[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 110 (Wednesday, July 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1565-E1566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ROAD TO PEACE IN SUDAN

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 2003

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, as you are keenly aware, the Road to Peace 
for the people of Sudan has been long and perilous. Yet the prospect 
for a lasting peace may finally be at hand. Negotiations among the 
government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army 
(SPLM/A) have been ongoing over the past 10 months under a renewed 
commitment to peace and with a determination to resolve the important 
issues that remain.
  I observed today, the debate on H. Res. 194 regarding the importance 
of international efforts to abolish slavery and other human rights 
abuses in Sudan. Mr. Speaker, I share the concerns of my distinguished 
colleagues and their desire to see an end to slavery and human rights 
abuses, be it Sudan or elsewhere in the world. But while we cannot 
condone or ever forget the past, in my view the

[[Page E1566]]

interests of the people of Sudan are best served by focusing on the 
future and finding lasting peace and stability for the region.
  On April 21, 2003, President Bush, in his Presidential Determination 
Under the Sudan Peace Act, certified that the government of Sudan and 
the People's Liberation Movement (SPLM/A) are negotiating in good 
faith. This historic event underscores the government of Sudan's 
commitment to peace and sets the stage for a negotiated peace agreement 
and the chance for dignity, prosperity and a better way of life for the 
people of Sudan, especially for Sudanese children.
  Mr. Speaker, there will be those who will criticize the president's 
decision and who will focus on past history while giving little 
recognition to the positive events of the past year. The tragedy of 
such criticism is that it promotes a policy of divisiveness instead of 
unity which would enhance the prospects for peace and stability to the 
region. Even more troublesome is that such criticism shifts the focus 
from the real prospects for peace that now exist. While progress on the 
peace front has not been without set backs, positive developments have 
and continue to occur and should not be ignored.
  Mr. Speaker, the release of special envoy John Danforth's April 2002 
report ``Outlook for Peace in Sudan'' put in motion the events to-date 
that have helped reestablish the present framework for peace. Following 
the Danforth report, an important first step towards peace was the 
signing of the Machakos Protocol, on July 20, 2002, resolving the major 
issues of self-determination for the south and the separation of state 
and religion. In September 2002, peace talks resumed under a negotiated 
ceasefire agreement and in October, 2002, the government of Sudan and 
the SPLM/A signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to allow 
unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas and to people in need, in 
accordance with the Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) agreement.

  In addition, an addendum to the October 2002 MOU on cessation of 
hostilities was signed to add new mechanisms to strengthen 
implementation. Later in February, the human rights group Amnesty 
International was invited to visit Sudan for constructive dialogue on 
human rights issues.
  On March 4, the mandate of the Civilian Protection Monitoring Team 
(CPMT) was extended for another year. Later in March, the ceasefire 
agreement was extended to June 30, 2003. Most recently, on May 1 the 
United Nations secured the opening of a new corridor in southern Sudan 
to enhance humanitarian access to the region.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my distinguished colleagues will view these 
developments as testimony to government of Sudan's commitment to 
achieving a lasting peace for the benefit of all our people.
  While these and other events give hope for peace and a permanent end 
to hostilities, there are many of my colleagues who remain skeptical.
  There remain roughly 90 days before the next ``determination'' under 
the Sudan Peace Act must be made. I would call on my colleagues to join 
me in supporting an NGO-sponsored fact finding delegation mission to 
Sudan and an accompanying report on the findings to assist in fully 
understanding the current situation in the Sudan with regard to 
allegations of slavery, human rights abuses and religious persecution.
  Mr. Speaker, the situation in Sudan is the product of nearly a half-
century of conflict and political divisiveness. While we must never 
forget the past, the interests of the Sudanese people will be best 
served by focusing in the future and achieving lasting peace.
  We look forward to the day when peace is at hand and when U.S. 
sanctions can be lifted and Sudan removed from the state terrorist 
sponsors list. Only then will the people of Sudan be able to receive 
the benefits of American ingenuity, technology and investment for their 
sustained growth and economic prosperity.

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