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    October 19, 2011

Congressman Wants Aid to Malawi Stopped

   Joe DeCapua
   Congressman Frank Wolf (VOA file photo)
   Photo: ç¾å½ä¹é³
   Congressman Frank Wolf (VOA file photo)

   A U.S. congressman said Malawi should not be receiving American aid
   after it allowed Sudanese President Omar al Bashir to visit the country
   last week.

   President Bashir attended the meeting of the Common Market for Eastern
   and Southern Africa, or COMESA. Despite his being indicted by the
   International Criminal Court on war crimes and genocide charges related
   to the Darfur, Malawi refused to arrest him.

   Republican Frank Wolf of Virginia called on the Obama administration to
   take immediate action against the Malawi government.

   'It's depressing,' he said, 'Bashir is a known war criminal, indicted
   by the International Criminal Court, responsible for the deaths of
   thousands, probably hundreds of thousands.

   De Capua interview with Cong. Frank Wolf

   download icon Download: [1]MP3 | [2]Windows Media

   Right click (Control click for Mac) and choose Save Link/Target As

   Wolf also accused the Sudanese leader of being involved in 'ethnic
   cleansing' along the border with south Sudan. Rights groups have
   accused Khartoum of atrocities in Southern Kordofan State.

   'For Malawi, which is also a signer of the International Criminal
   Court, to invite him in and then for us to give Malawi foreign aid,
   it's crazy to think that we would support a country that is supporting
   a country that is involved in genocide and a president who's been
   indicted,' he said.

   Wolf has sent letters to President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton
   and the Millennium Challenge Account board.

   'We're asking that the Millennium Challenge (Account) grant be pulled
   back and canceled, totally canceled, and all foreign aid be ceased.
   Here we're going to give American taxpayer dollars in these tight
   economic times to a country that has welcomed Bashir and that's
   inappropriate,' Wolf said.

   He said President Obama and Secretary Clinton have the authority to
   take such action. Wolf said the administration was silent on the issue
   of Bashir's visit.

   'This is a real test for the administration, a real test for the State
   Department,' he said.

   Wolf said several former Yugoslavia officials that were indicted under
   international law have been arrested and tried, adding the U.S.
   targeted those war criminals. He asked why this is happening in Europe
   and not Africa.

   'In Africa, Bashir gets to travel. The Chinese gave him a red carpet
   several months ago,' he said.

   If U.S. aid is not cut to Malawi, Wolfe said he would 'try to zero them
   out.' Asked how he would try to 'zero them out,' he replied, 'Any way I
   can, anyway I can.'

References

   1. http://av.voanews.com/VOA_Clickability_Feed_Connector/9/598/DE_CAPUA_-_MALAWI_-_WOLFE_10-19-11.mp3
   2. http://av.voanews.com/VOA_Clickability_Feed_Connector/9/598/DE_CAPUA_-_MALAWI_-_WOLFE_10-19-11.wma

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