Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to draw the attention of the House to a noble couple on the occasion of the dedication of the Jack and Carter Hardesty Bridge in Clarke County, VA. The Hardestys have been a vital part of the Clarke County community for over half a century, and now their name will be honored and associated with the bridge over U.S. Route 340 which crosses the Norfolk Southern Railroad line about a mile from the West Virginia border.

State Senator Russ Potts sponsored the legislation in the Virginia General Assembly to dedicate the bridge in their name. I was honored to join him; Virginia Governor Mark Warner; the Honorable Al Smith, former member of the Virginia House of Delegates; the Honorable Jack Marsh, former Virginia Congressman and former Secretary of the Army; members of the Hardesty family and their friends and neighbors at the dedication ceremony and unveiling of the bridge marker on October 4. The Clarke County High School Band and school Concert Choir provided music for the event.

Carter, who passed away last year, was a special woman. She sent literally hundreds of cards each year to county residents that she personally picked out and wrote notes in for every occasion. These cards were often just pick-me-ups for friends that were down. Apparently, even a flat tire didn't escape her notice. The cards she sent made her an irreplaceable part of the community that is dearly missed.

Carter was also an active member of the Crums United Methodist Church. She spent 25 years teaching numerous Sunday school classes. Pastor Sandra Stamey of Crums UMC gave the invocation at the dedication ceremony.

However, I remember Carter best for her service at the Lord's Acre Booth at the Clarke County Fair. She was cochairman of the booth.

Carter was only one half of this dynamic duo. A dairy farmer by profession, Jack has served Clarke County as a member of the board of supervisors and his long list of community, civic, and public service activities is unparalleled. We all share with him and his family in the grief of Carter's loss. She left a great legacy behind for the husband and family and community that she dearly loved.

I want to share with our colleagues an article about the dedication ceremony from The Winchester Star.

[From the Winchester Star, Oct. 5, 2004]

Ceremony Celebrates Hardesty Influence

(By Jessica Sabbath)

Berryville.--Gov. Mark R. Warner visited Clarke County

Monday to honor a husband known for his lifelong service to

the county and a wife known for her heartfelt cards.

More than 200 people joined the governor, area politicians,

and the extended Hardesty family at the dedication of a

county bridge to John D. ``Jack'' Hardesty and his late wife,

Carter.

The bridge, on U.S. 340, crosses over the Norfolk Southern

Railroad line about a mile from the West Virginia border.

The couple is part of eight generations of Hardestys that

have been prominent in the county. Speakers praised the

couple for the couple's commitment to faith, family, and the

county.

``Jack Hardesty and his family represent not only the best

of public service, but the best of what it means to be a

Virginian,'' Warner said against the backdrop of rolling

green hills.

The ceremony was held at Oakland Orchard by state Sen. H.

Russell Potts Jr., R-Winchester, and the Virginia Department

of Transportation.

It wasn't the first time a Hardesty family ceremony brought

the governor to Clarke County. In March 2002, Warner declared

Virginia Agriculture Week at Harvue Farms, the dairy farm

Jack Hardesty and his father established in 1949.

Jack Hardesty served on the county Board of Supervisors for

30 years, and was its chairman for 18 years.

He was named ``Dairyman of the Year'' in 1992 and has been

president of the Maryland-Virginia Milk Producers Association

for the past five years. He served five gubernatorial

appointments and has been on the board of the Bank of Clarke

County for 40 years.

Carter Hardesty, who died last October, was known as the

``Card Lady'' of Clarke County. She sent out between 15 and

20 cards each week to county residents for just about any

occasion.

During the ceremony, Potts, who sponsored the legislation

in the Virginia General Assembly to dedicate the bridge, held

up a stack of cards he had received from Carter Hardesty.

``She would even send a card out when somebody's car broke

down,'' Potts said.

Carter Hardesty taught Sunday School at Crums United

Methodist Church for 25 years. She was the co-chair of the

Lord's Acre booth in the Clarke County Fair for 35 years.

U.S. Rep. Frank R. Wolf, R-10th, praised the couple's

service to the county and family.

``They have played a vital part of this community in a

unique way,'' Wolf said, adding he hopes future generations

of Hardestys would carry on the tradition.

Danny Hardesty, grandson of Jack Hardesty and a senior at

Clarke County High School, said the ceremony and his

grandfather's service had done just that.

``He laid down the roadwork for us all to follow,'' Danny

said.

The governor made a late, but rather striking entrance. A

few minutes into the ceremony, a helicopter carrying the

governor approached while the Clarke County High School Band

played ``The Star Spangled Banner.''

A mix-up in the location of the helicopter caused the

governor to make a last-minute sprint to Richmond

International Airport to catch a flight into Winchester.

There, Warner jumped on the helicopter that flew him into

Clarke.

``I was not trying to interfere with the band's wonderful

rendition,'' Warner said at the dedication. ``Neither sleet,

nor rain, nor snow, nor hail nor misplaced helicopter could

keep me away.'' Warner recalled receiving a card from Carter

Hardesty when he began his term and found the state's budget

in worse-than-expected shape.

`` `Don't worry, Mark,' '' Warner recalled the card saying.

`` `You'll get through it all right.' ''

Potts, Wolf, former Del. Alson H. Smith Jr., former

Congressman and former Secretary of the U.S. Army John O.

Marsh all spoke at the event, held on a warm and sunny fall

day.

``My wife arranged the weather,'' Jack Hardesty told the

crowd. ``I know Carter's looking down and enjoying this.''

During an emotional high point of the ceremony, tears

welled in the eyes of the family and many members of the

audience as Alexandra Masters, a junior at Clarke County High

School, sang pop singer Sarah McLachlan's ``Angel.''

The Hardesty family stood with politicians as Warner and

Jack Hardesty unveiled a green highway sign that read ``Jack

and Carter Hardesty Bridge.''

Potts said it would be fitting that after crossing over the

Virginia border, people would first see the bridge.

``The bridge that represents that `Highway to Heaven' that

the Hardestys tried to make Clarke County,'' Potts said.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5061 and urge all members to vote for this important legislation.

I would like to thank Representative Tom Tancredo for introducing this important legislation. I would also like to thank Chairman Hyde and Congressman Lantos and their staffs for moving this legislation swiftly through committee.

This legislation could not be more timely. Stories and pictures of horrific abuse and suffering in the Darfur region of Sudan are now on our nightly news. Newspapers are running daily stories. I visited Sudan in July and witnessed with my own eyes the horrific conditions.

The world has now awakened to this nightmare and we must do everything in our power to try to stop it.

We must not forget that the conflict in Darfur has been occurring for the last year and a half but that there also has been an ongoing war for the last 20 years between the Government of Sudan and the mostly Christian South.

