Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 409) condemning the Government of Zimbabwe's ``Operation Murambatsvina'' under which homes, businesses, religious structures, and other buildings and facilities were demolished in an effort characterized by the Government of Zimbabwe as an operation to ``restore order'' to the country, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I begin by commending the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for crafting and authoring this resolution. It is very timely and extremely important, given the events in Zimbabwe. I would like to point out that H. Res. 409 condemns the government of Zimbabwe for its horrendous abuses of civil and human rights of its citizens.

Zimbabwe is a Nation that even recently was an economic success, an example to other nations in Africa. However, the serious mismanagement of that country's economy has reduced the gross national income to levels last seen in 1953. Inflation in Zimbabwe today exceeds 500 percent.

When the government of Zimbabwe began its so-called Operation Murambatsvina on May 19, it was supposed to be a limited operation to end the parallel market but developed into the most destructive campaign that country has seen in its post-independence history. Months after this vicious

campaign, there are estimates of as many as 700,000 displaced persons, many of whom are living without food, water or shelter.

By all accounts, this operation has made existing social problems much worse. Nongovernmental organization representatives have told us that now there are 2 million widows, 1.5 million orphans, 500,000 children with only one surviving parent and 8,000 households headed by children.

While many still recall Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's critical role in winning independence for his country, we must hold him accountable for the devastation he has more recently brought upon his country's citizens, serious, serious crimes and human rights abuses. Whatever he has achieved in the past, he is furiously undoing his legacy in the present.

House Resolution 409, which received its due consideration by the House International Relations Committee, seeks to shed light on the profound suffering that this operation has brought and inflicted upon the people of Zimbabwe. It notes that, through this operation, the government of Mugabe has created a manmade humanitarian disaster of epic proportions, which has only compounded the existing human rights and economic crises in Zimbabwe.

It condemns President Mugabe's harassment of the United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe most recently by threatening his expulsion from the country and asserting that he could ``go to hell'' in response to the Ambassador's efforts to draw attention to the crisis in Zimbabwe.

H. Con. Res. 409 also states that the government of Zimbabwe has a duty to protect its people and calls on that government to immediately and aggressively implement policies to promote private sector development, create jobs and build housing to benefit those displaced by this operation.

It further asserts that, absent such meaningful corrective measures, President Mugabe's legacy will be defined by his responsibility for the ruinous policies and draconian laws that have brought untold suffering to his people and the near collapse of Zimbabwe as a nation.

Finally, the resolution calls on the International Monetary Fund to take further action against the government of Zimbabwe should it continue to fail to meet its obligations to the international community.

My subcommittee held a hearing on Zimbabwe's situation and the U.S. policy toward that country last April. We were dissatisfied with the state of U.S. engagement. Despite diligent State Department efforts, we still lack creative ways to address and resolve this crisis.

One of the problems in engaging the government is the failure to speak with a consistent voice. This resolution may seem harsh to some, but it does not even begin to touch what is really going on in that once prosperous nation.

Mr. Speaker, Greg Simpkins is the leader on the subcommittee of our Professional Staff, and he led a staff CODEL to Zimbabwe on July 1 through the 10th. He was joined by Dr. Pearl-Alice Marsh, Senior Professional Staff Member for the Committee, and they did an extraordinary job in gathering a tremendous amount of information about what has really gone on and what the crisis is all about. I submit herewith their staff report for inclusion in the Record.

Staffdel Simpkins Trip Report: Zimbabwe and South Africa

(By Gregory Simpkins)

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 409) commemorating the 60th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 409.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of this timely resolution honoring Thailand's long- serving monarch, who commands enormous popular respect and moral authority among the Thai people.

At the outset, I would like to express my appreciation to our distinguished ranking member, Mr. Lantos, as well as the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) for their assistance and support in crafting this measure.

As many Members are aware, Thailand is one of America's oldest and closest allies. Formal diplomatic relations extend back to the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between our two nations in 1833, during the Presidency of Andrew Jackson. Since then, Thailand has been a steadfast friend and ally. Thai King Mongkut offered President Lincoln elephants to use in battle during the Civil War, and Thai troops fought alongside American soldiers in World War I, Korea, and Vietnam. Since 9/11, Thailand has provided overflight rights and access to facilities to facilitate U.S. and coalition efforts in Afghanistan, sent an engineering battalion to help rebuild Bagram airfield, and deployed nearly 500 troops to provide reconstruction and medical assistance in Iraq. President Bush recognized the importance of our alliance when he designated Thailand as a major nonNATO ally in 2003.

