[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[House]
[Pages 28558-28560]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CONDEMNING ATTACKS ON AFRICAN UNION PEACEKEEPERS IN HASKANITA, DARFUR, 
                      SUDAN, ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2007

  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 740) condemning in the strongest terms the attacks 
on African Union peacekeepers that occurred in Haskanita, Darfur, 
Sudan, on September 29, 2007, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 740

       Whereas, on September 29, 2007, an estimated 1,000 heavily-
     armed rebels in Darfur overran a small base in Haskanita, 
     Darfur, Sudan, occupied by the African Union Mission in Sudan 
     (AMIS), brutally killing 10 peacekeepers--seven Nigerian 
     soldiers and three other unarmed military observers and 
     civilian police officers from Mali, Senegal, and Botswana--
     and wounding seven other peacekeepers, with 50 peacekeepers 
     still missing;
       Whereas, in an assault described by the African Union 
     commander as ``deliberate and sustained'', the rebel group 
     broke into the AMIS base in 30 vehicles with heavy artillery 
     and mortars and battled for hours until AMIS forces ran out 
     of ammunition;
       Whereas the attacks were the worst attacks on AMIS 
     peacekeepers since the deployment of the peacekeepers to 
     Sudan in July 2004;
       Whereas the United Nations Security Council condemned the 
     ``murderous attack'' on AMIS peacekeepers and demanded that 
     ``no effort be spared'' to identify and bring to justice the 
     perpetrators of the attacks;
       Whereas, in the aftermath of the attacks, the Government of 
     Sudan secured the area reportedly to facilitate the 
     evacuation of AMIS peacekeepers, but later was accused of 
     burning Haskanita to the ground, driving more than 15,000 
     civilians into the wilderness or neighboring towns;
       Whereas the attacks have been openly condemned by the 
     United States Government, the African Union, the 
     international community, and civilized people everywhere; and
       Whereas the Government of Sudan has not publicly spoken out 
     against or condemned the attacks: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) condemns in the strongest terms the attacks on African 
     Union peacekeepers that occurred in Haskanita, Darfur, Sudan, 
     on September 29, 2007;
       (2) expresses its condolences to the people and Governments 
     of Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, and Botswana, the families and 
     friends of those individuals who were killed or missing in 
     the attacks, and expresses its sympathies to those 
     individuals who have been injured;
       (3) expresses the solidarity of the people and Government 
     of the United States with the African Union and the African 
     Union peacekeepers as they recover from these cowardly and 
     inhuman attacks;
       (4) expresses its readiness to support efforts to bring to 
     justice those individuals responsible for the attacks and 
     efforts to detect, pursue, disrupt, and dismantle the 
     networks that plan and carry out such attacks;
       (5) expresses its support for the people of Darfur, Sudan, 
     in their continued struggle against extremism and violence 
     and support for their efforts to secure a permanent peace, 
     justice, and return to their restored villages and homes; and
       (6) encourage all parties involved in the conflict to 
     commit to negotiate a final and binding peace agreement at 
     the peace talks scheduled for October 27, 2007, in Tripoli, 
     Libya.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Tanner) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
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 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Let me thank Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee for introducing this 
resolution, which condemns the recent vicious and deadly assault on 
African Union forces.
  On September 29, 2007, an estimated 1,000 members of a heavily armed 
group of Darfur rebels overran a small African Union base in Haskanita 
in Darfur. Ten peacekeepers were brutally killed, 7 wounded, and 50 
others are missing. Seven of those killed were Nigerian soldiers. The 
other 3 were unarmed military observers and civilian police officers 
from Mali, Senegal, and Botswana. With consideration of this resolution 
today, the U.S. Congress sends its condolences to their respective 
governments and to their families who have made the ultimate sacrifice 
in a war far from their native soil.
  While the nations of the world deplore the war in Darfur and have 
provided significant humanitarian assistance to refugees and displaced 
persons, we still have not demonstrated the will to end this crisis. 