Millions of lives have been lost. Millions more are shattered and scarred forever.

Sudan has suffered from war crimes and unspeakable human rights abuses. One country, one group of people, should not have to endure so much suffering.

Sudan is not alone. Africa has seen enormous suffering this past decade from the butchery that took place in Sierra Leone to the genocide in Rwanda. We must learn from the past, learn from the mistakes of our own inaction, and mobilize to try to save lives.

Some 50,000 people are already dead in Darfur and more than a million more are at risk. The world must act now.

The United States took a bold move under the leadership of Secretary of State Powell by calling what is occurring in Sudan what it is--a genocide. Unfortunately the international community has been slow to respond.

H.R. 5061 is based on the fact that genocide is now occurring in Darfur and that the Government of Sudan is complicit in this genocide. Significant pressure must be placed on the Government of Sudan to both end the genocide and finalize a comprehensive peace agreement with the South.

Only then will the innocent civilians, who have suffered for so long, be able to begin rebuilding their lives.

This bill immediately imposes sanctions on the Government of Sudan. I think this is sound policy. We are dealing with a government that is committing genocide against its own people, therefore we need to use every possible tool to apply pressure so that it will stop.

H.R. 5061 also outlines multilateral actions to press U.N. countries to apply additional pressure on Sudan, and most importantly provides much-needed humanitarian aid to Darfur and humanitarian and development aid to alleviate suffering in the South.

We are beyond the point of merely warning the Government of Sudan with punitive measures. We must now take action.

The world is watching and rogue regimes in other nations who have the ability to do this to their own people are watching how we respond. Our response to genocide must be firm.

The world will look back on Darfur in 10 years and know that the United States stood firm and the United States stood with the people of Darfur.

I call on every member of Congress to vote in favor of this important legislation. We must send a strong message to the Government of Sudan that the United States will not sit by while they commit genocide.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a co-sponsor and in strong support for this legislation offered by Representative Murphy. I have often heard from my constitutents who are federal employees that while they are pleased with their health benefits, they are frustrated that coverage for dental and vision are lacking.

This legislation would change this, by making dental and vision benefits available to federal employees. It is necessary to make sure that our federal employees have access to these two vital benefits.

Dental and vision related expenses can be very costly. Today we have the chance to help our federal employees, who serve their nation everyday, manage these expenses.

Additionally, this bill would require the Office of Personnel Management to report to Congress about making benefits available for hearing aids and services.

In order to recruit and retain federal employees, it is necessary to provide them with a first class health care system. Many health plans for employees in the private sector include dental, vision, and hearing coverage. This bill will help federal employees enjoy a health care system that is on par with the private sector.

This bill is important to improve and expand the current health care available to federal employees, and will send an important signal that Congress and the American people continue to value the hard work and the health of those serving our government.

The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Madam Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 4011, the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004, and urge all members to support this important legislation. The leadership of the North Korean government has proven to be volatile and unpredictable with a tight rein on a very closed, repressed society. The North Korean government is one of the worse abusers of human rights in the world. Freedom of religion does not exist and the government controls all information, expression, and access to media. Despite international aid efforts, it is estimated that 2 million North Koreans have died of starvation in the last 10 years. One out of every ten children is malnourished.

There are an estimated 200,000 political prisoners in camps. Prisoners are often used as slave labor and conditions in these camps are extremely harsh. Many prisoners die from disease, starvation, beatings, and torture.

In 2002 a former female political prisoner, who testified before Congress about the conditions in these camps described: kneeling Christians in a prison camp having molten steel poured over them by guards because they would not recant their faith; prisoners quarantined into small rooms because of illness and then being forced to lay on top of each other such that all of those underneath were suffocated and died; prisoners used as lab experiments; and numerous executions. The list of horrendous conditions goes on.

The North Korea Human Rights Act reaffirms that human rights in North Korea should remain a key concern in future dialogue and conditions direct aid to North Korea upon substantial improvements in transparency and accountability.

I call on every member of Congress to vote in favor of this important legislation. We must send a strong message to Kim Jong Il that the world will not sit by while his government systemically abuses its citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H. Con. Res. 304, expressing the sense of Congress regarding oppression by the Government of China against the Falun Gong in the United States and in China. I urge all members of Congress to support this important legislation.

The United States must stand up for basic decency and human rights and for men and women who are being persecuted on account of their religious or political beliefs. As a congress, our policy must be a policy that helps promote human rights and freedom, not a policy that sides with dictators who oppress their own citizens.

H. Con. Res. 304 calls on the Government of China to stop the harassment of Falun Gong practitioners in the United States, calls for the immediate release from detention of all prisoners of conscience, and calls on the Attorney General to investigate reports that Chinese officials in the United States have committed illegal acts while attempting to intimidate Falun Gong practitioners.

Those who are persecuted for their religious or political beliefs around the world are encouraged when the United States speaks out on their behalf. America must be true to its founders and continue to stand up for basic decency and human rights. Thomas Jefferson said the God who gave us life, gave us liberty. Every man and woman--with inalienable rights. Those are the rights, not just for those who are blessed to be Americans, but for every man, woman and child in this world.

I call on every member of Congress to vote in favor of this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H. Res. 768, calling on the United Nations Security Council to immediately consider a resolution on Burma. I urge all members to support this important legislation.

Burma's military regime is one of the worst governments in the world. There is a complete lack of freedom of speech, religion, press, and basic human rights. They should be treated as a pariah in the international community.

Burma's ruling military uses forced labor, rape, torture, and imprisonment as a means to quiet opposition and suppress the Burmese people. Innocent women and children are often used as minesweepers and the government continues to commit numerous other gross human rights violations against ethnic minorities. This abuse of the innocent people of Burma must end.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have fled into other countries to seek safety. In Thailand, border towns are packed with refugees forced to live their lives in camps or illegally as migrant workers. Conditions are rough and tensions run high.

Sadly, the situation in Burma continues to worsen. Just last week there were two reports of attacks on Karen and Karenni villages where unknown numbers of villagers were killed. Homes, schools and clinics were burned. Civilians are forced to flee into the jungle to avoid attack. Attacks are common with the typical village moving every 3 months to avoid attacks. Cut off from humanitarian aid, thousands of people are trapped in the jungle, constantly moving to avoid attacks. After attacks, it is common for the military to lay landmines throughout the villages to try to deter the villagers from ever returning.

We must not forget that while Burma continues to commit unspeakable abuses against its people, its democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, remains under house arrest and the desire for democracy runs strong among the people of Burma. We must send a clear signal to the government of Burma that no amount of repression will legitimize their government. They must immediately release Aung San Suu Kyi, all political prisoners, cease attacking ethnic minorities, and allow true democracy and freedom to flourish in Burma.

