Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Reverend David K. Brawley for his spiritual guidance and dedication to improving our community.

Rev. Brawley cultivated a relationship with God's Word when he was quite young. At the age of sixteen, he responded to God's will and was ordained by Rev. Winfred Pippen. He became the youth minister at First Baptist Church of Deer Park, New York, where he maintained his membership for thirteen years.

Rev. Brawley began his full time career in the ministry in 1994 at St. Paul Community Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York. An integral part of church leadership, Rev. Brawley is the coordinator for the Men- in-Training for

the Board of Elders, and an on-call teacher to the congregation. Currently serving as the assistant pastor, Rev. Brawley is the principal assistant to senior pastor Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood in a variety of capacities such as pastoral counseling, officiating at sacred events such as weddings, baby dedications and funerals, leading worship services, teaching and community organizing.

In particular, Rev. Brawley's organizing efforts play a dynamic role in the church's community development activities. He is a member of the Governance Board of East Brooklyn Congregations (EBC) and the EBC Strategy Team. In his position at EBC, Rev. Brawley has been an outspoken advocate for public school reform, and has addressed issues such as public safety, housing and quality of life concerns on behalf of neighborhood residents. Rev. Brawley's community involvement also encompasses his role as Vice President of EDIFY Communities of East New York. EDIFY seeks to increase the vitality and value of urban communities by pooling resources and charitable funds.

In October 2004, Rev. Brawley joined the ranks of distinguished alumni of the Faith Seminary in Tacoma, Washington, having earned his Master's degree in Theological Studies. Rev. Brawley plans to continue his studies at Faith and plans to obtain a Doctor of Ministry degree.

As Rev. Brawley contemplates the growth of ministry, his four priorities are creating a vibrant worship experience, edifying God's people, community organizing, and economic development. As a pastor, Rev. Brawley possesses the gifts of exhortation, inspiration, motivation and encouragement. He shares these gifts not only in worship services, but also with the community in a variety of venues, such as men's conferences, revivals and youth groups. Rev. Brawley resides in Brooklyn, New York with his wife Debra and their two children, Rhonesha and Michael.

Mr. Speaker, Reverend David K. Brawley has been a leader in our community through his spiritual guidance at St. Paul Community Baptist Church and consistent efforts to improve the schools, housing and overall quality of life in Brooklyn. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Milton Marshall in recognition of his service to New York City and his country.

Milton was born and raised in Harlem, New York; he is the brother of two younger sisters Arnelle, a New York City police officer, and Patricia. After graduating high school, Milton served 4 years in the United States Air Force. Milton married his wife, Marjorie and became the proud father of three beautiful children: Eric, Cheryl, and Deborah. He is also the grandfather of Kimberly, Gregory, Cherenia, and Kortaney. He received his associate degree in applied science from New York University.

Milton has proudly served his country and has been recognized accordingly for his efforts. He worked for 22 years with the New York State Labor Department as a veterans service representative. In recognition of his work, Milton received an award from Mayor James Garner of the Village of Hempstead for dedicated service to veterans. He also received a certificate of appreciation from Governor Mario Cuomo, and a certificate from the United States Department of Labor for completing the NVTI Veterans Benefits Training Course at the University of Denver.

Milton is a valuable community activist. He served as a Prince Hall Mason in 1980 and Senior Warden of Lebanon Lodge #54. He is a Past High Priest of Royal Eagle Chapter #27 Holy Royal Arch Mason. He served as Illustrious Commander in Chief for 2 years (L.I. Consistory #61). Milton served as the Past Illustrious Potentate of Abu Bekr Temple #91, and as the Past President of the Long Island Shrine Club.

Mr. Speaker, Milton Marshall has dedicated his life to serving his country and his community through his active participation in a vast array of civic organizations. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of New Lots Community Church in Brooklyn, NY, in commemoration of its 180th anniversary and spiritual leadership in the community.

Around 1667, the area of New Lots, originally known as Eastwoods, was reportedly purchased by the Dutch from the Canarsie or the Rockaway Indians. The town of New Lots extended from what is now Highland Park on the north to Jamaica Bay on the south and from Rockaway Avenue on the west to Elderts Lane on the east. During the early years of the settlement, the most important highway in the area was the New Lots Road frequently noted in historical accounts of the Revolutionary War. In all this vast acreage of New Lots, there was no church. The residents had to travel by horse and wagon to Flatlands or Flatbush churches for services, marriages, and baptisms.

New Lots was part of a collegium of six churches sharing a ministry: Flatbush, Flatlands, Brooklyn, New Utrech, Bushwick, and Gravesend. These churches are still part of the Brooklyn Classis. An elder and deacon from New Lots served on the Collegiate Consistory. Consistory meetings consisted of one minister serving six churches with a widely scattered membership. Rev. Malcom Evens in his historical sketch written for the 140th Anniversary Celebration retells how New Lots was built. In 1821 an ``Act of God,'' as hurricanes are often called, hastened a decision by the residents of New Lots to build their own church. The hurricane toppled many oak trees. The Dutch, noted for being a frugal and prudent people, accepted God's gift of lumber. After the wood had seasoned for about a year and a half, they began to cut, hew and saw the trees in preparation for building their house of worship. Abraham and Cornelia Van Siclen deeded over to the building committee one-quarter acre of land on New Lots and Schenck Avenue. In 1832 a fundraiser was held and volunteer workers and well wishers came from near and far. Through the united efforts of the congregation, this House of God was reportedly built for somewhere between $25 to $35. This small colonial clapboard structure, unique in New York, was designated an official city landmark in 1966.

Wooden pegs secure this building of colonial architecture with timber notched and joined. It stands today as a tribute to the soundness of the craftsmanship of the Dutch people. In 1972, in order to meet the growing needs of the community, the church built the educational complex next door--The New Lots Family Center. Within the last year and a half an entire renovation of the Family Center was undertaken. Over the years, the church building began to lean and a large wooden truss broke in the ceiling. In 1990, the congregation was compelled to vacate the sanctuary and have worship in the New Lots Family Center until repairs could be made. Upon completion of the renovations, the sanctuary was rededicated in 1991.

The original and official name is the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the town of New Lots. However over the years, the church has gone through several name changes. In the early 1980s, the church obtained the current name of the New Lots Community Church, R.C.A. to be used as an assumed name. Today within these hallow walls, sons and daughters of slaves boldly bear witness to God's Amazing Grace. In 1975, the Rev. Dennis A. Westbrook became the first African American pastor of New Lots Community Church, R.C.A. In 1979, the Rev. Dr. William T. Coles became the second African American pastor of this great historic church. He labored in the vineyard for 20 years ministering to members, friends, and the community of New Lots Community Church. In 2002, the Rev. De'Lafayette Awkward became the third African American pastor. Under his leadership, the church is currently embarking on new and exciting ministries. New Lots Community Church has always been a beacon of hope in the community and remains actively involved in the community as they continue to strive for excellence in their mission to win souls.

Mr. Speaker, New Lots Community Church has been a source of community and spiritual leadership in Brooklyn for 180 years. As such, it is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable church and its congregation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw your attention to a shift in U.S. military strategy towards Latin America that has largely gone unnoticed. In the last few years the nation has been increasingly preoccupied with fighting terrorism, and defense and budgetary appropriations have overwhelmingly focused on the Middle East. Yet the U.S. Southern Command (SouthCom), encompassing the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and parts of the Atlantic Ocean and monitoring 33 countries to our south, has quietly expanded its traditional counter- narcotics mission to that of counter-terrorism operations. All of this is occurring in a region more or less devoid of the fundamentalist Islamic terrorists currently

threatening America. This change in approach has gone so far as to redefine terrorism, with drug-runners being termed ``narco- terrorists.'' As a result, the U.S. is subsequently increasing its assistance to Latin American militaries. Since many nations in the region are young and relatively fragile democracies, their strengthened armies have raised fears about a possible reemergence of limits on free speech, human rights violations or even a return to military governments.

