Press Release/Commentary by SDEMB posted on July 23, 2004 at 17:02:25: EST (-5 GMT)

PR: U.S. CONGRESS TRIVIALIZES THE CONCEPT OF GENOCIDE

Press Release
Sudan Embassy - Washington, DC

(Washington, D.C., 07:23:04)-- The two chambers of the U.S. Congress passed a resolution on Thursday, July 22nd, 2004 defining the situation in Darfur as “genocide” without proper consideration of the facts on the ground. It is regrettable that this serious allegation of genocide against Sudan was hastily concluded on a highly speculative forecast that 300,000 people will lose their lives. The Government of Sudan is cooperating fully with all efforts to bring aid and relief to all of Darfur’s displaced people to avoid just such an outcome. The international community has so far contributed only about 20 percent of the resources needed in Darfur despite the outcry over the situation.

The Congress has hastily and incorrectly placed all the blame for the tragic situation in Darfur on the government of Sudan. Sudan has captured and prosecuted many of the Janjaweed militia accused of committing atrocities against civilians. Moreover, the Congress ignored the reality that several rebel groups, in addition to the Janjaweed, have been actively terrorizing civilian populations.

According to the U.S. Congress records, an honest and respected member of the House of Representatives, The Honorable Ron Paul of Texas, objected to the resolution raising question about its hasty nature by saying, “Mr. Speaker, this resolution was never marked up in the House International Relations Committee, on which I serve. Therefore, Members of that committee had no opportunity to amend it or express their views before it was sent to the Floor for a vote. Like too many highly controversial bills, it was rushed onto the suspension calendar (by House rules reserved for “non-controversial” legislation) at the last minute. Perhaps there was a concern that if members had more time to consider the bill they would cringe at the resolution’s call for U.S. military action in Sudan—particularly at a time when our military is stretched to the breaking point.”

Again we regret that a complex, legal and technical issue would be subjected to the pressure of activists and the approach of Congress recess.

By passing this resolution, the U.S. Congress has trivialized the horror concept of “genocide”. The plight of civilians in Darfur is obvious and it could have been obliterated without labeling of any kind.