IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 228
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the peace
process in Colombia and calling on the government and all other parties
to the current conflict in Colombia to take steps to advance the peace
process so as to end the ongoing violence which continues to pose a
serious threat to democracy, human rights, and economic and social
stability in that nation.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 29, 1999
Mr. GALLEGLY (for himself, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr. GEJDEN-
SON, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. FARR of California, and Mr. DAVIS of Florida)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on International Relations
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regard-
ing the peace process in Colombia and calling on the
government and all other parties to the current conflict
in Colombia to take steps to advance the peace process
so as to end the ongoing violence which continues to
pose a serious threat to democracy, human rights, and
economic and social stability in that nation.
Whereas a civil war has raged in Colombia for 50 years and
the dramatic expansion of drug production has exacer-
bated the violence and contributed to prolonging the con-
flict;
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Whereas on June 21, 1998, close to eleven million Colom-
bians went to the polls, in a clear affirmation of the
democratic process, to cast their vote for a mandate for
peace;
Whereas as a result of the political violence Colombia suffers
from one of the worst human rights situations in the
hemisphere today with an estimated 70,000 people killed,
with more than 300,000 refugees created in the last
three years, and some 1,000,000 Colombians internally
displaced as a direct result of the fighting over the last
decade;
Whereas the violence has resulted in the deaths of at least
30 human rights defenders, the recent murder of 3
United States citizens and the kidnapping of 2 more, the
disappearance of 3 United States missionaries in 1995,
and countless assassinations and threats against other
human rights workers, professors, intellectuals, and aca-
demic researchers;
Whereas the operations of the Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army
(ELN), and the various paramilitary units have become
increasingly dependent upon, and interconnected with,
the illicit narcotics trade;
Whereas the instability in Colombia resulting from the con-
flict has hindered efforts to eradicate narcotics produc-
tion and has enabled a freer flow of illicit drugs from Co-
lombia to the United States;
Whereas the continued insurgency of the FARC and ELN
guerrillas and the extreme violence of the paramilitaries
ultimately poses a major threat to the very democracy of
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Colombia, historically one of the strongest and most resil-
ient in the hemisphere, and to the stability of the region;
Whereas international private sector leaders have urged sup-
port for the peace process as a means of encouraging in-
vestment and revitalization of Colombia’s economy; and
Whereas a negotiated settlement is the only long-term solu-
tion for ending the internal conflict in Colombia and for
protecting United States interests in the region: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) commends the people of Colombia for their
continued demonstration of support for the demo-
cratic process as well as for an end to the internal
conflict plaguing that nation;
(2) commends President Andres Pastrana for
his strong commitment to seek an end to the guer-
rilla insurgency and paramilitary violence in Colom-
bia and for his efforts to begin a peace process;
(3) commends the Colombian Government and
military leadership for their initial steps toward re-
moving from the armed forces officers found to be
linked to illegal and unacceptable activities of
paramilitaries;
(4) condemns the violations of human rights,
including murder and kidnappings, that continue in
Colombia, particularly the murder at the hands of
the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
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(FARC) guerrillas of 3 United States citizens, the
disappearance of 3 United States missionaries in
territory controlled by the FARC, and the recent
mass kidnappings and hijackings by the National
Liberation Army (ELN), which resulted in 2 United
States citizens being taken hostage;
(5) urges the leaders of the FARC and the
ELN, and the leaders of the paramilitary groups, to
end the violence, agree to suspend all kidnappings,
release all hostages, renounce their relationships
with the narcotics trade, and negotiate a meaningful
peace accord with the Government of Colombia
which would provide lasting peace, a reaffirmation of
the democratic principles of government, and eco-
nomic and social justice for all Colombians;
(6) urges the Government of Colombia to rap-
idly and effectively implement a program to help
protect threatened human rights workers;
(7) encourages the FARC and the Government
of Colombia to agree to the establishment of an
international observer group which would monitor
the ‘‘despeje’’ zone and report on new or existing il-
legal narcotics activities and human rights abuses in
that zone;
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(8) urges the FARC to demonstrate its renunci-
ation of the narcotics trade by verifiably eradicating
coca cultivation in 10,000 hectares of the ‘‘despeje’’
zone and by cooperating with the Government of Co-
lombia in converting those hectares to the cultivation
of substitute legal crops;
(9) welcomes the agreement between the FARC
and the Government of Colombia to create a com-
mission to investigate and provide a final report on
the fate of the 3 United States missionaries of the
New Tribes Mission missing in Colombia;
(10) calls upon the international community to
play a more active role in helping to resolve the in-
ternal conflict in Colombia by encouraging all sides
to participate in the peace process; and
(11) reaffirms the support of the United States
for the peace process in Colombia, commits the
United States to assist the Government of Colombia
in finding a peaceful resolution to the internal con-
flict, continues to support United States assistance
to help strengthen political stability and economic
growth, and continues to cooperate with all segments
of Colombian society who demonstrate a clear and
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unequivocal commitment to combating the drug
trade within Colombia.
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