[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 34 (Thursday, March 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HAITI: A CLIMATE OF INSTABILITY

  (Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week Haitian Senator Toussaint 
was gunned down in front of his home in a gruesome, politically-
motivated murder. Toussaint had been a member of the OPL, the political 
party that has controlled parliament in Haiti and is the opposition 
party for current President Preval and former President Aristide, and 
it is no coincidence that the loss of Senator Toussaint also means the 
loss of OPL's majority status in the Haitian Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, it is also no coincidence that in Haiti those who are 
targeted for surveillance, intimidation and even worse are Haitian and 
American individuals who are working in support of the rule of law; 
free, fair elections; and economic improvement in that impoverished 
country.
  The United Nations has called attention to the crises, noting there 
is increased polarization in the country and new risk to constitutional 
government, but there has been precious little word out of the Clinton 
administration.
  Mr. Speaker, the crown jewel of their foreign policy is badly 
tarnished, and we need a new approach to Haiti's failed democracy. We 
are filing such legislation today, and I urge Members to read it and 
support it.

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