said that I would die for my religion. He said that he would rather beat me and prolong the suffering, he would never kill me."

Mr. Chairman, the evidence weighs heavily upon us; the Falasha community in the Gondor region of Ethiopia is suffering enormously under the brutal authority of Major Melaku who vents his anger and exerts his authority against this small powerless minority in the most brutal fashion. It is imperative that this type of excess, which violates any humane set of values, be stopped and that the Jews of Ethiopia be allowed to practice their faith without the fear that the local government will use its authority to suppress religious expression through prison beatings, the closing of schools in a discriminatory manner, and other tactics which serve to intimidate these people.

As you know, the Horn of Africa is in a period of upheavel. Relations between Somalia and Ethiopia have deteriorated in recent weeks and the wider this breach becomes, the more difficult the internal situation in Ethiopia is likely to become. Related to this situation is the persistent efforts of the Eritrean secessionists who have continued their war against the Ethiopian government in furthering their goal of gaining independence. In addition to this political instability, the ills of malnutrition and disease continue to inflict damage upon the people of Ethiopia.

Mr. Chairman, I believe that our government shoud act throught whatever diplomatic means may be available, however limited they may be, to seek a cessation to the hostilities in the region. While recognizing that our relations with the Ethiopian government are limited at this time, it is important that we continue a dialogue

with the Ethiopian officials in this country who have on occasion expressed an interest in improving relations with the U.S. We should seek to foster an improvement in relations between our nations at every possible opportunity while stressing our concern about the human rights conditions in Ethiopia; the charge in this country should understand that while an improvement in relations is desired by many Americans, we believe that Major Melaku has created an untenable situation which must be refomed. Further, I believe it is important that the State Department take a more positive and aggressive role on this issue. There are many instances when their cooperation could be most useful in resolving some of the problems that have been encountered in regard to the Falashas, and our commitment to securing the human rights of oppressed people throughout the world can be applied more rigorously in this case.

Mr. Chairman, this is a significant day for those people in this country who have been working tirelessly to raise the level of awareness in regard to this tragic situation. The committee has taken a step forward by conducting these hearings and I think the presence of everyone here today shows that it is of the utmost importance that all those who are capable of exerting pressure and influence to relieve this intolerable situaton must take the appropriate actions. It is my hope that we will begin to see some progress in the near future and that the Ethiopian Jews will be allowed to practice their faith in an enivronment that is free of the oppression that these people have

endured.

Mr. BONKER. Mr. Lantos.

STATEMENT OF HON. TOM LANTOS, A REPRESENTIVE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Mr. LANTOS. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, at the outset I would like to commend two people I have worked with on this subject for their remarkable commitment to this cause. One, of course, is my friend Nate Shapiro, who has given national leadership to this issue, and the second is my wife, Annette, who has been my conscience and inspiration on these matters, as she has on so many other issues.

Mr. Chairman, allow me to seize this opportunity to pay public tribute to your penetrating sense of decency and justice on behalf of all whose human rights are violated any place on this planet and whose champion you have become. You have consistently stood up for the oppressed and for the persecuted, acting as the conscience of this Congress for human rights.

The vicious cruelty of so much of humankind provides a tragic yet proud parade of people who are enduring unspeakable suffering for their religious beliefs and ethical commitments. Some are Pentecostals in the Soviet Union, some are Coptic Christians in Egypt, some are Baha'is in Iran, and some are Jews in Ethiopia.

It is so profoundly appropriate for a congressional subcommittee to be concerned about their fate since we as Members of Congress represent the quintessential commitment of our free society to both religious freedom and religious pluralism.

As one who fought against history's most awesome and criminal act of persecution, the Holocaust, I am determined not to witness as a passive bystander yet another annihilation of a very special and unique branch of the Jewish people. The ancient and noble legacy of the Ethiopian Jewish community who bravely stood by their beliefs and principles through centuries of persecution and isolation deserves to be preserved and rescued for generations yet unborn.

Throughout their tragic history, the Jews of Ethiopia have endured persecution, poverty, and slaughter of perhaps even greater intensity than even their long-suffering brothers and sisters had to endure in Europe and the Middle East.

As recently as the beginning of this century, the number of Ethiopian Jews was estimated at over 100,000, but today a mere remnant of about 25,000 of them are still in existence. The rest have become victims of a cruel destiny of torture and annihilation. The situation of the Ethiopian Jewish community, even prior to the Marxist takeover in 1974, was intolerable. Disease, famine, and ostracism due to their beliefs have been their fate throughout most of their history.

Except for brief periods, the discrimination against Ethiopian Jews under the Communist regime becomes daily more vicious. Incarceration and beatings become routine. Families are torn apart by the use of conscription of young men into the armed services, never to be heard from again.

Other appalling reports have included the selling of Ethiopian Jews into slavery, the destruction of entire villages, as well as con

tinued and systematic suppression aimed at annihilation of their identity and preventing them from instructing their children in their unique and almost legendary traditions.

History has shown the tragic outcome and outrageous injustice which occurs when religious and racial oppression and persecution is allowed to go unchecked by a blind and indifferent world. It is the recent memory of such unimaginable cruelties perpetrated against innocent millions which makes it imperative for all of us to speak out against the cultural and physical annihilation of this very unique and legendary branch of the Jewish people.

It is imperative, Mr. Chairman, that our Government use all the direct and indirect means at its disposal to stop the persecution of Ethiopian Jews and to facilitate their departure from Ethiopia. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[Mr. Lantos' prepared statement follows:]

STATEMENT BY HON. TOM Lantos, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

MR. CHAIRMAN, Allow me to seize this moment to pay public tribute to your penetrating sense of decency and justice on behalf of all whose human rights are violated anyplace on this planet and whose champion you have become.

You have persistently stood up for the oppressed and the persecuted, acting as the conscience of this Congress for Human Rights.

The vicious cruelty of so much of humankind provides a tragic, yet proud parade of people who are enduring unspeakable suffering for their religious beliefs and ethical commitments. Some are Pentecostals in the Soviet Union, some are Coptic Christians in Egypt, some are Bahai in Iran, and some are Jews in Ethiopia. It is so profoundly appropriate for a Congressional Committee to be concerned about their fate since we as Members of Congress represent the quintessential commitment of our free society to both religious freedom and religious pluralism.

Being a survivor of the holocaust and having lost and suffered a great deal as a result of the ruthless religious and racial persecution of the recent past, I am determined not to witness as a passive bystander yet another annihilation of a very special and unique branch of the Jewish people.

The ancient and noble, as well as enigmatic legacy of the Ethiopian Jewish Community, who bravely stood by their beliefs and principles through centuries of persecution and isolation, deserves to be preserved and rescued for generations yet unborn. Throughout their history the Jews of Ethiopia have endured persecution, poverty, and slaughter of perhaps even greater intensity than even their brothers and sisters had to endure in Europe and the Middle East.

As recently as the beginning of this century the number of Ethiopian Jews was estimated at over 100,000, but today a mere remnant of about 25,000 of them is in existence. The rest have become victims of a cruel destiny of torture and annihilation. The situation of the Ethiopian Jewish Community even prior to the Marxist takeover in 1974 was intolerable. Disease, famine and ostracism due to their beliefs have been their fate throughout most of history. Except for brief periods, they have suffered from relentless religious persecution, oppression, and forcible attempts at conversion.

After the Communist Coup in 1974, which overthrew Haili Selassie and the monarchy and installed Lieutenant Colonel Marian in power, the fate of the Jewish Community of Ethiopia turned into a living nightmare.

The word Falasha is a pejorative term meaning exiled or stranger.