I urge every Member to vote in support of this important legislation. We must send a strong message to the Government of Burma that the United States stands with the people of Burma and their quest for democracy.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend and Virginia colleague, Chairman Goodlatte for recognizing the importance of this resolution.

The resolution recognizes organizations such as America's Second Harvest that provide emergency food assistance to hungry people in the United States, and encourages all Americans to provide volunteer services and other support for local anti-hunger advocacy efforts and hunger relief charities, including food banks, food rescue organizations, food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters. I hope it will help draw attention to the problem of hunger in America today.

I have mixed emotions today--proud of the armies of compassion that are represented by organizations such as America's Second Harvest and sad because its been 40 years since President Johnson declared war on poverty and hunger . . . and yet, today, 13 million kids still live in households that do not have an adequate supply of food.

I am pleased that the House is considering this resolution which will help draw attention to this silent tragedy. In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about the obligation to feed the hungry. In a world, and especially a nation, as plentiful as ours--it is tragic that even one child faces food insecurity.

My state of Virginia is better off than many states. We are below the national average poverty rate of 11.6 percent. We have fewer people who don't have food--7.6 percent versus the national average of 10.4 percent. Yet, hunger is still here.

Substantial progress has been made to feed the hungry in the United States, yet too many Americans still go to bed hungry and feel the effects of food deprivation. Federal programs like the Food Stamp Program, child nutrition programs, and food donation programs, provide essential nutritional support to millions of low-income people, but the need remains.

Thankfully, community- and faith-based institutions are providing assistance to hungry people across the country. The armies of compassion are working hard, but we each must do our part to join in and support them.

We need to eliminate the barriers that many businesses must overcome when they decide to do the morally conscionable thing and donate their surplus goods. It's outrageous that it is more ``cost effective'' for a business to throw out or destroy surplus food rather than donate it to a local soup kitchen.

I hope that in the midst of the facts and statistics, no one misses the point of this resolution--that in a land of plenty, 13 million children still go to bed hungry. A country which is as blessed as ours needs to do better.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to recognize my constituent, Mr. Donald R. Manual, of Herndon, Virginia, on the occasion of his retirement after almost four decades of service to the United States Army.

Mr. Manuel received his commission as a second lieutenant, Field Artillery, in 1964 and quickly demonstrated expertise during his service at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the U.S. Army Engineer Supply Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1968, Mr. Manuel began his career as a United States Army civilian employee as program manager for Value Engineering, Methods and Standards, and Commercial Activities. In 1980, he obtained the position of assistant for General Engineering in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations and Housing). Mr. Manuel has become the Army's primary policy contact dealing with base closure and realignment actions.

Throughout his career, Mr. Manuel has provided outstanding leadership, advice and sound professional judgment on significant issues before Congress and the Army. His counsel was invaluable to Army leaders and members of Congress as policy implications were considered.

It is my pleasure to honor Mr. Manuel's distinguished record of public service and dedication to the United States Army. He has been a truly exceptional career civil servant and will be missed by the United States Army.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time.

I just wanted to speak on another issue, if I can just for a minute. An earlier speaker mentioned the FBI and funding, and I just wanted to make sure the record, since the Congressional Record is supposed to be a factual document, to let the Members know on both sides, since September 11, 2001, the Committee on Appropriations has supported the FBI's transformation, increasing the FBI's budget nearly 50 percent from $3.1 billion in fiscal year 2000 to $4.6 billion in fiscal year 2004.

These funding increases have allowed the FBI to increase the number of Joint Terrorism Task Forces to 100; create the Office of Intelligence; create the Terrorist Threat Integration Center, which the administration has done with FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, who meet together every day; the Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force; and the Terrorist Screening Center; hire thousands of new agents and analysts and support staff, including 620 additional linguists; create new training programs for agents and analysts; and upgrade the technology capabilities.

We have National Academy of Public Administration looking at the reformation of the FBI. The General Accounting Office, the Congressional Research Service, and the 9/11 Commission in its report referenced the work of the House Committee on Appropriations. It must have been a misunderstanding, but I just want the Members to know that, as we look in the record, this Congress, both sides, and this administration have increased the FBI budget by dramatic numbers.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to the attention of the House the passing of W. Harrington Smith, Jr. A longtime public servant, Mr. Smith spent 18 years on the Frederick County Board of Supervisors. I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Smith during this time as he represented the Shawnee district.

It was an honor to have known Harrington Smith, who worked hard and impacted many lives during his service in Frederick County, Virginia. My condolences go out to his family, friends, and colleagues as they mourn the loss of this great man. I would also like to share a recent article from The Winchester Star which commemorates his life and work.

[From The Winchester Star, Aug. 10, 2004]

Frederick County Supervisor Harrington Smith Dies

(By Laura Arenschield)

One of Frederick County's ``old buddies'' died on Monday

afternoon, leaving a trail of jokes, doting friends, and

``Bone-a-lopes'' behind him.

W. Harrington Smith Jr.. 78, who spent 18 years on the

Frederick County Board of Supervisors, died in Winchester

Medical Center two weeks after undergoing surgery for a

stomach aneurysm.

Smith served on the board from 1988 until his death,

representing the Shawnee District. He was known for his

``Bone-a-lopes''--trips around the area to talk with the

people he represented.

He went to find their problems, and to fix them, and to

make people feel comfortable with a grin, a pat on the back,

and a ``hey, old buddy, hey old friend'' for a greeting,

To hear his friends and family tell it, Smith was a

friendly, outgoing man who never ran out of time for the

people who voted him into office.

``If somebody needed help with a traffic light or a pothole

or barking dogs, he would go out and visit them,'' his son,

Harry Smith, said on Monday afternoon. ``He would be able to

get things done for people.''

Harry said his father died ``just peacefully, and calmly,

and in his own way.''

With a nostalgic laugh, he told of his father's intricate

jokes:

``They are so long and complex that I--unfortunately, one

of the things I had intended to do and never was able to do

was to memorize those jokes. And I wish that I had.''

In addition to a list of complex jokes only Harrington

could remember, the veteran supervisor left a family that

included his wife, Barbara Armistead Smith; sons Harry and

Michael Smith and Drury Armistead; daughter Beth; and nine

grandchildren ranging in age from 5 to 23.

``He had a phenomenal memory for jokes,'' Dick Kern, an old

friend and Harrington's former employer, said on Monday.

``His favorite saying was `God love you.' And he said that

all the time.''

Kern stifled a chuckle before describing a man fond of

parties and a good time.

``He loved a good rum drink,'' Kern said. ``He enjoyed

drinking and relaxing and I did, too. So we were great

partners.''

Party animal or not, Harrington ``Smitty'' Smith took care

of his constituents, Kern said.

