[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1011 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1011

Calling on the United States Government and the international community 
   to promptly develop, fund, and implement a comprehensive regional 
  strategy to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian operations, 
     contain and reduce violence, and contribute to conditions for 
sustainable peace and good governance in Chad, as well as in the wider 
    region that includes the northern region of the Central African 
                Republic and the Darfur region of Sudan.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 28, 2008

     Mr. Wolf (for himself and Mr. Payne) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Calling on the United States Government and the international community 
   to promptly develop, fund, and implement a comprehensive regional 
  strategy to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian operations, 
     contain and reduce violence, and contribute to conditions for 
sustainable peace and good governance in Chad, as well as in the wider 
    region that includes the northern region of the Central African 
                Republic and the Darfur region of Sudan.

Whereas since independence in 1960, Chad's political life has been afflicted by 
        a series of internal conflicts and civil wars;
Whereas Chad has held several legislative and presidential multiparty elections 
        since 1996, although the Department of State reported that the elections 
        were ``orderly, but seriously flawed'';
Whereas human rights groups and the most recent Department of State Country 
        Reports on Human Rights Practices stated that ``the [Chadian] 
        government's poor human rights record deteriorated further'';
Whereas the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, continues to affect neighboring 
        countries, especially Chad;
Whereas the United Nations estimates there are more than 240,000 refugees from 
        Darfur and 52,000 refugees from the Central African Republic, and more 
        than 180,000 Chadians have been displaced from their homes;
Whereas more than 12,000 new refugees from Darfur arrived in Chad in February 
        2008 due to increasing attacks against civilians by government forces;
Whereas the Government of Chad has provided important support to the many 
        refugees from Darfur and the Central African Republic in Chad, despite 
        serious economic and political difficulties;
Whereas the United States considers the Government of Chad an important ally in 
        the war against terrorism;
Whereas a December 2007 report by the United Nations Secretary General stated 
        that ``the security situation in eastern Chad has remained volatile and 
        unpredictable [and t]he renewed violence has put the civilian population 
        living in the area at increased risk and will further impede the work of 
        the humanitarian community'';
Whereas an armed rebellion organized and supported by the Government of Sudan 
        has led to a serious humanitarian crisis and political instability in 
        Chad;
Whereas on September 25, 2007, the United Nations Security Council passed 
        Security Council Resolution 1778, authorizing a multidimensional 
        presence intended to help create the security conditions conducive to a 
        voluntary, secure, and sustainable return of internally displaced 
        persons and refugees by contributing to their protection, both by 
        facilitating the provision of humanitarian assistance in eastern Chad 
        and the northern region of the Central African Republic and by creating 
        favorable conditions for the reconstruction and economic and social 
        development of those areas;
Whereas on October 15 and 16, 2007, the Council of the European Union agreed to 
        deploy the military component of the multidimensional presence in the 
        Central African Republic and Chad for a period of 1 year from the date 
        that its initial operational capability is declared;
Whereas in late February, the United Nations reported that the European Union 
        Force began deployment to Chad and that an estimated 400 personnel have 
        been deployed as of late February 2008;
Whereas in early February 2008, Chadian rebels armed and supported by the 
        Sudanese Government's armed forces launched a major offensive in Chad's 
        capital, N'Djamena, to overthrow the Government of President Idriss Deby 
        and to install a proxy government in Chad;
Whereas in late 2007, the Government of Sudan gathered several Chadian armed 
        groups in Khartoum in order to bring the armed factions under one 
        coalition for the February 2008 offensive;
Whereas the United States, the European Union, and the African Union condemn the 
        fighting in Chad and the foreign support for the rebellion; and
Whereas the Department of State press release condemned ``the attempt by armed 
        rebels entering from outside the country to seize power extra-
        constitutionally in Chad'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses concern about the safety and well-being of 
        innocent civilians in Chad, and the refugees from Darfur and 
        the Central African Republic;
            (2) strongly condemns Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and 
        the National Congress Party for their support of the armed 
        rebellion and aggressive behavior in Chad and throughout the 
        region;
            (3) calls on parties to seek a negotiated settlement;
            (4) urges the Government of Chad to--
                    (A) engage in an inclusive national dialogue with 
                all stakeholders of the current conflict to reach a 
                comprehensive agreement that would address the root 
                causes of the Chadian crisis and strengthen democratic 
                institutions;
                    (B) protect its civilians from violence and respect 
                and enforce the rule of law in accordance with 
                international norms and standards; and
                    (C) honor its May 9, 2007, agreement with the 
                United Nations Children's Fund, ensuring its commitment 
                to end all recruitment of persons under the age of 18 
                and demobilize all children under the age of 18 from 
                its security forces;
            (5) urges the Government of the Central African Republic 
        to--
                    (A) fulfill its obligation under international law 
                to protect civilians; and
                    (B) engage in constructive and inclusive dialogue 
                with opposition and armed groups;
            (6) calls on armed opposition groups to--
                    (A) renounce violence and respect the rule of law;
                    (B) engage in political dialogue to resolve the 
                current crisis in their respective countries; and
                    (C) immediately end cooperation with the Government 
                of Sudan and others that encourage and support armed 
                rebellion;
            (7) urges the United Nations Security Council to remain 
        focused on the crises in Chad and the Central African Republic, 
        and to ensure the effective and impartial protection of 
        civilians, including internally displaced persons and refugees, 
        particularly local populations, by preempting, preventing, and 
        deterring attacks on civilians; and
            (8) calls on the President to--
                    (A) continue United States humanitarian assistance 
                to the refugees and internally displaced persons in 
                Chad and the Central African Republic;
                    (B) provide support to strengthen democratic 
                institutions and respect for human rights and rule of 
                law; and
                    (C) seek punitive measures against the Government 
                of Sudan by the United Nations Security Council for its 
                aggression and destructive activities in Chad and the 
                region.
                                 <all>