[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 26, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E89-E90]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONDEMNING VIOLENT SUPPRESSION IN GUINEA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 20, 2010

  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of 
House Resolution 1013. This resolution condemns the violent suppression 
of legitimate political dissent and gross human rights abuses in the 
Republic of Guinea. Over the past year the Republic of Guinea has 
experienced a complete loss of its human rights and democratic values 
that we cherish so dearly as Americans, and it is important that we not 
only condemn some of the horrific actions of the Guinean government, 
but also provide assistance for the reinstitution of democratically 
elected leaders and for the recovery of Guinea and its people. After 
the death of long-time President Lansana Conte in late 2008, Moussa 
Dadis Camara, a captain in the Guinean Army illegitimately took over 
the Guinean presidency in a bloodless coup.
  This action was taken unilaterally by Camara without prior 
consultation or petition from the Guinean people. These undemocratic 
actions taken by the military junta and Captain Camera are shocking and 
unacceptable. Shortly after taking power, Captain Camara declared his 
intentions of instituting free and fair democratic elections under 
outside pressures from the international community. Over the past 
several months, however, Captain Camara has consistently delayed and 
postponed elections.
  The situation intensified last September as Guinean security forces 
opened fire on a group of thousands of peaceful protestors wounding 
thousands and killing about 150 people. I condemn in the strongest 
terms this atrocious violence taken against peacefully protesting 
unarmed civilians.
  My heart goes out to the friends, families and loved ones of the 
victims in this brutal attack. This cruel and unwarranted attack 
against unarmed and peaceful demonstrators is an attack against 
humanity as well as the democratic principles we stand for in the U.S. 
I especially condemn the actions taken by certain members of the 
security forces and their commanders who brutally raped, molested and 
killed women and children on the streets of Conakry during the violent 
confrontation. These are human rights violations of the worst kind and 
I vehemently oppose both the government of Guinea in addition to the 
troops and complacent officers who allowed these actions to take place.
  I stand behind the people of Guinea in deploring these unjust and 
undemocratic actions and support a full transition of the country's 
leadership through future democratic elections. Since the beginning of 
Camara's illegitimate presidency over a year ago, the economic, social 
and political situation in Guinea has continually declined until this 
past December when a former aide to Camara, Lt. Aboubakar Diakite, 
attempted to assassinate the president and take over the country. After 
being shot in the head by Diakite, President Camara was evacuated to 
Senegal for treatment and then to Morocco for surgery.
  The tense and unstable political situation in Guinea must be 
reconciled between opposing forces with a full and complete return to 
democratic rule through free and fair elections. We must also provide 
the people of Guinea with the tools and potential for future growth 
that would change this troubled nation. The United States can assist 
Guinea in returning to good governance by increasing transparent and 
accountable trade with Guinea, by providing further humanitarian 
assistance contingent on government reform in Guinea, and by providing 
election monitors to the people of Guinea in future elections.
  I also call on the international community as a whole to conduct 
their trade and governmental interaction with the Republic of Guinea in 
a strategic manner that would take into account the conditions of the 
Guinean people and the disorder within the Guinean government. 
President Camara remains in exile, and is currently recovering in 
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso after a failed assassination attempt on his 
life last December. Earlier this month both the president and the 
interim president reached an agreement which would institute a 
transitional government and hold presidential elections within the next 
six months. Though Camara and his interim president Gen. Sekouba Konate 
have appealed for peace and reconciliation and have urged their 
countrymen to put aside ethnic differences, there is still a vital need 
in the country for increased economic growth, improved standards of 
living for all people and a more transparent and just system of 
governance.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I also ask my 
colleagues for their continued support of the Guinean people and ask 
for their continued support of a complete return to democratic rule and 
respect for human rights in Guinea.

[[Page E90]]



                          ____________________