Lawmakers introduce resolution condemning Sudan ‘genocide’
WASHINGTON, July 13 (AFP) — Two US senators introduced legislation that would condemn a crisis in the Darfur region of western Sudan as a “genocide.”
“The atrocities that are continuing today in Darfur are unconscionable, and this is why the US Congress must take immediate and decisive action,” Senator Sam Brownback said at a press conference.
“Time has run out on the Khartoum government. But more urgently, time is running out for the people of Darfur,” said Brownback, who co-sponsored the measure with Democratic senator Jon Corzine.
While the legislation is in many ways symbolic, Brownback said conferring official condemnation on Sudan’s government for failing to stem the crisis ultimately could save lives.
“Unlike Rwanda, where we pronounced genocide after 800,000 died, here is a chance for the international community to step in and stop the death,” the Kansas Republican said.
“If we will act decisively and now, we can stop hundreds of thousands of people from dying; if we don’t, they will die.”
“What this resolution does is to add the political pressure on everyone. It requires the United Nations to take decisive and necessary action,” said Brownback, who recently returned from a trip to Sudan.
A similar measure has been introduced in the House of Representatives.
“The atrocities that are continuing today in Darfur are unconscionable, and this is why the US Congress must take immediate and decisive action,” Senator Sam Brownback said at a press conference.
“Time has run out on the Khartoum government. But more urgently, time is running out for the people of Darfur,” said Brownback, who co-sponsored the measure with Democratic senator Jon Corzine.
While the legislation is in many ways symbolic, Brownback said conferring official condemnation on Sudan’s government for failing to stem the crisis ultimately could save lives.
“Unlike Rwanda, where we pronounced genocide after 800,000 died, here is a chance for the international community to step in and stop the death,” the Kansas Republican said.
“If we will act decisively and now, we can stop hundreds of thousands of people from dying; if we don’t, they will die.”
“What this resolution does is to add the political pressure on everyone. It requires the United Nations to take decisive and necessary action,” said Brownback, who recently returned from a trip to Sudan.
A similar measure has been introduced in the House of Representatives.