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[Pages H4440-H4441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STAND UP FOR SUDANESE PEOPLE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Kildee) for 5 minutes.
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, last year, I had the opportunity to visit
Sudan and hear from the Sudanese people. I saw firsthand the
devastating toll that the Sudanese regime has taken on the country of
Sudan and its citizens.
Sadly, today, the hardship and violence have escalated after months
of peaceful protests by the brave Sudanese people.
Sudan's longtime leader, President Omar al-Bashir, was removed from
power. Since then, the Transitional Military Council has attacked
protesters who are peacefully calling for a transition to democratic
governance.
The news we continue to see from Sudan over the past few weeks has
been nothing short of heart-wrenching as peaceful protesters have been
attacked, threatened, and killed.
Congress cannot sit idly by while this regime kills its own citizens,
blocks communication to the outside world, and continues to commit
serious human rights abuses.
Congress must do everything we can to help end this conflict. We are
morally obligated to use this platform to call attention to what is
happening there and to say with a unified voice that the Sudanese
Government's treatment of its people is completely unacceptable.
For these reasons, I have introduced a bipartisan resolution this
week calling attention to the situation in Sudan. I am honored that the
chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Engel, joined two other
leaders on this issue, Representative McGovern and Representative
Bilirakis, in supporting this legislation as original cosponsors.
I ask my colleagues to all join as cosponsors for this important
resolution, a resolution that affirms that it is Congress' position
that the Transitional Military Council must immediately stop all
violence against peaceful protesters and begin to immediately
transition governance to a democratic and civilian-led body.
The Sudanese people have the right to freedom from oppression and
violence and to live in a country where they can choose their own
leaders without fear of persecution, without fear of violence, and
without fear of being killed for simply asserting their right to self-
determination, as all human beings ought to be allowed.
Simply, the ability to peacefully assemble and have one's voice heard
is a basic human right. It should be afforded to all people, including
all citizens of Sudan.
This resolution also makes it clear that Sudan must improve
dramatically if it wants to continue a productive engagement with the
United States of America, including political reform and respect for
basic human rights.
This resolution affirms the right of Sudanese people to assemble
peacefully and condemns the government's use of violence against
protesters and journalists. We emphasize that absent political reforms
and respect for human rights, it will be impossible for the U.S. to
engage Sudan as a partner.
[[Page H4441]]
It is time that we step up. It is time that we have our voices heard,
that we stand up for people whose voices are being silenced by
violence. We have a chance to speak in a clear voice and send a message
that the United States and its government will support the people of
Sudan.
Sudan must do better because we and the world are watching. Sudan
cannot be allowed to go down this dangerous path.
We have to stand with the people of Sudan, stand for their democratic
rights, allow their voices to be heard, and allow them to live in
freedom.
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