[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 15, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECONCILIATION IN GUYANA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 15, 1998

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, in December 1997, the people of Guyana, 
exercising their strong support for democracy went to the polls to vote 
for a new President. In numbers reportedly as high as 88 percent of the 
electorate they cast their votes and elected the candidate of the 
People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP. This election which was 
observed by representatives of the international community, including 
Americans, was judged to be free and fair. Despite the transparency of 
the overall election, there were some problems involving the counting 
of certain ballot boxes. As a result, the newly elected government of 
Guyana asked the nations of CARICOM to conduct an impartial audit to 
determine if the alleged irregularities in the vote count were of a 
fraudulent nature as to cast doubt on the outcome of the election.
  Recognizing the extremely important process of democracy of Guyana, 
as demonstrated by the election, the House International Relations 
Committee marked-up and adopted a Resolution introduced by our 
Colleague from New Jersey, Donald Payne. This resolution congratulated 
the people of Guyana for their strong expression of support for 
democracy, expressed support for the CARICOM audit, called on both the 
PPP and the People's National Congress (PNC) to abide by the outcome of 
that audit and to commit to peace and stability in the post-election 
period. Subsequently, the House overwhelmingly passed this resolution.
  On June 2, the CARICOM audit was completed and declared that the 
recount of the more than 400,000 ballots cast, varied only slightly 
from the original results. Thus, the election of President Jagan was 
determined to be fair.
  Today, however, Guyana is in the midst of a civil disobedience 
campaign led by the supporters of the opposition PNC. Despite the fact 
that PNC Presidential candidate Desmond Hoyte said that he accepted the 
results of the audit, he has stated that acceptance did not mean that 
his party accepted Mrs. Jagan as President. Fair enough. But ever 
since, Mr. Hoyte and his followers have been engaged in a systematic 
anti-government movement which has employed violent mob protests, arson 
and physical assaults on representatives of the government, the PPP, 
and even the press to vent their frustration at their electoral loss. 
Unfortunately, these actions are close to constituting a direct threat 
to democracy in Guyana.
  Mr. Speaker, the feuding parties in Guyana must stop the violence, 
accusations and name-calling and must begin a period of reconciliation 
for the stability of the nation and the good of the people. The 
opposition leader, Mr. Hoyte should accept his electoral defeat, 
publicly call for an end to the mob violence and assume the role of 
opposition leader in the halls of the political arena rather than in 
the streets. The PNC members of the Guyana National Assembly who have 
refused to take their seats and allow the business of the country to go 
forward should assume their democratic responsibilities and make their 
case through the legislative process. For her part, President Jagan 
should appoint, in consultation with the opposition, the Constitutional 
Reform Commission called for in the Herdmanston agreement of January, 
1998. This Commission should consist of representatives of all 
political parties and a broad range of citizens which would review the 
major issues of disagreement, disparity and discrimination within the 
country and which would make recommendations to the National Assembly 
for action. And finally, the leaders of the PPP and PNC in the Assembly 
should appoint a joint committee of their own to establish a dialogue 
on the major issues the country needs to address with respect to 
political and economic reform and then to work with each other through 
the legislative process to enact necessary changes.
  In sum, Mr. Speaker, democracy in Guyana must prevail and must grow 
stronger. In any truly democratic society, there are those who win 
elections and those who lose and the losers must peacefully respect the 
wishes of the electorate, however distasteful, and take up their role 
of the opposition in a statesmen-like manner and work with the 
government to provide a more stable, strong and prosperous nation for 
all the people.
  Reconciliation must happen now so that Guyana can move forward in the 
true sense of a free and democratic nation.

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