[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 153 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1918]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY IN BANGLADESH

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2008

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, thank you to Representative Crowley for 
his excellent work on this resolution.
  I rise today in support of this important resolution and in support 
of free and fair elections.
  Bangladesh, the world's third most populated Muslim country, must 
return to the fold of democracy and uphold the most basic human 
rights--the right to vote. Over the past two years, the people of 
Bangladesh have lived under a state of emergency. As the resolution 
outlines, the rights of the press have been curtailed and corruption is 
running rampant.
  We all know that a nation can only succeed when it heeds the will of 
the people. Security--both economic and political--cannot be 
established while citizens are being ignored and repressed.
  Bangladesh must hold free, fair, credible, peaceful, and transparent 
elections. I urge support of House Resolution 1402.

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