[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 24, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10911-S10917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FOREIGN OPERATIONS EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS
APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2002--Continued
Amendment No. 1922
Mr. WELLSTONE. I send an amendment to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Minnesota [Mr. Wellstone], for himself and
Mrs. Boxer, proposes an amendment numbered 1922.
Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
(1) Afghanistan's neighbors should reopen their borders to
allow for the safe passage of refugees, and the international
community must be prepared to contribute to the economic
costs incurred by the flight of desperate Afghan civilians;
(2) as the United States engages in military action in
Afghanistan, it must work to deliver assistance, particularly
through overland truck convoys, and safe humanitarian access
to affected populations, in partnership with humanitarian
agencies in quantities sufficient to alleviate a large scale
humanitarian catastrophe; and
(3) the United States should contribute to efforts by the
international community to provide long-term, sustainable
reconstruction and development assistance for the people of
Afghanistan, including efforts to protect the basic human
rights of women and children.
Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I thank both my colleagues. I think
there may be support for this amendment. I think there should be. I
will not take a lot of time. Let me explain why I think it is so
important the Senate go on record.
I will not spend a lot of time on statistics. There are 7.5 million
people inside Afghanistan who are threatened
[[Page S10912]]
by famine or severe hunger as cold weather approaches. President Bush
has made it crystal clear that our military action is not against
ordinary Afghans; it is against terrorists and their supporters.
Ordinary Afghans are among the poorest and most beleaguered people on
the planet. They were our allies during the cold war.
By the way, this amendment I send to the desk with Senator Boxer, as
well.
Yet right now, on present course, time is not neutral and time is not
on our side, and, more importantly, time is not on the side of ordinary
Afghans. There will be at least another 100,000 children who will
starve to death. The winter months are approaching.
Even before the world focused on it as a sanctuary for Osama bin
Laden and other terrorists, Afghanistan was on the brink of a
humanitarian catastrophe, the site of the greatest crisis in hunger and
refugee displacement in the world. Now the worsening situation on the
ground is almost unimaginable. After four years of relentless drought,
the worst in three decades, and the total failure of the Taliban
government in administering the country, four million people have
abandoned their homes in search of food in Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan
and elsewhere, while those left behind eat meals of locusts and animal
fodder.
Mr. President, 7.5 million people inside the country are threatened
by famine or severe hunger as cold weather approaches, according to the
United Nations.
As President Bush made clear, we are waging a campaign against
terrorists, not ordinary Afghans, who are some of the poorest and most
beleaguered people on the planet and were our allies during the cold
war.
Yet, the current military air strikes and the disintegration of
security is worsening the humanitarian situation on the ground.
Aid organizations are increasingly concerned about their ability to
deliver aid to Afghanistan while the United States continues its
bombing campaign. Several aid organizations have been accidentally
bombed by the U.S. in the last week. In addition to these accidental
bombings, law and order are breaking down inside Afghanistan. Reports
indicate that thieves have broken into several aid organization
offices, beat up the Afghan staff and stolen vehicles, spare parts, and
other equipment.
Warehouses of the International Red Cross in Kabul were bombed
yesterday. The ICRC says that the warehouses were clearly marked white
with a large red cross visible from the air. One worker was wounded and
is now in stable condition. One warehouse suffered a direct hit, which
destroyed tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, and blankets, while another
containing food caught on fire and was partially destroyed. The
Pentagon claimed responsibility for the bombing later in the day,
adding that they ``regret any innocent casualties,'' and that the ICRC
warehouses were part of a series of warehouses that the United States
believed were used to store military equipment. ``There are huge needs
for the civilian population, and definitely it will hamper our
operations,'' Robert Monin, head of the International Red Cross'
Afghanistan delegation, said in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Another missile struck near a World Food Program warehouse in
Afsotar, wounding one laborer. The missile struck as trucks were being
loaded for an Oxfam convoy to the Hazarajat region, where winter will
begin closing off the passes in the next two weeks. Loading was
suspended and the warehouse remains closed today.
Last week, four U.N. workers for a demining operation were
accidentally killed when a bomb struck their office in Kabul.
In response to the dangers threatening humanitarian operations, the
Oxfam America president said, ``It is now evident that we cannot, in
reasonable safety, get food to hungry Afghan people. We've reached the
point where it is simply unrealistic for us to do our job in
Afghanistan. We've run out of food, the borders are closed, we can't
reach our staff, and time's running out.''
The World Food Program was feeding 3.8 million people a day in
Afghanistan even before the bombing campaign began. These included
900,000 internally displaced people at camps. Although the U.S.
military has dropped thousands of ready to eat meals, everyone agrees
that only truck convoys can move sufficient food into Afghanistan
before winter. As of last Friday, there were only two convoys confirmed
to have gotten through. WFP announced that two more convoys since the
bombing campaign started were nearing Kabul.
