2 H.L.C. details of horrifying attacks against civilians in villages by government warplanes, soldiers and pro-government militia"; Whereas on February 18, 2004, United Nations Special Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs in Sudan, Tom Eric Vraalsen, declared following a trip to the Darfur region that "aid workers are unable to reach the vast majority [of the displaced]"; Whereas Doctors Without Borders, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning medical humanitarian relief organization and one of the few aid groups on the ground in the Darfur region, reported that the region is the scene of "catastrophic mortality rates"; and Whereas nearly 3,000,000 people affected by the conflict in the Darfur region have remained beyond the reach of aid agencies trying to provide essential humanitarian assistance and United Nations aid agencies estimate that they have been able to reach only 15 percent of people in need and that more than 700,000 people have been internally displaced in the past year: Now, therefore, be it 1 2 3 4 5 Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following: That Congress (1) strongly condemns the Government of the Republic of the Sudan and government supported militia groups for attacks against innocent civilians. in the impoverished Darfur region of western Sudan 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 3 H.L.C. Conventions, which specifically prohibit attacks on civilians, and demands that the Government of Sudan immediately cease these attacks; (2) calls on the international community to strongly condemn the Government of Sudan for these attacks and to demand that they cease; (3) urges the Government of Sudan and all parties to honor commitments made in the ceasefire agreement of April 8, 2004; (4) urges the Government of Sudan to immediately disarm and disband government supported militia groups, to demonstrate respect for human rights, and to allow the delivery of humanitarian as sistance for the people in the Darfur region; and (5) urges the President to direct the United States representative to the United Nations to seek an official investigation by the United Nations to determine if crimes against humanity have been committed by the Government of Sudan and government supported militia groups in the Darfur region. Amend the title so as to read: "Concurrent resolution condemning the Government of the Republic of the Sudan and government supported militia groups for gross violations of international humanitarian law committed in the Darfur region of west 4 H.L.C. ern Sudan, and particularly the Government's indis criminate attacks against innocent civilians.". Mr. ROYCE. This amendment attaches the term "government supported militia groups" to the Government of Sudan as a target of the resolution's condemnation of attacks against innocent civilians and the U.N. investigation of crimes against humanity that it urges. In Rwanda, and in many other countries, governments use militias in an attempt to dodge responsibility. This amendment makes it clear that the militias that are doing so much damage in Darfur are government supported. It notes that the attacks against civilians in Darfur are violations of the Geneva Convention. It urges all parties to honor the April 8 cease fire, and it urges the Government of Sudan to disband these militia groups. Mr. Wolf, the resolution sponsor, supports this amendment. What is underlined on the copy passed out is what is added to the original text. I will ask at this point. Are there any other amendments to the bill? [No response.] Mr. ROYCE. The question occurs on the amendment. All in favor say aye. [Chorus of ayes.] Mr. ROYCE. All opposed, nay? [No response.] Mr. ROYCE. The ayes have it. The question occurs on the amendment in the nature of a substitute. All in favor say aye? [Chorus of ayes.] Mr. ROYCE. The Chair will now entertain a motion that the resolution be reported favorably to the Full Committee as amended by the amendment in the nature of a substitute, so the question occurs on the motion to report the resolution favorably as amended. All in favor say aye. [Chorus of ayes.] Mr. ROYCE. All opposed, no. [No response.] Mr. ROYCE. The motion is approved, and the bill is reported favorably. I thank my colleagues, and I again thank the witnesses who appeared here today and thank all of you who participated in this hearing and markup. We stand adjourned. [Whereupon, at 4:48 p.m. the Subcommittee was adjourned.] |