[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.
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