The United Nations is intensely lobbying countries to provide 
helicopters for a U.N. African Union peacekeeping force, one of many 
obstacles to starting the mission. According to recent reports, no 
country has made a credible offer to provide the 24 transport and 
attack helicopters needed for the 26,000-strong force.

                              {time}  1530

  This lack of helicopters, in part, accounts for the deadly attack on 
AU troops.
  After Rwanda, the world said, never again, never again would we stand 
by and let another genocide take place; yet we continue to fail in 
Darfur. For over 4 years now, we have failed.
  Today, our Congress calls upon our allies and friends to help put an 
end to this nightmare. We call on the Sudanese Government, its militia 
and rebel forces to take up seriously peace negotiations in that part 
of the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be a cosponsor of House Resolution 740, 
which condemns the horrible and cowardly attacks that occurred last 
month in Haskanita. According to reports, as we've heard, up to 1,000 
heavily armed rebels believed to be associated with the Sudan 
Liberation Army ambushed the small base that had been occupied by the 
African Union peacekeeping mission on September 29 of this year. Ten AU 
peacekeepers were killed, including seven Nigerian soldiers and three 
unarmed military observers and civilian police officers from Mali, 
Senegal, and Botswana. Seven others were wounded, and 50 peacekeepers 
went missing. This was the worst attack against the AU, African Union, 
mission since it first deployed in July of 2004.
  Khartoum deployed its forces to secure the area on October 6. Three 
days later, the entire village was found burned to the ground. Though 
Khartoum has not publicly claimed responsibility, there is little doubt 
about who burned the village. The initial attack against the African 
Union peacekeepers and the subsequent burning of the small base must be 
condemned in the strongest possible terms.
  It is outrageous that rebels would attack those who had been sent to 
secure

[[Page 28559]]

the peace in Darfur, particularly as the international community 
prepares to deploy a much larger hybrid United Nations/African Union 
peacekeeping mission to the region. It is equally outrageous, Mr. 
Speaker, that the Sudanese armed forces would seek retribution for the 
initial attack by burning the village to the ground and leaving an 
estimated 150,000 people homeless as a result.
  It must be made clear to all parties to the conflict, the regime in 
Khartoum, its armed proxies, and the various rebel forces alike, that 
the ongoing attacks against peacekeeping forces, humanitarian 
operations, and civilian populations in Darfur are completely 
unacceptable.
  Those who are truly interested in peace in Darfur must stop these 
senseless attacks, fully commit themselves to a binding cease-fire 
agreement, and rigorously pursue a political settlement. Failure to do 
so will send a clear signal to the international community about who is 
and who is not interested in peace.
  And let there be no doubt that the United States has done much to 
alleviate the suffering in this war-torn region. The United States has 
provided more than $2 billion in humanitarian assistance and assistance 
to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur. The U.S. has also 
led the debate at the U.N. Security Council to get a larger, more 
capable United Nations/African Union hybrid peacekeeping mission 
approved and deployed.
  We have built and maintained the camps for the African Union forces, 
and we will continue to expand those camps until the U.N. takes over. 
We have also provided air lift for troops, and will fund 25 percent of 
all peacekeeping costs.
  We have a dedicated special envoy who has led international efforts 
to bring peace to Darfur. We have funded and supported critical peace 
talks. We have imposed comprehensive sanctions against Khartoum. 
Meanwhile, China and Russia continue to allow their business interests 
in Sudan to override their concern for human rights. Both have failed 
to take meaningful action at the United Nations and have blocked 
consideration of sanctions against Khartoum.
  So all obstructionists to peace in Darfur, regardless of their 
association, must ultimately be held to account. It is particularly 
appropriate that we are considering this resolution as Darfur peace 
talks are getting under way in Tripoli, Libya because, despite the best 
of intentions, the international community cannot impose peace on 
Darfur. The burden is on the Sudanese themselves to find a lasting 
political settlement. The time for Khartoum and the rebel factions to 
roll up their sleeves and get to work toward that end is long overdue. 
