Speech #990013225

Simon continued to refuse to been a primary target. cently celebrated her 50th birthday. enter military service. Hi Nas well I have recently been to the Soviet The Klinger situation is quite pressaware of the fact that the Soviet Gov- Union to witness this oppression first ing in that they are the only family in ernment would likely claim. as they hand. One cannot help but feel the Dnepropetrovsk awaiting exit visas. In have with other refuseniks. that mili- desperation many of these individuals the past few years. defamatory letters tary service rendered him a security experience at not being permitted to have been printed in the local newrisk. because of exposure to "state se- emigrate to Israel. not having the paper about the familyprompting crets." This sham would prolong any right to live without harassment and Samuel to immediately send letters of efforts to leave the country. At least intimidation. and not having the Indi- protest to the editor. Unfortunately now. that rationale will not exist. A vidual liberties a democratic govern- the only response has been several tragic note is that Simons father ment affords. antiSemitic articles in the same passed away early last year. Even if he As chairman of the Subcommittee paper. is ever permitted to leave the country. on Human Rights and International We have asked the Soviet Governthe oppressive Soviet state will have Organizations. I am deeply committed ment to grant this family permission thwarted his dream of joining his to increasing both international to emigrate. but have received no refather in Israel. awareness and involvement in the sponse. There can be no doubt that by Both of these cases are quite tragic. plight of Soviet Jews. The principal not allowing the Klingers to leave the It appears that the lives of Soviet re- focus of an effective human rights Soviet Union. the Soviet Government fuseniks and prisoners of conscience policy must always be the individual. is in clear violation of the Helsinki will not improve in the near future. As long as the rights of even one Jew Final Act. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. as well as their Soviet Constitution. Surely the emigration of the Klinger family would pose no threat to the security of the Soviet Union. and instead would be a humanitarian gesture. Yet permission to leave is continually denied. As the leader in the free world. the United States must do all that we can to protect the human rights of all people.