[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 133 (Wednesday, December 6, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H8858-H8860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H8858]]
               EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY IN NEPAL

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1051) expressing support for democracy in Nepal 
that will require the full participation of the people of Nepal in the 
political process to hold elections for a constituent assembly and 
draft a new constitution and calling upon the Communist Party of Nepal-
Maoist to adhere to commitments it has made and to respect human 
rights, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 1051

       Whereas the United States and Nepal have longstanding ties 
     of friendship and good relations, and since contributing as 
     Nepal's first bilateral aid donor in January 1951, the United 
     States has contributed more than $1,400,000,000 bilaterally 
     and multilaterally to Nepal;
       Whereas it is the policy of the United States to support 
     sustained peace and democracy in Nepal in order to achieve 
     important United States regional and bilateral goals, 
     including preventing the spread of terror, enhancing regional 
     stability, promoting democracy worldwide, and protecting 
     United States citizens in Nepal;
       Whereas the conflict in Nepal has claimed approximately 
     13,000 lives since 1996, and the insurgency continues to 
     undermine political stability and the prospects for economic 
     development in the country;
       Whereas after three weeks of mass pro-democracy protests 
     organized by the Seven-Party Alliance and the Communist Party 
     of Nepal-Maoist, King Gyanendra reinstated the parliament, 
     which reconvened on April 28, 2006; and
       Whereas the United States supports the Government of 
     Nepal's efforts to bring permanent peace and democracy to 
     Nepal: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That--
       (1) the House of Representatives--
       (A) reiterates its support for democracy in Nepal;
       (B) recognizes that the full participation of the people of 
     Nepal will be required in the political process to--
       (i) hold elections for a constituent assembly; and
       (ii) draft a new constitution; and
       (C) welcomes agreements between the Government of Nepal and 
     the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist that commit both sides to 
     a free, fair, multi-party, democratic political process; and
       (2) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
       (A) the Government of Nepal should--
       (i) continue its role in developing a new democracy;
       (ii) hold free and fair elections for a constituent 
     assembly;
       (iii) immediately take steps to restore law and order and 
     government presence and service delivery throughout the 
     country; and
       (iv) implement the will of the people of Nepal; and
       (B) the Maoists must--
       (i) lay down their weapons and permanently and publicly 
     give up violence and intimidation for political ends, both in 
     word and deed; and
       (ii) strictly honor and implement their commitments to the 
     Government and people of Nepal, including to--