And, frankly, the people of Darfur deserve better.
  I thank the sponsor, Ms. Jackson-Lee, for introducing this important 
and timely measure. I urge the support of all of my colleagues.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as she 
may consume to the gentlelady from Ohio (Mrs. Jones).
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I would like to thank my colleague, the 
gentleman, John Tanner, for yielding me time. I just came from a 
memorial service for one of our former colleagues from Ways and Means, 
Charlie Vanik.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of legislation calling on 
the President of the United States and the international community to 
take immediate steps to respond to and prevent acts of rape and sexual 
violence against women and girls in Darfur, Sudan, eastern Chad, and 
the Central African Republic.
  For many years now we have seen the devastating atrocities taking 
place in the Darfur region of Sudan. With the support of the Sudanese 
Government, the janjaweed militia has ravaged the people of Darfur, 
raping, torturing, murdering, and forcing thousands of Darfuris to flee 
to refugee camps in neighboring Chad and the Central African Republic. 
Today, we highlight some of those most vulnerable of these victims in 
Darfur, women and girls.
  We saw the same devastation in Rwanda over a decade ago, where it is 
estimated that between 250,000 and 500,000 women and girls were raped 
during the genocide in Rwanda. The American people have made their 
voices heard on this issue, vowing never again to remain silent when 
humanity is threatened. To date, there have been numerous reports of 
rape. On July 19, 2004, Amnesty International reported that it 
collected the names of 250 women who have been raped in Darfur and 
information on 250 additional rapes.
  On January 25, the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur, in 
a report to the U.N. Secretary General, reported numerous cases of mass 
rape throughout Darfur. This is just the tip of the iceberg. We must do 
all that we can to ensure that no more women and girls are violated.
  So today we give voice to the voiceless. Today we speak up for those 
who are often overlooked and ask that in this country we do all within 
our power to stop the rape and sexual violence against the women of the 
Darfur region.
  I would like to add my support to the other pieces of Darfur 
legislation discussed today and applaud all the groups who have truly 
been on the front line of this issue, particularly the students, who 
have been so passionate in their support. It is my hope that we will be 
able to work with the people in the 11th Congressional District and 
across this country to continue to let our voices be heard on the 
issue. I encourage my constituents to contact me with your ideas and 
resources.
  I know that I'm speaking on another piece of legislation, but they 
all affect Darfur, and it gives me an opportunity to be heard.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, I had the opportunity 
to travel as part of a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to the war-
torn nation of Sudan and see first-hand one of the worst humanitarian 
crises in recent times.
  The entire world is currently watching in horror the atrocities being 
committed in Darfur. Many people have been called to action to try to 
stop this genocide. This includes hordes of humanitarian workers and 
peacekeeping forces. The most prominent peacekeeping mission in Sudan 
has been the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), which is carried 
out by African Union (AU) forces.
  Since July of 2004, AU forces have been on the ground in Sudan 
working as peacekeepers. Sadly, their peacekeeping mission has made 
these AU personnel targets for attack by rebel forces. The worst of 
these attacks occurred in Haskanita, Darfur, Sudan, on September 29, 
2007. This attack on the AU base left 10 brutally murdered and 50 
soldiers missing. In the aftermath of the attacks Haskanita has been 
burned to the ground, displacing 15,000 citizens. This horrendous 
situation is made only worse by the government of Sudan's silence in 
not speaking out and condemning these attacks.
  There is no doubt that this was an atrocious attack, and today we in 
Congress join together to condemn all these attacks. These attacks show 
just how horrid the situation in Darfur is, when those trying to bring 
peace and stability are themselves victims of violence. We in Congress 
express our deepest sympathy to the families of individuals killed or 
missing in these cowardly attacks.