The following research memorandum about Washington's post-transition political and economic strategy for the region was authored by Eleanor Thomas and Lindsay Thomas, research associates at the Washington-based Council on Hemispheric Affairs. The Washington-based Council on Hemispheric Affairs, founded in 1975, is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan, tax-exempt research and information organization. It has been described on the Senate floor as being ``one of the nation's most respected bodies of scholars and policy makers.''

U.S. Southern Command (SouthCom) Struggles to Justify Its Role in the

War on Terror

This analysis was prepared by Eleanor Thomas and Lindsay Thomas, COHA

Research Associates.

After decades of U.S. meddling in the Western hemisphere in

the course of its Cold War crusade and subsequent War on

Drugs, Washington has found a new justification for its

heavy-handed intervention in the region. While there is

little evidence that the rest of the hemisphere is a breeding

ground for anti-American terrorist networks, the U.S.

Southern Command (SouthCom) is attempting to promote such a

misinterpretation to further its own self-serving agenda and

above all, to guarantee its funding. Under its current

commander, General James Hill, SouthCom has linked drug

trafficking and armed leftist Latin American political

movements to terrorist threats against U.S. national

security. By extending the definition of terrorism to cover

every bellicose act, the White House has rendered the term

practically meaningless; it has become the definition du jour

to provide Washington with an opportunity to continue its

interventionist tactics based upon its antiterrorist crusade.

Terrorism Discovered

Two years ago, SouthCom received Congressional approval for

a ``mission expansion.'' Previously largely limited to

counter-narcotics activities and the promotion of ``regional

cooperation,'' its duties are now increasingly being framed

within the War on Terror. According to Lisa Haugaard,

Executive Director of the Latin American Working Group,

SouthCom is ``clearly using rhetoric to justify [its]

budgets.'' In November, General Hill will relinquish his

command to Lieutenant General Bantz J. Craddock, but not

before ensuring that SouthCom remains at the forefront of

Washington's War on Terror. Through the distortion of the

definition of terrorism, the term has become little more than

a rhetorical device. By invoking the word ``terrorism'' on

Capitol Hill, General Hill and his successor are pursuing

additional resources for future expanded military initiatives

that will likely strengthen Latin American military

establishments, which are too often infamous for their long

records of violent oppression during the 1970s and 1980s.

This maneuvering can be seen as a purely self-interested

tactic that will stress the importance of Latin American

armed forces throughout the region.

A New Twist to a Familiar Mission

Since September 11, 2001, national defense priorities and

budgetary appropriations have concentrated on U.S. concerns

in the Middle East. SouthCom's area of responsibility--

encompassing all of Central and South America and the

Caribbean--has remained of secondary importance as Washington

has increasingly defined its international strategy according

to the War on Terror. With al Qaeda seen as the gravest

threat to U.S. national security, and with Latin America

seemingly not a major claimant to such terrorist cells,

aside from the tri-border area, SouthCom's operations are

not a priority for the Pentagon. Perhaps because of this

reduced role, Congress in 2002 granted SouthCom approval

to expand its mission priorities. Military aid and

training in Latin America, which previously were focused

on counter-narcotics operations, have now been re-tasked

as counter-terrorism responsibilities. Preying on the

terrorist fears that are currently dominating Washington's

defense plan, SouthCom claims that it is now pursuing

narcoterrorists to justify its expanded congressionally-

approved budget.

redefining terrorism

SouthCom's new shift towards terrorism is more ominous than

it first appears. In March, General Hill gave his annual

report on SouthCom's activities before the House Armed

Services Committee. According to his testimony, the commander

reported that the U.S. must be alert to two ``growing

threats'' to national security: the ``traditional'' danger of

``narcoterrorists and their ilk,'' and the ``emerging''

menace of ``radical populism'' that taps into the ``deep-

seated frustrations of the failure of democratic reforms.''

Hill's somewhat skewed assessment of the Latin American

situation suggests that ultimately any political opposition,

arguably a necessary element in any healthy democracy, can be

seen as a threat to American national security. The Bush

administration over the past years has instructed its

ambassadors to Bolivia, Nicaragua and El Salvador to inform

local authorities that although Washington respects free

elections, it will not necessarily respect electoral results

if the ``wrong'' people are elected. Former SouthCom

commander General Charles Wilhelm told COHA that while ``I

don't think any Latin American countries pose a specific

threat... there is a threat to the U.S. if existing

democracies are being undermined.'' However, by

characterizing the region's struggles for social and economic

equality as threats to U.S. security, SouthCom not only could

be viewed as erroneously dismissing the importance of such

movements, but could also divert attention away from the

actual terrorist threats currently directed at the U.S.

southcom's history of counter operations

SouthCom's official priorities have historically ranged

from ``counter-drug operations'' and ``engineering and

medical exercises'' to ``security assistance'' and

``military-to-military contact.'' By aiming to strengthen

militaries in the region, SouthCom under Hill has left behind

a controversial legacy in Latin America. General Hill's

recommendations to Congress and Lieutenant General Craddock's

statements during his Senate confirmation hearing showed a

firm commitment to ``maintain and broaden our consistent

military-to-military contacts as a means of irrevocably

institutionalizing the professional nature of those

militaries with which we have worked so closely over the past

several decades.''

Because U.S. law prohibits the direct training of foreign

armed forces, the U.S. military's involvement in such matters

is often classified as ``security assistance.'' However,

there are no safeguards in place to ensure that the Pentagon

provides Congress with detailed information regarding its

participation in current military-to-military interaction.

Nor does Congress hold SouthCom closely accountable for its

commitment to instruct Latin American militaries in the

institutionalization of respect for human rights. It was

this existing accountability loophole throughout the 1970s

and 1980s that allowed the Pentagon, through the infamous

School of the Americas as well as bilateral SouthCom

missions, to both directly and covertly train the

commanders of the death squads associated with Argentina's

``dirty war'' and the brutal contra campaigns that

oppressed Nicaragua's civilian population during that

country's unforgiving conflict.

The strengthening of Latin American armed forces to more

effectively control drug trafficking, gang violence and so-

called political insurgents has recently been used to justify

SouthCom's new terrorism priorities. This could create a

dangerous precedent for the reemergence of the de facto

limits on free speech, human rights violations or even a

return to the grim days of military rule that so traumatized

the region in recent decades. Although violent crime plagues

much of Latin America, defining it as a U.S. national

security concern, and therefore justifiable as a valid

SouthCom mission, will only continue the questionable trend

of expanding U.S. military aid, cooperation and training

throughout the hemisphere. While many Latin American

militaries are still struggling to overcome the bitter

effects and damaged reputations resulting from decades of

human rights abuses and institutionalized corruption, it may

be dangerous to instruct them in anti-terror tactics that

could later be used to suppress their own citizens. Without a

well-established commitment to protecting civil rights and

proper limitations on the autonomy of military institutions,

any renewed U.S. effort to fund and train rogue militaries

could lead to an expansion of their power and an abuse of

their authority, which could hinder the democratic process.

