[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 5 (Monday, January 31, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H53]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE TORTURE IN SIERRA LEONE MUST STOP

  (Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak about what has happened 
in the African country of Sierra Leone. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Hall) and I visited Sierra Leone this past December. We were horrified 
at the atrocities that we saw; men and women with their arms and legs 
and ears cut off. Throughout Sierra Leone, rebel groups have tortured 
and killed and maimed thousands to gain control of the country's 
diamond industry, and these rebels have committed unbelievable acts 
that are hard to even look at.
  The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall) has introduced legislation to stop 
the trafficking of conflict diamonds that have fueled so much of the 
death and destruction.
  H.R. 3188 will require that all diamonds bought and sold in the U.S. 
be identified as to their country of origin.
  I believe that the bill of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall) will 
help end the maiming and the killing in Sierra Leone, and I urge all 
Members to please call the office of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall) 
and cosponsor this bill so we can bring an end to the maiming and 
cutting off of legs and arms and the killing of people.

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