21978: White: Fwd: Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Amendment to Protect Democratically Elected Governments from Being Overthrown Via Department of Defense Funding (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Randall White <raw@haitiaction.org>


Press Release from Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Ninth Congressional District of California
U.S. House of Representatives


PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Stuart Chapman
May 19, 2004
(202) 225-2398



Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Amendment to Protect
Democratically Elected Governments from Being Overthrown Via
Department of Defense Funding



Lee Cites Haiti as Genesis for Amendment



Washington, DC - One of Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA)'s rejected
amendments to the Defense Authorization Act, H.R. 4200, was borne out
of the United States' alleged involvement in Haiti's recent coup.
Lee's amendment, which was turned down by House Republicans on the
Rules Committee, would have prohibited the Department of Defense
(DoD) from spending any money on the overthrow of democratically
elected governments.  The amendment called for a ban on the use of
any DoD funds for military training, equipment, or other support
aimed at the overthrow of a democratically elected government.

"This amendment would have prohibited the use of U.S. funds in the
overthrow of democratically elected governments," said Lee today on
the House floor.

The inspiration for the amendment came from a 1980s initiative by
Massachusetts Congressman Edward Boland (D-MA). Boland's amendment
stopped the Reagan Administration's funneling of money to fund the
Nicaraguan contras by declaring such aid illegal.  Drawing upon this
precedent and drawing upon the Bush Administration's systematic
actions against the Haitian government over the last three years, Lee
wanted to make sure that no government money was used to overthrow
democratically elected governments.

In March, in the wake of the Haitian coup, Lee introduced H.R. 3919,
the TRUTH (The Responsibility to Uncover the Truth about Haiti)
Commission Act, which calls for an independent, bipartisan commission
to uncover the facts about the Bush Administration's involvement in
the coup d'etat in Haiti.  But with the proposed Defense
Reauthorization Act amendment, Lee sought to codify a prohibition on
overthrowing democratically elected governments.

"This amendment would have restored confidence in the protection of
democracy," said Lee.