[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 73 (Monday, May 5, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H3026-H3028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL STRATEGY IN CHAD AND DARFUR

  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1011) calling on the United States Government and 
the international community to promptly develop, fund, and implement a 
comprehensive regional strategy to protect civilians, facilitate 
humanitarian operations, contain and reduce violence, and contribute to 
conditions for sustainable peace and good governance in Chad, as well 
as in the wider region that includes the northern region of the Central 
African Republic and the Darfur region of Sudan, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1011

       Whereas since independence in 1960, Chad's political life 
     has been afflicted by a series of internal conflicts and 
     civil wars as well as conflicts with its neighbors;
       Whereas Chad has held several legislative and presidential 
     multiparty elections since 1996, although the Department of 
     State reported that the elections were ``orderly, but 
     seriously flawed'';
       Whereas human rights groups and the most recent Department 
     of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices stated 
     that ``the [Chadian] government's poor human rights record 
     deteriorated further'';
       Whereas the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, continues to affect 
     neighboring countries, especially Chad;
       Whereas the United Nations estimates there are more than 
     240,000 refugees from Darfur and 52,000 refugees from the 
     Central African Republic in Chad, and more than 180,000 
     Chadians have been displaced from their homes;
       Whereas more than 12,000 new refugees from Darfur arrived 
     in Chad in February 2008 due to increasing attacks against 
     civilians by Sudanese Government forces, even as 30,000 
     Chadians were forced to flee the N'Djamena area to seek 
     refuge in Cameroon;
       Whereas the Government of Chad has provided important 
     support to the many refugees from Darfur and the Central 
     African Republic in Chad, despite serious economic and 
     political difficulties;
       Whereas the United States considers the Government of Chad 
     an important ally in the war against terrorism;
       Whereas a December 2007 report by the United Nations 
     Secretary General stated that ``the security situation in 
     eastern Chad has remained volatile and unpredictable [and 
     t]he renewed violence has put the civilian population living 
     in the area at increased risk and will further impede the 
     work of the humanitarian community'';
       Whereas an armed rebellion in Chad, supported by the 
     Government of Sudan, has led to a serious humanitarian crisis 
     and political instability in Chad;
       Whereas on September 25, 2007, the United Nations Security 
     Council passed Security Council Resolution 1778, authorizing 
     a multidimensional presence intended to help create the 
     security conditions conducive to a voluntary, secure, and 
     sustainable return of internally displaced persons and 
     refugees by contributing to their protection, both by 
     facilitating the provision of humanitarian assistance in 
     eastern Chad and the northern region of the Central African 
     Republic and by creating favorable conditions for the 
     reconstruction and economic and social development of those 
     areas;
       Whereas on October 15 and 16, 2007, the Council of the 
     European Union agreed to deploy the military component of the 
     multidimensional presence in the Central African Republic and 
     Chad for a period of 1 year from the date that its initial 
     operational capability is declared;
       Whereas in late 2007, the Government of Sudan reportedly 
     gathered several Chadian armed groups in Khartoum in order to 
     bring the armed factions under one coalition for the February 
     2008 offensive;
       Whereas in early February 2008, Chadian rebels armed and 
     supported by the Sudanese Government's armed forces launched 
     a major offensive in Chad's capital, N'Djamena, to overthrow 
     the government of President Idriss Deby Itno;
       Whereas in late February, the United Nations reported that 
     the European Union Force began deployment to Chad and that an 
     estimated 400 personnel have been deployed as of late 
     February 2008;
       Whereas the United States, the European Union, and the 
     African Union condemn the fighting in Chad and the foreign 
     support for the rebellion; and
       Whereas the Department of State issued a press release 
     condemning ``the attempt by armed rebels entering from 
     outside the country to seize power extra-constitutionally in 
     Chad'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses concern about the safety and well-being of 
     innocent civilians in Chad, Chadian refugees and Internally 
     Displaced Persons (IDPs), and refugees from Darfur and the 
     Central African Republic that have taken refuge in Chad;
       (2) strongly condemns Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and 
     the National Congress Party for their support of the armed 
     rebellion and aggressive behavior in Chad and throughout the 
     region;
       (3) calls on parties to seek a negotiated settlement;
       (4) urges the Government of Chad to--
       (A) engage in an inclusive national dialogue with all 
     stakeholders of the current conflict to reach a comprehensive 
     agreement that would address the root causes of the Chadian 
     crisis and strengthen democratic institutions;
       (B) protect its civilians from violence and respect and 
     enforce the rule of law in accordance with international 
     norms and standards; and
       (C) honor its May 9, 2007, agreement with the United 
     Nations Children's Fund, ensuring its commitment to end all 
     recruitment of persons under the age of 18 and demobilize all 
     children under the age of 18 from its security forces;
       (5) urges the Government of the Central African Republic 
     to--
       (A) fulfill its obligation under international law to 
     protect civilians; and
       (B) engage in constructive and inclusive dialogue with 
     opposition and armed groups;
       (6) calls on armed opposition groups to--
       (A) renounce violence and respect the rule of law;
       (B) engage in political dialogue to resolve the current 
     crisis in their respective countries; and
       (C) immediately end cooperation with the Government of 
     Sudan and others that encourage and support armed rebellion;
       (7) urges the United Nations Security Council to remain 
     focused on the crises in Chad and the Central African 
     Republic, and to ensure the effective and impartial 
     protection of civilians, including internally displaced 
     persons and refugees, particularly local populations, by 
     preempting, preventing, and deterring attacks on civilians; 
     and
       (8) calls on the President to--
       (A) continue United States humanitarian assistance to the 
     refugees and internally displaced persons in Chad and the 
     Central African Republic;
       (B) provide support to strengthen democratic institutions 
     and respect for human rights and rule of law; and
       (C) seek punitive measures against the Government of Sudan 
     by the United Nations Security Council for its aggression and 
     destructive activities in Chad and the region.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Watson) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution 
and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  I would first like to thank Representative Wolf and Chairman Payne 
for recognizing the importance of developing and implementing a 
strategy to resolve the crisis in Chad.
  Chad has been politically unstable for over 40 years, suffering from 
civil