Moreover, some Latin American nations have not yet reached a

level of political maturation nor have maintained a

commitment to democratic principles that are necessary to

ensure such abuse will not occur.

colombia--latin america's supposed terrorist hotbed

According to General Hill, the ``narcoterrorists in

Colombia remain the largest and most well known threat in our

region.'' However, Hill fails to support this claim that

narcoterrorists pose such a direct security threat to the

U.S. In fact, the term narcoterrorist, while full of

threatening implications, is rarely clearly defined by the

U.S. government and its military agencies. At his

confirmation hearing, Lieutenant General Craddock did attempt

to define the highly dubious concept: ``the terms insurgents

or guerrillas are less applicable today than in the past. I

believe the term narcoterrorists is more appropriate, given

the fact that the center of gravity for these groups is the

incredible financial support they get from illicit drug

trafficking.'' The lack of clarity in Craddock's explanation

inadvertently reveals how SouthCom arbitrarily reclassified

the country's leftist armed political opposition, denominated

as guerrillas during the Cold War and drug traffickers in the

1990s, as a blanket terrorist threat. In an attempt to link

the situation in Colombia to Washington's global mission,

Craddock explained, ``supporting the government of Colombia's

efforts to defeat illicit narco-trafficking also directly

supports the

global War on Terror.'' This assertion is a convenient

attemot to validate this new allusion without any supporting

evidence. The government's arbitrary use of inflammatory

language and its efforts to rationalize Washington's

allocation of $1.5 billion for Plan Colombia have failed to overcome its

disappointing achievements in the War on Terror as

Colombia had played no part in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

For the past four years, the U.S. government has funded

Plan Colombia as part of a patently ineffective War on Drugs.

Even the head of the White House Office of National Drug

Control Policy John Walters, upon returning from a recent

South American visit, reported that Washington's anti-drug

strategy has failed.

Despite SouthCom's dubious reports of its strategy's

success, Plan Colombia's failures are numerous. Colombia's

supply and the U.S.' demand for drugs remain essentially

unchanged. While U.S. armed forces are already overextended,

SouthCom is now seeking to further involve U.S. military

personnel in Colombia's protracted civil war by requesting an

increase from 400 to 800 military officers and from 400 to

600 private contractors allowed to be present in the country.

Critics contend that the now militarized Plan Colombia has

failed to effectively address the country's armed forces'

proclivity for human rights violations. Additionally, in its

own annual human rights report, the State Department has

maintained that the U.S.-trained Colombian military continues

to associate with illegal rightwing paramilitary groups--

Colombia's prime human rights violators. This subject is

continually under-addressed in SouthCom's public statements.

Following in the footsteps of the U.S. Patriot Act, the

Colombian Congress has passed anti-terror legislation that

allows the military to arbitrarily conduct searches and tap

the telephones of citizens without a warrant. U.S. support,

along with high funding for Colombia, has contributed to a

flawed domestic policy in the South American country. The

latest attempts to recast the nation's perpetual unrest as a

terrorism problem that threatens U.S. national security not

only represents little regard for the facts and a twisting of

reality, but is simply the latest stage in the repeating of a

foreign policy project that has never worked.

guantanamo bay--southCom's contribution to the war on terror

SouthCom's insistence that it is engaged in responsible

security practices and upholds human rights values awaits

final judgment, especially considering its jurisdiction over

the terrorist detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Since

its creation as a prison facility in 2002, Camp X-ray has

faced consistent criticism from groups such as Amnesty

International (AI) which claim U.S. officials have sanctioned

illegal practices at the facility. Prisoner testimony and

photographs have established that suspected al Qaeda

detainees have been held without trial or proper legal

representation and may have suffered some of the same torture

tactics that took place at the now infamous Abu Ghraib prison

in Iraq. AI alleged in its report that ``despite public

commitments to the humane treatment of detainees, it

subsequently has been revealed that the U.S. administration's

decision not to apply provisions of the Geneva Conventions to

those being held in Guantanamo may have been motivated by a

desire to apply harsher interrogation techniques than it

perceived would be allowed under the Geneva Conventions.''

Though SouthCom officers may be just one link in the chain of

command, the detention facility is ultimately located within

its region of responsibility. While SouthCom continues to

lobby Congress for increased funding, Camp X-ray remains a

glaring black mark that contrasts with SouthCom's

professed support for legal procedures and human rights

practices.

finding the causes, not just the terrorists

In the tumultuous history of U.S.-Latin American relations,

Washington has developed a strategy wherein various political

and military means have been used to deal with a range of

challenges and security threats posed by its southern

neighbors. As the world leader in the war on Communism, the

United States carried out regime change in Latin America with

singular tenacity. This included the training of the

Nicaraguan contras, the support of brutal dictatorships in

Guatemala, the endorsement of General Augusto Pinochet's

repressive regime in Chile, and the backing of the

particularly savage Argentina military junta after it came to

power in 1976.

In an attempt to adapt to its post-9/11 anti-terrorism

focus, the U.S. has amalgamated drug trafficking and

``radical populism'' into its terrorist fighting tactics.

This has been particularly evident in its policy formulations

regarding Colombia, Bolivia and Venezuela. While the previous

eras, inspired first by the Cold War and then by the War on

Drugs, turned out to be based on a very sketchy rationale,

they were more solidly rooted than the current War on Terror.

Domestic conflicts throughout Latin America do not arise out

of thin air. The urgent social conditions and volatile

political environs that went unacknowledged by the U.S. in

previous decades account for the instability that the region

is currently experiencing. The causative agents behind the

new threat of terrorism are no different. As the Latin

American Working Group argues in its report on terrorism,

``while law enforcement action against terrorists is

essential, the most sustainable way to combat broader support

for terrorist activities is to address the conditions that

foster it--poverty, lack of social and economic development,

and undemocratic and repressive regimes that leave their

citizens scant hope of bettering their lives, and hence open

space for those offering extreme alternatives.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw your attention to the wave of criminal violence, much of it targeting women and children, now engulfing America's neighbors in Central America. In Guatemala, human rights organizations have recorded an appalling 16,788 violent crimes between January and June of this year and report that one woman is murdered every day in a country smaller than the state of Tennessee. Unfortunately, violence is hardly a recent development in Guatemala, where citizens and leaders continue to grapple with a legacy of fifty years of political violence and humanitarian atrocities during the Cold War era that claimed more than 200,000 innocent lives.

Sadly, Guatemala's recently elected President Oscar Berger has been able to do little to curb the violent crime threatening his people or to punish those responsible for past human rights violations. Ironically, Berger has had to rely upon those very human rights violators still serving in the police and military to combat the current wave of violent crime. The frustration of the Guatemalan people with the ineffectiveness of their new leader in addressing the situation was painfully evident in the massive demonstrations in Guatemala City last August to protest the growing tide of criminal violence. The violence now plaguing Guatemala and other Central American countries should be of great interest to this congress because, as law and order deteriorate in the region, many Central Americans, out of desperation, will seek refuge abroad, with many immigrating illegally to the United States.

The following research memorandum about the criminal violence which plagues Guatemala was authored by Eleanor Thomas, a British research associate at the Washington-based Council on Hemispheric Affairs, an independent, non-profit, non partisan, tax-exempt research and information organization founded in 1975. It has been described on the Senate floor as being ``one of the nation's most respected bodies of scholars and policy makers.''

Guatemalans Speak Out Against Violence

On August 13, over 12,000 people took to the streets of

Guatemala City to protest the horrific wave of violent crime

currently engulfing the country. The march was organized by

the Human Rights Protector's Office (PDH) and supported by

560 of the country's civil associations. PDH Director, Dr.

Sergio Morales, said in an interview with COHA that the main

purpose of the march was to draw attention to the ``plight of

women and children'' who have been the most severely affected

by the violence. The march in Guatemala built upon similar

demonstrations in Argentina, where 130,000 people took to the

streets in April to petition Congress for stiffer penalties

against criminals. Mexico City also witnessed at least

300,000 people march through the capital protesting the high

levels of violent crime and kidnapping that have plagued the

country in recent months. The overriding message to come out

of the march in Guatemala is that newly-elected President

Oscar Berger must take bigger steps to tackle the endemic

problem of violence that could swamp the country's most vital

institutions if redress is not achieved.

