Delaying their New Year celebrations, in an unusually rare show of urgency and support, 12 important members of US Congress have threatened to block aid to Pakistan if the White House did not support a Rafik Hariri-type UN investigation into Benazir Bhutto’s assassination and prevent any delay in the Jan 8 polls.
While Congress is in recess for New Year holidays, these 12 congressmen from the majority Democratic party have sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Jan 1, expressing deep concern and resentment over the Bush Administration’s policy regarding the Bhutto murder and expected delay in polls.
As soon as Congress comes back after the holidays the number of supporters of this move in US House and Senate will go into hundreds, a sponsor of the letter told The News from Washington.
"The Bush Administration should not turn a blind eye to another setback to democracy in Pakistan," said Congressman Israel, who led the move to send the letter, even on a national holiday. "We need to foster the democratic process by allowing the Pakistani people to have an election on January 8 as previously scheduled and ensure that an independent investigation into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto takes place."
"As you know, Congress has withheld $50 million in aid to Pakistan in this year’s appropriations process. Without being satisfied that an investigation is truly impartial and independent, and with the belief that the elections were postponed in order to further setback the democratic aspirations of the Pakistani people, we will focus intently on the status of these funds already withheld and may seek additional restrictions in the future appropriations bills," the congressmen told Secretary Rice.
Following is the full text of the letter sent on New Year day to Secretary Rice:Dear Madame Secretary: We are deeply concerned with recent Administration statements with respect to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
"It troubles us that the White House today said that the matter of the assassination of Ms. Bhutto is an internal matter for Pakistan. In fact, in other circumstances we have not hesitated to join in calls for international investigations of crimes with sovereign nations when the actions had worldwide implications and there were legitimate issues raised about the objectivity or capability of a host government to conduct the investigation alone — as was the case in the assassination of Rafik Hariri.
"Furthermore, there are serious questions and contradictions emerging regarding the circumstances of Ms. Bhutto’s death, including statements by doctors who examined her and videotape that clearly shows that she was shot by a bullet. These contradictions demonstrate the need for a vigorous and independent international investigation into her cause of death.
" With respect to the upcoming elections, the leaders of Pakistan’s largest political parties have joined in calling for the elections to go forward as scheduled on January 8th. The White House has stated that the scheduling of the elections should be determined by the political parties, the largest of which have demanded that the elections go forth as planned. Yet the White House also said that if the election is postponed, it should be postponed to a date certain.
This is not the right message to send, as it is practically an open invitation to postpone those elections. "As you know, Congress has withheld $50 million in aid to Pakistan in this year’s appropriations process. Without being satisfied that an investigation is truly impartial and independent, and with the belief that elections were postponed in order to further setback the democratic aspirations of the Pakistani people, we will focus intently on the status of these funds already withheld and may seek additional restrictions in the future appropriations bills.
"We urge you and President Bush to clearly call for elections to take place as scheduled, and to endorse an international investigation by the United Nations of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.