       (I) respect human rights;
       (II) uphold civil liberties, including freedom of speech, 
     association, and the press;
       (III) submit to the rule of law; and
       (IV) dismantle parallel governance structures that emerged 
     during the conflict.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Iowa (Mr. Leach) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Iowa.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous matter on this resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Iowa?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this timely resolution, 
which takes note of the recent comprehensive peace agreement between 
the government of Nepal and the Maoist insurgents and expresses the 
hope that this process will place Nepal on the path of lasting peace 
and democracy.
  In particular, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) for his thoughtful assistance in this resolution and to commend 
my good friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), for his 
leadership on the resolution and his long-standing interest in the 
welfare of the people of Nepal.
  As my colleagues know, sandwiched between China and India and home to 
the soaring Himalayan Mountains, Nepal has long been known as one of 
the most beautiful countries on the planet. A constitutional monarchy 
since 1990, Nepal has long enjoyed good relations with the United 
States at the governmental level, nurtured in part by the many Peace 
Corps volunteers, such as Mr. Walsh, who have so ably served in the 
world's only Hindu kingdom.
  Tragically, however, each year since the onset of a ruthless Maoist 
rebellion in 1966 has seen this country of 24 million ever more starkly 
challenged, not only by the insurgents, but by a panoply of 
developmental, governance and human rights problems that have converged 
to potentially jeopardize the viability of the state itself.
  Most recently, popular anger at King Gyanendra's autocratic actions 
since early 2005 boiled over in April of this year, resulting in 
massive demonstrations across the country, and public support for a 
nationwide general strike called by Nepal's seven major political 
parties. Despite harsh reprisals by the security forces, the resolve of 
the democracy movement ultimately forced the King to restore 
sovereignty to the people of Nepal.
  On April 24, the King bowed to public pressure and announced the 
reinstatement of Parliament. On April 28, Parliament convened for the 
first time since 2002 with G.P. Koirala of the Nepali Congress Party at 
the helm of a national unity government.
  The King's seizure of civilian authority and disdain for the 
political parties led them to seek a rapprochement with Nepal's Maoist 
insurgents, based on their mutual rejection of the King's royal coup. 
This rapprochement led to a formalized 12-point understanding between 
the parties and the Maoists, the key element of which is a commitment 
by the parties, now the government, to support elections to a 
constituent assembly charged with drafting a new constitution, a long-
standing Maoist demand in exchange for Maoist commitment to support 
multiparty democracy.
  Under the comprehensive agreement reached this November, the Maoist 
rebels will join a transitional government, while their weapons are to 
be put under U.N. supervision. The new agreement also establishes an 
ambitious timetable for democratic reform with the objective of holding 
elections monitored by the U.N. to the constituent assembly by mid-
June, 2007.
  The Government of the United States has welcomed the announcement of 
this agreement. The administration and Congress hope this step will 
place Nepal on a path to lasting peace and democracy. All of us hope 
that the Maoist commitment to peace and multiparty democracy is 
genuine, and that they have irrevocably abandoned their stated goal of 
establishing a one-party authoritarian state.
  While it is always prudent to judge those who take law into their 
hands by their actions, not their words, the Congress is committed to 
giving reconciliation approaches as a fair and reasonable chance. 
America fully supports any peace process that safeguards the 
aspirations of the Nepali people.
  As the resolution suggests, this means that violence and intimidation 
and criminal acts, such as forced recruitment of cadre and extortion, 
should cease forthwith. Nepali people who have lived in fear and 
insecurity for over a decade deserve not only a chance for peace and 
prosperity, but to choose their own form of government through free and 
fair elections.
  America is committed to helping the Nepali people build a peaceful, 
prosperous and democratic future. I urge support for this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution 
and urge all of my colleagues to do so as well.
  I would first like to commend my friend and colleague from New York 
(Mr. Walsh) for introducing this measure and for his long-standing 
interest in Nepal since his days as a Peace Corps volunteer in that 
troubled nation.
  Over the past decade, more than 13,000 citizens of Nepal have lost 
their lives in a brutal civil war. More than 200,000 have been 
displaced. Hopes for

[[Page H8859]]

peace have been repeatedly dashed, and the poor and impoverished people 
of Nepal have paid the price. With one of the lowest per capita GDPs in 
the entire world, the inability of the Maoists and the Nepalese 
government to negotiate a comprehensive peace agreement has been truly 
unconscionable.
  In their bloody insurgent campaign, the Maoist guerillas have dragged 
children from their villages to serve as child soldiers. They have 
assassinated local officials who dare to challenge their authority and 
Nepalese soldiers trying to keep the peace, and they have repeatedly 
harassed poor villagers who simply wish to stay out of the civil war.
  The Nepalese Government has not been without blame. The government 
has been hopelessly deadlocked by political divisions between the 
parties and between Nepal's elected political leadership and the 
Nepalese King. The Nepalese Army has also been responsible for severe 
human rights abuses in its efforts to defeat the Maoists.
  With this history in mind, the news from Kathmandu last month that 
the Nepalese Government and the Maoists had finally signed a peace 
agreement is most welcome. On its face the peace agreement holds great 
promise to bring peace to Nepal at long last, as well as the 
restoration of democracy.
  The guerillas will be forced to put their personnel and weapons in 
U.N.-monitored cantonments, and the Nepalese Army will put a similar 
number of soldiers back in their barracks. Elections for a constituent 
assembly will be held next year, and the guerillas will come into the 
government in the interim.
  The leadership of the rebels has publicly renounced violence as a 
means to win political power in Nepal, and the Nepalese Government 
seems prepared to deal with some of the concerns raised by them.