Thailand and the United States also share robust commercial ties, with two-way trade totaling a little over $21 billion and cumulative U.S. investment in Thailand of over $20 billion. Our cultural and people-to-people ties are extensive and multifaceted, including more than 10,000 Thai students in institutions of learning in the United States. Indeed, our people-to-people ties even extend to His Majesty the King, who was born nearly 80 years ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where his father was studying medicine at the Harvard Medical School.

Our two people also forged common bonds during times of tragedy; Americans will never forget the astounding generosity of the Thai people in assisting foreign survivors of the terrible tsunami of 2004, despite suffering devastating losses of their own.

The tie that has been developed between the Thai people and the families from abroad who lost their fathers and mothers, sons and daughters while guests in Thailand during one of nature's most extraordinary acts, has solidified in mutual respect and humanitarian appreciation.

As a congressional visitor in the wake of the tsunami, I could not have been more impressed with the thoughtfulness of the Thai government, and the stories of Thai goodwill extended to those who lost their loved ones.

America and Thailand share many common vested interests and values, including a belief in democracy and human rights. Thailand enjoys a well-deserved reputation for tolerance, religious freedom and civil liberties. During the reign of the King, Thailand has become a democratically governed constitutional monarchy. Indeed, since 1992, there have been more than half a dozen national multiparty elections, which transferred power to successive governments through peaceful, democratic processes.

In this context, while the King has circumscribed constitutional powers, he also exerts strong informal influence, which he has used from time to time to resolve political disputes that jeopardize national stability.

In closing, I would note that the resolution before us is being amended to reflect the fact that late last month, Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented the United Nations first Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award to the King, hailing the Thai monarch's efforts to help the poorest and most vulnerable people in his kingdom as an example for the world.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my dear colleague and chairman of the Asia Pacific Subcommittee on International Relations, the distinguished gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), for his authorship of this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, as the world's oldest democracy, the American Government rarely takes the time to mark important events in the lives of the world's few remaining monarchs. The key decisions affecting the livelihood of nations and the stability of the world system are made in the halls of parliaments and in the offices of presidents and prime ministers around the world.

But a handful of the world's monarchs continue to play a critically important role in the lives of their nations, and are worthy of our praise and admiration. The King of Thailand is just such a monarch.

As Thailand celebrates the 60th anniversary of the King's ascension to the throne, it is important to remember the King's many contributions to the prosperity and stability of our closest ally in Southeast Asia.

While Thailand is governed by democratically elected parliament and prime minister, the King has kept a firm hand on the tiller of the nation.

After a military coup in 1992 in which hundreds of Thai citizens were killed in the streets of Bangkok, the King summoned the general to a nationally televised audience. The Thai people watched as the general crawled across a carpet to the feet of the monarch where he was promptly upbraided for his actions which threatened the stability of the nation. The general promptly resigned and democracy was restored.

Just over the past few months the King again has played an important role in resolving a political crisis which had led to large street demonstrations in Bangkok. After strong words from the King, Thailand's judiciary moved to approve a new round of national elections in which all of the major political parties will participate.

The King's ability to influence the outcome of these two events is directly related to the enormous esteem in

which he is held by the good people of Thailand. The Thais, from all walks of life, greatly respect and admire the King and give much credence to his words as well as his actions.

Thailand's democratic development under the King's leadership has greatly enhanced U.S.-Thai relations. Our two nations remain treaty allies, and Thailand was designated as a major non-NATO ally in 2003.

Mr. Speaker, Thailand also made significant contributions to the reconstruction of Afghanistan and Iraq and has participated in many vital United Nations peacekeeping missions. Economic ties between the United States and Thailand have also grown significantly over the past decade.

With the passage of this resolution, Congress not only commemorates the 60th anniversary of the King's ascension to the throne, it also celebrates the strength of the U.S.-Thai relationship and Thailand's many contributions to regional and international security.

