Senator Lautenberg Comments On Darfur

November 13, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the people of Darfur at a “New Jersey Lights Torch for Darfur” event in Newark, New Jersey.

“America and the international community have a moral responsibility to work together to stop the violence in Darfur. China in particular must be held accountable and use its influence with Sudan to help end the genocide. We must apply the lessons of past atrocities to what is taking place and bring peace to Darfur,” said Sen. Lautenberg (D-NJ).

The on-going crisis in Darfur, located in the western part of Sudan, has led to a major humanitarian disaster, with an estimated two million people displaced and an estimated 450,000 people killed. In July 2004, the House and Senate declared the atrocities in Darfur to be a genocide. The Bush Administration also declared it to be genocide in September 2004.

Sen. Lautenberg is a co-sponsor of the “Sudan Divestment Authorization Act of 2007” (S. 831), which would permit states and local governments to divest their assets in Sudan. The New Jersey Senator also co-sponsored a resolution Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) crafted calling on the Government of China to use its influence and economic leverage to stop the genocide and violence in Darfur. That measure passed the Senate in July.

Sen. Lautenberg also co-sponsored a resolution calling for the urgent deployment of a robust and effective multinational peacekeeping mission to protect civilians in Darfur. This resolution was adopted by the Senate in July.

Today’s event was organized and hosted by the New Jersey Coalition Responds to the Crisis in Darfur.

Source: Senator Frank R. Lautenberg

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