Just today news reports were swarming about the Sudanese officials who manhandled Secretary Rices staff and reporters during their meeting with President Bashir. When a U.S. reporter asked a question about the killing of innocent civilians. she was taken by the arm and promptly removed from the meeting. It is unfortunate that the "international incident" not being reported is about the hundreds of thousands of lives lost. or the 2 million refugees who live day to day on inadequate portions of food and very little clean water. In remarks prior to the G8 summit on June 30. 2005. President Bush declared. "the violence in Darfur is clearly genocide." and "the human cost is beyond calculation." While momentum for international support to end this crisis has been building. the violence and humanitarian crisis continues. Rape is still being used as weapon against women. Some women who have become pregnant due to brutal rape. have been forced to abort their babies and other women have been imprisoned for bearing illegitimate children. In addition. the government seems to be prepared to raze the Kalma refugee camp of 120.000 people against their wishes. sending them back into areas where there is no security against these rapes and killings. I remind my colleagues that it was one year ago. on July 22. we stood together in Congress to denounce the atrocities in Darfur as genocide. Twelve long months later is not the time to start thinking about easing sanctions or restoring certain diplomatic ties. rather it is time to address the needs of the African Union and it is time to sanction those responsible for genocide.
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