Letter to President of the United States of America George W. Bush

Representative Schwartz Speaks Out Against Genocide in Darfur

Schwartz: President Bush Must Raise Issue of Darfur

During Meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao

Washington, D.C. - In advance of this Thursday's landmark meeting between President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao, U.S. Representative Schwartz (Pa-13th) called upon President Bush today to press the issue of China's relationship with the Sudanese government. Despite Sudan's role in the ongoing genocide in Darfur, China maintains strong economic and diplomatic ties with the Sudanese government.

Rep. Schwartz enlisted the support of 41 members of Congress to join her in sending a bipartisan letter to President Bush urging him to address the issue of China's involvement with the Sudanese government during his scheduled meeting with President Hu Jintao.

"We must halt the brutal genocide that is ravaging the citizens of Darfur. Given that China is currently serving as the rotating President of the U.N. Security Council, President Bush has a responsibility to press President Hu Jintao on his country's role in working with the international community to end the genocide in Darfur," said Rep. Schwartz.

President Bush is scheduled to meet with President Hu Jintao on Thursday, April 20. This visit marks the first time Hu as visited the United States as president.

Schwartz has been outspoken on the need for action to halt the genocide in Darfur. In addition to spearheading this letter, Schwartz has sponsored legislation to impose sanctions against individuals responsible for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in Darfur. Schwartz has also issued a statement into the Congressional Record condemning the atrocities in Darfur and demanding greater action to stop the genocide.

A copy of the letter sent to President Bush follows below. For an official signed copy of the letter, please contact Rachel Magnuson at Rachel.Magnuson@mail.house.gov.

April 18, 2006

The Honorable George W. Bush

President of the United States of America

1600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Nineteen months after your administration declared the atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan to be genocide, violence aimed at civilians remains constant, humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate and the conflict is now spreading across Darfur's western border into Chad. In fact, according to the United Nations, in a recent wave of violence, Sudan's government and the government-backed janjaweed militia chased thousands of civilians out of 60 villages in Darfur.

The international community, under the leadership of the United States, must do more to confront this genocide. And every country, regardless of its relationship or ties to the Sudanese government, has an obligation to stand with the international community in this effort. Yet, China, a major economic partner of Sudan, continues to be a roadblock in the international community's efforts to stop the genocide by providing diplomatic cover to the Sudanese government within the United Nations.

Furthermore, China continues to invest heavily in the Sudanese economy, including $10 billion to develop Sudanese oil fields. Even more alarming, China has supplied Sudan with military equipment including tanks, artillery and fighter aircraft - perhaps the very equipment used to perpetrate the genocide.

As the United Nations Security Council works to determine what more can be done to stop the ongoing genocide, it is vital that the Chinese end their complicity and play a more constructive role. For example, China should help pressure Khartoum to allow a United Nations peacekeeping deployment to the region. We urge you to raise this matter with Chinese President Hu Jintao at your upcoming meeting and to seek a stronger commitment from the Chinese government to end the genocide in Darfur.

With China currently serving as the rotating President of the U.N. Security Council, it is time for the Chinese to demonstrate their willingness to be a responsible member of the international community by working with, instead of against, international efforts aimed at ending the genocide in Darfur. We appreciate your consideration of this request and wish you success in pressing this matter with President Hu.

Rep. Aderholt

Rep. Andrews

Rep. Baldwin

Rep. Berman

Rep. Sanford Bishop

Rep. Tim Bishop

Rep. Blumenauer

Rep. Sherrod Brown

Rep. Cleaver

Rep. Etheridge

Rep. Farr

Rep. Fitzpatrick

Rep. Frank

Rep. Grijalava

Rep. Higgins

Rep. Holt

Rep. Honda

Rep. Israel

Rep. Jackson-Lee

Rep. Patrick Kennedy

Rep. Lee

Rep. Lowey

Rep. Maloney

Rep. McCarthy

Rep. McCollum

Rep. McDermott

Rep. McGovern

Rep. McNulty

Rep. Meeks

Rep. Michaud

Rep. George Miller

Rep. Oberstar

Rep. Pallone

Rep. Payne

Rep. Pelosi

Rep. Tim Ryan

Rep. Linda Sanchez

Rep. Schakowsky

Rep. Schwartz

Rep. Tancredo

Rep. Van Hollen

Rep. Wynn

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa13_schwartz/Darfur.html