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Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Donald M. Payne joined other Members of Congress today to discuss the crisis in Darfur, Sudan where more than 30,000 people have already been killed and more than one million are now at risk of death, as a result of a government sponsored emerging genocide.
“This is an atrocity and the Sudanese government must be held accountable for the deaths of ten of thousands thus far and possibly up to 1 million people. Moreover, I am calling on the United Nations and the United States to recognize that as a signatory to the 1947 U.N. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide it is our responsibility to put an end to this genocide,” Rep. Payne said. “These are innocent people being raped, murdered, forced into sexual slavery and being submitted to other kinds of brutality, while the government continues to support these sickening acts of terrorism. This is the same government that gave safe haven to Al-Queda leader, Osama bin Laden.”
Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi also urged “us not repeat what happened in Rwanda,” speaking of the 1994 genocide in the Rwanda. She continued, “when it is predictable we have a responsibility to stop the slaughter. It is urgent that we act now!”
“We wholeheartedly support this petition to urge the United States and the international community to intervene to stop these mass killings and tortures,” said Elijah Cummings, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Salih Booker is the Executive Director of Africa Action, the oldest organization in the U.S. working on African affairs. The organization’s mission is to change U.S. Africa relations to promote political, economic and social justice in Africa. As such they have called on Secretary Colin Powell to name this government sponsored killing spree, “genocide” and urged “immediate” intervention to stop the killing. Africa Action also is sponsoring a petition to urge the United States to act.
As the press conference came to an end, Rep. Payne urged Americans to sign the petition posted on the Africa Action website ( www.africaaction.org). After 30,000 signatures are collected they will be sent to Secretary of State Colin Powell, who has been wary to call the situation in Darfur, Sudan genocide. The 1948 Genocide Convention requires the 130 countries that are parties to it, including the US, to prevent and punish these crimes against humanity. |