Complications and delays in delivering emergency food supplies to
Afghanistan could cause rising death rates from starvation and illness
as winter sets in. Many of the high mountain passes will be closed by
mid-November due to 20-30 foot snows.
Aid agencies are falling behind in their efforts to deliver enough
emergency relief to Afghans to avoid a large loss of life this winter.
UNICEF estimates that, in addition to the total of 300,000 Afghan
children who die of ``preventable causes'' each year, 100,000 more
children might die this winter from hunger and disease.
The main reasons for this shortfall in aid are related to security
concerns. Aid agencies have withdrawn their international staff, and
local staff have attempted to continue the aid programs but have been
subjected to intimidation, theft, and harassment. As the United States
continues to pound Taliban targets, law and order in some cities is
reportedly also breaking down. Truck drivers are unwilling to deliver
supplies to some areas for fear of being bombed by the United States,
or being attacked by one faction or another. Taliban supporters have
obstructed aid deliveries on some occasions.
Despite these nightmares, shipment of food and non-food emergency
items arrive in Afghanistan daily--but the total shipped is only about
one-half of what is needed. The situation is particularly urgent as
some of the poorest and most needy areas will be cut-off from overland
routes by mid-November. An estimated 600,000 people in the central
highlands are dependent upon international food aid, and little is on
hand for them now.
The food shortfall in Afghanistan may result in an increased flow of
refugees to the borders. A flood of refugees to the border would
present a different but also challenging set of problems. Clearly, as
everyone has said, it is better for them to remain at home than flee to
neighboring countries out of hunger.
There is no easy solution to this humanitarian crisis. It is complex
and requires the international community to take urgent and imaginative
action to boost the flow of food inside. The United States should take
the lead in helping to devise aggressive and imaginative ways to expand
the delivery of food. These could include the creation of humanitarian
corridors, the use of existing commercial trading companies and air
deliveries to airports that have not yet been bombed.
The establishment of humanitarian ground and air corridors should be
considered for the secure transportation and distribution of emergency
aid. The Administration should push to have some roads or air routes in
areas of limited conflict be designated as protected humanitarian
routes. Such possible ground and air corridors include Northern
Alliance held territory along the border of Tajikstan, and Northern
Alliance airfields which have not been bombed. These airfields could be
used for a Berlin style airlift to get massive amounts of aid into the
country quickly.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that 1.5
million additional Afghans could seek to flee the country in coming
months due to the ongoing military conflict.
All six countries neighboring Afghanistan have closed their borders
to refugees both on security grounds and citing an inability to
economically provide for more refugees. Thousands have been trapped at
borders with no food, shelter, water or medical care.
I am introducing a resolution today which addresses this crisis. The
text of the resolution states the following:
Afghanistan's neighbors should reopen their borders to allow for the
safe passage of refugees, and the international community must be
prepared to contribute to the economic costs incurred by the flight of
desperate Afghan civilians;
As the United States engages in military action in Afghanistan, it
must
[[Page S10913]]
work to deliver assistance, particularly through overland truck
convoys, and safe humanitarian access to affected populations, in
partnership with humanitarian agencies in quantities sufficient to
alleviate a large scale humanitarian catastrophe;
The United States should contribute to efforts by the international
community to provide long-term, sustainable reconstruction and
development assistance for the people of Afghanistan, including efforts
to protect the basic human rights of women and children.
I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
There has been a lot of focus on airdrops. The truth of the matter
is, airdrops from 50,000 feet--and I know the Presiding Officer was
present during the committee hearing we had--are not all that
effective. Basically, all of the United Nations, the nongovernment
organization, people on the ground have all said that not even 1
percent of the people are helped this way. Secretary Powell and the
administration know this. At the same time, the reality is we have to
do a couple of different things. If we don't, there will be a lot of
innocent people who will starve to death. That is a reality. That is
not consistent with our values; that is not who we are.
Frankly, if I were to make a political national interest argument--
which I am not comfortable making because I think values enough should
dictate what we do--I would say absolutely the worst thing imaginable
would be, in the next several weeks or months to come, for there to be
a situation where the Bin Ladens of this world were able to use the
pictures of starving children in Afghanistan against our country. We
don't want that.
Colleagues, on present course, that is what will happen. Therefore,
there are a number of things we can do. I will go to the wording of the
amendment. One is, we need the highest level United States engagement
to open the borders, especially the Pakistani border. The
administration has spoken about this. It is extremely important. Right
now there are lots of refugees amassed at the border who cannot get
over. It is a humanitarian crisis.