``If anybody called him on a road or a fence or any kind of

problem, he made it a point to go out and check it himself

and take care of the problem,'' said Kern, a former

Winchester City Council member. ``And I guess that was

another thing I liked about him . . . he was honest and you

could rely on him, and you knew he would be there.

``He was a heck of a guy.''

Harrington's wife, Barbara, said her husband would do just

about anything for just about anybody.

In fact, that's how they met.

``Harrington was part of a 1ocal rescue squad bringing a

psychiatric patient to the old Cork Street hospital emergency

room,'' she said. ``And the patient jumped out the back

towards these two women and Harrington tackled him, and the

guy wound around and kicked him in the neck.''

Barbara had just come to the hospital as a physical

therapist. Harrington became her patient.

``Yeah, I cured him, so he married me,'' she said with a

laugh. ``At the time, he was just so outstandingly good-

looking. And everybody liked him because he was such a good

listener and he really, really, really loved people. He

really did.''

Harry, who served on the Winchester City Council, said he

always was amazed at how long his father stayed in public

service.

``I wonder what impact he might have had if he had started

in elected office, say in his 30s or 40s instead of his

60s,'' he said. ``I think it was always centered around and

based around his love of this community.''

Harrington Smith the supervisor had a persona most people

couldn't figure out.

During his time in office, he switched from Republican to

Democrat before becoming an independent.

``I was always surprised by his votes,'' former Supervisor

Sidney ``Sid'' Reyes said. ``I never knew which way he was

going to come.''

``But he was a gentleman. The ultimate gentleman, I don't

think Harrington Smith had an enemy or anyone who spoke ill

of him.''

The man the public didn't get to see was a little less of

an enigma, Harry said.

``If he wasn't out helping constituents, he was probably

watching television, sitting on a couch, eating a grilled-

cheese sandwich, with his feet propped up, his arm propped up

on a pillow, and the cat in his lap,'' Harry said. ``He was a

channel flicker. Anywhere from a sports to movies to the

History Channel. And it had to be turned up very loud.''

Like the volume on him TV set, whenever Harrington had an

idea, he put it out with force--especially when it came to

state government controlling local decisions.

``You could always count on Harrington with a speech any

time the subject came up,'' Board of Supervisors Chairman

Richard C. Shickle said. ``He just stated his opinion and

didn't pull any punches. . . . You didn't have any trouble

understanding Harrington or his positions. He was just

blunt.''

Frederick County Commonwealth's Attorney Lawrence R.

Ambrogi called Harrington Smith ``outgoing,'' ``personable,''

and ``unique.''

``He was one-of-a-kind, Ambrogi said. ``He was 78, he

probably put in 200 years of life in that time.''

``He sang the national anthem at different political

functions, he was an announcer at the (stock car) racetrack.

``It's just sad because he'll never be replaced.''

Still, Shawnee residents can't go without representation on

the Board of Supervisors.

Ambrogi said the board has 45 days to appoint Harrington's

replacement because the next election is less than 120 days

away.

Shickle and Ambrogi said the county needs time to grieve

before worrying about that, though.

``I lost a friend,'' Shickle said. ``And I think we'll

mourn first.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a co-sponsor and in strong support of H.R. 5133, legislation to designate a United States Postal Service facility in Reston, Virginia, as the Martha Pennino Post Office.

Martha Pennino, known as ``Mother Fairfax,'' passed away on September 17. She was a leader in Fairfax County, and was instrumental in helping the county achieve the success it enjoys today. She served from 1968 to 1991 on the Fairfax Board of Supervisors, and served as the board's vice chairman for 17 years. Under her leadership, Reston became a successful developed community, and several important projects, including the Dulles Toll Road, South Lakes High School, and the Reston Regional Library, were undertaken.

It is Martha Pennino's dedication to those in Fairfax County with the least that will also be remembered. She was committed to the poor in the community, often opening her office at night to allow the homeless to rest their heads in a warm, safe place. Under her leadership, a homeless shelter was opened in her district, and she was an advocate for low-cost housing in Fairfax County, to help ensure that as the county grew, its poorest residents would not be left out of the county's progress. Martha Pennino's desire for Fairfax County to be an inclusive community is also reflected in her work to help establish the Fairfax County Human Rights Commission. Martha Pennino wanted everyone in Fairfax County to feel that they truly belonged to Fairfax County.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support H.R. 5133, and proud to commemorate the life of Martha Pennino, an outstanding leader in Fairfax County, and a tireless advocate for those in need.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for his faithfulness and his leadership on this issue. I share his statement, and I am a supporter of his bill and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo), and I urge all

Members on both sides to cosponsor his bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. Con. Res. 137 calling for the suspension of Sudan's membership on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. I want to commend Majority Leader Frist and the gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert) for moving this important resolution very quickly through the Congress, and also the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos).

On September 9, Secretary of State Colin Powell declared that genocide is occurring in Darfur, and we all owe Secretary Powell a debt of gratitude, because that took a tremendous amount of courage, and he did it.

Sudan is accused of the most heinous crime which can be inflicted on an entire group of people. The gravity of what is occurring must not be lost on anyone, not the United States, not the international community and certainly not the United Nations.

On July 30, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Security Council Resolution 1556, calling on the government of Sudan to fulfill immediately its obligation to facilitate humanitarian relief efforts and disarm the Janjaweed militia, bring those responsible for atrocities in Darfur to justice and to cooperate with U.N.-sponsored human rights monitors.

To date, the government of Sudan has failed, has failed to comply with that U.N. resolution.

The Janjaweed is still attacking innocent civilians with support from the government of Sudan, and as recently as late August, credible reports point to direct attacks on villages by the government of Sudan. Just last week, the U.N. Security Council passed a new resolution, as the gentleman from New Jersey said, stating that the government has failed to meet the requirements under the previous resolution and calling on Sudan to cease attacks and cooperate fully with the expanded African Union force or face economic sanctions.

It may come as a surprise to some that Sudan, the country that is committing genocide, the country that is allowing people to go on to kill men, rape women, abduct children and burn villages, sits on the United Nations Human Rights Commission, the lone body responsible for promoting respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

I call on the United Nations to seek the immediate suspension of Sudan from the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. And if the United Nations determines that genocide has occurred in Darfur, to see that Sudan is permanently banned from the commission. This is a test for the United Nations. More importantly in some respects, this is a test for Kofi Annan. Kofi Annan is a good man, decent, honest. But Kofi Annan was the head of the U.N. Peacekeeping Forces in 1994 when the genocide swept through Rwanda and 800,000 Tutsis died. The fact that he was in at that time when genocide took place in Rwanda and is now the head of the whole organization when genocide is taking place in Darfur gives him a tremendous burden and responsibility and that responsibility is to immediately seek the suspension of Sudan from the Commission of Human Rights. It is a slap in the face to the pursuit of universal human rights and a direct affront to the United Nations and all countries which respect the God-given rights of their citizens to have Sudan sit in judgment of others as a member of that commission.

