[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 15, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H4443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               KYRGYZSTAN

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, this week, violence flared up in Kyrgyzstan, 
prompting tens of thousands of Uzbeks to flee their homes and places of 
birth to seek refuge in neighboring countries. Innocent people, 
including women, children and the elderly, are suffering with over 100 
killed.
  Just 2 months ago, the people deposed the authoritarian President 
Bakiyev, who promptly fled to Belarus and the protection of the 
Lukashenko government. Approval of a new constitution and general 
elections were proceeding smoothly until the recent violence, which was 
prompted by forces supportive of the deposed president and other 
lawless elements.
  Even with the present chaos, the interim Kurdish government is 
insisting that the date of elections will remain unchanged. For many 
years, I've worked with the nations along the old Silk Road in central 
Asia, and it pains me to see the Kyrgyz fleeing violence in their 
homeland.
  The U.S. wants to keep our Air Force base in Kyrgyzstan, but we have 
shown little interest in helping the people of this nation build a 
republic that respects human rights free of corruption. Even China and 
Russia are lending their support with humanitarian aid flights. We need 
the State Department and President Obama to offer the support of 
America to a nation struggling to create democracy and freedom to 
strengthen their independence and sovereignty.
  Without action on the part of the U.S., violence will continue, and 
then more than just a military base will be lost.

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