By the way, probably more serious than the 1.5 million refugees we
will have, given the dangerous situation for themselves and their loved
ones, is the people left behind in Afghanistan. The people who do not
try to cross the borders are the poorest of the Afghans. They are the
elderly, the most infirm.
The second thing I mention today is we have to do a better job. Our
Government has to do a better job of efficiently making sure the money
we have committed--we have made a generous commitment--actually flows
to the United Nations organizations and nongovernmental organizations
that are delivering the food. It wasn't until last weekend that the
first installment was made. That was $10 million to the United Nations;
yesterday, $20 million to the NGO. Some of this was held up by Osama
bin Laden. We have to be much more efficient at making sure the money
flows to the people who are on the ground to deliver the food.
The third point is we are just going to need a more imaginative
response, more imaginative action.
There are a number of different proposals that have been made, and
the resolution is broad and just says we need to make that commitment,
for example, opening up humanitarian response corridors. The most
effective way to get food to people is going to be over land, by truck
convoy. We may need to do a better job of coordination vis-a-vis our
military action to open up those corridors and make sure the trucks can
move and the food can flow.
Another thing is we are probably going to need to take a very serious
look at these different airstrips. Airstrips that are in low conflict
areas, we have to make sure they are going to be maintained because we
may need to do a Berlin-style airdrop and planes actually land and we
then get the food to people, which can be very effective.
What I am saying today is that we need to put every bit as much
effort into the humanitarian relief right now as to the military
effort. Both are extremely important.
I will just read the wording of the amendment which basically calls
on Afghanistan's neighbors to open their borders for safe passage and
makes it clear we are going to help with the economic costs and the
plight of desperate Afghan civilians.
Second, it makes the point that in partnership with humanitarian
agencies we have to do everything we can to deliver the food assistance
in the most imaginative and effective ways possible. And then third, it
talks about the obvious contribution we will make with the
international community in terms of long-term sustainable
reconstruction development and assistance for the people of
Afghanistan.
I have decided not to take a lot of time because I believe there will
be support. The aid agencies are falling behind in their effort to
provide the emergency relief. UNISEF estimates that in addition to the
300,000 Afghan children who die of preventable causes each year,
100,000 more children are going to die this winter as a result of
hunger and disease. That is unacceptable. That is unconscionable.
So what this first amendment that I have introduced does is it puts
the Senate on record with a strong statement that we understand the
urgency of getting the humanitarian assistance to the innocent people
of Afghanistan. Again, I think this is a powerful and important message
for us to deliver. We cannot be silent about this. We cannot put the
fact that many, many people could and will starve to death in
parentheses. We can't do that.
Moreover, I think we can and should and must, as responsible
lawmakers, make it crystal clear that there are some things we know
need to be done: opening the borders to people, making sure the money
flows more efficiently from the United States to these relief
organizations, and again find creative new ways of getting them the
food. Airdrops alone from 50,000 feet are not going to do the job.
I think the administration knows this. I hope there will be yet an
even stronger commitment. I believe this statement from the Senate is
extremely important. That is why I introduced this first amendment.
Mr. President, I think what I am going to do in order to move things
forward is I am going to move to the second amendment which deals with
Uzbekistan. Basically, it is a reporting requirement that not later
than 3 months after the date of enactment of this act and then 6 months
thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees the following. This basically we want to get
an accounting of how our money is used by the military there. This is a
human rights amendment. I will explain it in a moment, after I send the
amendment to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is the Senator asking unanimous consent to lay
aside the pending amendment?
Mr. WELLSTONE. Until both managers are on the floor, I will lay aside
the first amendment and then we can deal with both of them. I think
both amendments will be accepted.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Amendment No. 1923
Mr. WELLSTONE. I send the amendment to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Minnesota [Mr. Wellstone] proposes an
amendment numbered 1923.
Mr. WELLSTONE. I ask unanimous consent the reading of the amendment
be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert:
SEC. . UZBEKISTAN.
Reports.--Not later than three months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and then six months thereafter, the
Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate
Congressional committees on the following:
(1) The defense articles, defense services, and financial
assistance provided by the United States to Uzbekistan during
the six-month period ending on the date of such report.
(2) The use during such period of defense articles and
defense services provided by the United States by units of
the Uzbek armed forces, border guards, Ministry of National
Security, or Ministry of Internal Affairs.
(3) The extent to which any units referred to in paragraph
(2) engaged in human rights violations, or violations of
international law, during such period.
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I did not
understand the request. May I inquire of the Senator how long he will
be speaking?
