Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006
DARFUR PEACE AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2006 -- (House of Representatives - April 05, 2006)
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3127, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006. I wish to thank my good friends and colleagues on the House International Relations Committee, in particular Chairman HENRY HYDE and Ranking Member TOM LANTOS. I would also like to thank the honorable gentleman from New Jersey, Representative DONALD PAYNE, for his leadership on Darfur and peace in Sudan, as well as my Massachusetts colleague, and Co-Chair of the Sudan Caucus, Representative MICHAEL CAPUANO.
Mr. Speaker, the genocide in Darfur is an affront to the world, and a challenge to the moral and political leadership of the U.S., the European Union, the NATO Alliance, the African Union, and the international community and its representative body, the United Nations. To date, we have failed, individually and collectively, to rise and meet this challenge.
Every day, the carnage continues.
Every day, villages are destroyed.
Every day, women and girls are raped.
Every day, children are held in servitude.
Every day, the Sudanese government in Khartoum and its terrorist allies, the Janjaweed militias, sit fat and happy, secure in their knowledge that the world is all bark, and no bite--and they continue their pillage and their terror and their violent acts with impunity.
This bill, Mr. Speaker, attempts to hold the Government of Sudan, its leadership and its militia allies accountable for their acts and their crimes.
It is not enough, Mr. Speaker, but it takes important steps to strengthen current sanctions, increase the pressure on Khartoum, demand greater support for the African Union peacekeeping mission (AMIS), and require greater action by the international community, including the U.S., to put an end to the slaughter.
I wish the bill would have required the establishment and enforcement of a no-fly zone over Darfur, but at least it includes a sense of Congress provision in support of the no-fly zone. But I warn you, Mr. Speaker, in the absence of controlling the skies over Darfur, government planes and helicopters will continue to support and protect the terrorist militias as they carry out genocidal acts against the defenseless population.
Mr. Speaker, everyone talks about Darfur. For the past 3 years the world has called what is happening in Darfur genocide. And yet the situation continues, the crisis worsens, the blood continues to flow, smoke still rises over the few remaining villages, refugees from the region pour into over-crowded camps, hunger and famine stalk the refugees, and the conflict spills over into neighboring countries.
We cannot continue to talk about Darfur, yet turn our eyes away.
We cannot continue to talk about Darfur, yet take no actions to stop the killing.
I fear, Mr. Speaker, the peace of the dead.
This is not an African problem, this is a crime against humanity--all humanity--our humanity.
I support H.R. 3127; it is a good step in the right direction; but it is not enough.
We in this Congress; we in this Nation; we in this world have failed to meet the test of Darfur--and we will continue to fail until the killing stops, peace is achieved, and the murderers--and all those who aid and abet them--are held accountable and brought to justice.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3127.
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