentalists are accountable to no one, the onus for action, by 
necessity lies with the Algerian government.
  Only the Algerian Government can start the process which will make 
1998 the last year of bloodshed and the first year in many of peace, 
stability and reconciliation in Algeria.
  I want to thank my colleagues for offering this resolution.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this important 
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). 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. 374, 
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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