Skyrocketing Levels of Violent Crime

Violent crime rates in Guatemala have risen to astronomical

levels. According to the PDH, there have been 16,788

incidents of violence between January and June of this year,

15 percent more than the 14,606 cases recorded during the

same period last year. Of this total, 1,662 people have been

shot, 254 have been stabbed and 108 murdered with blunt

instruments; there were also 43 strangulations and five

lynchings. While an international outcry was mounted over the

infamous murders of 300 women in the last decade in Ciudad

Juarez, Mexico, little attention is paid to the fact that one

woman is murdered every day in Guatemala.

To strike a sardonic note, in the same month that the PDH

announced these hideous statistics, Guatemala celebrated the

50th anniversary of the CIA-sponsored invasion that ousted

democratically-elected Jacabo Arbenz president. This wanton

act of intervention on Washington's part plunged Guatemala

into a bloody civil war that pitched government forces

against guerrilla commandos, resulting in the brutal murders

and disappearances of more than 200,000 people over the

decades. The impact of the war was so extensive that it

militarized every aspect of society. Despite the arrival of a

nominal peace agreement in 1996 with the UN-peace accords,

the country has struggled to deal with its oppressive

violence. Alfonso Portillo (2000-04), the first to be elected

president after the peace accords, paid little better than

lip service to the accords while allowing impunity to reign

and endemic corruption to flourish, especially when it came

to the special treatment he afforded the country's most

notorious human rights violator, the infamous General Rios

Montt.

New President, But No New Solutions

When President Berger took office on January 14, a new

opportunity for peace and reconciliation seemed to present

itself. During his election campaign, Berger portrayed

himself as a man firmly committed to democratizing Guatemala.

He pledged to fight crime, corruption and poverty and to

apply the still dormant provisions of the peace accord.

However, since taking office, his policies have been

somewhat less than coherent.

The cornerstone of his reforms has been a commitment to

implementing the international community's recommendations;

especially those aimed at reducing the size of the military,

the institution that was responsible for many of the worst

human rights atrocities during the country's 36-year-long

civil war. Although Berger was seen as substantially reducing

the military from 27,000 to 15,500 active members as well as

spearheading a campaign to close 13 of the country's 60

military bases, these statistics are somewhat misleading.

While his moves to demilitarize the country generated

immediate praise from the international community, Marvin

Perez of the Rigoberta Menchu Foundation asserted that more

than 6,000 of these soldiers never actually existed. They

were ``ghost soldiers,'' the result of creative auditing by

the previous administration to siphon money away from the

government for alleged salaries and food parcels for senior

personnel. Moreover, of the remaining 5,663 soldiers who

agreed to take early retirement, 99 percent were infantry

recruits. This means that the high-ranking members of the

officer corps--those who were subsequently found responsible

for 93 percent of the atrocities committed during the civil

war--are likely to still be on active duty.

Unsuccessful Plan of Attack

Berger's latest plan to stop the wave of violence has been

to triple the number of soldiers and police officers on joint

patrol in danger zones termed ``red areas.'' Yet, the plan

only makes it more likely that those who are now patrolling

Guatemala's streets are the same military personnel who

raped, tortured and murdered some 200,000 people during the

civil war.

At a recent meeting in Washington, Vice President Eduardo

Stein told COHA that the reason violent crime has reached a

``level never seen before was because organized crime was

reacting very violently against the reforms the government

has enacted.'' Yet placing the blame on organized crime is

too simplistic an answer to a complex question. Senior

officials in the army and police force stand accused not only

of being involved in this crime network, but of actually

orchestrating criminal activities. If the government intends

to blame today's increasing violence in Guatemalan society on

shadowy networks of crime cartels, it must be willing to

accept the involvement of its own functionaries in the

country's burgeoning law and order calamity. Guatemala's

historic tradition of violence will not be solved by simply

increasing the presence of security forces on the streets.

The problems are rooted too deeply in Guatemalan society for

such superficial measures alone to be truly effective.

Looking to the future

Berger is clearly vulnerable in the eyes of the Guatemalan

population. His public approval rating has slipped from 83

percent (the level recorded at the time of his inauguration)

to 48 percent according to the latest CID-Gallup poll

published in El Periodico. This is further compunded by the

significant protest of thousands of anti-government

marchers--it is clear that Berger must take more assertive

acton if he wants to retain the populace's backing.

If the president wants to combat the situation, he must

create an environment where every Guatemalan is equal in the

eyes of the law. He needs to purge the military of not simply

infantry soldiers, but also of those officers of superior

rank who, as junior officers, planned and carried out

unspeakable atrocities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Sonny Hall, the President of Transport Workers Union of America International, in commemoration of his 50 years of dedicated service to the union.

As the International President of TWU, Sonny Hall represents more than 110,000 men and women employed in the nation's transportation and allied industries. Hall was elected to this post at the Unions 19th Constitutional Convention in October 1993. Previously Sonny had served as President of TWU Local 100, the largest local union of TWU, representing nearly 38,000 members who operate the New York City subway system and both public and private bus lines.

Sonny, served in virtually every union position from Shop Steward on up. He was named President of Local 100 in May, 1985 and subsequently elected to full three-year terms in December 1985, 1988 and 1991. He joined TWU in 1950 as a Bus Cleaner for the old Omnibus Corp. and became a Bus Operator in 1957. In between, he served tours of duty in both the Marines and the Army.

Mr. Hall was elected an International Vice President at TWUs 17th Constitutional Convention in September 1985. He was appointed Executive Vice President by the International Executive Council on January 9, 1989, and was elected to that post for a four-year term at the Unions 18th Constitutional Convention in October, 1989.

Sonny was elected Secretary-Treasurer to the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department in 1995 and President of that organization in 1998. He was elected to the AFL-CIO's Executive Council at the Federation's Convention in October 1995. In addition to the aforementioned duties, Sonny is also a Board Member of the Mount Sinai Hospital Health and Safety Department; on the Board of Governors of the New York Chapter Arthritis Foundation, and the President's Advisory Council of the Deborah Heart and Lung Center of the Deborah Heart and Lung Foundation. He also serves as President of START (Safe Transit And Rail Transportation).

Sonny holds a B.A. from the Cornell Labor College and studied military and criminal law at the University of New Mexico. He is the son of a retired New York City Bus Operator, now deceased, who served the riding public for 30 years and was an early member of Local 100.

Mr. Speaker, after 50 years of dedicated service to the TWU, Sonny Hall is stepping down as International President of TWU. During this time, he has worked hard to improve the lives of TWU members, their members and all of organized labor. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the SPY Act, which would greatly improve the privacy of consumers' online computer use.

A lot of hard work has been put into this legislation. First and foremost, I would like to commend the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Bono), the primary sponsor of the bill. Without her hard work, insight and persistence on this issue, we would not be here today. As the primary Democratic sponsor, I have been proud to work with her on this bill, and I salute her for all her efforts.

I also want to commend the gentleman from Texas (Chairman Barton) for his strong commitment to this issue and leadership in getting our bill to the floor. I would like to thank the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Stearns), the gentleman from Michigan (Ranking Member Dingell), and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ranking Member Schakowsky), who have all made substantial contributions. I would also like to acknowledge all of the staff that have worked so hard to make this day a reality.