[[Page S10914]]
Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I say to my colleague from West
Virginia, I am actually trying to help the managers move along. I think
I will probably be able to do this in less than 15 minutes.
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, would the Senator include my request that I
follow his remarks with a statement of my own?
Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that following
my remarks regarding this amendment, the Senator from West Virginia
have the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. BYRD. I thank the Senator and I remove my reservation.
Mr. WELLSTONE. The reason I offer this amendment requiring a report
to Congress with respect to our efforts in Uzbekistan is that prior to
the tragedies of September 11, few of us knew anything about this
central Asian country. Yet today Uzbekistan has become one of our most
important allies in this battle against terrorism. In fact, it is one
of only two states bordering Afghanistan which is willing to host overt
U.S. military operations to find Osama bin Laden.
Although we should welcome the cooperation of Uzbekistan in our
efforts, we cannot overlook what is happening in Uzbekistan itself.
Since 1997, this Government has used the threat of terrorism to justify
a total crackdown on independent, peaceful Muslims who pray at home,
study the Koran in small groups, belong to peaceful Islamic
organizations not registered with the state, or disseminate literature
not approved by the state.
Colleagues, I am pointing to a real dilemma for us. On the one hand,
we understand the need for support. On the other hand, it is terribly
important that we not uncritically align ourselves with governments
which torture citizens.
This amendment is an important one, and I want to be clear about what
it does. First and foremost, it in no way limits our ability to
cooperate with Uzbekistan. We need Uzbekistan in the fight against
terrorism, and we must be able to fully cooperate with their Government
in that fight. But given the reports of grave abuses against civilians
in the name of fighting terrorism, we need to monitor the cooperation.
That is what this amendment is about.
The amendment requires that not later than 3 months after its
enactment the Secretary of State report to appropriate congressional
committees on, No. 1, the defense articles, services, and financial
assistance provided by the United States to Uzbekistan; No. 2, the use
of such articles, services, and assistance by the Armed Forces there,
border guards, Ministry of National Security, and the Ministry of
Internal Affairs, and, No. 3, the extent to which any units of these
groups engage in a pattern of human rights violations or violations of
international law during that period.
In his national address on September 20th, President Bush linked the
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, IMU, to Osama bin Laden, suggesting the
IMU may be a target of U.S. counterterrorism attacks. Last year, the
United States included the IMU on its list of terrorist organizations.
The Government of Uzbekistan has also targeted the IMU as part of its
own counterterrorism efforts. But according to the most recent
Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the
Government of Uzbekistan has responded to the threat of terrorism by
arresting ``hundreds of Islamic leaders and believers on questionable
grounds.'' In short, it has used the issue of terrorism to justify a
far broader crackdown on peaceful Muslims. It has branded
``independent'' Muslims as ``extremists,'' and sentenced thousands of
them to long prison terms without connecting them to the IMU or to any
acts recognized as crimes under international law.
The Uzbek government has particularly targeted a group known as the
Party of Liberation. This is an Islamic group that supports the re-
establishment of an Islamic state by peaceful means. Membership in this
group or even possession of one of its pamphlets is deemed grounds for
arrest and is punishable by up to twenty years in prison. Even prayer
draws suspicion and has been cited in court as evidence of subversive
intent. According to Human Rights Watch, in one verdict condemning an
alleged Party of Liberation member to 18 years in prison, the Judge
declared: ``He confessed that in 1996 he started to pray.''
Increasingly, police arrest relatives of those accused of belonging to
an unregistered Islamic group. In April 1999, the President of
Uzbekistan declared that fathers would be punished for the supposed
wrongs of their sons, and brothers and often arrested together and even
tortured in each other's presence.
According to the Human Rights Watch World Report for 2001, those
arrested in Uzbekistan endure the worst torture. The Reports states:
``In addition to hundreds of reports of beatings and numerous accounts
of the use of electric shock, temporary suffocation, hanging by the
ankles or wrists, removal of fingernails, and punctures with sharp
objects, Human Rights Watch received credible reports in 2000 that
police sodomized male detainees with bottles, raped them, and beat and
burned them in the groin area. Male and female detainees were regularly
threatened with rape. Police made such threats in particular against
female detainees in the presence of male relatives to force the men to
sign self-incriminating statements. Police also regularly threatened to
murder detainees or their family members and to place minor children in
orphanages.'' Human Rights Watch reports that police torture in
Uzbekistan has resulted in at least fifteen deaths in custody in the
past two years alone.
According to our own Department of State Country Reports on Human
Rights Practices for 2000, the government of Uzbekistan's ``poor human
rights record worsened, and the Government continued to commit numerous
serious abuses.'' ``There were credible reports that security force
mistreatment resulted in the deaths of several citizens in custody.
