[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 103 (Thursday, July 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1490]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  DECLARING GENOCIDE IN DARFUR, SUDAN

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                               speech of

                         HON. GREGORY W. MEEKS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 21, 2004

  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, only a few-months ago the world 
honored the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide and promised 
never to tolerate genocide again. 10 years later we are witnessing 
another genocide, but this time in the Sudan. Since the conflict 
erupted in February 2003, thirty thousand have died and close to a 
quarter of a million will die, if we do not act.
  Sudanese government troops and their allied militia, the Janjaweed, 
have raped, tortured, maimed, and burned entire villages to cleanse the 
area of African Muslims. An estimated 1.2 million have been forced from 
their homes and into camps, where they remain vulnerable to attacks and 
lack basic services.
  We must stop what is happening. It is Genocide, and under the 
requirements of the 1948 UN Convention, the world is obligated to act 
to stop it.
  We must insist that the Sudanese government cease support for and 
disarm the Janjaweed militias and if it cannot, the UN Security Council 
must be persuaded to authorize force to do so.
  The U.S. and world must target sanctions such as travel bans and the 
freezing of assets of Khartoum government officials responsible to stop 
the atrocities. We must find out why humanitarian aid is not getting 
through and ensure that it does.
  Lastly, we must establish a Darfur Resettlement, Rehabilitation, and 
Reconstruction Fund so that those driven off their land may return and 
begin to rebuild their communities.
  We must act now, if we are to prevent another Rwanda.

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