There is no debate that spyware is a serious problem, one that is growing and becoming more harmful every day. Spyware software, which is downloaded without the computer owner's knowledge, invades our privacy by recording and transmitting personal information, monitoring the Web sites we visit, or even stealing documents from our computers. Other programs hijack our computers by changing our home page or forcing us to click through multiple screens until we download a spyware program.

Today's legislation would give consumers new tools to prevent these harmful activities from happening. Under the bill, consumers would have to receive a clear and concise warning about the spyware program. Second, consumers would have to provide their affirmative consent before the program could operate on their computer. Finally, consumers must have the option to easily disable any harmful spyware program on their computer.

While some consumers may want to share their information to receive free games or other discount offers, all consumers have the right to make that choice. This legislation would help ensure that consumers who do not want these programs secretly operating in the background, recording personal information, are not on their computers.

Finally, Madam Speaker, any time we legislate on highly technical matters, there is always a danger in stifling innovation or making the use of legitimate software too burdensome. It is a very difficult tightrope to walk, but I think we have done an excellent job in walking that line. This bill addresses many of the concerns raised, while at the same time retaining meaningful notice and consent to protect consumers' privacy.

This is a classic example of what we can accomplish when we work together, and we have worked together to make this day a reality. Through much hard work, we have carefully crafted a strong, bipartisan consumer protection bill; and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation because it is needed and needed desperately.

Mr. Speaker, recently, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh spoke to the General Assembly of the United Nations. He was met with protests from Sikhs, Muslims, and other protestors.

Although Dr. Singh is a fine economist, his speech masked the reality of life in India. He spoke out against terrorism but he failed to note that India has inflicted a reign of terror on its people while sponsoring terrorism in the Pakistani province of Sindh, according to the January 2, 2002 issue of the Washington Times. He spoke of cooperation against poverty, ignoring the fact that 40 percent of the people in his country live on less than $2 per day and farmers in Punjab are forced to accept prices for their crops that provide them with a less than subsistence wage, forcing them to go deeply in debt to stay alive. He spoke of eliminating weapons of mass destruction but India started the nuclear competition in South Asia. He spoke of democracy while basic human rights are being violated. Over 52,000 Sikhs and tens of thousands of other minorities languish in Indian prisons as political prisoners. India has killed over 250,000 Sikhs, over 89,000 Kashmiris, over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, and tens of thousands of other minorities. Yet India continues to proclaim its democratic principles.

The irony is that India seeks a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. How can it be on the Security Council when it cannot live up to the most basic principles of freedom?

Mr. Speaker, it is time for the United States to take action. We must cut off our aid to India until it lets all people within its artificial borders be free. We must go on record in support of self-determination for the people of Kashmir, as India promised in 1948, and for all the other peoples seeking freedom, such as the Sikhs of Khalistan and the Christians of Nagaland, among others.

Mr. Speaker, the Council of Khalistan issued an excellent and informative press release on the protests against Dr. Singh. I am inserting it into the Record now for the information of my colleagues.

[From the Council of Khalistan, September 29, 2004

India Must Live by Principles of Democracy--Seeks UN Security Council

Seat But Violates Principles It Proclaims

As Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to the United

Nations General Assembly, Sikhs, Kashmiri Muslims, and other

oppressed minorities of South Asia gathered at the United

Nations Building in New York to protest his appearance. They

demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners,

the firing of Cabinet ministers who were involved in genocide

against Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, and other minorities, and

sovereignty for the peoples and nations of South Asia.

``If India seeks to be a permanent member of the Security

Council, it must learn to practice the principles of

democracy,'' said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the

Council of Khalistan, which leads the Sikh struggle for

freedom. ``In 1948, India demanded a free and fair plebiscite

in Kashmir. That plebiscite has never been held,'' he said.

``Similarly, India must grant self-determination to

Khalistan, Nagaland, and the other countries seeking their

independence,'' he said.

While Prime Minister Singh spoke of ``a world in which a

free people could together pursue a destiny of shared

prosperity,'' the farmers of Punjab are forced to accept less

than subsistence prices for their crops. Half the population

of India lives below the international poverty line. Dr.

Singh spoke of a global coalition against terrorism, but his

government gives only lip service to the War on Terror. India

sponsors cross-border terrorism in Sindh, according to the

Washington Times of January 2, 2002. Although he spoke

against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, it

was India that began the nuclear competition in South Asia.

Dr. Singh spoke of ``democracy as an instrument for achieving

both peace and prosperity,'' yet India denies the most basic

of democratic freedoms to the Sikhs and other minorities

living within its borders.

India has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, according

to figures compiled by the Punjab State Magistracy and human-

rights groups and reported in the book The Politics of

Genocide by Inderjeet Singh Jaijee. It has also killed more

than 89,000 Kashmiri Muslims since 1988, over 300,000

Christians in Nagaland since 1947, and thousands of

Christians and Muslims elsewhere in the country, as well as

tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits

(``Untouchables,'' the dark-skinned aboriginal people of

South Asia), Manipuris, Tamils, and other minorities. The

Indian Supreme Court called the Indian government's murders

of Sikhs ``worse than a genocide.''

According to a report by the Movement Against State

Repression (MASR), 52,268 Sikhs are being held as political

prisoners in India without charge or trial. Some have been in

illegal custody since 1984! Amnesty International reported

that tens of thousands of other minorities are also being

held as political prisoners. We demand the immediate release

of all these political prisoners.

Recently, another church was burned in India. This is part

of a pattern of violence against Christians that has been

going on since Christmas 1998 with the approval of the Indian

government. Nuns have been raped, priests have been murdered,

prayer halls and schools have been vandalized. A Christian

religious festival was broken up by police gunfire.

Indian police arrested human-rights activist Jaswant Singh

Khalra after he exposed their policy of mass cremation of

Sikhs, in which over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested,

tortured, and murdered, then their bodies were declared

unidentified and secretly cremated. He was murdered in police

custody. His body was not given to his family.

``Although Sikhs gave 80 percent of the sacrifices for

India's independence, India has massacred Sikhs since

achieving independence,'' said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,

President of the Council of Khalistan. On October 7, 1987,

the Sikh Nation declared its independence from India, naming

its new country Khalistan.

``Only a sovereign, independent Khalistan will end the

repression and lift the standard of living for the people of

Punjab,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``Democracies don't commit

genocide.''

History shows that multinational states such as India are

doomed to failure. Countries like Austria-Hungary, India's

longtime friend the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia,

and others prove this point. India is not one country, it is

a polyglot like those countries, thrown together for the

convenience of the British colonialists. It is doomed to

break up as they did. Recently, the Punjab Legislative

Assembly passed a bill annulling all water agreements with

the Indian government, preventing the government's daylight

robbery of Punjab river water. Punjab needs its river water

for its crops. In the bill, the Assembly explicitly stated

the sovereignty of Punjab.

``As Professor Darshan Singh, a former Jathedar of the Akal

Takht, said, `if a Sikh is not a Khalistani, he is not a

Sikh','' Dr. Aulakh noted. ``We must continue to press for

our God-given birthright of freedom,'' he said. ``Without

political power, religions cannot flourish and nations

perish. India claims to be a democracy. It is time it

recognized the right of self-determination for all people in

South Asia.''

Mr. Speaker, today the gentleman from Connecticut, Mr. Shays and I have joined to introduce H.R. 5166, The Armed Forces Voluntary Immunization and Health Justice Act of 2004.

In the 104th Congress, Mr. Shays and I joined in holding several oversight hearings on the cases of Persian Gulf Syndrome that were affecting our military men and women returning from the first Persian Gulf War. Those

hearings served as the impetus for causing the Department of Defense to seriously re-examine and re-vamp its system of diagnosis, treatment and compensation for Persian Gulf War veterans. I know that the work we did on that issue made a difference in the lives of those service members who agreed to risk their lives for us.

