House Resolution 23 - Introduced PAG LIN 1 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 BY H. MILLER, JOCHUM, FREVERT, BELL, PETERSEN, 1 3 D. OLSON, LYKAM, PETTENGILL, WHITAKER, MURPHY, 1 4 MERTZ, BUKTA, HEDDENS, ABDUL=SAMAD, D. TAYLOR, 1 5 WESSEL=KROESCHELL, LENSING, FORD, FOEGE, MASCHER, 1 6 SMITH, KRESSIG, WINCKLER, HUNTER, REASONER, 1 7 DANDEKAR, SWAIM, PALMER, WISE, KELLEY, T. TAYLOR, 1 8 R. OLSON, T. OLSON, WHITEAD, KUHN, GASKILL, 1 9 BERRY, GAYMAN, WENTHE, DAVITT, ANDERSON, 1 10 TJEPKES, and KAUFMANN 1 11 A Resolution urging immediate action to stop the 1 12 campaign of racial extermination against the 1 13 ethnically distinct Black African population of 1 14 Darfur. 1 15 WHEREAS, the House of Representatives is committed 1 16 to justice and the protection of innocent civilians 1 17 everywhere; and 1 18 WHEREAS, past reports have indicated that the armed 1 19 forces of the government of Sudan, along with 1 20 government=supported militias, have committed numerous 1 21 systematic attacks against the civilian populations of 1 22 the African Fur, Masaalit, and Zaghawa ethnic groups 1 23 in the Darfur region; and 1 24 WHEREAS, the attacks have included massacres, rape, 1 25 and indiscriminate aerial bombardments that have 1 26 killed thousands, displaced countless others, and 1 27 destroyed villages, food stocks, and other supplies 1 28 essential to the civilian population; and 1 29 WHEREAS, the government of Sudan has reportedly 1 30 failed to take any immediate steps to stop these 2 1 attacks, reverse the ethnic cleansing, and provide the 2 2 necessary protection and assistance to the millions of 2 3 displaced civilians; and 2 4 WHEREAS, according to a report issued by the United 2 5 Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human 2 6 Rights, the horrific attacks committed against 2 7 civilian populations in the Darfur region of Sudan may 2 8 constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity; and 2 9 WHEREAS, among the recommendations found in the 2 10 report is a call for the government of Sudan to 2 11 publicly and unequivocally condemn all actions and 2 12 crimes committed by the Janjaweed militias and ensure 2 13 that all militias are immediately disarmed and 2 14 disbanded; and 2 15 WHEREAS, the report also urges full and unimpeded 2 16 access for humanitarian workers in order to ensure the 2 17 delivery of much needed humanitarian assistance to the 2 18 Darfur region; NOW THEREFORE, 2 19 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 2 20 That the Iowa House of Representatives urges the 2 21 United States Congress to take immediate action to 2 22 stop the campaign of racial extermination against the 2 23 ethnically distinct Black African population of 2 24 Darfur, and to strongly denounce the actions of the 2 25 Sudanese government in connection with this crime; and 2 26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of 2 27 this Resolution shall be sent to George W. Bush, 2 28 President of the United States, to members of Iowa's 2 29 congressional delegation, and to the President of the 2 30 United States Senate and the Speaker of the United 3 1 States House of Representatives. 3 2 LSB 2373HH 82 3 3 jr:rj/je/5.1 1