  It is my deepest hope that the Darfur peace negotiations currently 
underway in Libya bring about a meaningful and lasting peace agreement 
for Darfur. The United States and the international community must work 
together to stabilize the situation in Darfur and prevent further 
genocide. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to continuing to work with my 
colleagues to bring an end to this international crisis.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join 
me supporting H. Res. 740, which I introduced, together with my good 
friend and distinguished colleague, Mr. Chabot. This bipartisan 
legislation condemns, in the strongest terms, the attacks on African 
Union peacekeepers that occurred in Haskanita, Darfur, Sudan, on 
September 29, 2007
  I would like to thank the Chairman and the Ranking Member of the Full 
Committee, Mr. Lantos and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, and of the subcommittee on 
Africa and Global Health, Mr. Payne and Mr. Smith, for their support 
and co-sponsorship of this important bill. Let me also thank my 55 
colleagues who co-sponsored this legislation.

[[Page 28560]]

  Since 2003, we have witnessed a systematic campaign of displacement, 
starvation, rape, mass murder, and terror in the western Sudanese 
region of Darfur. In the worst humanitarian crisis of our time, an 
estimated 400,000 people have been killed in Darfur by the Government 
of Sudan and its Janjaweed allies. An additional 2,000,000 people have 
been displaced from their homes and livelihoods. Both the House of 
Representatives and the Senate declared that the atrocities in Darfur 
constitute genocide in July 2004, and the Bush administration reached 
the same conclusion in September 2004.
  However, three years later, the situation in Darfur continues to 
deteriorate. The United Nations reported a substantial decline in the 
humanitarian situation during the first three months of 2007, during 
which time 21 humanitarian vehicles were hijacked, 15 additional 
vehicles were looted, and gunmen raided 6 humanitarian compounds. The 
security situation makes it extremely difficult for aid organizations 
to reach vulnerable populations, and, in the 12 months preceding April 
2007, the number of humanitarian relief workers in Darfur decreased by 
16 percent, largely due to security concerns, restrictions on access, 
and funding limitations. The flow of humanitarian aid has been severely 
threatened by the escalating violence in the region.
  Since 2004, a small contingent of African Union peacekeepers have 
been deployed to Darfur, responsible for maintaining security in a 
region roughly the size of France. The 7,000 peacekeepers under the 
banner of the African Union Mission in Sudan, or AMIS, have displayed 
exemplary courage and resilience, but they are woefully outmanned and 
outgunned, as well as chronically short of funding. Recognizing the 
near-collapse of the AU Mission, the United Nations, in July 2007, 
approved a UN-AU hybrid peacekeeping mission, to be known as UNAMID, 
which is meant to take over from AMIS shortly.
  The AMIS peacekeeping mission recently encountered yet another 
significant setback. On September 29, 2007, an estimated 1,000 members 
of a heavily armed Darfur rebel group, in 30 vehicles armed with heavy 
artillery and mortars, overran a small base in Haskanita, Darfur, 
Sudan, which was occupied by AMIS peacekeepers. The ambush resulted in 
several hours of intense fighting that killed 10 peacekeepers--7 
Nigerian peacekeepers and 3 other soldiers from Mali, Senegal, and 
Botswana--and wounded many others.
  According to U.N. estimates, in the aftermath of this brutal attack, 
which was described by the African Union commander as ``deliberate and 
sustained,'' 15,000 civilians fled the area to neighboring towns or the 
wilderness, fearing for their safety. This attack is considered to be 
the worst on AMIS peacekeepers since their deployment in July 2004. The 
United Nations Security Council condemned this ``murderous attack'' on 
AMIS peacekeepers, and demanded that ``no effort be spared'' to 
identify and bring to justice the perpetrators of this assault.
  Only recently, during the August recess, I had the opportunity to 
lead a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to Darfur. This was the first 
CODEL to the region since the announcement of the joint UN/AU 
peacekeeping force. Along with my colleagues Mr. Chabot, who joins me 
as the lead Republican cosponsor of this legislation, and Mr. Smith, I 
had the opportunity to meet with government officials, civil society 
leaders, international aid workers, and affected civilians, as well as 
with the African Union peacekeepers responsible for protecting Darfur. 
