[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 60 (Thursday, May 5, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ONGOING VIOLENCE IN SYRIA

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                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 2011

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express deep concern about 
the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Syria. People all over the world 
have watched with awe as democratic movements in Tunisia, Egypt, and 
Libya have risen up against autocratic and corrupt regimes. We have 
witnessed humanity at its best, as people have shown the courage and 
bravery to peacefully protest in the face of violence. We have also 
unfortunately witnessed humanity at its worst, as desperate governments 
have lashed out in an effort to preserve their rule.
  The Syrian government has historically been one of the most 
repressive in the Middle East, so it should be no surprise that the 
Syrian people have protested the many abuses they are subjected to. 
Hundreds of those protesters have tragically been killed at the hands 
of Syrian government forces, and thousands more have been detained. The 
human rights violations of the Syrian government must be condemned and 
the Syrian people should be allowed to exercise their fundamental 
freedoms.
  These recent violations, as well as the Syrian regime's longstanding 
record of infringing on human rights, should raise grave concerns that 
many nations have embraced Syria's candidacy to sit on the U.N. Human 
Rights Council. The Syrian regime lacks any moral authority to protect 
human rights and its election to the U.N. Human Rights Council would 
mock the rebuke it just received from the same institution. If the 
United States and other nations are serious about protecting human 
rights, we will block Syria from sitting on the U.N. Human Rights 
Council as long as the current government is in place.

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