Back in May, I wrote my Representative about the Congressional resolution on the Sudanese genocide. He wrote back this weekend (see below). There’ve been some developments, but no serious results yet. Several Congressmen are calling for the U.S. to label this a genocide, which would automatically trigger intervention by a whole ton of countries. For the same reason, NO ONE who stands for re-election wants to label this a genocide.
The U.S. is also pushing for strong measures from the UN, but seems to by stymied by . . . France and China (and others, but F & C have permanent veto powers on the Security Council)! It looks like both of those countries have significant oil interests in Sudan, and would like to stay on good terms with the military junta that runs Sudan (into the ground). I’d call this the heights of hypocrisy, especially given France’s complaints about the U.S. invasion of Iraq, but this is a country that provided military assistance to the Hutus during the genocide in Rwanda. So I guess we have to consider it a major advance on the part of France that it’s not currently providing military support to the Janjaweed militias. Fuckers.
Anyway, this isn’t the site to go to for Sudan updates. The best place to find out what’s going on in Darfur and what you can do to help stop it is Passion of the Present.
Here’s Rep. Garrett’s response to my e-mail.
Dear Mr. Roth,
Thank you for contacting me about H. Con. Res. 403 and the ongoing problems in Sudan. I value your comments and appreciate the opportunity to respond.
We agree that the atrocities being committed by the Janjawid militia and Sudanese government are horrendous and should cease immediately. That is why I recently voted for H. Con. Res. 403, sponsored by Representative Frank Wolfe (VA-10). This concurrent resolution condemns the Government of the Republic of the Sudan for its attacks against innocent civilians in the impoverished Darfur region of western Sudan and urges the Government of Sudan to immediately disarm and disband government supported militia groups immediately. This resolution passed by a margin of 360-1 and has been referred to the U.S. Senate.
According to the Congressional Research Service, a non-partisan branch of the Library of Congress established to conduct and provide non-biased research for Congress, “In late 2000, Washington defeated efforts to lift United Nations sanctions on Sudan and prevented Sudan from becoming Africa�s representative in the United Nations Security Council. Senior U.S. officials met with Sudanese government officials in 2000 to inform Sudanese officials what it would take to improve relations. U.S. security officials also spent several months in Khartoum talking with Sudanese security officials on terrorism. President Bush has mentioned Sudan twice in his speeches in the last two months, condemning human rights violations by the Bashir government. In early March 2001, Secretary of State Colin Powell told members of the House International Relations Committee that Sudan is a priority to him and the Administation . . . (in 2004) later declared that the U.S. will not normalize relations with the government of Sudan until the Darfur situation is addressed.”
Be assured that I will continue to monitor this situation as it progresses, and will support the United States and the international community�s efforts to encourage and end to the 20-year civil war in Sudan.
Again, thank you for contacting me. [. . .]
Sincerely,
Scott Garrett
Member of Congress