I urge every Member to vote in favor of this resolution. I thank the chairman. I want to particularly thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne). He has been there from the very, very beginning as many others have, the Black Caucus has, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo), Senator Brownback, Senator Frist and many others. I think eventually we will be successful, but I want to thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor of legislation introduced by my friend and Virginia colleague Congressman Tom Davis to address needed flexibility in the Title I education program. Title I provides the majority of federal education money; however, these education dollars are tied to arbitrary thresholds of needy students.

A school district can go from just above the threshold to just below with the change of only a couple of percentage points. This means that the increase or loss of only a few needy students can bring a significant windfall of new federal money to a district or can devastate a school district that has received federal funds for years.

In northern Virginia there is one such district. Fairfax County, one of the largest school districts in the country, will likely lose nearly $3 million because of a loss of only a handful of qualifying students. The most recent census-defined poverty rates have dropped the county's population from just above 5 percent to just below 5 percent leaving the school district ineligible for most Title I federal funding. For years, Fairfax County School District has received Title I federal funds because more than 5 percent of the students were below the census-defined poverty rate.

While there are other school districts throughout the country facing similar difficulties, Fairfax County, which serves over 150,000 students, is the largest school division to be dropped out of eligibility for Title I grant programs and stands to lose the most money.

This legislation introduced today would provide school districts like Fairfax County with a multi-year phase down of these funds. This multi- year phase down will allow school districts time to plan for students' educational future. This flexibility would be particularly helpful for Fairfax County School District where the number of students below the poverty rate dropped by a such a small number.

Despite this current situation, Fairfax will maintain its commitment to education success and will have the same number of schoolwide Title I programs in the coming school year as it did before.

Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record the speech made on September 7 by John Miller, Ambassador-at-Large for the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. I hope that you find it compelling.

Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Thank you so much for your kind

words, and even more for

your inspiring words on modern-day slavery. I believe you are

the first Secretary of State to call trafficking in persons

by its true name: modern-day slavery. Without your

leadership, and the leadership of President Bush, we would

never have made the progress we celebrate today.

And thank you, Under Secretary Paula Dobriansky. You first

raised my name for this position and gave me the opportunity

to work on one of the premier human rights issues of the 21st

century.

I see some colleagues and former colleagues from the

Congress here today. They have come even though Congress does

not start the fall session until later today. Congressman

Frank Wolf, whose counsel led me to take this position.

Senator Sam Brownback and Congressman Chris Smith. But for

their work and the work of Paul Wellstone and Sam Gedjenson

there would not be the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and

the office I head. Senator Chuck Schumer, who is taking a

leadership role on this issue. Congressman Diane Watson, who

flew from California to be here, and Congressman Barney

Frank. And my former colleagues Barbara Kennelly and Linda

Smith.

And thanks also to the many senators and congressmen who

sent personal representatives: Senators Lugar, Durbin,

Clinton, and Cantwell, Majority Leader DeLay, House Committee

on International Relations Chairman Hyde, and Congressmen

Barton, Gallegly and Sherman, Kolbe and Coble, Pitts and

Saxton, Dunn and Pryce, Lantos and Sherman.

My thanks also to the many in the executive branch who have

come--the large contingent from the White House and National

Security Council, including my friends Elliot Abrams and

Michael Gerson. And my thanks to the many colleagues from

so many agencies who have worked together on the Senior

Policy Operating Group on human trafficking at the

direction of the President. And, of course, my thanks to

all those who have come from the various parts of the

State Department, including my own office.

Marking the growing importance of modern-day slavery around

the world I also want to recognize and show appreciation for

the attendance of the ambassadors from countries such as

Sweden, Benin, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Nigeria, Indonesia and

the Philippines, and diplomats from other nations such as

Bangladesh, Mexico and Ukraine.

And, last but not least, I want to thank my son, Rip, for

coming all the way from Seattle.

When I came back here to Washington 18 months ago I knew

little about modern-day slavery. I am indebted to many

citizens, public servants and NGOs who worked on the issue

long before me and took the time to tutor and encourage me.

To all of you, I say thanks.

What is this issue we call modern-day slavery? Last week I

gave a keynote speech at the new National Underground

Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati. We discussed the

differences between slavery in the 19th century and the 21st

century. Today, we do not have government-sanctioned slavery

based on color; today, more often we have slavery based on

gender and age. Today, the slavery is not just on plantations

and in homes; it is in factories and armies as well, and

especially in brothels. But the slave masters use the same

tools today as the earlier slave masters: kidnapping, fraud,

threats and beatings, all aimed at forcing women, children,

and men into labor and sex exploitation. And slavery once

again reaches into every country in the world. We had a grim

reminder of this in our own country today with a Washington

Post story on convictions of two kidnappers who put women

into forced prostitution.

Who are these victims that bring us here today? Who are the

individuals whose bodies and souls have suffered?

I picture the victims I have met in my travels. Tina, a

teenage Indonesian farm girl lured and forced into domestic

servitude in Malaysia. Lord, a Laotian youngster, beaten,

tortured and forced to work in an embroidery factory in

Thailand. Katya, a Czech teenager lured to Amsterdam with a

promise of a restaurant job, her passport seized, her 2-year-

old daughter threatened so she would service 10 and 15 men a

day in a brothel. And so many more. . . .

These are the individuals who make up the millions held in

slavery within countries or trafficked across international

borders.

These are the individuals used by organized crime to make

billions of dollars every year so we now, incredibly, speak

of the drug trade, the arms trade--and the people trade.

But today is not about bleakness and despair in the human

rights, health and public stability challenges we face. Today

is about progress and hope. What a group we have here today.

Yes, President Bush and Secretary Powell have taken the lead,

but in this election season of conflict it is a tribute to

the power of this issue that we have here today a coalition

of Democrats and Republicans, a coalition ranging from

feminists to evangelical Christians, all of us committed to

ending this scourge. The NGOs in this room have done so much

to pass laws, to jail the traffickers and to heal the

afflicted.

You have inspired the public servants here, particularly

the staff of the Trafficking in Persons Office. We are a

small office in a big department, but what an office!

Spurring programs and news media coverage around the world,

putting out this report that has helped spur almost 3,000

convictions of traffickers across the globe last year, spur

scores of anti-trafficking in persons laws, and spur debates

leading to law enforcement and victim protection actions from

Guyana to Bangladesh to Japan. To every person who works in

the Trafficking in Persons Office, thanks.