[[Page H3027]]

wars as well as ethnic and religious tensions. Human rights conditions 
remain notably poor, and the government lacks transparency and 
accountability.
  In the past 3 years, as fighting between the government and rebels 
increased, 180,000 Chadians have been displaced, adding to the inflow 
of 290,000 refugees from the Central African Republic and Sudan's 
Darfur region. Although the government developed a plan for reform, and 
signed a peace agreement with rebel groups in 2007, the conflict has 
not ceased.
  In February 2008, rebel forces, supported by the neighboring Sudanese 
government, sought to remove President Idriss Deby from power, killing 
hundreds of civilians in the process.
  The 16 U.N. refugee camps suffer from water and firewood shortages, 
as well as periodic attacks on aid workers. New controls imposed by the 
Chadian government on humanitarian organizations hinder the movement of 
assistance and personnel.
  In September 2007 the U.N. Security Council, followed by the Council 
of the European Union, approved the presence of a multinational 
security force to facilitate assistance and create favorable conditions 
for reconstruction and development.
  The United States has provided over $338 million in humanitarian 
assistance since 2004 and also provides security assistance to the 
Chadian Army through the International Military Education and Training 
funds.
  It is imperative that the U.S. work harder to develop and implement a 
sound strategy to protect and assist Chadians and other refugees and, 
together with the international community, condemn Sudanese President 
Omar al-Bashir and the National Congress for their support of the armed 
rebellion. Further destabilization in Chad will lead to wider regional 
instability and hinder the United States' counterterrorism capabilities 
in a very sensitive region.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to rise in support of H. Res. 1011, which 
calls on the United States and the international community to develop, 
fund, and implement a regional strategy which addresses the increasing 
intertwined security and humanitarian crisis in Chad, the Darfur region 
of the Sudan, and the northern region of the Central African Republic.
  Borders in this region of the world are more of a concept than a 
reality. Ethnic groups straddle lines on a map, and conflict with each 
other or within one country inevitably spills over into the other 
countries. While this body has been seized by the horrific situation in 
Darfur, we have devoted far less attention to the broader regional 
crisis, particularly as it relates to Chad.
  Chad has been plagued by intermittent conflict, both internally and 
with its neighbors since it gained independence in 1960. The current 
President of Chad, Idriss Deby, took power after launching a coup 
across the border in neighboring Darfur, Sudan, with the support of 
Libya and his fellow ethnic Zaghawas who straddle the border between 
Chad and Sudan. He has since faced at least five coup attempts, 
including one just this past February.
  The Sudanese government's genocidal campaign in Darfur, which forced 
hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees across the border, has made 
the tensions within Chad, particularly among Deby's fellow Zaghawas, 
much worse. These tensions became further inflamed as the relationship 
between Chad and the Sudan deteriorated, with each government accusing 
the other of funding and supporting rebel movements within their 
respective borders, as well as in neighboring Central African Republic.
  The spillover of conflict from Darfur into Chad and the Central 
African Republic, from Chad into Darfur, and from Central African 
Republic into Chad, has led to the displacement of more than 3.1 
million people.
  In Darfur, an upsurge in fighting among rebel groups, government 
forces, militias and armed ethnic groups has led to the displacement of 
more than 80,000 people since this past January.
  In February of this year, 12,000 new refugees from Darfur arrived in 
Chad, bringing the total number of Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad to 
250,000. Chad also is hosting an additional 152,000 refugees from 
Central African Republic.
  At the same time, more than 180,000 people from Chad have been 
displaced by internal conflict, and in February, 30,000 people from 
Chad were forced to seek refuge in neighboring Cameroon after rebels, 
backed by the Sudanese government, attacked the capital.