Police and the National Security Service tortured, beat, and harassed
persons. The security forces arbitrarily arrested or detained pious
Muslims and other citizens on false charges, frequently planting
narcotics, weapons, or forbidden literature on them.'' ``The Government
continues to voice rhetorical support for human rights, but does not
ensure these rights in practice.''
Just listen to some of these accounts:
Thirty-year-old Komlidin Sattarov was arrested in February 2000 for
alleged possession of Party of Liberation leaflets, following his elder
brother's conviction for membership in the group. His defender
summarized some of the young man's court testimony of his torture by
police:
He stuck it out for the first one or two days, but then
they used electric shock. . . . They put him in a chair and
strapped electrodes to his hands, feet, and neck and gave him
electric shock. He lost consciousness and then they did it
again. He confessed to some of the charges. Then they began
to beat him with truncheons, and he agreed to sign
everything.
Prior to a July and August 2000 trial of seventeen men on charges of
Wahabism, a form of Islam, the defendants were held by police and
tortured over several months. Gafurjon Tohirov testified in court that
he was tortured for more than 2 months, that officers had beaten him on
the bottoms of his feet and that the white clothes he had been
wearing--he had just returned from a pilgrimage to Mecca--were covered
with blood. While beating another defendant, police allegedly
concentrated their blows on the young man's already injured kidneys,
due to which, according to one source, the defendant agreed to sign a
confession. Another accused was allegedly burned with cigarettes and
subsequently raped in custody; investigators also allegedly threatened
to rape his wife if he refused to give a self-incriminating statement.
Once transferred from custody of the National Security Service, SNB, to
Tashkent police headquarters in January 2000, this defendant continued
to be tortured. A state appointed lawyer allegedly requested medicine
for him from his family on January 10, as well as dark trousers to
replace his bloodied white ones. They man was kept incommunicado in the
basement of police headquarters in Tashkent for sixty-eight days.
Dismissing his and other defendants' detailed allegations of torture, a
judge of the Tashkent City Court declared on the day of the verdict,
``No one tortured them. There was no written complaint that they
[[Page S10915]]
were tortured. When they were asked, they couldn't name their torturers
. . . [W]e consider their testimony [on torture] as having no
grounds.''
When brothers Oibek and Uigun Ruzmetov were arrested on charges of
attempting to overthrow the government, on January 1, 1999, their
parents were also arrested. Their father on the same day, their mother
on January 5. Their mother recounted that she was held for one night in
solitary confinement in the district police station, handcuffed naked
and given no water. Then they showed her to her son Uigun:
They . . . stripped me naked . . . Twice they walked him by
me. He looked so bad, he had been completely beaten up. I
could only cry, I could not talk to him. They told him.
``Your parents and your wife are also in prison. Your
children are in an orphanage. If you don't sign these
documents, we'll do something very bad to your wife.'' My son
at his trial said that he was told they would rape his wife
before his eyes if he did not confess.
Mr. President, these stories are incredible. We can not ignore them.
To do so implies that in the war against terrorism, anything goes. That
kind of attitude will only weaken our war on terrorism, not strengthen
it. Eighty percent of the population of Uzbekistan is Muslim. To ignore
Uzbek abuses could add fuel to the fire that this is not truly a war on
terrorism, but is a war on Islam. We must ensure that anti-terrorism
efforts are conducted in a manner that protects religious freedom and
other human rights, and we must carefully monitor our cooperation with
Uzbekistan to ensure that protection. The amendment I offer here today
requiring a report to Congress on the extent to which any Uzbek units
receiving US assistance engaged in human rights violations, or
violations of international law, will remind the Uzbek government that
although we welcome their cooperation, we are also watching them.
All I am saying is when you have a group of people in a country who,
because of the practice of their faith, are being crushed in this way,
and you have examples of torture and rape, to the extent that we are
involved with such a country, we ought at least have a monitoring of
how the money is spent.
I think I will send the statement to Senators because, frankly, it is
so graphic, it is difficult to go over in great detail.
You are talking about a government that has been involved in
widespread abuse of human rights. You are talking about a government
that has systematically tortured its citizens. I think at a very
minimum in our work with this government, we have to make sure there is
a very rigorous reporting of how our money is spent in relation to the
military.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that my amendment be set aside
to be accepted as modified.
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, what is the Senator's request?
Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, after both amendments are accepted, I
will yield the floor.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we have looked at both amendments. They
are certainly acceptable on this side of the aisle.
Mr. WELLSTONE. I ask whether we might have a voice vote on the
amendments, as modified.