I saw first hand the immense suffering of the people of Darfur, as well 
as the enormous strain on the courageous but outnumbered AU 
peacekeepers.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly condemn recent attacks on African Union 
peacekeepers. This legislation also expresses the condolences of this 
House to the people and Governments of Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, and 
Botswana, the families and friends of those individuals who were killed 
or missing in the attacks, and expresses its sympathies to those 
individuals who have been injured. It expresses the solidarity of the 
people and Government of the United States with the African Union and 
the African Union peacekeepers as they recover from these attacks, and 
the readiness of Congress to support efforts to bring to justice those 
individuals responsible for the attacks and efforts to detect, pursue, 
disrupt, and dismantle the networks that plan and carry out such 
attacks.
  This legislation also looks forward, to the process of bringing about 
a peace settlement for Darfur. Crucial though effective peacekeeping 
forces are, they are no substitute for a serious and sustained peace 
process. Consequently, this bill also expresses its support for the 
people of Darfur, Sudan, in their continued struggle against extremism 
and violence and support for their efforts to secure a permanent peace, 
justice, and return to their restored villages and homes, and it 
encourages all parties involved in the conflict to commit to negotiate 
a fmal and binding peace agreement at the peace talks, which began on 
October 27, 2007, in Tripoli, Libya.
  Early reports from these negotiations have not been promising. With 
key rebel groups boycotting the peace talks, media reports indicate 
that mediators will now have to travel to Darfur to meet with rebel 
leaders before actual peace agreements can be reached. Despite these 
setbacks, U.N. Special Envoy Jan Eliasson has maintained optimism, 
saying yesterday ``I refuse to state that the peace process is 
interrupted.''
  Mr. Speaker, as United States foreign policy remains centered on the 
highly partisan debate over Iraq, we cannot allow Darfur to slip 
through the cracks. I thank the over 40 of my colleagues who have 
joined me in cosponsoring this important resolution, which reiterates 
that attacks on African Union peacekeepers in Darfur are unacceptable. 
Despite the setbacks experienced at this weekend's peace talks in 
Libya, I believe it is important that we condemn the attacks of recent 
weeks, and look forward to the construction of a lasting peace for 
Darfur.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
legislation.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
740 which condemns the armed attack against African Union troops that 
took place on the remote south-eastern settlement of Haskanita, Darfur 
precisely one month ago. This horrific attack by rebel groups left 
seven Nigerian peacekeepers and three other peacekeepers from Mali, 
Senegal and Botswana dead. Seven others were wounded and 50 
peacekeepers went missing. This is the worst attack against the AU 
mission since it was first deployed in July 2004.
  And the suffering of those in the village did not end with this 
violent assault. The Armed Forces of Sudan (SAF) moved into the village 
on October 6, reportedly to ``secure'' the area and facilitate the 
evacuation of the AU peacekeepers. Three days later the village was 
burned to the ground and 15,000 people were displaced. Although there 
has been no official statement as to who is responsible for the 
destruction of the village, U.N. officials have quietly pointed the 
finger at the SAF.
  Although diplomatic activity on Sudan has intensified in recent 
weeks, and talks on the Darfur conflict began in Libya on October 27th, 
there is little reason for optimism that a peaceful solution to the 
Darfur tragedy is anywhere in sight. Several of the rebel groups are 
refusing to participate in the Libya talks. The U.N. Special Envoy for 
Darfur, Jan Eliasson, and his African Union counterpart, Salim A. 
Salim, who are leading this negotiation effort, have a Herculean task 
ahead of them. They will need all the help that we can provide them, 
and it is critical that this Congress continue to highlight the tragedy 
of what is occurring in Darfur and seek every means to bring about a 
just and enduring peace.
  I therefore thank my colleague Ms. Jackson-Lee for introducing this 
resolution, which also expresses the readiness of the House of 
Representatives to support efforts to bring those individuals 
responsible for the attacks to justice and to dismantle the networks 
that carry out such attacks. I strongly urge my colleagues in the House 
to support this resolution.
  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, so I am 
pleased to yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Tanner) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 740, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________