ONGOING VIOLENCE IN SYRIA; Congressional Record Vol. 157, No. 60

<!-- -->

ONGOING VIOLENCE IN SYRIA

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

HON. GARY C. PETERS

of michigan

in the house of representatives

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express deep concern about

the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Syria. People all over the world

have watched with awe as democratic movements in Tunisia, Egypt, and

Libya have risen up against autocratic and corrupt regimes. We have

witnessed humanity at its best, as people have shown the courage and

bravery to peacefully protest in the face of violence. We have also

unfortunately witnessed humanity at its worst, as desperate governments

have lashed out in an effort to preserve their rule.

The Syrian government has historically been one of the most

repressive in the Middle East, so it should be no surprise that the

Syrian people have protested the many abuses they are subjected to.

Hundreds of those protesters have tragically been killed at the hands

of Syrian government forces, and thousands more have been detained. The

human rights violations of the Syrian government must be condemned and

the Syrian people should be allowed to exercise their fundamental

freedoms.

These recent violations, as well as the Syrian regime's longstanding

record of infringing on human rights, should raise grave concerns that

many nations have embraced Syria's candidacy to sit on the U.N. Human

Rights Council. The Syrian regime lacks any moral authority to protect

human rights and its election to the U.N. Human Rights Council would

mock the rebuke it just received from the same institution. If the

United States and other nations are serious about protecting human

rights, we will block Syria from sitting on the U.N. Human Rights

Council as long as the current government is in place.

&nbsp;