But all that is prologue. What can all of us working

together do in the future?

First, let's start with language. Back in the time of the

Underground Railroad, owners talked about ``field hands,''

but they were describing slaves. Today, words like

``laborers'' and ``sex workers'' are often used to describe

modern-day slaves. We must try to stop that.

Second, we can continue focusing on the source countries

that supply slaves. We can do this by increasing education

efforts that warn potential victims. We can support economic

alternatives for victims. We can set up more shelters to help

the victims. And we can help stamp out corruption and throw

the traffickers in jail. Just as faith-based groups were the

leaders in setting up the Underground Railroad, we now need

faith-based, feminists, and community groups to take the

lead.

Third, we must focus more on the demand for slaves. The

slave victims may start out in poorer countries, but they

often end up in wealthy destination countries in Europe, Asia

and North America. That's where the market is. The slavery in

earlier centuries existed because of the demand of sugar

plantations in Brazil and the Caribbean, the demand of

tobacco and cotton farms in the American south. The Secretary

of State said at the President's Interagency Task Force on

Human Trafficking that we cannot ignore demand today. That

means smashing the forces of organized crime in destination

as well as source countries; it means education directed at

those who create and make up the market.

And when we talk about demand, we must also talk, as

President Bush did at the U.N. last fall, about child sex

tourism, a major force behind child sex slavery. Yes, child

sex tourism may go on in distant lands, but the pedophiles

come from wealthy countries. More countries need to pass laws

such as the Protect Act passed on a bipartisan basis by the

Congress and signed by President Bush in April 2003. That law

strengthened law enforcement's ability to prosecute and put

in jail predators back home, no matter where in the world

they commit this repulsive crime.

Fourth, we must continue to highlight the issue by putting

out reports such as the Justice Department's Assessment of

U.S. Government Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons

and the Secretary of State's annual Trafficking in Persons

Report.

Fifth, we can urge that law enforcement anywhere not just

prosecute the victims but go after the perpetrators and

exploiters.

Sixth, we must insist on abolition. As Hugh Thomas

documents in his History of the Atlantic Slave Trade, in the

19th and earlier centuries, many well-meaning citizens said,

``We can't end the slave trade; let's get better ventilation

on the slave ships; let's get better mats and wooden beds and

more rations and improve the health of the slaves.'' The

Dutch government back then even boasted how clean and neat

and well managed their slave ships were. When English critics

visited the English slave ships, the slave masters had the

slaves sing and dance to convince the visitors to go back and

tell Queen Elizabeth that the slaves were happy and there of

their own consent. And the slave trade went on.

Today victims, often fearful, tell visitors they are fine

and happy. Well-meaning people say, ``We can't end slavery,

so let's get better ventilation in slave factories; let's get

condoms into the brothels.'' These measures are good and will

help the victims, but they won't end the victims' slavery. We

cannot lose sight of that goal.

Last, we can encourage the news media to report on modern-

day slavery and praise them when they do. Increased public

awareness can lead to many good things.

We all know this struggle will be a long one.

But so was the struggle in the early 19th century led by

William Wilberforce in the British Parliament. And long was

the struggle of the American abolitionists like Frederick

Douglass and Harriet Beecher Stowe and Levi Coffin that took

decades. We need their dedication and energy and patience.

This is a struggle that goes back to the book of Exodus

that I took the oath on where the Lord told Moses to tell

pharaoh to, ``Let my people go so they can serve me.''

This is a struggle that goes back to the Declaration of

Independence with its call for the ``inalienable rights of

life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.''

In some ways our struggle is easier than the one facing the

19th century abolitionists. We do not have to violate laws to

help the victims as the early abolitionists did.

When Wilberforce first raised the slavery issue, another

member of Parliament asked, ``What right do you have to

impose British values on the world?'' Well, today, while some

governments may look the other way, no government officially

supports slavery and almost all have signed international

covenants recognizing that freedom must prevail.

I remember visiting Eastern Europe after the fall of the

Iron Curtain and receiving the thanks of so many. In the

decades ahead I want America to earn and merit the thanks of

those who languish in slavery today. I believe America is

great when she is good. We are called on--again--to move

towards the abolition of slavery in every country, including

our own.

There is so much for all of us to do today. Yes, this is a

struggle. But as the great Frederick Douglass said, ``If

there is no struggle, there is no progress.'' We can all be

part of the 21st-century abolitionist movement. And like our

forbearers, we will be victorious!

God bless all of you for your friendship and support in

this struggle. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the State Department also released today a report titled, ``Documenting Atrocities in Darfur.'' The report documents over 1,100 interviews with refugees in Chad.

The report says that in over \3/4\ of the attacks, the Government of Sudan was directly involved and that the attacks were systematic and widespread.

I submit for the Record a copy of this report.

The evidence of the atrocities which have been committed is now clear. It is now time for the international community to act. There is now the chance to stop genocide in its tracks. We must keep pressure on Khartoum. The people living in the camps have little time left. Many are already gone.

The international community must come together to save lives. We must not fail the people of Darfur.

Again, I commend the administration for documenting the horrific evidence of genocide. The U.S. has spoken the truth. The international community must now do the same. There is little time to waste.

Documenting Atrocities in Darfur

[State Publication 11182, Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and the Bureau of Intelligence and Research September

2004]

Summary

The conflict between the Government of Sudan (GOS), and two

rebel groups that began in 2003 has precipitated the worst

humanitarian and human rights crisis in the world today. The

primary cleavage is ethnic: Arabs (GOS and militia forces)

vs. non-Arab villagers belonging primarily to the Zaghawa,

Massalit, and Fur ethnic groups. Both groups are

predominantly Muslim.

A U.S. Government project to conduct systematic interviews

of Sudanese refugees in Chad reveals a consistent and

widespread pattern of atrocities committed against non-Arab

villagers in the Darfur region of western Sudan. This

assessment is based on semi-structured interviews with 1,136

randomly selected refugees in 19 locations in eastern Chad.

Most respondents said government forces militia fighters, or

a combination of both had completely destroyed their

villages. Sixty-one percent of the respondents witnessed the

killing of a family member, 16 percent said they had been

raped or had heard about a rape from a victim. About one-

third of the refugees heard racial epithets while under

attack. Four-fifths said their livestock was stolen; nearly

half asserted their personal property was looted. This

assessment highlights incidents and atrocities that have led

to the displacement of large portions of Darfur's non-Arabs.

An Atrocities Documentation Team, assembled at the

initiative of the US Department of State's Bureau of

Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), conducted interviews

in Chad in July and August. The team was primarily composed

of independent experts recruited by the Coalition for

International Justice (CIJ), and also included experts from

the American Bar Association (ABA), DRL, and the State

Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) as

well as the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

INR was responsible for compiling the survey data and

producing the final report. USAID met the costs of the CIJ

and ABA.

