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Honorarium

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Week Ending March 9, 2006

H.RES.98 Honoring the life and achievements of the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior and reaffirming the continued commitment of the House of Representatives to a just and lasting peace in the Republic of the Sudan.

Dr. John Garang de Mabior established the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Sudan to resist the carnage imposed on the Sudanese people, particularly in Darfur, by forces of the government of Sudan.

Mabior was born in 1945 in Sudan and joined the resistance movement in 1970. Later he achieved a MA and PhD from Iowa State University in economics.

During a recent period when Sudan appeared to be making progress to meld the forces of the government with the forces of resistance the Khartoum government agreed to share leadership with a member of the resistance and it was Mabior. He was installed as First Vice President but died in a helicopter crash 21 days into his first term.

The resolution honors his life and achievements and urges southern Sudan to continue to support Mabior’s vision for a new Sudan.

Sponsor:  Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-NJ-10^th)

Vote: Passed House 410 to 1 March 5, 2007 (RC 121)

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost

Earmark Certification:   Not applicable to this resolution.

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Whereas Dr. John Garang de Mabior, founder and leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), was born on June 23, 1945, in Bor, Sudan;

Whereas Dr. Garang joined the Anya-Nya Movement in 1970, a liberation movement in southern Sudan, and after the 1972 Addis Ababa Peace Agreement, he became a member of the Sudanese Armed Forces;

Whereas as Deputy Director of the Military Research Branch of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Dr. Garang demonstrated his leadership abilities in the early stages of his military career;

Whereas Dr. Garang studied economics at Grinnell College and received his master of arts and doctorate degrees from Iowa State University;

Whereas as the undisputed leader of the SPLM/A, Dr. Garang demonstrated remarkable political and military leadership for over two decades;

Whereas Dr. Garang skillfully managed to consolidate his base after the devastating split in the SPLM/A in 1991;

Whereas Dr. Garang was a soldier, a scholar, a statesman, and a father, who had a clear vision and unwavering love for his people and country;

Whereas Dr. Garang fought for 22 years to achieve a just peace for his people, but only served 21 days as First Vice President of Sudan;

Whereas Dr. Garang fought not only for the people in southern Sudan, but also for the forgotten and long marginalized people of the Nuba Mountains, Southern Blue Nile, Darfur, and other regions of the country;

Whereas Dr. Garang worked tirelessly to help build international support for a new Sudan that would be multi-ethnic, multi-religious, democratic, and united;

Whereas the new Sudan envisioned by Dr. Garang, if fully realized, would be a country in which all Sudanese would live in peace without discrimination and hatred, with equality, pride, and dignity;

Whereas Dr. Garang creatively and painstakingly managed the often conflicting aspirations of his people for an independent southern Sudan and his vision for a new Sudan;

Whereas the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which was signed by the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A on January 9, 2005, gave southern Sudan the right to self determination through a referendum after six years and also offered the northern establishment in Sudan the opportunity to make unity attractive during the interim period;

Whereas on July 8, 2005, millions of people throughout Sudan came to show their support in Khartoum when Dr. Garang was sworn in as First Vice President of Sudan; and

Whereas on July 30, 2005, Dr. John Garang died in a helicopter crash on his way back to southern Sudan from Uganda: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) honors the life and achievements of Dr. John Garang de Mabior;

(2) reaffirms its commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Republic of the Sudan;

(3) calls for full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement without any delay;

(4) strongly urges the people of southern Sudan and its leaders to continue to support Dr. Garang's vision for a new Sudan;

(5) strongly supports the creation of a Dr. John Garang de Mabior Institute for Agriculture, Peace, and Economic Development; and

(6) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the Secretary of State with a request that the Secretary transmit it to Dr. Garang's widow, Rebecca Garang, and to the Government of Southern Sudan, through the Office of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the District of Columbia.

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