                              {time}  1915

  While the peace agreement is a very positive step forward, cautious 
optimism must remain the watchword for American policy towards Nepal. I 
am not convinced that the rebels have truly renounced violence or have 
given up on establishing an authoritarian Maoist society. I am very 
concerned that the peace deal lets the Maoists into the government 
before the Constituent Assembly elections next year, potentially giving 
them the ability to influence the election results in a non-democratic 
direction.
  I am also concerned that Nepal's vibrant political parties have not 
put aside their deep divisions, nor are they prepared to move toward 
strong and effective governments. The elected leaders of Nepal must 
focus on encouraging foreign investment, creating jobs and promoting 
education, not jockeying for the next government appointment.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States has been a strong friend of Nepal over 
many decades. Our Nation has been a major donor of foreign assistance 
to the Nepalese people and we have made enormous diplomatic efforts to 
promote peace and stability in Nepal. In the months ahead, the United 
States and the United Nations must keep up the pressure on all parties 
in Nepal to live up to the terms of the peace deal. Any sign that the 
rebels or the government are returning to the violent and corrupt ways 
of the past must be met head on by the international community.
  With the right amount of international pressure, it is our strong 
belief that the peace agreement between the Nepalese Government and the 
rebels will bear fruit. Finally, the impoverished people of Nepal will 
get the form of democracy, human rights and good governance that they 
so richly deserve. I strongly support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as we all understand, this body is composed of 435 
Members, and one of the unique features of membership is everyone 
brings a different background. It has been my experience here that the 
Members that have some of the most helpful backgrounds possible are 
those that have served in the United States Peace Corps, and this 
applies both to knowledge of the area of the world that they may have 
served, but also just in general. Every Peace Corps volunteer that I 
have known that has served in this body has been of exemplary character 
and compassion.
  Symbolic of it all is the gentleman from New York, Mr. Walsh, one of 
our most decent, thoughtful Members, who served in Nepal, whose 
leadership on this issue and whose introduction of this bill is so much 
appreciated by this body.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my good friend, 
the gentleman from New York, Jim Walsh.
  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Hyde, Chairman 
Leach and Ranking Member Lantos for their great service to this country 
while serving on the International Relations Committee. They bring 
great honor to this House in their knowledge and the thoughtful 
approach they bring to our foreign policy, and I am very grateful to 
them for allowing this resolution to come before the House this 
evening. Let me thank also the entire International Relations Committee 
and staff for all the hard work and effort in getting this important 
resolution to the floor.
  It is such a critical time for this beautiful little country in Asia, 
Nepal. The timing of this resolution could not be more appropriate. The 
Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal just signed a 
comprehensive peace agreement on November 21, bringing an end to the 
11-year people's war which has claimed over 13,000 lives.
  The 11-page historic document was signed by Prime Minister Girija 
Prasad Koirala on behalf of the Nepal Government and Maoist Chairman 
Prachanda on behalf of his party. This ten-point agreement came after a 
number of earlier understandings and agreements between the Seven Party 
Alliance and the Maoists.
  The agreement states that ``After the Nepali Army is confined to 
barracks and the Maoist combatants to cantonments, possession and 
exhibition of arms, intimidation, and use of violence and weapons in 
any form shall be punishable by law.''
  The agreement bars the government and the Maoists from recruiting 
soldiers, smuggling or transporting weapons and explosives, carrying 
out violent activities against each other, intimidating any person and 
destroying private property or public property. The agreement states no 
one is allowed to move about or participate in mass meetings and 
rallies with any type of arms.
  The popular uprising for peace and democracy in April was historic. 
The will of the people of Nepal is what made the agreements of recent 
weeks between the government and the Maoists possible, and I am hopeful 
that those agreements will move Nepal further along the path to lasting 
peace and democracy.
  The progress to date is commendable and there is cause for optimism, 
but there is much work to be done. Agreements are worth little if they 
go unimplemented, and the Maoists in particular continue to engage in 
behavior that calls into question their commitment to non-violence and 
multiparty democracy.
  As Richard Boucher, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and 
Central Asian Affairs, said during his recent visit to Nepal, ``You 
don't walk into Parliament with a gun in your pocket.'' I again call 
upon the Maoists and their Chairman Prachanda to permanently end 
violence, to submit to the rule of law and to compete on an even 
playing field with Nepal's political parties for a contest of ideas to 
seek the votes of the Nepalese people in free and fair elections.
  There is no place in a democracy for private armies. The parties of 
Nepal have requested U.N. assistance in monitoring adherence to the 
peace agreements, particularly the restriction of arms and armies. I 
welcome that request and the U.N.'s involvement, and I strongly support 
a robust U.N. monitoring mission in Nepal for the upcoming elections.
  I am pleased and encouraged by these developments. The Nepalese 
people have spoken and expressed their will to have their voices heard. 
It is time for the political leaders to acknowledge their wishes and 
fully carry them out.
  Mr. Speaker, again it gives me great pleasure to stand before you 
today to give praise to this historic comprehensive peace agreement as 
the framework for peace in Nepal and recognize the remarkable progress 
that has been

