[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 48 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H1623-H1624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            KING OF MOROCCO

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding the King of Morocco's 
visit to our Nation's Capital this week.
  I ask the King to reflect on the statement he made to Secretary 
Powell earlier that Powell should ``consider the plight of the 
Palestinian people.'' Yes, our Nation must act on behalf of justice for 
all people. But should not the King of Morocco do that as well?
  What would the King say about the hundreds and thousands of Sahrawi 
people who have disappeared or are languishing in prison? What would 
the King say about the Sahrawis living in the occupied territory of 
Western Sahara who are arrested or shot or killed by Moroccan security 
officials for their peaceful protests about Morocco's policies?
  Mr. Speaker, I would ask the King of Morocco to seriously consider 
the policies of his own country, policies that

[[Page H1624]]

have oppressed and persecuted the Sahrawis so that they have had to 
live in refugee camps in the harsh Sahara Desert for over 25 years. 
Their government's policy should also ensure that the Sahrawi people 
are guaranteed their rights and get their property returned.

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