[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 119 (Thursday, September 21, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       GENOCIDE IN DARFUR, SUDAN

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 20, 2006

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to say, that as world 
leaders meet in New York this week to determine next steps on the 
Darfur crisis, we here in the U.S. Congress must commit to finding ways 
to break the current deadlock and lead new international action to stop 
the ongoing genocide.
  We need to begin an all-out diplomatic offensive on Darfur in order 
to prepare the way for a peacekeeping force that can ensure protection 
for the people of Darfur.
  The Coalition for International Justice estimated that 450,000 people 
in Darfur have died since the deadly genocide began some three years 
ago.
  International attention to the Darfur conflict largely began with 
reports by the advocacy organizations, Amnesty International, in July 
2003, and the International Crisis Group in December 2003.
  Since then, countless organizations have put in untold hours trying 
to stop the carnage and human suffering. Groups like: International 
Committee of the Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, World Vision, SAVE 
DARFUR--an alliance of more than 100 faith-based, humanitarian, and 
human rights organizations, including: Amnesty International USA, 
International Crisis Group, American Jewish World Service, NAACP, 
American Society for Muslim Advancement, United States Conference of 
Catholic Bishops, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Church World 
Service.
  In all, dozens upon dozens of groups and organizations have 
prioritized stopping the killing in Darfur before there is no one left 
to be killed. It is high time that we, the U.S. Congress, join our name 
to that list.
  We've done it before.
  When the U.S. Congress decided in 1986 that South Africa's ways of 
Apartheid could no longer be ignored, the 99th Congress jumped in and 
passed of the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act was won over a 
presidential veto. The bill imposed sweeping economic sanctions against 
South Africa, divesting capital from the government, and authorized 
several measures to assist the victims of apartheid.
  Virtually every member of Congress felt pressure from their home 
districts to do something about apartheid and cities and colleges in 
their districts were divesting, and the bi-partisan vote led the way 
ending an oppressive regime.
  We are at the point with Darfur.
  I continue to hope and pray that the Bush Administration makes this a 
top priority in New York this week, and to pressure Sudan and its 
allies, particularly Russia and China, to accept the will of the 
international community for an international force to protect civilians 
in Darfur.
  In the meantime, I hope that we all gather in support of 
Congresswoman Lee's Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act, DADA, of 
2006. Divestment worked to end Apartheid and it can work in this 
instance.
  We can make a difference. We can save lives. We can stop the 
genocide.

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