However, our concerns about the health of veterans and active duty military members did not end with those hearings. We have worked together to craft a bi-partisan solution to provide members of the military with the ability to make informed decisions about immunization for anthrax and smallpox. The right to informed consent is enjoyed by every citizen, except those in the military. If enacted, this bill would prohibit the Department of Defense from mandating immunization against anthrax and/or smallpox if a soldier believes that the risk to his or her health status outweighs the benefit of immunization.

Service members have experienced adverse health effects from these vaccines including heart, respiratory, and skin problems. In one well- known case, a soldier died from the adverse effects of a vaccine. Despite the known risks, many soldiers have been required to take these vaccines. As a result, many have decided to leave the service rather than run the risk of vaccination. Unfortunately, many honorable soldiers have been punished solely for refusing to accept these vaccines. Our legislation would assure that soldiers who want to serve are not faced with this agonizing choice.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this bill and join us in assuring that members of our military have the ability to determine whether or not to take these vaccines.

Mr. Speaker, I submit the following article for the Record:

[From the Taiwan News, Aug. 30, 2004]

Lee Rules Out Assassination in Shooting Investigation

U.S.-based forensic expert Dr. Henry Lee who was

investigating the March 19 shooting of President Chen Shui-

bian has concluded that the incident was not an assassination

attempt.

Lee, who handed his analysis to a Taiwan government

official in the U.S. early yesterday, said that he was unable

to issue a conclusive report, but advised that his findings

in examining the forensic evidence could help criminal

investigators in their own probe.

``An important finding on the bullets, one made of copper

and the other of lead, is that they both have clear barrel

marks,'' Lee said to reporters in New York after he submitted

his 130-page report and a CD containing 150 photos to Andrew

Hsia, director general of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office

in New York, Saturday morning local time.

``This means a chance for clearing up the case, as long as

(criminal investigators) can find out the right (gun)

barrel,'' Lee said. ``This case was not a political

assassination because (in such a case) a more powerful weapon

than a homemade pistol would have been used,'' he told

reporters.

He further advised that criminal investigators in Taiwan

should crackdown on illegal firearms and ``check (the barrel

marks) of all seized firearms to find the gun.''

His findings could also help in locating the factory at

which the illegal gun was made, the forensic expert said,

adding that he was still uncertain whether or not the two

bullets were fired from a single gun or from two guns with

the same make of barrel.

The analysis Lee presented in New York yesterday was the

final report following four months of advanced scientific

examinations carried out by him and his colleagues.

According to Lee, his analysis of the evidence had helped

him to reach a more precise conclusion regarding the location

of the ``hot zone'' area from which the shots were fired.

He acknowledged that on his trip to Taiwan earlier this

year he had had difficulty solving the case because of the

shooter's use of a homemade handgun. The chance of clearing

the case would be improved once criminal investigation agents

could find the gun, Lee said at the time.

Lee made a three-day trip to Taiwan in April at the

invitation of State Public Prosecutor General Lu Ren-fa, who

had hoped to solve the case before his retirement in

September.

Speaking with reporters in New York, Lee stressed that his

investigation was free of any political influence. ``We'll

let the evidence speak (for itself),'' he said. ``The report

is presented according to evidence and has nothing to do with

political disputes or (the shooter's) motive, neither is it

involved with the ongoing criminal investigation,'' he said.

He further noted that it would be better if the details of

his analysis were published by Lu or by the Taiwan criminal

investigative authorities.

Lee sealed the report before presenting it to Hsia, who is

responsible for delivering it to Taipei. Prosecutor General

Lu is anticipating that he would receive the document today.

Commenting on the ``truth commission'' proposed by the

opposition parties in Taiwan to conduct an independent probe

into the incident, Lee said that he hopes ``the committee

will examine the truth (found by forensic evidence) and give

the criminal investigators more room to solve the case.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Dr. V. Simpson Turner, Sr. for the 39th anniversary of his pastoral leadership and spiritual guidance of the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church and the Brooklyn Commununity.

Dr. Turner earned his Bachelor's Degree at Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts; a Master's of Religious Education at Biblical Seminary of New York City; a Master's of Sacred Theology at New York Theological Seminary; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University School of Theology in Administration. He is married to Laura B. Turner, an outstanding educator and a New York State Certified Secondary School Principal. They have two children: Reverend Vivian R. Pittman and Reverend V. Simpson Turner, Jr., both of whom are ordained ministers at the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church; son-in-law, Deacon/Trustee Jerald Pittman; daughter-in-law, Lady Selena Turner; grandchildren, Kenya and Nathan Botley, Jerald Ali Pittman, Joelle Pittman, V. Simpson Turner III and Seteena Eliza Laura Turner; and great grandchildren, Rasaun Botley and Vivian Botley.

Dr. Turner has been active in numerous civic and charitable organizations. He has served on the Board of Trustees for Gordon College, the Baptist Home for the Elderly, the Brooklyn Public Library, and Baptist Medical Center. He has served as the Chairman of the Department of Communications for the Council of Churches in New York City and as a former president of the North American Baptist Fellowship of the Baptist World Alliance and the Baptist Minister's Conference of Greater New York. He was also a former member of the Board of Directors for Religion in American Life, a former member of the Brooklyn Borough President's Community Board #3, and was elected to the Board of Directors of the New York Bible Society in New York City in 1990. More recently, in June 2002, Dr. Turner was elected Secretary of the 7,000 members Hampton University Minister's Conference. Finally, he was an Adjunct Professor on Urban Concerns at Alliance Theological Seminary in New York.

For his efforts, Dr. Turner has been honored by many community groups including the City of New York; the Bureau of Child Welfare; the United Builders Association; the Boy Scouts of America; and the YMCA. The Governor of New York appointed him to the New York State Commission on Health Education and Illness Prevention. In 1990, Dr. Turner was appointed Chairman of the Billy Graham Crusade in New York City where the Great Lawn in Central Park held the largest crowd ever to attend a Billy Graham meeting in North America. Also, in the spring of 1990, as editor of the Baptist Progress, Dr. Turner received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for meritorious service in writing.

Dr. Turner produces and directs a weekly radio show known as ``The Black Religious Experience'' as well as a public affairs Cable TV program known as ``The Public Wants To Know.'' He is the author of ``Compassion for the City,'' which is used throughout the country as a textbook for those going into urban ministry. Dr. Turner has been instrumental in implementing several important community programs and resources such as a Homework Center, a High School Equivalency Program, a referral service to New York City Technical College, a Senior Services and handicapped Bus Ministry, a Radio Ministry, a Shut-In and Outreach Ministry, a Carillons Ministry, a ``Sing, Spell, Read and Write'' Educational Ministry, and a Soup Kitchen Ministry. Several college graduates began their college careers at Mt. Carmel as part of the then NYC Community College extension, which Dr. Turner helped to operate.

On January 4, 2004, Dr. Turner celebrated his 39th Anniversary as Pastor of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York. He had a vision to combine his church and an apartment building into a Church and Educational complex. In the spring of 1993, Dr. Turner realized his vision of building affordable housing. Today, the 78 units, known as the Mt. Carmel Town Houses are occupied by new homeowners.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. V. Simpson Turner, Sr. has been a tireless advocate for his community and a spiritual leader for 39 years at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this month Sikhs around the world celebrated the 400th anniversary of the first installation of their holy scriptures, known as the Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru Granth Sahib, written in the lifetimes of the 10 Sikh Gurus, contains the writings of the Sikh Gurus as revealed to them and some writings by other saints who share their basic philosophy. When the Indian military attacked the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Sikhism's holiest shrine, in June 1984, they shot bullet holes through the Guru Granth Sahib.