                              {time}  1430

  As the wars in Chad, Sudan and Central African Republic become 
increasingly intertwined, and as the massive displacements take on a 
regional dimension, the United States and the international community 
must resist the urge to deal with each crisis in a vacuum. This 
resolution recognizes that reality and calls for a comprehensive 
strategy to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian operations, 
contain and reduce violence, and contribute to conditions for 
sustainable peace and good governance throughout the region with all 
nations. This is not only a moral imperative, but also a significant 
strategy requirement.
  I thank the sponsor of this resolution, Mr. Wolf, for introducing 
this important resolution, and I urge Members to support it.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 
1011, a resolution I sponsored expressing the concern of the House 
regarding the crisis in Chad.
  I want to acknowledge the support of my colleague and Africa 
subcommittee Chairman Donald Payne in working together to introduce 
this resolution, and also thank Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman 
Howard Berman and ranking member Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen as 
well as Africa subcommittee ranking member Congressman Chris Smith for 
their support in this effort.
  Since its independence in 1960, Chad has struggled through civil war 
and political unrest. Recent fighting in Chad has demonstrated beyond 
doubt the fragile conditions in the region and the continuing 
destructive behavior of the Government of Sudan in Chad and Darfur. 
While Chadian rebel groups and their Sudanese allies who laid siege to 
the capital in early February have since fled toward the east and 
Darfur, the fighting claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians and 
forced tens of thousands more out of the capital city and into 
neighboring Cameroon.
  This resolution calls on the United States government and the 
international community to promptly develop, fund, and implement a 
comprehensive regional strategy to protect civilians, facilitate 
humanitarian operations, contain and reduce violence, and contribute to 
conditions for sustainable peace and good governance in Chad.
  It also calls for a strategy for the wider region that includes 
northern Central African Republic and the Darfur region of Sudan, as 
recent developments in Chad illustrate the terrible threat facing 
civilians and the risk of another major humanitarian disaster in that 
region.
  The resolution acknowledges the concern about the safety and well 
being of innocent civilians in Chad, Chadian refugees and internally 
displaced persons, and refugees from Darfur and the Central African 
Republic that have taken refuge in Chad and strongly condemns Sudanese 
President Omar al-Bashir and the National Congress Party for their 
support of the armed rebellion and aggressive behavior in Chad and 
throughout the region.
  It also urges the Government of Chad to engage in an inclusive 
national dialogue with all stakeholders of the current conflict to 
reach a comprehensive agreement that would address the root causes of 
the Chadian crisis and strengthen democratic institutions. The 
resolution also urges the government to work to protect its civilians 
from violence and to honor its May 9, 2007, agreement with the United 
Nations Children's Fund, ensuring its commitment to end all recruitment 
of persons under the age of 18 and demobilize all children under the 
age of 18 from its security forces.
  The resolution further urges the Government of the Central African 
Republic to fulfill its obligation under international law to protect 
civilians and engage in constructive and inclusive dialogue with 
opposition and armed groups.
  The resolution also calls on armed opposition groups to renounce 
violence and respect the rule of law, engage in political dialogue to 
resolve the current crisis in their respective countries, and 
immediately end cooperation with the Government of Sudan and others 
that encourage and support armed rebellion.
  Recognizing the importance of the United Nations Security Council in 
ending this crisis, the resolution urges the Security Council to remain 
focused on the crises in Chad and the

