McCollum Statement on the Return from Darfur Press Conference

McCollum Statement on the Return from Darfur Press Conference
Thursday, January 27, 2005

Washington, D.C.-Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) today joined House Africa Subcommittee Chairman Ed Royce (CA-40) and Don Cheadle, star of the critically acclaimed movie "Hotel Rwanda" and Academy Award nominee, to discuss their recent trip to the Darfur region of Sudan. The delegation described what they saw and learned in Darfur and the refugee camps in Chad along the Sudan border.

Today, as reported by Reuter, the UN Advance Mission in Sudan says that scores of civilians have been killed and thousands displaced in a series of attacks on villages across the western Sudanese region of Darfur. Clearly, the crisis continues. McCollum's statement follows:

"Freedom, liberty and the ending tyranny are empty words as long as the world tolerates ethnic cleansing and, yes, genocide in Darfur. The leadership of the U.S. government - from both President Bush and Secretary of State Rice - is urgently needed to rally the support of the world community for strong and immediate sanctions against the government of Sudan.

"Today, there are news reports of villages are being bombed, people are being killed and thousands are fleeing for their lives. Millions more - like the women and children we met with in refugee camps in Chad - are struggling to survive as refugees under incredibly harsh conditions.

"This situation in Darfur is not a political issue, it is a test of our humanity. The victims of this vicious and violent strategy of extermination deserve protection and a glimmer of hope for the future.

"The perpetrators of these crimes against humanity - including leaders in Khartoum - must be held accountable by the world community for their crimes and murders that have been committed against the people of Darfur.

"Finally, I want to thank my colleagues here today and Don (Cheadle) for making this important trip. We must not allow our government or the world to forget the women, men and children of Darfur."