IN SUPPORT OF THE SYRIAN PEOPLE; Congressional Record Vol. 158, No. 91

<!-- -->

IN SUPPORT OF THE SYRIAN PEOPLE

\\\_\\\_\\\_\\\_\\\_\\\_

HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

of california

in the house of representatives

Friday, June 15, 2012

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to express my horror and

outrage at the events currently taking place across Syria. It has now

been 15 months since the first protests flared up in response to the

imprisonment of 17 teenagers in Dara for writing anti-government

graffiti on a wall, and the death toll has risen to well over 13,000

men, women, and children.

For the past three decades the Syrian people have lived in a restive

peace. Israel had claimed it to be its safest border, and minorities

were treated relatively well compared to surrounding countries.

President Assad transitioned easily into power after the death of his

father, and was hailed as a reformist who would lead Syria onto the

world's stage as a constructive member of the international community.

However, the reforms never came, and the emergency law put into place

over 50 years ago remained. People were living in a constant fear that

they would be turned in by a friend or neighbor for even a simple

comment against the regime. The mail and internet were tracked by

government officials, and websites such as facebook were blocked. This

was not the secular democracy the West expected for a reformed Syria.

It is instead an authoritarian dictatorship.

In the beginning the protests in Syria were small and peaceful, but

were met with such brutality from the regime that they incited even

greater public resistance. The Syrian people were rising up and

claiming their natural right to freedom. President Assad authorized the

massacre of women and children in a desperate attempt to retain control

over a country that no longer wants him.

Mr. Speaker, this conflict has escalated into civil war. Those who

have fared well under Assad's government have no desire for change, but

the impoverished majority has found its voice and is unwilling to

return to the status quo. I believe that the United States should stand

with those who are fighting for democracy and human rights.

Kofi Annan's peace plan was a valiant effort to bring an end to the

violence through diplomacy, but it has not yielded the results hoped

for, and President Assad has shown no inclination to keep his promises.

The time has come for greater action. Yesterday Secretary Clinton

rightly criticized Russia for its continued support of the Assad

regime, specifically the weapons it has been providing to the regime.

This and other actions by the Russians undermine the efforts of the

United Nations to broker a solution to meet this crisis.

The recent massacre in Houla a few days ago, which left over 50

children dead, is the most shocking example of official terror that has

been occurring weekly over the past 15 months. President Assad has lost

the confidence of the Syrian people who no longer regard his regime as

legitimate. I believe that for the good of the country and for the

cause of peace in the region President Assad should step down.

What began as a peaceful stand against tyranny has morphed into the

bloodiest movement of the Arab Spring. With a grip as tight as the

Assad family has had over this country for decades the outcome was

foreseeable, but nobody could have envisioned anything as bloody as

this.

Mr. Speaker, Syrian men and women fighting for democratic ideals

should not be abandoned to face the wrath of a tyrant alone. They

should know that they have a friend in the United States and the United

Nations. I call upon both to redouble their efforts to find a solution

to the crisis in Syria. As a member of the Committee on Homeland

Security I have seen how America is an example of democracy and peace,

and I wish to see the same outcome for Syria. I stand today to show my

support for the rebel fighters and all those in Syria who are fighting

against oppression and cruelty.

&nbsp;