(Warwick, R.I.) Congressman Langevin today offered the following statement urging China to take a more active role in ending violence in Darfur:

“This week, Steven Spielberg stepped down as an artistic adviser to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.  After repeatedly urging Chinese President Hu Jintao to step up his country's efforts to end the violence in Darfur, the award-winning director made the decision to resign, another indication of how concerned many in the world community are about the ongoing human rights atrocities. 

“With the Olympics taking place in six months, it is my hope that China views this development as a sign that it should reevaluate its current relationship with Sudan and play a constructive role in ending the violence in Darfur.  With that hope in mind, I joined 119 of my colleagues in sending a letter to President Jintao on February 12, 2008, urging him to use his influence to end Sudan's ongoing obstruction of peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts in order to protect civilians and restore stability to the Darfur region.  In the spirit of the Olympics, we must come together as one to end this tragedy by making clear that we all stand with the world against genocide.”

-30-