It has been my personal experience also, you know who your friends are, and I remember this as a Vietnam veteran, Thailand was there and stood with us.

It might also be of interest to our colleagues, it so happens that the number one golfer in the world's mother is from Thailand, Mr. Tiger Woods.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I know that our relationship between our two nations could not be closer. And again, I commend the gentleman from Iowa for introducing this resolution.

I also want to commend the chairman of our committee, Mr. Hyde, and our senior ranking member, Mr. Lantos, for their support and leadership in bringing this resolution to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. LANTOS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, as the sponsor of this resolution, I would first like to express my appreciation to Chairman Henry Hyde for his strong support for this measure and for his help in getting it to the floor. I also wish to thank my colleagues for their cosponsorship and concerns expressed for the people of Zimbabwe.

Mr. Speaker, for over two decades, the United States has tried to influence the government of Zimbabwe in the right direction. Many in this body supported the liberation of Zimbabwe from the oppressive, colonial rule of Ian Smith's Rhodesia.

And for years after independence, Zimbabwe's political leaders made great progress for their people in education, economic development, and agricultural production. Until a few years ago, Zimbabwe was considered the breadbasket of southern Africa.

But, Mr. Speaker, all of that changed in 2000 when President Robert Mugabe and his party realized they were losing their monopoly on political power, and changed from being a government of liberation to one of tyranny and ruthless oppression.

In 2001, Congress passed the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act establishing sanctions on specific individuals who had grossly mismanaged the Zimbabwean economy, instituted draconian legislation in opposition to the rule of law, and used violence to suppress civil society and political opponents during their elections.

In that legislation, Mr. Speaker, we also provided incentives for Zimbabwe's leaders to return to the rule of law, to create new political space, and to pursue economic policies that would benefit their citizens.

Instead of responding to our incentives, conditioned only on their respect for the rule of law and economic common sense, Zimbabwe's leadership lashed out even more strongly against its own citizens.

Mr. Speaker, the event this past spring, called ``Operation `Throw Out the Trash','' by the Mugabe regime, has taken the government of Zimbabwe to a new low. When a government begins to describe its own citizens as ``trash,'' it has lost its sense of purpose and become an enemy to its people.

Mr. Speaker, I have monitored carefully the situation in Zimbabwe and want to share with you some of the devastation documented by the United Nations, our own Agency for International Development, and Zimbabwean human rights organizations.

First, Operation ``Throw Out the Trash'' occurred as the Zimbabwean economy is in a chronic state of decline. Inflation is well over 300 percent. At a time when 70 percent of Zimbabweans are unemployed, food for a family of six can increase by 160 percent in one month alone. Compounding these economic woes is the HIV/AIDS crisis. Mr. Speaker, one-quarter of Zimbabweans is infected with HIV/AIDS.

With complete disregard for the suffering of its people, the Mugabe's regime launched ``Operation Throw Out the Trash'' on May 25, 2005, and within a few weeks, displaced 700,000 individuals from their homes or businesses or both, and indirectly affected 2.4 million people. Of the 700,000 directly displaced, an estimated 172,200 were living with HIV/

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 409, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej ascended the throne on June 9, 1946 and is the longest-serving monarch in the world.

His Majesty King Bhumibol will receive a special Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award from the United Nations Development Agency for his dedication to social justice, growth with equity, human security, democratic governance, and sustainability.

During his reign, Thailand has become a constitutional democracy in which Thai citizens enjoy the right to change their government through periodic free and fair elections held on the basis of universal suffrage.

His Majesty King Bhumibol has always enjoyed a special relationship with the United States, having been born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where his father, Prince Mahidol of Songkla was studying medicine.

The United States and Thailand have enjoyed over 170 years of friendship since the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce in 1833, the first such treaty signed between the United States and any Asian country, and on December 30, 2003, President George W. Bush designated the Kingdom of Thailand as a major non-NATO ally.

Mr. Speaker, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has proudly led the people of Thailand for 60 years. I rise today to offer congratulations to His Majesty King Bhumibol and best wishes for continued health and prosperity to his Majesty and the Kingdom of Thailand as we continue the historic friendship between the Thai and American people.