*EPF313 12/19/2001
Text: Lantos Denounces Dec. 13 Attack on Indian Parliament
(Compares attack against Indian Parliament with September 11) (550)

Representative Tom Lantos (Democrat of California) called the recent attack on the Indian Parliament in New Delhi a "cowardly and barbaric terrorist attack," in a December 13 speech in the House of Representatives.

Lantos, the ranking minority member of the House International Relations Committee, also expressed his condolences to Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee, the families of victims and to the people of India.

"Three months and two days ago, terrorists used box cutters, knives and fuel-laden passenger jets to launch suicide missions against the United States," Lantos said.

"One of those airplanes, we later learned, may have been intended to hit this very Capitol building -- the symbol of our democracy," said Lantos, who serves as the co-chairman of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus.

"The attack against India, as with the attacks against the United States, w(as) not aimed at bringing down buildings," he said.

Rather the two attacks "were cowardly attempts by criminal terrorist organizations to attack free and democratic societies, to intimidate their people and their government," said the California Democrat.

Following is the text of Lantos' speech from the Congressional Record:

(begin text)

CONDEMNING THE TERRORIST ATTACKS
ON THE INDIAN PARLIAMENT

HON. TOM LANTOS OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, December 13, 2001

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to denounce the cowardly and barbaric terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament building that took place in New Delhi earlier this morning.

First I want to express by deepest condolences to Prime Minister Vajpayee, the families of victims and to the people of India.

This latest attack, which comes two months after the October suicide bombing on the parliament building in Kashmir, strikes at the heart of India, the symbol of its democracy.

Six heavily armed terrorists, dressed in Indian military commando fatigues charged into the Parliament complex and set off a fierce gun battle in which six policemen and a Parliament staffer were killed as well as all six of the terrorists. From the amount of explosives found on the attackers, Indian authorities believe the terrorists were on a suicide mission. The attack took place minutes after both Houses of Parliament had adjourned for the day and could easily have taken the lives of numerous Members of Parliament, staff and visitors.

Three months and two days ago, terrorists used box cutters, knives and fuel-laden passenger jets to launch suicide missions against the United States. One of those airplanes, we later learned, may have been intended to hit this very Capitol building--the symbol of our democracy.

The attack against India, as with the attacks against the United States, w(as) not aimed at bringing down buildings. They were cowardly attempts by criminal terrorist organizations to attack free and democratic societies, to intimidate their people and their government.

India has waged a long and often-lonely battle against terrorism. Today, I want to assure the people and government of India that you are not alone.

Mr. Speaker, it is time that the international community made clear that terrorism and violence as a means of political expression will not be tolerated and will not be allowed to continue. We must act together in rooting out the terrorist networks wherever they exist.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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