[[Page H8860]]

achieved by all. Nepal can hopefully now travel down the path of peace, 
stability and prosperity.
  I commend the efforts of the leaders of that nation who focused on 
the greater good of the people of Nepal, and I urge them to continue to 
move forward.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to my good friend the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), a 
distinguished member of the International Relations Committee.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy in 
permitting me to speak on this and his leadership in bringing it 
forward with my friend and colleague, the chairman of our subcommittee.
  Mr. Speaker, oftentimes there is so much work that transpires in the 
course of the International Relations Committee dealing with things 
that are too far removed from the world's viewpoint at any given time.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague from New York introducing this 
legislation. He brings to this debate the experience of somebody who 
not only was a Peace Corps volunteer years ago, but continues his 
interest and concern, although not a member of the committee, somebody 
who has repeatedly brought his attention and expertise and interest. 
And that is what I think is the strength of what we can do in this 
Chamber: having the strength that comes from people who have the 
experience, the concern, use this platform to be able to focus the 
attention in this country and around the world on these things that 
seemingly are minor on the world stage. But given the devastation that 
has been incurred on this small country, the loss of life, the upset, 
the loss of progress, being able to look at an opportunity like this, 
it is not just for Nepal, but it seems to me it is a demonstration of 
taking some of these intractable issues around the world and indicate 
that there are opportunities for hope.
  I just appreciate Congressman Walsh bringing this forward. I know he 
has had some other experience in the past looking at other modest 
conundrums, like in Northern Ireland, where his follow-through and his 
commitment makes a difference, and it is part of the richness of the 
experience here in foreign affairs.
  I hope that this is something as we move forward to a new session, 
that we will be able to keep the focus, the direction and the 
attention, because coming out of what we see in Iraq, we are going to 
need more than ever opportunities to find areas of agreement and to 
reinforce the positive aspects of diplomacy.
  I appreciate again the opportunity to speak in support of this and 
strongly urge my colleagues to not just support this, but this is 
something where people think about ways that they can help spread this 
word for this important work.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, but I wish to take a bit of 
time to express my own deep admiration for my dear friend from Iowa, 
whose brilliance and decency and commitment we shall miss more than any 
of us can express.
  During an extraordinarily distinguished, rich, impressive service, 
Congressman Leach has brought to this body intellectual equipment, 
integrity, a passionate commitment to the Congress, and he will be 
sorely and deeply missed by all of us on both sides of the aisle.
  On behalf of all of my colleagues on the Democratic side, I want to 
express our admiration, our respect and our friendship for him, and 
wish him the very best in what I am sure will be exciting future 
endeavors.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank very much my distinguished friend, 
and I wish him every great success as he takes on the leadership of 
this committee in this coming Congress. We all have a vested interest 
in the Congress doing well and the country moving forward.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Nepalese 
democracy. I would like to commend my colleague from New York, Mr. 
Walsh, for introducing this important bill and appreciate the 
opportunity to speak in support of it today.
  The Nepalese people, like all people, deserve to live in a country 
free from conflict and to be represented by democratically elected 
officials. These elected leaders need to create a professional, non-
political military force that can adequately deal with the Maoist 
rebels who have been destabilizing the country for so long. Currently 
as a result of the Maoist rule, nearly one third of the Nepalese people 
live below the poverty line; if the government of Nepal doesn't live up 
to its moral obligation to effectively govern many more will fall into 
destitution.
  To those citizens who are fighting for democracy through non-violent 
methods, by standing up grass-roots organizations and educating people 
on the benefits of a free society, I say keep up the good work. 
Continue working to ensure freedom of the press and that the rights of 
all citizens are respected and not abused.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working in the future with Mr. Walsh 
and the other cosponsors of this bill to ensure that Congress focuses 
on democratic progress throughout the world.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Wamp). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1051, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having 
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the 
resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________