Mr. President, I ask for a voice vote on both amendments, as
modified.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the amendments, as
modified?
Without objection, the amendments are agreed to.
The amendments (No. 1923 and No. 1922) were agreed to.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the votes.
Mr. SANTORUM. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I want to remind colleagues,
independent of the amendments, that I later on today will have a
colloquy with Senator Brownback dealing with the whole question of
women and girls being forced into prostitution. We want to talk about
appropriations for that. I will probably be joined by my colleague,
Senator Feingold, in some discussion about Plan Colombia. I want to
talk about the number of trips I have taken to Colombia and what I have
seen focusing on human rights and having a chance to speak on the human
rights position; in particular, the work I have been able to do with a
very powerful Jesuit priest, Francisco De Roux, and something I think
we can learn from his wisdom.
I want to move those amendments along.
I want to say two other things very quickly.
Last week, we passed a resolution which I have been trying to make
long enough so that it can be in the Capitol Hill Police Office
thanking the Capitol Police for their work.
This may be gratuitous--my guess is that Senators are doing this all
the time anyway--for which I apologize. I suggest to Senators when they
are passing by the Capitol Police to be sure to thank them. I met, for
example, a young officer today. He told Sheila and me that he has
little children. He sees them 1 hour a day. He is working six 12-hour
days. He says that is better than 17-hour days.
They are working under a lot of pressure. I want on the floor of the
Senate to again thank them for their work. I appeal to Senators to go
out of their way to thank them.
If you look at the Capitol Hill Police men and women, you can see a
lot of exhaustion in their faces. I think we owe a real debt of
gratitude to them.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senator from
West Virginia is recognized.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have spoken to the Senator from West
Virginia. We have some amendments that are cleared.
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I yield to the distinguished whip for the
purpose that he is now requesting. I ask unanimous consent that upon
the completion of his remarks and the action on amendments I be
recognized.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I express my appreciation to the Senator
from West Virginia.
Senator McConnell and Senator Leahy have every intention of moving
this bill as quickly as possible. If Members have amendments, they had
better bring them because the managers aren't going to wait around all
day long for Members to bring amendments to the floor. After reasonable
time goes by and Members haven't gone to amendments, we are going to
move to third reading of this bill.
Amendments Nos. 1924 through 1939, En Bloc
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order
for the Senate to consider, en bloc, 15 amendments; that the amendments
be considered and agreed to en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be
laid upon the table en bloc; that the consideration of these amendments
appear separately in the Record; and that any statements or colloquies
be printed in the Record.
These amendments have been reviewed very closely by the managers of
the bill and their staff.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid], for Mr. McConnell and
others, proposes amendments numbered 1924 through 1939.
The amendments (Nos. 1924 through 1939) were agreed to, as follows:
amendment no. 1924
(Purpose: To make avaialble funds to assess the cause of the flooding
along the Volta River in Accra, Ghana, and to make recommendations on
how to solve the problem)
On page 125 line 16, before the period at the end of the
line insert the following: ``: Provided further, That, of the
funds appropriated under this heading, up to $100,000 should
be made available for an assessment of the causes of the
flooding along the Volta River in Accra, Ghana, and to make
recommendations for solving the problem''.
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amendment no. 1925
On page 133, line 17, after ``States'' insert the
following: ``, of which not to exceed $28,000,000 shall be
available for the cost, as defined in section 502 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of modifying direct loans
and guarantees for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia''.
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amendment no. 1926
On page 229, line 12, after ``steps'' insert the following:
``, additional to those undertaken in fiscal year 2001,''.
On page 229, line 16, strike everything after ``(3)''
through ``law'' on line 17, and insert in
[[Page S10916]]
lieu thereof: ``taking steps, additional to those undertaken
in fiscal year 2001, to implement policies which reflect a
respect for minority rights and the rule of law, including
the release of all political prisoners from Serbian jails and
prisons''.
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amendment no. 1927
On page 176, line 15, strike ``$14,500,000'' and insert in
lieu thereof ``$15,500,000''.
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amendment no. 1928
At the appropriate place, insert:
disability access
Sec. . Housing that is constructed with funds
appropriated by this Act to carry out the provisions of
chapter 1 of part I and chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961, and to carry out the provisions of
the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989,
shall to the maximum extent feasible, be wheelchair
accessible.
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amendment no. 1929
On page 142, line 18, after ``That'', insert the following:
``of the amount appropriated under this heading, not less
than $101,000,000 shall be made available for Bolivia, and
not less than $35,000,000 shall be made available for
Ecuador: Provided further, That''.
On page 142, line 25, strike everything after ``with''
through ``General'' on page 143, line 1, and insert in lieu
thereof: ``the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention''.
