Speech #1090049685

Export Financing. and Related Programs. that has looked at this question and has fought it with great. great perseverance. The gentleman from Illinois provided additional dollars. But I want to make sure that any Darfurian refugee that is in Chad is not forced to leave for any economic reason. Of course. we need more dollars to help Chad. more support of the United Nations Commissioner on Human Rights and Refugees. But we also need to ensure that resources here by this appropriation do not force anyone to go back to a place where they do not want to go. Some refugees may want to go back. When I met with them one on one. they talked about their cattle being destroyed. they talked about there being no place for them. their villages had been destroyed. We looked and spoke with the African Union at the aerial footage that would show how large villages had been destroyed. so there is not much for them to return to. I want to be able to say that we are working at all ends. the declaration of genocide. the negotiations with Sudan to stop the violence and stop the devastating destruction of these individuals in Sudan and stop the fleeing from Sudan. But now that we are in the predicament that we are in. which is 380.000. up to 400.000 and growing. refugees in Chad. we want to make sure that there is no fear. no. if you will. requirement. no demand. no shuttling. Refugees who do not want to go back. they should not have to go. Let me say this as well: if you speak to the women and the children that I had a chance to speak to. I can only say that tears would come to your eyes. the raping. the brutalization. the fear. the apprehension. I would ask my colleagues to consider an amendment that simply wants to give to those who are in fear of their lives the opportunity not to return if they desire not to return. Mr. Chairman. the amendment proposes to preclude the use of funds made available in this act to force repatriation of Darturian refugees from the Republic of Chad back to Darfur. Sudan against their will. This act could be deemed authorized under Section 12 of the Sudan Peace Act as an effort to assist the African Union in its peacekeeping efforts. however. it could prove detrimental or deadly for many Darfurians. I traveled to the Republic ot Chad last April and saw the devastation and suffering firsthand by the Sudanese refugees. They lack sufficient water. adequate medical supplies. and protection from Janjaweed militia who raid them at will. As many of you know. the genocidal regime in Sudan has left 2.5 million people displaced and at least 380.000 people dead in the Darfur.