Humanitarian Crisis

As of August 2004, based on available information, more

than 405 villages in Darfur had been completely destroyed,

with an additional 123 substantially damaged, since February

2003. Approximately 200,000 persons had sought refuge in

eastern Chad as of August, according to the UN High

Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); the UN Office for the

Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports another 1.2

million internally displaced persons (IDPs) remain in western

Sudan. The total population of Darfur is 6 million. The lack

of security in the region continues to threaten displaced

persons. Insecurity and heavy rains continue to disrupt

humanitarian assistance. The UN World Food Program provided

food to nearly 940,000 people in Darfur in July. Nonetheless,

since the beginning of the Darfur food program, a total of 82

out of 154 concentrations of IDPs have received food, leaving

72 locations unassisted. Relief and health experts warn that

malnutrition and mortality are likely to increase as forcibly

displaced and isolated villagers suffer from hunger and

infectious diseases that will spread quickly among densely

populated and malnourished populations. The health situation

for the 200,000 refugees in Chad is ominous. The U.S. Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that one in three

children in the refugee settlements in Chad is suffering from

acute malnutrition and that crude mortality rates are already

well above emergency threshold levels (one per 10,000 per

day).

Human Rights Crisis

The non-Arab population of Darfur continues to suffer from

crimes against humanity. A review of 1,136 interviews shows a

consistent pattern of atrocities, suggesting close

coordination between GOS forces and Arab militia elements,

commonly known as the Jingaweit (Janjaweed). (``Jingaweit''

is an Arabic term meaning ``horse and gun.'')

Despite the current cease-fire and UN Security Council

Resolution 1556, Jingaweit violence against civilians has

continued (cease-fire violations by both the Jingaweit and

the rebels have continued as well). Media reports on August

10, 16, and 19 chronicled GOS-Jingaweit attacks in Western

Darfur. In addition to their work on the survey, the

interviewers had the opportunity to speak with newly arrived

refugees who provided accounts that tended to confirm press

reports of continuing GOS participation in recent attacks.

Refugees who fled the violence on August 6 and 8 spoke with

the team, providing accounts consistent with media reports:

joint GOS military and Jingaweit attacks; strafing by

helicopter gunships followed by ground attacks by the GOS

military in vehicles and Jingaweit on horseback; males being

shot or knifed; and women being abducted or raped.

Respondents reported these attacks destroyed five villages.

Multiple respondents also reported attacks on the IDP camp of

Arja.

The UN estimates the violence has affected 2.2 million of

Darfur's 6 million residents. The GOS claims it has been

unable to prevent Jingaweit atrocities and that the

international community has exaggerated the extent and nature

of the crisis. The GOS has improved international relief

access to IDPs in Darfur since July, but problems, including

lack of security and seasonal rains, have hampered relief

programs. Survey results indicate that most Sudanese refugees

state that Jingaweit militias and GOS military forces

collaborate in carrying out systematic attacks against non-

Arab villages in Darfur.

Ethnographic Background

Darfur covers about one-fifth of Sudan's vast territory and

is home to one-seventh of its population. It includes

a mixture of Arab and non-Arab ethnic groups, both of

which are predominantly Muslim (see map, p. 6). The Fur

ethnic group (Darfur means ``homeland of the Fur'') is the

largest non-Arab ethnic group in the region. Northern

Darfur State is home to the nomadic non-Arab Zaghawa but

also includes a significant number of Arabs, such as the

Meidab. Sedentary non-Arabs from the Fur, Massalit, Daju,

and other ethnic groups live in Western Darfur State. The

arid climate and the competition for scarce resources over

the years have contributed to recurring conflict between

nomadic Arab herders and non-Arab farmers, particularly

over land and grazing rights. Various ethnic groups have

fought over access to water, grazing rights, and prized

agricultural land as desertification has driven herders

farther south.

Political and Military Conflict

Ethnic violence affected the Darfur region in the 1980s. In

1986, Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi armed the ethnic-Arab

tribes to fight John Garang's Sudanese People's Liberation

Army (SPLA). After helping the GOS beat back an SPLA attack

in Darfur in 1991, one of these Arab tribes sought to resolve

ancient disputes over land and water rights by attacking the

Zaghawa, Fur, and Massalit peoples. Arab groups launched a

campaign in Southern Darfur State that resulted in the

destruction of some 600 non-Arab villages and the deaths of

about 3,000 people. The GOS itself encouraged the formation

of an ``Arab Alliance'' in Darfur to keep non-Arab ethnic

groups in check. Weapons flowed into Darfur and the conflict

spread. After President Bashir seized power in 1989, the new

government disarmed non-Arab ethnic groups but allowed

politically loyal Arab allies to keep their weapons.

In February 2003, rebels calling themselves the Darfur

Liberation Front (DLF) attacked GOS military installations

and the provincial capital of A Fashir. The DLF complained of

economic marginalization and demanded a power sharing

arrangement with the GOS. In March 2003, the DLF changed its

name to the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLMIA),

intensified its military operations, unveiled a political

program for a ``united democratic Sudan,'' and bolstered its

strength to some 4,000 rebels. The Justice and Equality

Movement, with fewer than 1,000 rebels, was established in

2002 but has since joined the SLM/A in several campaigns

against GOS forces.

The GOS has provided support to Arab militiamen attacking

non-Arab civilians, according to press and NGO reports.

Refugee accounts corroborated by US and other independent

reporting suggest that Khartoum has continued to provide

direct support for advancing Jingaweit. Aerial bombardment

and attacks on civilians reportedly have occurred widely

throughout the region; respondents named more than 100

locations that experienced such bombardment (see map, p. 8).

The extent to which insurgent base camps were co-located with

villages and civilians is unknown. The number of casualties

caused by aerial bombardment cannot be determined, but large

numbers of Darfurians have been forced to flee their

villages. According to press and NGO reports, the GOS has

given Jingaweit recruits salaries, communication equipment,

arms, and identity cards.

Current International Response

On July 30, 2004, the UN Security Council adopted

Resolution 1556, which demanded that the GOS fulfill

commitments it made to

disarm the Jingaweit militias and apprehend and bring to

justice Jingaweit leaders and their associates; it also

called on the GOS to allow humanitarian access to Darfur,

among other things. The UN placed an embargo on the sale or

supply of materiel and training to non-governmental entities

and individuals in Darfur. The resolution endorsed the

African Union deployment of monitors and a protection force

to Darfur. It requested the Secretary-General to report on

GOS progress in 30 days and held out the possibility of

further actions, including sanctions, against the GOS in the

event of non-compliance.

