[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 6, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRESS AND ADMINISTRATION FAIL TO SPEAK OUT REGARDING CHRISTIAN 
                          PERSECUTION IN SUDAN

  (Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, in Sudan 2.2 million people have died, 
mainly Christians, who have been persecuted by the north. There is 
slavery in Sudan today in the year 2001.
  Now the oil companies are going into the Sudan, some traded on the 
New York Stock Exchange. An article in World Magazine by Mindy Belz 
says the following:
  ``China's petroleum firm reportedly purchased a high tech radar 
system for the government last year. It was installed last summer, and 
since then government bombing raids against southern targets, mostly 
churches and humanitarian relief operations, have increased. The U.N. 
private humanitarian agencies, local churches and village leaders have 
confirmed the 152 air attacks.''
  Oil money listed on the New York Stock Exchange buying radar so they 
can kill Christians, and this Congress and this administration is not 
speaking out?

                [From the World Magazine, Mar. 10, 2001]

                             Blood for Oil

                            (By Mindy Belz)

       Divisions among Sudan's Islamic factions could weaken the 
     regime, but, in the meantime, oil companies are strengthening 
     President Omar el-Bashir's ability to wage war.
       Overseas oil consortiums began pumping oil from south-
     central Sudan in 1999. Farther east, they rapidly explored 
     another oil region and expect to begin yielding oil exports 
     soon. The new trade brings in over $400 million in revenue 
     for Khartoum, more than enough to finance the war it has 
     waged against south Sudan for nearly 18 years. Experts say 
     one of the reasons that war has been so protracted is that 
     the government has not had enough resources to do battle 
     competently--until now.
       Overseas companies currently operate in three oil 
     concessions, all falling in contested areas of southern 
     Sudan. The Khartoum government has said it will lease two 
     more this year. China's state-owned oil business, Chinese 
     National Petroleum Company (CNPC), and the private Canadian 
     firm, Calgary-based Talisman Energy, Inc., are the largest 
     participants in Sudan's fledgling oil trade. They expect 
     south Sudan's oilfields to double their daily output for 
     export--currently at 85,000 barrels--by 2005. During that 
     time Sudan likely will build another oil pipeline, probably 
     east to Ethiopia and through territory currently held by 
     rebels.
       Smaller European oil companies, along with Malaysia's 
     Petronas, also have oil operations in south and southwest 
     Sudan. Last month Sudan signed a memorandum of understanding 
     with Russia, opening its way to exporting oil via the Red 
     Sea.
       You don't have to tell Americans--at least those who 
     remember gas-ration lines--that oil politics come only in 
     high-test. With Sudan it is no different. The companies 
     already on the ground have made big investments to break in, 
     and they want to protect their holdings. So China's petroleum 
     firm reportedly purchased a high-tech radar system for the 
     government last year. It was installed last summer, and since 
     then government bombing raids against southern targets 
     (mostly churches and humanitarian relief operations) have 
     increased--the UN, private humanitarian agencies, local 
     churches, and village leaders have confirmed 152 air attacks 
     last year. Talisman Energy opened to government forces an 
     airstrip that it built near its oil concession. To 
     compensate, Talisman posts a special page on its website for 
     ``Sudan Operating Principles,'' including information about 
     its efforts to enact a ``code of ethics'' for operating in a 
     war zone.
       Meanwhile, the UN reports that this year nearly 40,000 
     people have been displaced from these oil regions. ``The oil-
     rich area of Sudan has seen a great deal of population 
     displacement and in fact is currently one of the most 
     insecure areas in Sudan,'' said Nicholas Siwingwa, deputy 
     country director of the UN's World Food Program. He said 
     nearly a third of those forced out of the area are 
     malnourished. Most have lost their homes and holdings 
     permanently because they were burned to the ground by 
     government forces.
       The report was a concession to private humanitarian groups. 
     U.S. Committee for Refugees director Roger Winter had earlier 
     challenged the UN agency to ``make clear that ethnic 
     cleansing linked to oil development in southern Sudan is 
     causing massive civilian displacement.'' But Mr. Siwingwa 
     would only acknowledge that it was ``possible'' oil 
     development was contributing to the further horrors of war.

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