While Sudanese First Vice-President Lt. General Salva Kiir Mayardit was meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick and other Administration officials during his first visit to the United States (since assuming his current position), Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) used the opportunity to investigate troubles surrounding the East African Nation and seek avenues for the United States to effectively direct its efforts. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights, and International Operations, Smith will welcome Dr. Jendayi Frazer, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State, to testify at a hearing entitled: “Sudan: Losing Ground on Peace?”
“For the last several years, we have devoted a great deal of attention to the troubled nation of Sudan, ranging from the North-South conflict to the genocide in Darfur to trafficking in persons and abuses by UN Peacekeepers,” said Smith, who has held numerous hearings focusing on Sudan. “We need to develop a comprehensive plan that can best contribute to peace and hold those that have murdered, raped, enslaved and plagued the people of Sudan accountable.”
U.S. attention has most recently been focused on the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, where as many as 400,000 people have been killed in a conflict that began earky in 2003. Over 1 million people have been displaced from their homes, and hundreds of thousands remain in refugee camps. The Sudanese police force – under orders from the government – routinely fires shots over the camps nightly to frighten residents. Violence surrounding the camps – including robberies, rapes and murders – prohibits people from feeling safe enough to venture out for supplies. The African Union (AU) troops tasked with maintaining civility and peace are in need of equipment and supplies, and are only being paid and average of $1.28 per day. Smith visited two of these camps in a trip to Sudan in August.
“Those in refugee camps live in constant fear and refuse to allow Sudanese police into their camps and are afraid to venture outside of the camps for water or firewood because of the ongoing violence occurring nearby,” Smith said. “While in Darfur, I met with African Union troops who continually demonstrate extraordinary commitment under dire circumstances by putting their lives at stake for minimal return. We must help in providing equipment and supplies to enable them to accomplish their mission.”
In September, Smith had expressed disappointment with the State Department decision to move Sudan from Tier III country – a ranking for worst offenders of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) – to Tier II. Smith’s Victims of Trafficking Protection Act of 2000 created the Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) produced by Office of Trafficking in Persons at the Department of State, which ranks countries according to their efforts to combat trafficking around the world into three tiers. Countries listed on Tier 3 – the lowest ranking – are failing to take minimum steps to combat human trafficking and are denied non-humanitarian U.S. aid. According to a Presidential Determination Memorandum, the Secretary of State has determined that Sudan “is making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance.”
“America cannot condone human trafficking by any nation,” said Smith, who is the author two landmark laws to combat human trafficking and aid the victims of this horrible crime. “We have made significant progress over the past few years to combat human trafficking and actions like this send the wrong signal to nations – friend and foe alike – that turn a blind eye to this international horror.”
The hearing will examine how the Administration is handling these issues and the ways that Congress can help in these efforts. Smith is the co-sponsor of HR 3127, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2005, which was authored by Rep. Henry Hyde. The bill would “impose sanctions against individuals responsible for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity,” and “support measures for the protection of civilians and humanitarian operations” and “support peace efforts in the Darfur region of Sudan.”
“The situation in Darfur requires prompt international action to stop the attacks on civilians and to try to ensure that the genocide in that nation is truly ended,” Smith said. “The time for action on this issue is now.”