[[Page H3028]]

Central African Republic, and to ensure the effective and impartial 
protection of civilians, including internally displaced persons and 
refugees, particularly local populations, by preempting, preventing, 
and deterring attacks on civilians.
  The United States also has an important role to play in resolving the 
situation in Chad, and the resolution calls on the president to 
continue United States humanitarian assistance to the refugees and 
internally displaced persons in Chad and the Central African Republic, 
provide support to strengthen democratic institutions and respect for 
human rights and rule of law, and seek punitive measures against the 
Government of Sudan by the United Nations Security Council for its 
aggression and destructive activities in Chad and the region.
  Mr. Speaker, it is important for this House to express its concern 
about the crisis in Chad and how the political instability and 
humanitarian crisis there is impacting the entire region. I urge my 
colleagues to support this resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
strong support for H. Res. 1011, calling on the United States 
Government and the international community to promptly develop, fund, 
and implement a comprehensive regional strategy to protect civilians, 
facilitate humanitarian operations, contain and reduce violence, and 
contribute to conditions for sustainable peace and good governance in 
Chad, as well as in the wider region that includes the northern region 
of the Central African Republic and the Darfur region of Sudan, 
introduced by my distinguished colleague from Virginia, Representative 
Wolf. This timely and important legislation, of which I am proud to be 
an original cosponsor, not only calls on the governments of Chad and 
the Central African Republic to fulfill their obligations under 
international law to protect civilians, but also calls upon the 
President of the United States to continue humanitarian assistance to 
refugees and internally displaced persons in the region.
  While regional conflicts have proven substantive and continuous, the 
internal politics of Chad are by no means a beacon of stability and 
democracy. Since reaching independence in 1960, Chad has been 
consistently riddled with internal conflicts and civil wars. 
Unfortunately, despite American assistance to the government, the State 
Department reported that the last elections were, ``orderly, but 
seriously flawed,'' as well as stating in the most recent Department of 
State Country Report on Human Rights Practices that, ``the [Chadian] 
government's poor human rights record deteriorated further.'' The 
situation within Chad is even more precarious when one considers that 
the United Nations estimates that Chad is home to some 240,000 refugees 
from Darfur, 52,000 refugees from the Central African Republic, and 
more than 180,000 internally displaced people. In February 2008 alone, 
over 12,000 new refugees from Darfur entered the country.
  Mr. Speaker, in the past three years, as fighting between the 
government and rebels increased, 180,000 Chadians have been displaced, 
adding to the inflow of 290,000 refugees from the Central African 
Republic (CAR) and Sudan's Darfur region. Although the government 
developed a plan for reform, and signed a peace agreement with rebel 
groups in 2007, the conflict has not ceased. In February 2008, rebel 
forces, supported by the neighboring Sudanese government, sought to 
remove President Idriss Deby from power, killing hundreds of civilians 
in the process. Despite the United Nation's Security Council Resolution 
1778, authorizing a multidimensional presence intended to help create 
the security conditions necessary for reconstruction and social and 
economic development, this has not been the case. While the United 
States has provided over $338 million in humanitarian assistance since 
2004 and also provides security assistance to the Chadian army through 
the International Military Education and Training (IMET) funds, there 
is still much more that needs to be done.

  This resolution is both timely and imperative because it calls on the 
United States to work harder to develop and implement a sound strategy 
to protect and assist Chadians and other refugees, and, together with 
the international community, condemn Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir 
and the National Congress for their support of the armed rebellion. A 
further destabilization in Chad will lead to wider regional instability 
and hinder the United States' counter-terrorism capabilities in a very 
sensitive region.
  By calling on the President of the United States to continue to 
provide humanitarian assistance to displaced persons in the Chad and 
the Central African Republic and provide support to strengthen the rule 
of law, democratic institutions, and respect for human rights, this 
legislation works to not only alleviate suffering in the short term, 
but also prevent them from occurring in the long term. I am proud to be 
an original cosponsor of this legislation and urge my colleagues to 
join me in supporting it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H. Res. 1011, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________