[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 169 (Monday, December 2, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H7377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONDEMNING VIOLENCE IN UKRAINE
=========================== NOTE ===========================
December 2, 2013, on page H7377, the following appeared:
CONDEMNING VIOLENCE IN THE UKRAINE
The online version should be corrected to read: CONDEMNING
VIOLENCE IN UKRAINE
========================= END NOTE =========================
(Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, as cochair of the Ukrainian Caucus here in
the House, I rise today to condemn the violence currently igniting in
Ukraine at the hands of Ukraine's top government officials. Their
targets are peaceful protesters and dozens and dozens of journalists
who have been harmed.
Shouldn't President Yanukovych and the Ukrainian Government be
working hard to encourage and ensure a more open society rather than
repressing their own citizenry? Shouldn't they be building a society in
which Ukrainians can assemble and freely voice concerns regarding the
future of their country?
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, some have estimated over a
million people, have taken to the streets in Kiev this past week out of
frustration at their government's abandonment of the European Union
Association Agreement. As protests escalated through this weekend,
journalists and demonstrators were met with a violent police crackdown.
Many were brutally beaten and burned by tear gas.
For many years now, Ukrainians have called for and continue to desire
a government and country that embraces democracy, liberty, and respects
human rights. Those citizens in the streets and all Ukrainians deserve
the opportunity to peacefully demonstrate. They should not fear
government retaliation.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me say that I continue to support the
Ukrainian people's European aspirations and their demands for
democratic reform. Let the people of Ukraine move forward and face west
and east and north and south with no fear of reprisal.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
December 2, 2013, on page H7377, the following appeared: Let the
people of Ukrain move forward
The online version should be corrected to read: Let the people
of Ukraine move forward
========================= END NOTE =========================
____________________