The Security Council has expressed its deep concern over

reports of large-scale violations of human rights and

international humanitarian law in Darfur. The main protection

concerns identified by the UN and corroborated by the

Atrocities Documentation Team include threats to life and

freedom of movement, forced relocation, forced return, sexual

violence, and restricted access to humanitarian assistance,

social services, sources of livelihood, and basic services.

Food security has been precarious and will probably worsen as

the rainy season continues. Many displaced households no

longer can feed themselves because of the loss of livestock

and the razing of food stores.

Relief agencies' access to areas outside the state capitals

of Al Junaynah, Al Fashir, and Nyala was limited until late

May. Visits by UN Secretary-General Annan and Secretary of

State Powell in June 2004 brought heightened attention to the

growing humanitarian crisis. As a result, the GOS lifted

travel restrictions and announced measures to facilitate

humanitarian access. Nonetheless, serious problems remain,

specifically capacity, logistics, and security for

relief efforts. USAID's Disaster Assistance Response Team

and other agencies have deployed additional staff to

increase emergency response capacity.

Refugee Interviews--Survey Results

The Atrocities Documentation Team conducted a random-sample

survey of Darfurian refugees in eastern Chad in July and

August 2004. The team interviewed 1,136 refugees, many of

whom had endured harsh journeys across the desolate Chad-

Sudan border.

A plurality of the respondents were ethnic Zaghawa (46

percent), with smaller numbers belonging to the Fur (8

percent) and Massalit (30 percent) ethnic groups. Slightly

more than half the respondents (56 percent) were women. (See

map, p. 6, showing ethnicity of respondent refugees.)

Analysis of the refugee interviews points to a pattern of

abuse against members of Darfur's non-Arab communities,

including murder, rape, beatings, ethnic humiliation, and

destruction of property and basic necessities. Many of the

reports detailing attacks on villages refer to government and

militia forces, preceded by aerial bombardment, acting

together to commit atrocities. Respondents said government

and militia forces wore khaki or brown military uniforms.

Roughly one-half of the respondents noted GOS forces had

joined Jingaweit irregulars in attacking their villages.

Approximately one-quarter of the respondents said GOS forces

had acted alone; another 14 percent said the Jingaweit had

acted alone. Two-thirds of the respondents reported aerial

bombings against their villages; four-fifths said they had

witnessed the complete destruction of their villages. Sixty-

one percent reported witnessing the killing of a family

member. About one-third of the respondents reported hearing

racial epithets while under attack; one-quarter witnessed

beatings. Large numbers reported the looting of personal

property (47 percent) and the theft of livestock (80

percent).

Most reports followed a similar pattern:

(1) GOS aircraft or helicopters bomb villages.

(2) GOS soldiers arrive in trucks, followed closely by

Jingaweit militia riding horses or camels.

(3) GOS soldiers and militia surround and then enter

villages, under cover of gunfire.

(4) Fleeing villagers are targets in aerial bombing.

(5) The Jingaweit and GOS soldiers loot the village after

most citizens have fled, often using trucks to remove

belongings.

(6) Villages often experience multiple attacks over a

prolonged period before they are destroyed by burning or

bombing.

When describing attacks, refugees often referred to GOS

soldiers and Jingaweit militias as a unified group; as one

refugee stated, ``The soldiers and Jingaweit, always they are

together.'' The primary victims have been non-Arab residents

of Darfur. Numerous credible reports corroborate the use of

racial and ethnic epithets by both the Jingaweit and GOS

military personnel; ``Kill the slaves; Kill the slaves!'' and

``We have orders to kill all the blacks'' are common. One

refugee reported a militia member stating, ``We kill all

blacks and even kill our cattle when they have black

calves.'' Numerous refugee accounts point to mass abductions,

including persons driven away in GOS vehicles, but

respondents usually do not know the abductoes' fate. A few

respondents indicated personal knowledge of mass executions

and gravesites.

A subset of 400 respondents were asked about rebel activity

in or near their villages. Nearly nine in 10 said there was

no rebel activity before the attack. Nine percent noted

rebels were in the vicinity; 2 percent said the rebels were

present in their villages. The overwhelming majority (91

percent) said their village was not defended at all against

the attack. One percent asserted their village had been

successfully defended and another 8 percent cited an

unsuccessful defense.

Respondents reported ethnic tensions in the region had

risen over the past few years. For example, markets in which

non-Arabs and Arabs had previously interacted have become

segregated, and almost all villages are now said to be

ethnically homogenous. According to many of the interviewees,

GOS soldiers and Jingaweit attacked villages because of their

non-Arab populations; men of fighting age have been abducted,

executed, or both; and women and girls have been abducted and

raped.

Refugee Interviews--Survey Methodology

This report is based on results from personal interviews

conducted by three teams between July 12 and August 18, 2004.

DRL, USAID, and the Coalition for International Justice

jointly designed the questionnaire in conjunction with other

NGOs. INR provided technical assistance on questionnaire

design and survey methodology. The teams used a semi-

structured interviewing approach that permitted the refugees

to give the broadest possible accounts of the events they had

experienced. The interviews were conducted in 19 locations in

eastern Chad, including UNHCR camps and informal settlements.

Refugees were selected using a systematic, random sampling

approach designed to meet the conditions in Chad.

Interviewers randomly selected a sector within a refugee camp

and then, from a fixed point within the sector, chose every

10th dwelling unit for interviewing. All adults were listed

within the dwelling unit, and one adult was randomly

selected. This methodology ensures the results are as

representative as possible in light of refugee conditions.

Interviews took place in private, with only the refugee, a

translator, and the interviewer present.

Several characteristics of the survey must be underscored.

First, accounts of atrocities may be dated, depending on when

the individual refugee fled his or her village. Second, the

data may actually undercount the extent of atrocities because

mass attacks often leave few survivors. Third, most

respondents come from villages within 50 miles of the border

in Western Darfur and Northern Darfur States. Fourth, it is

very likely that rapes are underreported because of the

social stigma attached to acknowledging such violations of

female members of one's family.

The results are broadly representative of Darfurian

refugees in Chad but may not be representative of internally

displaced persons still in Darfur because they were not

included in the sample. A margin of error for this sample

cannot be calculated because of the lack of accurate

demographic information about the refugee camps and

settlements. The methodology was designed to achieve as

broadly representative a sample as was feasible under the

prevailing conditions. Dates of events reported by refugees

frequently utilized the Islamic calendar; these dates were

then converted to dates on the Gregorian calendar. (See map,

p. 6, showing interview locations.)

The field data for the 1,136 interviews were compiled using

a standardized data entry process that involved the

collection and coding of detailed information from each

refugee respondent's set of answers. The researchers then

used a statistical program to aggregate the data and analyze

the results.