Sponsored
Legislation
Co-Sponsored Legislation
   
Press Release: September 20, 2006
Congressman John W. Olver
1111 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-2101

Tel: 202-225-5335
Fax: 202-226-1224

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OLVER PLEADS FOR UN PEACEKEEPING IN DARFUR ON HOUSE FLOOR

WASHINGTON ­ Congressman John W. Olver (1st District) delivered the following remarks on the House floor today:

"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to plead for the survival of the people of Darfur. Despite a peace agreement signed in May and the UN Security Council's approval of a peacekeeping force of 20,000 last month, Darfur is descending into chaos.

"Twelve years ago, the world stood by as ethnic war erupted in nearby Rwanda. One hundred days later, 800,000 bodies, hacked to death by machetes, had piled up in the streets and rivers.

"Without swift intervention, Darfur may soon erupt into a scene as deadly. Today's poorly trained and equipped African Union force can only watch the chaos unfold. When they leave in a week, they must be replaced by a UN force that can protect the Darfuri people from slaughter.

"Sudan must allow the UN peacekeepers to end the government sponsored genocide. President Bush must decisively lead the international community for this effort to succeed. The UN force must have the training, the equipment and the mandate to stop the slaughter and punish the slaughterers. The world must not deploy a force that will simply bear witness to the slaughter of innocents."



###
Home Biography News Photos Casework Grants Federal Resources State Resources 1st District Contact