Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Committee 
(TASSC)

Press Release (#1)
June 17, 1998	
Contact: John Salzburg, 202.244.0118 or Kani Xulam, 202.270.9008


21 Senators and 54 Representatives
Urge President Clinton to Honor Torture Victims and Survivors

While thousands of people are being tortured around the world, two letters 
are circulating in the United States Congress, one in the House and the other 
in the Senate, urging President Clinton to honor torture victims and 
survivors in our midst and in the world.

The initial push for the drive came last December when the United Nations 
General Assembly passed a resolution declaring, June 26, an International Day 
for Torture Victims and Survivors.  In April, a group of Washington based 
human rights groups formed a committee, Torture Abolition and Survivors 
Support Committee (TASSC) to commemorate the day.

The two letters that are circulating in the Congress have the backings of 
notable organizations such as Amnesty International/USA, Physicians for 
Human Rights, American Psychological Association, Human Rights Program 
of American Association for the Advancement of Science and Federation of 
American Scientists.

Republicans and Democrats alike, both in the Senate and in the House, are 
asking President Clinton to issue a proclamation on June 26 calling for an end 
to the practice of torture in the world and accept an invitation from TASSC to 
meet with a group of torture survivors.  They note that torture is practiced in 
over 100 countries and an estimated 400,000 torture survivors reside in the 
United States alone.

Senators Leahy, Grams and Wellstone are the sponsors of the Senate letter.  
Representatives Morella and Lantos are behind the House one.  Senators 
McConnell, Moynihan and Kennedy, among others, have agreed to be the 
sponsors of the Senate move.  In the House, the 54 signers include 
Representatives Gilman, Porter and Pelosi.

A press conference, a Congressional briefing and a dusk to dawn candle-light 
vigil at Lafayette Park are some of the activities that TASSC has planned for 
the week of June 24-26th.  The friends of humanity are invited to attend all of 
our activities.