Calling on the Government of China to Stop Genocide and Violence in Darfur, Sudan

Floor Speech

CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT OF CHINA TO STOP GENOCIDE AND VIOLENCE IN DARFUR, SUDAN -- (House of Representatives - June 05, 2007)

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Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, a little over a year ago, Chairman LANTOS and I protested in front of the Sudanese Embassy about the continuing genocide in Darfur. I'm privileged to say that I've shared jail time with the distinguished gentleman from California.

I also want to thank Congresswoman LEE for her leadership on this issue, and I'm honored to be an original cosponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, others have already described the terrible humanitarian crisis affecting the civilian population of Darfur. Crimes against humanity are committed on a daily basis. President Bush and the Congress have determined the systematic killings and deprivations in Darfur constitute acts of genocide.

These serious matters demand a sustained, multilateral response by the United States and the international community. Together, we must pressure the Government of Sudan to stop the killing, stop the arming and support of proxy militias, and negotiate and implement a just and lasting peace.

Key to the success of such a strategy is the active support of Sudan's major economic and political partners: China, Russia, Malaysia, Egypt and India.

China is Sudan's largest economic partner and its largest provider of military arms and equipment.

China can play a significant, perhaps even decisive, role in ending the genocide in Darfur and convincing Khartoum to negotiate a lasting peace accord.

But will it?

China has taken some steps in the right direction. It supported the deployment of a joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force, and recently appointed a special envoy to Darfur.

But rather than condemn the violence against defenseless civilians, China's envoy cited poverty as the reason for Darfur's suffering.

Did poverty displace over two-and-a-half million people into camps, Mr. Speaker?

Did poverty force another half a million to flee the country and live in refugee camps?

I visited some of these camps in eastern Chad, Mr. Speaker. I saw first-hand how the conflict in Darfur is destabilizing Sudan's neighbors.

Did poverty burn Darfur's villages to the ground, poison water wells, rape women, murder men, and leave children to die of hunger and thirst?

No, Mr. Speaker. The regime sitting in Khartoum has orchestrated and condoned these actions.

This resolution asks China to acknowledge this violence and use its influence to stop the death and destruction taking place in Darfur.

To stop selling military arms and equipment to Sudan.

To exercise its considerable economic leverage by suspending its economic ties until Khartoum stops the killing, complies fully with U.N. Security Council resolutions, and enters good faith negotiations to end the fighting in Darfur.

Next year, China will host the 2008 Summer Olympics. It has chosen as its theme for the Games a motto filled with hope: ``One World, One Dream.''

But life in Darfur is no dream, Mr. Speaker. It's an unspeakable nightmare.

China has the ability to change that reality.

It is, as always, Mr. Speaker, a matter of political will.

Is China's so-called dream for the world nothing more than a paper banner carried around by a cute and cuddly mascot?

Or does China genuinely want to play a responsible role in world and human events and help stop the genocide in Darfur?

We are watching, Mr. Speaker.

The world is watching, Mr. Speaker.

I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 422.

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