Tom Lantos: “I rise in support of H.R. 5531--the Sudan Peace Act. I do so with some disappointment. The bill we consider today…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 5531--the Sudan Peace Act. I do so with some disappointment. The bill we consider today transmitted from the other body was stripped of its most potent provisions--full disclosure requirement and potential capital market sanctions for corporations doing business in Sudan and thereby contributing to the suffering of the people of southern Sudan. The United States delegation in Khartoum, ably led be former Senator John Danforth, has made tremendous strides in settling this conflict in recent months, even bringing the warring parties to the negotiating table in Machakos, Kenya. But as diplomats talks, the assaults on civilians in the rich oil-producing areas continue. This is appalling. The National Islamic Front leaders in Khartoum have mastered the art of putting a good face on bad faith negotiations--and the removal of capital market sanctions provisions from this bill allows them to continue this deadly ruse with impunity. Had the other body approved the House version of the Sudan Peace Act and preserved these punitive provisions, I believe this could have dealt a major blow to Khartoum's ambitions to dominate and impose sharia religious law on the people of the South. Sudan is suffering through the longest running civil war in the world, contributing to the displacement, depravation and death of millions of Sudanese. It is estimated that more than two million Sudanese have died from war-related causes since 1983.”