[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 2, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H2973-H2974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RELEASE PETER BIAR AJAK AND ALL OTHER POLITICAL PRISONERS IN SOUTH 
                                 SUDAN

  (Ms. DEAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DEAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak, once again, about Peter 
Biar Ajak, a renowned peace activist unlawfully detained in South 
Sudan.
  In July of 2018, Peter was arrested by South Sudan's security forces. 
He has

[[Page H2974]]

been held without charge or trial ever since, and has been frequently 
denied access to his family, to counsel, to care, and to adequate food.
  Peter was one of Sudan's ``Lost Boys,'' he resettled in Philadelphia, 
and attended La Salle University, where I taught for 10 years. I knew 
Peter as a brilliant student and a leader. He later went on to Harvard 
and to Cambridge.
  He is a dedicated peace activist who co-founded South Sudan Young 
Leaders Forum. In his work, he has criticized South Sudan's leaders for 
failing to secure a permanent peace for their people.
  Incredibly, Peter is now under investigation for crimes including 
treason and terrorism. If charged and convicted, Peter could be 
sentenced to death. In reality, he is being persecuted for his speech.
  I call on President Kiir to release Peter and all other political 
prisoners in South Sudan.

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