WHAT HAPPENED IN 1997.
Look what happened the 1997.

The United States government acknowledges the existence of the "Secret War" in Laos and dedicates the Laos Memorial in honor of Hmong and other "Secret War" veterans. (15. May 1997)

Mobutu Sese Seko, the President of Zaire, flees the country. (16. May 1997)

Troops of Laurent Kabila march into Kinshasa. Zaire is officially renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo. (17. May 1997)

The Sierra Gorda Biosphere, the most ecologically diverse region in Mexico, is established as a result of grassroots efforts. (19. May 1997)

Kelly Flinn, the US Air Force's first female bomber pilot certified for combat, accepts a general discharge in order to avoid a court-martial. (22. May 1997)

A military coup in Sierra Leone replaces President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah with Major Johnny Paul Koromah. (25. May 1997)

The unusual tornado outbreak in Jarrell, Texas. (27. May 1997)

The U.S. Supreme Court rules that Paula Jones can pursue her sexual harassment lawsuit against President Bill Clinton while he is in office. (27. May 1997)

In Denver, Colorado, Timothy McVeigh is convicted on 15 counts of murder and conspiracy for his role in the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was executed four years later. (2. June 1997)

Before fleeing his northern stronghold, Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot orders the killing of his defense chief Son Sen and 11 of Sen's family members. (10. June 1997)

Queen Elizabeth II reopens the Globe Theatre in London. (12. June 1997)

A jury sentences Timothy McVeigh to death for his part in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. (13. June 1997)

Uphaar cinema fire, in New Delhi, India, killed 59 people, and over 100 people injured. (13. June 1997)

The Dairat Labguer massacre in Algeria; 50 people die. (16. June 1997)

An unmanned Progress spacecraft collides with the Russian space station Mir. (25. June 1997)

The Soufrière Hills volcano in Montserrat erupts resulting in the death of 19 people. (25. June 1997)

The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the Communications Decency Act violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. (26. June 1997)

Holyfield–Tyson II – Mike Tyson is disqualified in the 3rd round for biting a piece off Evander Holyfield's ear. (28. June 1997)

The United Kingdom transfers sovereignty over Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China. (30. June 1997)

China resumes sovereignty over the city-state of Hong Kong, ending 156 years of British colonial rule. (1. July 1997)