[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7609]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          SITUATION IN DARFUR

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I join the American public and the 
international community in congratulating the signatories of the recent 
peace agreement signed in Abuja, Nigeria on May 5, 2006. I hope that 
this peace agreement marks a dramatic turning point in bringing about a 
solution to the genocidal conflict that has ravaged the Darfur region 
of Sudan. The administration deserves to be commended for getting the 
Sudanese government and the Sudan Liberation Army to the table and for 
maintaining a commitment to completing this peace process. This does 
not mean, however, that we or the international community can return to 
complacency, satisfied that we have done our part. Quite the contrary.
  At this point, it is essential that the peace agreement be expanded 
to include those parties that have not yet signed. Those without a 
stake in the current political power and wealth sharing agreements will 
have few incentives to help build peace in the region, and will most 
likely be spoilers to the peace agreement. These parties must be 
encouraged to join and abide by the accord. Additionally, it is 
critical that the international community, working with the African 
Union, the United Nations, and regional partners, develop a 
comprehensive strategy to ensure that the peace agreement is 
implemented and adhered to by both the Government of Sudan and the 
Sudan Liberation Army. The Darfur region is facing an extremely fragile 
period. Now is the time to show international resolve for quelling the 
remaining instability throughout the region and for kick-starting all 
of the elements of the peace agreement. We must also move quickly to 
institute and strengthen mechanisms and systems to ensure that the 
parties to not backslide in to full-scale conflict.
  In addition, we must strengthen the peacekeeping capabilities of the 
African Union and ensure that it has the capacity to help monitor and 
enforce the peace agreement. The African Union has worked hard to 
execute its broad and far-reaching mandate with limited resources and 
experience, and it will need support to be a contributor to 
establishing a lasting peace in the region. We must also work to 
introduce a United Nations peacekeeping mission into the region as 
quickly as possible. I applaud President Bush's decision to send 
Secretary Rice to the United Nations to seek a resolution authorizing a 
U.N. peacekeeping force in Darfur. I supported the recent amendment to 
the fiscal year 2006 emergency supplemental appropriations bill adding 
$60 million to fund a U.N. peacekeeping force in Darfur, matching 
similar legislation in the House. With this clear message of support 
from the U.S. Congress, it is now up to the administration to work with 
our friends and allies at the U.N. to reach agreement on a resolution 
authorizing a peacekeeping force, and exert robust diplomatic pressure 
on those who would try to block it.
  We must not forget the massive humanitarian tragedy that is still 
unfolding. Even as the peace deal was being finalized, the U.N. World 
Food Program, WFP, announced that it would have to cut rations by over 
50 percent in Darfur beginning in May. Many of the over 2 million 
refugees who have been forced from their homes and their livelihood are 
on the brink of starvation, and this already massive tragedy could yet 
take an even more devastating turn. Systematic gender-based violence 
against women and girls continues unabated and basic safety and 
security continue to be denied to Darfurians. Humanitarian 
organizations trying to work in the region face increasing difficulties 
in fulfilling their mission, and safe areas have diminished to 
unprecedented levels. The situation, in short, remains disastrous and 
the lives and well-being of millions hang in the balance. If anything, 
we must increase our efforts to protect the region most vulnerable, and 
to support Darfurians in this fragile period. Failure to do so could 
have a negative impact on the peace agreement.
  Looking ahead to the implementation of the peace agreement and to 
establishing peace in the region, it will be critically important to 
address the crimes against humanity that have been committed, and to 
take a stand against the cycle of impunity and injustice that we have 
seen occur over the last 3 years. Those who commit crimes against 
humanity must know that the world is watching, and that they will be 
held accountable for their actions.
  In conclusion, we have reasons to be optimistic. We must not ignore, 
however, the fact that now the hard work begins.

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