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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE March 5, 1997 H732 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð HOUSE March 5, 1997 colleagues who have expressed con- uals were tortured, raped, and ``disappeared.'' Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I gratulations to the people of Guate- The frustrating and difficult U.N.-sponsored demand the yeas and nays. mala for ending decades of civil war peace negotiations between the Guatemalan The yeas and nays were ordered. and embarking on a courageous effort Government and the Guatemalan National The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- to rebuild their country together. The Revolutionary Union [URNG] were not quick, ant to clause 5 of rule I and the Chair's peace and national reunification that but they have brought an end to the violence. prior announcement, further proceed- has resulted from this process rep- At the same time, however, I wish to ex- ings on this motion will be postponed. resents the beginning of a bright new press my serious concerns regarding the f day for this country which has seen so sweeping amnesty provisions which were, GENERAL LEAVE much horror and loss in the past. ironically, dubbed the Law of National Rec- The civil war in Guatemala was one onciliation. This legislation, which passed the Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask of the longest and bloodiest of this cen- Guatemalan Congress after only 2 days of unanimous consent that all Members tury. In the 36 years of fighting, the consideration on December 18, 1996, raises may have 5 legislative days in which to fabric of Guatemalan society was torn some questions that I wish to call to the atten- revise and extend their remarks on the apart. As the peace process takes hold, tion of my colleagues. If misapplied, the Law resolution just considered. the people of Guatemala will have to of National Reconciliation, which followed the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there begin the arduous work of recreating signing of the Peace Accords in Madrid on objection to the request of the gen- their society and repairing the institu- December 12, 1996, will not reconcile the peo- tleman from New York? tions that must serve them in the ple of Guatemala with government forces, but There was no objection. years to come. It is my hope that reso- will plant the seeds of future suspicion and f lutions such as this, and the positive mistrust between the Guatemalan people and CONGRATULATING PEOPLE OF role that the United States played in members of government agencies. I am con- NICARAGUA ON DEMOCRATIC the peace process, will become the cerned that the amnesty provisions could be ELECTIONS SUCCESS symbols of a new era of United States used to open up a legal back door for human Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to involvement in Guatemala. I believe rights perpetrators to escape just prosecution. suspend the rules and agree to the con- that we have much to offer the people The broad amnesty provisions are also in current resolution (H. Con. Res. 18) of Guatemala in their efforts to build direct conflict with the March 1994 Human congratulating the people of the Re- democratic institution and refashion a Rights Accord, one of the proclaimed mile- public of Nicaragua on the success of civil society, and I hope that they will stones in the Guatemalan peace process. This their Democratic elections held on Oc- turn to us for help. accord required both sides to agree that the tober 20, 1996. I continue to be concerned that, al- government would not sponsor measures de- The Clerk read as follows: though the war has ended, the culture signed to prevent prosecution of human rights H. CON. RES. 18 of impunity that has long plagued Gua- violations. I urge the Guatemalan authorities at temala remains. The Law of National Whereas on October 20, 1996, the people of least to apply the minimum safeguards in the the Republic of Nicaragua held truly demo- Reconciliation established a general Law of National Reconciliation when prosecut- cratic, multiparty elections to choose their amnesty for war crimes, as well as a ing human rights violations. While providing government; truth commission to help heal the amnesty for political crimes related to the Whereas these elections were deemed by wounds of war. We must do all that we armed civil war, article 8 of this law excludes international and domestic observers to be can to see that those actions which fall cases of genocide, torture, and forced dis- free and fair and a legitimate expression of outside the scope of the amnesty and appearances from the amnesty, as well as the will of the people of the Republic of the truth commission are prosecuted to Nicaragua; crimes for which amnesty is prohibited by Whereas on January 10, 1997, Arnoldo the fullest extent of the law. Guatemalan law or Guatemala's international Aleman was peacefully sworn in to the office Helen Mack, sister of Myrna Mack, treaty obligations. of President of the Republic of Nicaragua who was brutally murdered by a Guate- I am also concerned, Mr. Speaker, with re- and immediately promised to continue down malan death squad in 1990, is in town gard to civil cases in which U.S. citizens are the path to democracy, national reconcili- this week to discuss the application for involved, which are not connected with the ation and reconstruction that are started by amnesty made by her sister's killers. armed conflict. The Law of National Reconcili- the previous administration of President Such crimes do not fall within the pa- ation could potentially be used to terminate Violeta Barrios de Chamorro; and Whereas this historic event of democratic rameters of the amnesty law, and we the landmark cases brought against Guate- must press the Guatemalan Govern- elections in the Republic of Nicaragua and malan Government forces by U.S. citizens the inauguration of President Arnoldo ment to set firm limits on the amnesty Helen Mack, sister of the slain Myrna Mack; Aleman should be honored: Now, therefore, provision in such cases. Jennifer Harbury, the wife of Mr. Bamaca; be it We must also ensure that the truth Carole Denn, wife of Michael DeVine; and Sis- Resolved by the House of Representatives (the commission is given the information ter Diana Ortiz. In addition, those few mem- Senate concurring), That the CongressÐ that it requires to complete its healing bers of the military who have already been (1) congratulates the people of the Repub- lic of Nicaragua for the successful comple- process for the Guatemalan people. convicted in the DeVine and Mack cases This means that the United States tion of the historic democratic, multiparty could be released from prison. I hope the elections held on October 20, 1996; Government must fully declassify doc- Guatemalan legal authorities will insure that all (2) congratulates former President Violeta uments dealing with human rights human rights perpetrators in Guatemala are Barrios de Chamorro for her personal cour- abuses in Guatemala during the civil brought to justice, and none of these cases age and her commitment to democracy, war. Given our own shameful role in will be terminated or suspended under the am- which have helped her achieve a profound po- this conflict, this is the least we can do nesty provisions. litical and economic transition in the Repub- to support Guatemala's peace process. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to sup- lic of Nicaragua; Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I join my col- (3) encourages all Nicaraguans to work to- port this resolution today, but I also urge the gether after taking this critical step on the leagues in urging the adoption of House Con- Guatemalan Government to be certain that long road to lasting peace and democracy; current Resolution 17 congratulating the peo- human rights violators are sought out and (4) recognizes that all Nicaraguans should ple of Guatemala on the success of the recent punished to the fullest extent of the law. continue to work together in order to ensure negotiations to establish a peace process for Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield a stable democracy, respect for human Guatemala. This is an important statement of back the balance of my time. rights, a free and market-oriented economy, congressional support and the people of Gua- Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield and social justice for all people; temala should know of our interest and con- back the balance of my time. (5) reaffirms the commitment of the Unit- cern and support for their efforts in the peace The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. ed States to help the Republic of Nicaragua move toward freedom and democracy; and process there. EWING). The question is on the motion (6) further reaffirms that the United States Mr. Speaker, I join in congratulating the offered by the gentleman from New is strongly committed to encouraging de- people of Guatemala on reaching a peaceful York [Mr. GILMAN] that the House sus- mocracy and peaceful development through- solution to the brutal civil war in which more pend the rules and agree to the concur- out the Western Hemisphere. than 100,000 people were killed over the past rent resolution (H. Con. Res. 17). The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- 36 years. In the violence, thousands of individ- The question was taken. ant to the rule the gentleman from March 5, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð HOUSE H733 New York [Mr. GILMAN] and the gen- is a lady who was not prepared for lead- Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the tleman from Indiana [Mr. HAMILTON] ership. Her husband had been trag- gentleman from New York [Mr. ACKER- each will control 20 minutes. ically assassinated there.
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