[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 119 (Thursday, September 21, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1811-E1812]
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 recently took two actions 
regarding the genocide in Darfur that I wanted to bring to your 
attention.
  At the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, the president of 
Sudan claimed that the genocide in Darfur is a myth propagated by 
Jewish organizations raising money for Israel.
  President Omar Hassan al-Bashir remarked that those ``who made the 
publicity, who mobilized the people, invariably, are Jewish 
organizations.''
  This statement is unconscionable and demands a vigorous response. 
Such Anti-Semitic remarks have no place in our world, let alone at the 
U.N. General Assembly.
  Furthermore, the mass killings, rapes and displacement of innocent 
civilians in Darfur are tragically well documented. The United States 
Holocaust Museum has issued a Genocide Emergency for Darfur.
  Today I signed a letter with several other Members of Congress 
demanding that President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan retract his 
baseless remarks. The letter calls on the Sudanese government to abide 
by the Darfur Peace Agreement and the will of the U.N. Security 
Council.
  A copy of this letter is reprinted below for your information.
  In addition, I am an original co-sponsor of the Darfur Accountability 
and Divestment Act of 2006.
  This legislation will ban federal contracts going to corporations 
doing business in Sudan that directly or indirectly support the 
genocide.
  Countless organizations have dedicated untold hours to stopping the 
carnage and human suffering in Darfur.
  These organizations include the American Jewish World Service, 
Amnesty International, International Committee of the Red Cross and the 
NAACP.
  The U.S. Congress must enact the Darfur Accountability and Divestment 
Act of 2006 and join this list of international groups working to end 
the genocide in Darfur.
  Sundown on Friday night marks the start of the Rosh Hashanah holiday, 
the Jewish New Year 5767, thus beginning a 10-day period of personal 
reflection and contemplation for Jews around the world.
  This is a moment in human history when the poignant expression 
``Never Again'' must be repeated over again, coupled with real action 
to end this tragic period of human suffering.

     President Omar Hassan al-Bashir,
     President of Sudan,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear President al-Bashir: We were shocked to hear your 
     comments on Tuesday, September 20th, at the U.N. General 
     Assembly where you stated that reports of deaths and refugees 
     in Darfur are ``fictions,'' and that those ``who made the 
     publicity, who mobilized the people, invariably, are Jewish 
     organizations.''
       Many of us have traveled to Darfur and seen the death, 
     destruction, and misery of the innocent civilians in Darfur 
     with our own eyes. The last 3 years of violence in Darfur 
     have resulted in the death of an estimated 200,000 people and 
     millions have been forced from their homes. This atrocity has 
     been encouraged and facilitated by your government.
       We are grateful that the American Jewish community as well 
     as other faith communities have made a priority of raising 
     the issue of genocide in Darfur. Instead of using the ancient 
     technique of making the Jewish community the scapegoat for 
     your failures, we hope that you will take a close look at 
     your own actions. In direct violation of the

[[Page E1812]]

     Darfur Peace Agreement and the will of the U.N. Security 
     Council, your government has recently deployed approximately 
     26,000 troops and attack helicopters to the Darfur region. 
     Your actions have directly resulted in an increase of attacks 
     on civilians and humanitarian aid workers.
       Mr. President, we call on you to apologize for and retract 
     your dangerous and fictitious accusations directed towards 
     the Jewish community. We also demand that you work to uphold 
     the Darfur Peace Agreement, and actively and immediately 
     strive to end the genocide within your borders. Finally, we 
     encourage you to work closely with Special Presidential Envoy 
     Andrew Natsios who is ready to aid your nation to achieve a 
     final peace. Rather than fanning the flames of conflict, we 
     hope you will act to save lives.

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