The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“SIERRA LEONE” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H4178 on June 12, 2000.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SIERRA LEONE
(Mr. EHLERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to comment on the situation in Sierra Leone, a marvelous country, a country with great promise, a country that provided freedom for slaves many years ago. Today it is in utter chaos. Revolution is taking place. But what is unique about this is that it is not a political revolution, even though it pretends to be that, but it is basically a band of bandits trying to take over the country so that they can have access to the diamonds and the diamond mines. They already have access to many of them and they are using those diamonds to finance the revolution.
The rebels are incredibly inhumane. Most of their captives have been released but only after a hand, a leg, a foot, or an arm have been chopped off and amputated.
The inhumanity is such that last week, an 8-month-old baby had his arm amputated when his mother was captured as part of the revolution. Imagine the rebels amputated the arm of an 8-month-old baby!
We must work with the British and the U.N. to stop this. We must act in a meaningful, humane way, and not back down from this as we have been backing down for a decade. It is time for our State Department and our President to act.
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