Armenian National Committee of America
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Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA PARTICIPATES IN COALITION CAMPAIGN TO STOP GENOCIDE IN SUDAN
— Takes Part in Congressional Black Caucus/Africa Action Effort
to Secure U.S. Intervention in the Darfur Region
— Calls for Support of Genocide Resolution, H.Res.193/S.Res.164,
Renewing U.S. Commitment to the Genocide Convention
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
participated in a press conference, yesterday, organized by the
Congressional Black Caucus and Africa Action, voicing its support
for a nationwide, grassroots campaign to secure U.S. intervention
to stop the impending genocide in Sudan.
Congressional Black Caucus members, including Chairman Elijah
Cummings (D-MD), Representatives Donald Payne (D-NJ), Barbara Lee
(D-CA), Diane Watson (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Sheila Jackson
Lee (D-TX), and Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) were joined by Democratic
Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO), and Africa
Action Executive Director Salih Booker in calling attention to the
ongoing tragedy in Sudan, which has already claimed tens of
thousands of lives in 2004.
In response to a question by ANCA Government Affairs Director
Abraham Niziblian regarding how individuals can get involved in
stopping the cycle of genocide in Sudan, Rep. Payne cited the
example of he Armenian Genocide, noting that “if we had done
something then [1915], we would not have had the 1930’s genocide
committed by the Nazis.” Salih then stressed the importance of
participating in a petition drive, initiated by Africa Action on
June 15th, calling on Secretary of State Colin Powell to support an
immediate intervention to stop the killing [in Sudan].”
Individuals can participate in the Africa Action petition drive by
visiting:
Over the past several weeks, the ANCA has called attention to the
atrocities in Sudan through a series of letters to Congressional
offices, urging them to take a stand to stop the cycle of genocide
through support of Congressional initiatives regarding Sudan as
well as for the Genocide Resolution (H.Res.193 / S.Res.164), which
reaffirms U.S. commitment to the principles of the Genocide
Convention.
In a June 17th memo to Congressional staff members, Niziblian
stated, “as the descendents of survivors of the Armenian Genocide,
Armenian Americans feel a special obligation to encourage our
government to take the lead in preventing genocides, anywhere
around the world. Please stand up against genocide in Sudan and do
all that you can to ensure we, as a nation, meet our obligations
under the Genocide Convention to prevent and punish all instances
of genocide.” Similarly on June 23rd, Niziblian asked Members of
Congress to “work for the passage of the Genocide Resolution
(H.Res.193 and S.Res.164) to reaffirm our collective commitment to
the aims of the Genocide Convention.”
The Genocide Resolution was introduced in the Senate in June, 2003
by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ). Its
companion House measure, H.Res.193, led by Representatives George
Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Armenian
Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI),
was adopted unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee last May
and has 111 cosponsors. The resolution cites the importance of
remembering past crimes against humanity, including the Armenian
Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodian and Rwandan genocides, in an effort
to stop future atrocities. Support for the measure has been
widespread, with a diverse coalition of over 100 ethnic, religious,
civil and human rights organizations calling for its passage,
including American Values, National Organization of Women, Sons of
Italy, NAACP, Union of Orthodox Rabbis, and the National Council of
La Raza.
Africa Action has reported that, “In Darfur, the Sudanese
government is destroying African Muslim communities who have
challenged the authoritarian rule of the government. Government
forces and Arab militias known as the janjaweed have burned and
pillaged thousands of villages, poisoned water systems, and
subjected the population to large-scale rape and other atrocities.”
On May 17th, House Members overwhelmingly adopted H.Con.Res. 403,
condemning the Sudanese Government for its attacks against innocent
civilians in the impoverished Darfur region of western Sudan, by a
margin of 360 to 1. Its companion resolution in the Senate,
S.Con.Res. 99, was adopted unanimously on May 6th. Rep. Payne
announced that he would introduce additional legislation calling on
the “UN Security Council to introduce a resolution authorizing
intervention in Darfur” and “urging the U.S. Administration to
expose those responsible for the genocide.”