[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 119 (Thursday, September 21, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DEDICATED TO PEACE IN SRI LANKA

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                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 21, 2006

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my growing concern 
about the situation in Sri Lanka. I have followed the state of affairs 
in Sri Lanka for a long time, and it is clear to me that the current 
level of violence threatens to return the country to open civil war.
  The renewed violence and rising death toll in Sri Lanka is troubling 
to me and many residents of my congressional district. They shared with 
me their apprehension about the growing levels of violence and I share 
their commitment to establishing a lasting peace in Sri Lanka.
  That is why today I wrote to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice 
asking her to appoint a special envoy for Sri Lanka. I attach that 
letter. The appointment of a high level official with the ear of 
President Bush will ensure that our government is focused on doing 
everything in its power to bring a lasting peace to the people of Sri 
Lanka. Further, naming a special envoy will ensure that there is a U.S. 
government official solely dedicated to fostering cooperation between 
the two parties and working to establish a mutually agreed peace. This 
envoy also must have a clear mandate to monitor human rights violations 
on the ground and ensure that international humanitarian laws are 
observed by all parties.
  It is my hope and prayer that the violence will end and that the 
parties in Sri Lanka will return to the peace negotiations. America 
must remain committed to fostering peace in Sri Lanka and working with 
the international community to bring an end to the current conflict. 
The people have endured civil war for too long. Our Nation must do 
everything it can to foster a lasting peace in Sri Lanka.

                                Congress of the United States,

                               Washington, DC, September 21, 2006.
     Hon. Condoleezza Rice,
     Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Rice: I am writing to urge you to appoint a 
     special envoy for Sri Lanka because I am deeply troubled by 
     the situation on the ground there. This summer brought an end 
     to the negotiated permanent ceasefire, which had been 
     generally observed since 2002. The renewed violence and 
     rising death toll in Sri Lanka are a grave risk to the 
     fragile peace process and threaten a return to open civil 
     war.
       News reports indicate that recent heavy fighting has 
     resulted in hundreds of deaths and the displacement of more 
     than 200,000 people in Sri Lanka. Parties to the conflict are 
     not the only ones suffering. As you know, The Sri Lanka 
     Monitoring Mission (SLMM) recently investigated the murder of 
     17 aid workers, and the United Nations High Commissioner for 
     Human Rights made clear just this week that ``there is an 
     urgent need for the international community to monitor the 
     unfolding human rights situation.''
       Naming a special envoy for Sri Lanka would further 
     emphasize our government's commitment to creating a lasting 
     peace. It is essential that the U.S. envoy be a high-level 
     official with the ear of President Bush and you. The envoy's 
     mandate should be clear and must include efforts to increase 
     monitoring of human rights violations.
       The citizens of Sri Lanka have endured civil war for too 
     long. We must do everything we can to foster a lasting peace 
     for the country. Again, I request that you appoint a special 
     envoy for Sri Lanka to help bring peace to the country.
           Sincerely,
                                                        Rush Holt,
     Member of Congress.

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