On page 143, line 6, strike ``according to the'' and insert
in lieu thereof: ``in accordance with Colombian laws and
regulations, and''.
On page 143, line 10, strike ``in place'' and insert in
lieu thereof: ``being utilized''.
On page 143, line 12, after ``and'' insert: ``to''.
On page 216, line 14, strike ``concerning'' and insert in
lieu thereof: ``, including the identity of the person
suspended and''.
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amendment no. 1930
On page 127, line 12, strike everything after
``rehabilitation'' through ``Maluka'' on line 13, and insert
in lieu thereof: ``and reconstruction, political
reconciliation, and related activities in Aceh, Papua, West
Timor, and the Malukus''.
On page 220, line 23, after ``Indonesia'' insert the
following: ``, including imposing just punishment for those
involved in the murders of American citizen Carlos Caceres
and two other United Nations humanitarian workers in West
Timor on September 6, 2000''.
On page 221, lines 17 and 18, strike ``having in place a
functioning system for''.
On page 221, lines 19 and 20, strike ``that fund
activities''.
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amendment no. 1931
On page 128, line 9, insert the following:
laos
Of the funds appropriated under the headings ``Child
Survival and Health Programs Fund'' and ``Development
Assistance'', $5,000,000 should be made available for Laos:
Provided, That funds made available in the previous proviso
should be made available only through nongovernmental
organizations.
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amendment no. 1932
On page 127, line 19, strike ``should'' and insert in lieu
thereof ``shall''.
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amendment no. 1933
(Purpose: To prohibit humanitarian assistance inside Burma unless
certain conditions are met)
On page 127, line 26, after ``law:'' insert the following:
``Provided further, that none of the funds appropriated by
this Act may be used to provide humanitarian assistance
inside Burma by any individual, group, or association unless
the Secretary of State certifies and reports to the
Committees on Appropriations that the provision of such
assistance includes the direct involvement of the
democratically elected National League for Democracy:''.
amendment no. 1934
At the appropriate place in the bill, insert the following:
community-based police assistance
Sec. . (a) Authority.--Funds made available to carry out
the provisions of chapter 1 of part I and chapter 4 of part
II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, may be used,
notwithstanding section 660 of that Act, to enhance the
effectiveness and accountability of civilian police authority
in Jamaica through training and technical assistance in
internationally recognized human rights, the rule of law,
strategic planning, and through the promotion of civilian
police roles that support democratic governance including
programs to prevent conflict and foster improved police
relations with the communities they serve.
(b) Report.--Twelve months after the initial obligation of
funds for Jamaica for activities authorized under subsection
(a), the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development shall submit a report to the
appropriate congressional committees describing the progress
the program is making toward improving police relations with
the communities they serve and institutionalizing an
effective community-based police program.
(c) Notification.--Assistance provided under subsection (a)
shall be subject to the regular notification procedures of
the Committee on Appropriations.
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amendment no. 1935
On page 179, line 7, after ``democracy'' insert ``, human
rights''.
On page 179, line 8 after ``which'' insert: ``not less than
$5,000,000 should be made available for the Human Rights and
Democracy Fund of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and
Labor, Department of State, for such activities, and of
which''.
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amendment no. 1936
At the appropriate place, insert:
SEC. . SEPTEMBER 11 DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAMS.
Of the funds appropriated by this Act under the heading
``Economic Support Fund'', not less than $15,000,000 shall be
made available for programs and activities to foster
democracy, human rights, press freedoms, and the rule of law
in countries with a significant Muslim population, and where
such programs and activities would be important to United
States efforts to respond to, deter, or prevent acts of
international terrorism: Provided, That funds appropriated
under this section should support new initiatives or bolster
ongoing programs and activities in those countries: Provided
further, That not less than $2,000,000 of such funds shall be
made available for programs and activities that train
emerging Afghan women leaders in civil society development
and democracy building: Provided further, That not less than
$10,000,000 of such funds shall be made available for the
Human Rights and Democracy Fund of the Bureau of Democracy
Human Rights and Labor, Department of State, for such
activities: Provided further, That funds made available
pursuant to the authority of this section shall be subject to
the regular notification procedures of the Committees on
Appropriations.
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amendment no. 1937
At the appropriate place in the bill insert:
SEC. . UZBEKISTAN.
Reports.--Not later than three months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and six months thereafter, the
Secretary of State shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees describing the following:
(1) The defense articles, defense services, and financial
assistance provided by the United States to Uzbekistan during
the six-month period ending on the date of such report.
(2) The use during such period of defense articles and
defense services provided by the United States by units of
the Uzbek armed forces, border guards, Ministry of National
Security, or Ministry of Internal Affairs.
