Extensions of Remarks

June 22, 1987 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 16959 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS CRISIS IN KOREA The grounds for the crisis, however, will lead to political instability, economic uncer remain until all Koreans have the opportunity tainty and even a growing danger of war. to freely elect a truly representative, civilian Across the border, barely 30 miles from HON. DANTE B. FASCELL government and to exercise their basic human Seoul, lies hostile North Korea headed by OF FLORIDA Kim II-Sung, who could view widespread rights. The promotion of this goal, which will disorder in South Korea as an opportunity IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ensure long-term stability on the Korean pe to achieve his ambition of reunifying the Monday, June 22, 1987 ninsula, should be United States policy. I am Korean peninsula under Communist con concerned that Ambassador Lilley's presence trol. Mr. FASCELL. Mr. Speaker, the dramatic at the ruling Democratic Justice Party's recent This potentially explosive situation is events now unfolding in the Republic of Korea convention and the State Department state fraught with peril for the United States. leave little doubt about the aspirations for de ment that the events in Korea are "an internal Some 40,000 American troops, who would in mocracy held by the Korean people. The stantaneously be involved if another war matter" send precisely the wrong message to broke out, continue to stand watch along actual realization of those aspirations, howev the Chun government and to the Korean er, is largely dependent on President Chun the 38th Parallel, a tangible manifestation people. We need to convey clear and consist of our formal defense commitment to the Doo Hwan's response to the present popular ent support for democratization in Korea. I am security of South Korea. Twenty billion dol unrest. So far, the signs are not encouraging pleased to note, however, the administraton's lars in trade flows between our two coun that his Government is willing to turn this public support for a Congressional resolution tries, making South Korea our seventh larg crisis into an opportunity for democratization. which does just that. The resolution-House est trading partner. South Korea is, in The street demonstrations that began 2 Concurrent ResolutiJn 141-calls upon the short, a country we cannot afford to ignore. weeks ago in the wake of the ruling Demo It is, therefore, essential that a way be Chun government to take precisely the steps found to reopen negotiations between the cratic Justice Party's nomination of Chun's which could help to establish a climate of trust hand-picked successor, former General Roh Chun Government and the opposition. For between the Korean Government and the it is only through such a dialogue that a na Tae Woo, have broadened to include a di Korean people. It has broad-based bipartisan tional consensus can be achieved and that verse mix of workers, members of the middle support in the Congress and it is my intention, political stability, continued economic class and professionals, as well as students. Mr. Speaker, to move speedy consideration of growth, and the preservation of peace can This development is significant and under this measure in the full Committee on Foreign be assured. scores the overwhelming desire of the Korean Affairs and to bring it to the House floor for The South Korean Government, if it is people for a truly democratic government and sincere in its professed commitment to de consideration in the very near future. mocratization, could move unilaterally to for the full restoration of the human rights of Mr. Speaker, our distinguished colleague, all Koreans. The protestors, having been improve its human rights record. There is Representative STEPHEN J. SOLARZ, the chair nothing to stop it from immediately remov denied freedom of assembly, are willing to risk man of the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacif ing constrants on the press, releasing all po being gassed with a potent pepper tear gas ic Affairs of the Committee on Foreign affairs, litical prisoners, ending the torture of de and being taken in for questioning in order to visited Korea in April and met with a wide tainees and establishing an independent ju express their discontent with the present range of Koreans. He wrote a thoughtful piece diciary. regime. in the New York Times last month which em By taking these actions, the Government The foundation for this present crisis was would go a long way toward improving the phasized the need for the United States to human rights situation, but equally impor laid earlier this year when President Chun uni press the Seoul government to reopen negoti laterally suspended negotiations with the op tant, such steps would generate the kind of ations with the political opposition. I think our trust and confidence on the part of the op position on the constitutional reform. That colleagues will find this article very timely and position that could facilitate an agreement action denied Koreans the right to determine ask unanimous consent that it be reprinted in on a broadly acceptable political system for their own political future and, coupled with the RECORD. the nation. concern about widespread human rights The article appears as follows: The differences between the Government, abuses, including the use of torture, set the APPLYING LEVERAGE ON SOUTH KOREA which favors the establishment of a parlia stage for the current protests. Violations of mentary system, and the opposition, which (By Stephen J. Solarz) human rights in Korea have been well docu has insisted on a system of direct presiden mented by a number of international human WASHINGTON.-The decision by South tial elections, pose a serious political prob Korea's President ~hun Doo Hwan to end lem for the United States. rights organizations. Just last month, Asia negotiations with the opposition on a new Democracy, after all, can take many Watch released "Legal Process and Human system of government, and to proceed with forms-presidential as well as parliamenta Rights in South Korea," an excellent report a presidential election on the basis of the ry, federal as well as unitary unicameral as detailing the denial of the rights of assembly, existing Constitution, could jeopardize well as bicameral. And it would clearly be expression, and association, the right to a fair South Korea's future and impair vital inappropriate for Washington to express a trial and to be free from torture in Korea. American interests in Asia. preference for a particular democratic It is in the best interest of the United States The South Korean Government seems to system, just as it would be inappropriate for to fully support the Korean people's democrat believe that President Chun's willingness to us to endorse a particular party or candi leave office at the completion of his term in date. These are matters for the South ic aspirations. Our Government should en 1988 is sufficient to satisfy the democratic Korean people to determine for themselves. courage specific actions by the Korean Gov aspirations of the people. But given our interest in South Korea, it ernment to ease present tensions and estab Yet South Koreans are not likely to is entirely appropriate for us to express a lish a more conciliatory climate. The release accept "Chunism without Chun" as a substi preference for democracy over dictatorship, of all political prisoners, and end to the de tute for genuine democratization. In view of for tolerance over torture and for peaceful plorable practice of torture, full freedom of the the opposition's strong feeling that the cur reform over violent revolution. press and of assembly, the restoration of civil rent system of indirect Presidential elec Some skeptics have argued that democra and political rights for all Koreans including tions is stacked against it, Mr. Chun's deci cy is not possible in South Korea. It is said sion could well lead to huge protests by stu that a Confucian heritage, with its emphasis Kim Dae Jung, and the reestablishment of ne dents and other alienated sectors of the on authority and obedience, is incompatible gotiations on the issue of constitutional revi population who want democracy now rather with a pluralistic civic culture. Others con sion are important first steps the Chun gov than at some indefinite time in the future. tend that the military threat from the ernment can and should take immediately to A recurring cycle of challenges to, and North makes democracy a luxury that diffuse this crisis. crackdowns by, the authorities would likely South Korea cannot afford. e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 16960 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS June 22, 1987 South Korea, to be sure, does have a Con resentatives at the multilateral banks to French general, and Mr. Giscard would have fucian legacy, but so does Japan, which for vote against further loans to South Korea France declare that its independent nuclear the last 40 years has maintained a free and in the absence of real progress on democra deterrent could also be invoked to protect open society. Moreover, even traditional cy and human rights. In view of South West Germany. Confucian systems recognize that rulers Korea's booming economy, this would not These are far-reaching ideas, implying a should be responsive to the needs of their jeopardize the country's prosperity, but it reversal of historic policies, so much so that subjects and accountable for their actions. would reinforce the credibility of our repre even the many proponents refuse to face Nor do the imperatives of national securi sentations about democracy.

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