There was a major celebration of the anniversary in Amritsar, which was attended by the Indian President, Abdul Kalam; by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh; and by the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Buddhism, among many others. Apparently, India was trying to maintain its false front of secularism. But the people of South Asia know better.

The Guru Granth Sahib established Sikhism as a monotheistic religion that believes in the equality of all people. Guru Gobind Singh, the last of the Sikh Gurus, who consecrated the Guru Granth Sahib, made independence a basic principle of the religion.

As you know, India continues to oppress the Sikhs. Over 250,000 Sikhs have been murdered at the hands of the Hindu militant Indian government. In addition, the Indian regime has murdered over 89,000 Muslims in Kashmir, over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, and tens

of thousands of other minorities. They are holding over 52,000 Sikhs as political prisoners, according to the Movement Against State Repression (MASR) and tens of thousands of other minorities, according to Amnesty International.

The only way to preserve basic human rights for minorities in India is to stop all aid and trade until India observes these basic liberties. And we should also go on record in support of self- determination for the Sikhs of Punjab, Khalistan, the Muslims of Kashmir, the Christians of Nagaland, and the minority nations of South Asia. That will help bring freedom, prosperity, peace, and stability to this troubled region.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to place the Council of Khalistan's press release on the celebration into the Record for the information of my colleagues.

400th Anniversary of Guru Granth Sahib

Washington, DC, Sept. 10, 2004.--On September 1, Sikhs

gathered in Anuitsar to observe the 400th anniversary of the

first installation of the Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy

scriptures, at Darbar Sahib, the holiest of Sikh shrines.

Indian President Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,

and the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Buddhism,

attended the celebration. Sikhs remember that bullets pierced

through the Guru Granth Sahib during Operation Bluestar, the

Indian government's military attack on the Golden Temple in

Amritsar, in 1984.

The Guru Granth Sahib was written by the Sikh Gurus as

revealed to them by God. It was written at the time in which

they lived. It also includes the writing of other saints of

that time which fit the philosophy of the Sikh Gurus.

``This anniversary is a joyous occasion for the Sikh Nation

as we celebrate the Sikh way of life as given to us by the

Gurus,'' said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the

Council of Khalistan. The Council of Khalistan, the

government pro tempore of the Sikh homeland, Khalistan, leads

the struggle to liberate Khalistan, which declared its

independence from India on October 7, 1987.

Sikhism is an independent, monotheistic religion that

believes in the equality of the whole human race. The tenth

and last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, declared the blessing

``In Grieb Sikhin Ko Deon Patshahi,'' conferring sovereignty

on the Sikh Nation, which is culturally, linguistically, and

religiously distinct from any other people in the world,

including Hindu India. ``We must honor the Guru by reclaiming

our lost sovereignty,'' Dr. Aulakh said.

The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since

1984, more than 300,000 Christians in Nagaland since 1947,

over 89,000 Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, and tens of

thousands of Tamils, Assamese, Manipuris, Dalits, and others.

Christians and Muslims have also been murdered in other parts

of the country. The Indian Supreme Court called the Indian

government's murders of Sikhs ``worse than a genocide.''

According to a study by the Movement Against State

Repression, 52,268 Sikhs are being held in illegal detention

as political prisoners without charge or trial. Some of them

have been held since 1984!

Christian missionary Joseph Cooper was expelled from India

after a mob of militant Hindu nationalists allied with the

Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), a fundamentalist, pro-

Fascist organization that is the parent organization of the

BJP, beat him so severely he had to spend a week in the

hospital. In 2002, 2,000 to 5,000 Muslims were murdered in

Gujarat while police were ordered to stand aside, reminiscent

of the 1984 Delhi massacres of Sikhs. Indian newspapers

reported that the government planned the Gujarat massacre in

advance.

India is not one country; it is a polyglot thrown together

by the British for their administrative convenience. Sikhs

ruled Punjab until 1849 when the British conquered the

subcontinent. Sikhs were equal partners during the transfer

of power from the British. The Muslim leader Jinnah got

Pakistan, the Hindu leaders got India, but the Sikh

leadership was fooled by the Hindu leadership promising that

Sikhs would have ``the glow of freedom'' in Northwest India.

The Sikhs took their share with India on that promise. For

that mistake, Sikhs are suffering now. ``As Professor Darshan

Singh, a former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, said, `If a Sikh

is not for Khalistan, he is not a Sikh','' Dr. Aulakh noted.

``Democracies don't commit genocide,'' Dr. Aulakh said.

``Only in a free and sovereign Khalistan will the Sikh Nation

prosper. In a democracy, the right to self-determination is

the sine qua non and India should allow a plebiscite for the

freedom of the Sikh Nation,'' he said.

``The Guru Granth Sahib is the reigning Guru of the Sikh

Nation and reminds us of our heritage of freedom,'' Dr.

Aulakh said. ``It is appropriate that it received a fitting

celebration.''

Mr. Speaker, the Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh has called for an opening of the border between India and Pakistan at Wagah, about halfway between Amritsar, Punjab, and Lahore, Pakistan. Such an opening would help the farmers of Punjab to get higher prices for their produce than the less-than-subsistence prices the Indian government pays them. It would also make it much easier for Sikhs to make religious pilgrimages to the birthplace of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak, in Nankana Sahib, which is also in Pakistan.

Chief Minister Singh is right. The border should be opened. This would be a significant step towards peace in the region. It would greatly reduce the need for India and Pakistan to expend exorbitant resources on their military rivalry. Instead, the cross-border contacts would strengthen the emerging relationship between the two countries.

Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to call on both the governments of India and Pakistan to open this border. Let the people, money, and ideas flow freely.

By opening the border at Wagah, India would be able to begin to end its repression that has claimed the lives of over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, over 300,000 Christians since 1976, over 89,000 Kashmiri Muslims since 1988, and tens of thousands of other minority people.

This repression must end if India is to be taken seriously as a member of the international community. We should cut off India's aid and trade until such time as it respects human rights. Opening the border at Wagah would be a first step. We should also go on record in support of all people in South Asia enjoying the basic democratic right to self determination.

Mr. Speaker, I am inserting the press release from the Council of Khalistan into the Record at this time.

[From the Council of Khalistan]

Open Wagah Border for Trade

Washington, DC, September 10, 2004.--Dr. Gurmit Singh

Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, today endorsed

the demand of Captain Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of

Punjab, to open the border at Wagah, about halfway between

Amritsar and Lahore. This would allow direct trade between

Punjab and Pakistan.

``The distance between Amritsar and Lahore is only about 35

miles, less than the distance between Washington and

Baltimore in the United States,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``Why not

allow trade between these neighbors?,'' he asked. ``Chief

Minister Amarinder Singh is to be praised for asking to open

this border,'' said Dr. Aulakh. ``His stand will help keep

the fires of freedom lit in the Sikh Nation,'' he added.

``This is more than all his Akali and Congress predecessors

have done for the people of Punjab,'' Dr. Aulakh noted.

``We fully support opening this border,'' he said. ``This

is the wise thing for Punjab and the Sikh Nation,'' he added.

``It is another step forward for the freedom and self-

determination of the Sikh Nation. It will help secure the

prosperity of the Sikhs in Punjab, Khalistan.''

``Opening trade through the border at Wagah will bring

peace in the subcontinent,'' said Dr. Aulakh. ``This will

enable the farmers of Punjab to get higher prices for their

products and help Pakistan to overcome its shortages,'' he

said. ``If India truly cares about the well-being of the

people, it must open the border at Wagah immediately'' Dr.

