CONDEMNING THE ONGOING VIOLENCE IN SYRIA; Congressional Record Vol. 158, No. 22

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CONDEMNING THE ONGOING VIOLENCE IN SYRIA

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HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

of minnesota

in the house of representatives

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the unspeakable

violence that the Government of Syria has committed--and continues to

commit--against its own citizens. For the past eleven months, the

Syrian people have engaged in peaceful demonstrations to demand their

basic, universal human rights. These demonstrations have been met with

unrelenting bloodshed and torture. Thousands of Syrian men, women, and

children have been slaughtered. There can be no question: President

Bashar al-Assad must step down, or be removed from power.

Last week, the United States, the Arab League, and a growing

international coalition together called for a United Nations Security

Council resolution that would end the crisis and begin a transition to

democracy in Syria. I am appalled that Russia and China have chosen to

veto this measure, and stand with a brutal dictator rather than the

Syrian people. This veto is an outrage, and serves only to endorse

President Assad's ongoing massacre. On February 4th, the day of the

U.N. Security Council vote, the Syrian military launched a devastating

attack on the city of Homs that continues today. Hundreds of unarmed

civilians have been killed.

I strongly support President Obama's efforts to work with America's

western and Arab allies to stop the bloodshed. Though China and Russia

have chosen to stand with Assad, the world will not. Already, nations

across the Middle East and throughout the world are expelling Syrian

diplomats, tightening sanctions, and ratcheting up pressure on the

Syrian government. The time has come for President Assad to step down,

and for the Syrian people to determine their own future.

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