(3) The extent to which any units referred to in paragraph
(2) engaged in human rights violations, or violations of
international law, during such period.
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amendment no. 1938
At the appropriate place, insert:
SEC. . HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR AFGHANISTAN.
It is the sense of the Senate that:
(1) Afghanistan's neighbors should reopen their borders to
allow for the safe passage of refugees, and the international
community must be prepared to contribute to the economic
costs incurred by the flight of desperate Afghan civilians;
(2) as the United States engages in military action in
Afghanistan, it must work to deliver assistance, particularly
through overland truck convoys, and safe humanitarian access
to affected populations, in partnership with humanitarian
agencies in quantities sufficient to alleviate a large scale
humanitarian catastrophe; and
(3) the United States should contribute to efforts by the
international community to provide long-term, sustainable
reconstruction and development assistance for the people of
Afghanistan, including efforts to protect the basic human
rights of women and children.
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amendment no. 1939
On page 153 line 7, after the colon insert the following:
``Provided further, That of the funds appropriated by this
paragraph, not less than $2,300,000 shall be made available
for assistance for Thailand:''
amendment no. 1926
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I offer this amendment along with
Senators Helms and Leahy out of concern with the continued detention of
political prisoners in Serb jails. Our amendment is simple and
straightforward: It makes absolutely clear that among the certification
requirements contained in section 575 of this bill is the release of
these prisoners. I urge the democrats and reformers in Belgrade to take
notice of our actions, and to release the political prisoners
immediately. I yield the floor to my friend from North Carolina.
Mr. HELMS. I find it incomprehensible for a government that claims to
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be democratic and just to sustain this cruel vestige of the Milosevic
era.
Last August, I asked my staff to travel to Serbia and visit these
Albanian political prisoners. My intent was the following: I wanted to
check on the physical conditions of these prisoners. I wanted to ensure
that they and their families know the United States has not forgotten
about their suffering. I wanted to underscore to authorities in
Belgrade that they must release these political prisoners who were
arrested, too often brutally tortured, sentenced and jailed by
Milosevic and his system of kangaroo justice. And, I wanted to remind
Belgrade that failure to do so will have consequences for their
relationship with the United States.
Serbian Justice Minister Batic cooperatively arranged meetings for my
staff. These took place in two Serbian jails with four Kosovar Albanian
prisoners: Kurti Aljbin, Isljam Taci, Berisa Petrit, and Sulejman
Bitici. These four individuals, I might add, were chosen at the
recommendation of an extremely courageous woman, Natasa Kandic of the
Humanitarian Law Center in Yugoslavia. Ms. Kandic is Serb, who at great
risk to her personal safety, has provided these and other Albanian
political prisoners legal and humanitarian assistance.
The stories of these four political prisoners speak volumes to the
atrocities and injustice of the Milosevic regime. Imagine being
arrested because you are an Albanian student, thrown in jail only to
learn later that there were no formal charges brought against you, and
even if there were you couldn't appeal them because your file had
``disappeared'' or it was burned. Imagine being thrown out of a fourth
story window so that your legs would break, or being subjected to
repeated beatings, shock torture, and mock executions. That is exactly
what happened during the Milosevic era.
The good news is that these tortures have ended. However, ending the
torture is not enough. Each day Belgrade keeps people like Kurti
Aljbin, Isljam Taci, Berisa Petrit, and Sulejman Bitici locked behind
bars is another day that Belgrade has continued the horrors and
injustice of the Milosevic regime. And this is totally unacceptable.
One prisoner asked the poignant question: ``If Milosevic is in jail,
why are we still here?'' The fact is there is no justifiable answer to
this question. I yield the floor to the Senator from Vermont.
Mr. LEAHY. It has been almost a year since the fall of Milosevic, and
more than five months have passed since his arrest. While some Albanian
prisoners were released earlier this year, there are still more than
100 Albanian political prisoners languishing in Serb jails. There is no
justification under any circumstances, to imprison innocent people.
Serb officials know this. These people should never have been arrested,
and they should have been released long ago.
Mr. McCONNELL. Would the Senator yield for an additional comment? I
continue to be keenly interested in the investigation into the murder
of the three American brothers of Albanian descent from New York who
were recently found in a mass grave in Serbia. Justice must be served
for their murders, which occurred at the end of the war in Kosova.
Mr. LEAHY. I urge adoption of this amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia is recognized
under the previous order.
Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I thank the Chair.
I also congratulate and thank Senator Kennedy who spoke earlier for
the proposals and suggestions, and the good counsel that he offered to
the Senate at this critical time.
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