Aulakh also called for bus service across the border so that

visitors can more easily visit the birthplace of Guru Nanak,

the first Sikh Guru, at Nankana Sahib. ``We are the same

people. The same language is spoken on both sides of the

border. Opening this border benefits everybody and it is much

better to open the border than to spend all this time and

money constantly preparing for war,'' he said.

Khalistan is the independent Sikh homeland declared on

October 7, 1987. It has been under Indian occupation since

then. When India became independent, Sikhs were equal

partners in the transfer of power and were to receive their

own state, but the weak and ignorant Sikh leaders of the time

were tricked into staying with India on the promise that they

would have ``the glow of freedom'' and no law affecting the

Sikhs would pass without their consent. Sikhs ruled an

independent and sovereign Punjab from 1710 to 1716 and again

from 1765 to 1849 and were recognized by most of the

countries of the world at that time. No Sikh representative

has ever signed the Indian constitution. The Council of

Khalistan is the government pro tempore of Khalistan, the

Sikh homeland.

``If India will not open this border, it is clear that

there is no place for Sikhs in India,'' said Dr. Aulakh.

``Sardar Atinder Pal Singh's question of 14 years ago is

still the question facing the Sikh Nation: Why don't we

liberate Khalistan? As Professor Darshan Singh, a former

Jathedar, said, 'If a Sikh is not for Khalistan, he is not a

Sikh','' Dr. Aulakh noted.

The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since

1984, more than 300,000 Christians since 1948, over 89,000

Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, and tens of thousands of

Tamils, Assamese, Manipuris, Dalits (the aboriginal people of

the subcontinent), and others. The Indian Supreme Court

called the Indian government's murders of Sikhs ``worse than

a genocide.'' According to a report by the Movement Against

State Repression (MASR), 52,268 Sikhs are being held as

political prisoners in India without charge or trial. Some

have been in illegal custody since 1984!

``We must move forward with the cause of Sikh freedom,''

Dr. Aulakh said. ``Only in a free Khalistan will the Sikh

Nation prosper and get justice,'' said Dr. Aulakh. ``India

should act like a democracy and allow a plebiscite on

independence for Khalistan and all the nations of South

Asia,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``We must free Khalistan now.''

Mr. Speaker, Pakistan has installed a new Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz. His installation was reported in the newspapers September 2. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Aziz on his new position.

Mr. Aziz takes the helm in Pakistan at a critical time for the people and nations of South Asia. I wish him well in his time as Prime Minister and I hope that he will dedicate himself to pursuing peace in the subcontinent.

The best way to achieve peace in South Asia, Mr. Speaker, is to work for self-determination for everyone in the region. Only by allowing everyone in the subcontinent to enjoy this cornerstone of democracy can all the peoples and nations live in peace, freedom, and prosperity.

I would also urge Mr. Aziz to work for a more open border so that Sikhs and Muslims, as well as members of other minorities, can trade and travel freely and raise their standard of living by doing so. This will be good for Pakistan and for India.

Mr. Speaker, the Council of Khalistan issued a press release congratulating Prime Minister Aziz, which I intend to insert into the Record.

Congratulations to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz

Washington, D.C., September 10, 2004.--Dr. Gurmit Singh

Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, today

congratulated the new Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shaukat

Aziz, on his ascension to the position.

``I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate

Prime Minister Aziz and wish his government well,'' Dr.

Aulakh said. ``I hope that this will be a step forward for

peace in South Asia,'' he said. ``Prime Minister Aziz has

done excellent work on Pakistan's finances,'' said Dr.

Aulakh. ``We are sure that he can bring that wisdom and

expertise to all areas of life in his country,'' he added.

``Prime Minister Aziz must stand firm, as President

Musharraf has done, in supporting the interests of freedom

for the oppressed people in South Asia,'' said Dr. Aulakh.

``We urge him to work to open the border, enhance trade in

the border regions, establish peaceful relations, and assist

the cause of freedom, not just in occupied Kashmir, but

wherever people are struggling to be free,'' he added. ``We

look forward to easy passage to visit the birthplace of the

first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak, in Nankana Sahib.''

``Only when all people and nations in South Asia have

freedom and self-determination can the subcontinent live in

peace, prosperity, and dignity,'' said Dr. Aulakh. ``Prime

Minister Aziz has influence by virtue of his position,'' he

said. ``We urge him to use it for the benefit of the people

of Pakistan and all the people of the subcontinent by

supporting freedom and self-determination.''

The Council of Khalistan was constituted to lead the

struggle to liberate Khalistan, the Sikh homeland which

declared its independence on October 7, 1987. It is the

government pro tempore of Khalistan. Khalistan has been under

Indian occupation since then. India has sent over 500,000

troops to Punjab, Khalistan, and over 700,000 to neighboring

Kashmir to suppress the independence movements there. Yet

India is on the verge of collapse. As former Home Minister

L.K. Advani said that ``if Kashmir goes, India goes.''

At the time of India's independence, Sikhs were equal

partners in the transfer of power and were supposed to

receive their own sovereign state, but the weak and ignorant

Sikh leaders of the time were tricked into staying with India

on the promise that they would have ``the glow of freedom''

and no law affecting the Sikhs would pass without their

consent. That promise was broken immediately after

independence was achieved.

Sikhs ruled an independent and sovereign Punjab from 1710

to 1716 and again from 1765 to 1849 and were recognized by

most of the countries of the world at that time. No Sikh

representative has ever signed the Indian constitution.

``Sardar Atinder Pal Singh's question of 14 years ago is

still the question facing the Sikh Nation: Why don't we

liberate Khalistan?,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``As Professor

Darshan Singh, a former Jathedar, said, `If a Sikh is not for

Khalistan, he is not a Sikh','' he noted.

The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since

1984, more than 300,000 Christians since 1948, over 89,000

Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, and tens of thousands of

Tamils, Assamese, Manipuris, Dalits (the aboriginal people of

the subcontinent), and others. The Indian Supreme Court

called the Indian government's murders of Sikhs ``worse than

a genocide.'' A report by the Movement Against State

Repression (MASR) shows that India is holding 52,268 Sikhs as

political prisoners without charge or trial. Some have been

in illegal custody since 1984!

``We must move forward with the cause of Sikh freedom,''

Dr. Aulakh said. ``Only in a free Khalistan will the Sikh

Nation prosper and get justice,'' said Dr. Aulakh. ``India

should act like a democracy and allow a plebiscite on

independence for Khalistan and all the nations of South

Asia,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``We must free Khalistan now.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning in recognition of the tireless work of the Joshua Foundation, operating out of our capital city of Albany, New York, to bring much needed life-saving medicines to the poor regions of Africa. I want to especially applaud the work of Mr. Lorenzo Hodges, founder of the Joshua Foundation, for his vision and determination in his efforts to help save the lives of adults and children in Africa by providing medicines to treat HIV/AIDS, malaria, diphtheria and other debilitating diseases.

Mr. Speaker, as I understand it, the Joshua Foundation has served to provide humanitarian aid in the form of medicines and clinical support facilities in Kenya and most recently in Tanzania to ensure that deprived areas in these countries receive the medical supplies they need. My further understanding is that the Joshua Foundation has plans underway for additional deliveries of medicines to Liberia, Mozambique and a second delivery to Tanzania. It is well known, Mr. Speaker, that while health care is often available to those who can afford it, the challenge is to provide these basic medicines to those who can't. To this end, the humanitarian efforts of Mr. Hodges and the Joshua Foundation must not go unrecognized.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in this expression of recognition and support for the continuing humanitarian work of the Joshua Foundation in Africa.