Donald M. Payne: “A tragedy is occurring off our shores. A duly-elected government in Haiti, President Jean Bertrand Aristide's…”

“A tragedy is occurring off our shores. A duly-elected government in Haiti, President Jean Bertrand Aristide's government, is in jeopardy. He is being challenged by the former FRAPH, a paramilitary group of outlaws and bandits, the former military leaders who are across the border in the Dominican Republic and drug dealers who have taken over parts of that country, using their influence to corrupt the citizenry. On the other hand, we have a person who is duly elected, President Aristide. I cannot understand why our Nation that stands for democracy all over the world stands idly by while we let thugs who are burning and raping and looting take a free hand. The French have said we are willing to go in. We have 4,000 troops, as a matter of fact; and they even said, as a matter of fact, U.S.A., we do not need you, just support us. I urge our government to help the people of Haiti by coming up with a diplomatic solution to the problem in that country.”