Save Darfur Coalition

alexheadshot

zach — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:36:48 +0000

divest-image-clip

zach — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:31:10 +0000

frictiontv

Sarosh — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:43:30 +0000

Meeting with Congress

Sarosh — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:41:10 +0000

Dolars for Darfur winners demonstrate outside the White House

Sarosh — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:53:21 +0000

jerryoncnn

zach — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:17:39 +0000

unamid

Ashley — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:25:36 +0000

Omar al-Bashir

Sarosh — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:33:38 +0000

darfurprotestlondon

Sarosh — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:50:25 +0000

truck_bbc-report

Ashley — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:54:53 +0000

plates_bbc-report

Ashley — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:57:05 +0000

Channel 8 Interview with Amjad Atallah

Sarosh — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:57:05 +0000

mugabe_hu_bashir

Sarosh — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:48:24 +0000

hrtr-side-run

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:55:24 +0000

niemat

Sarosh — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:09:19 +0000

kids

Sarosh — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:33:13 +0000

adada

Sarosh — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:59:20 +0000

adada

Sarosh — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:03:18 +0000

adada2

Sarosh — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:05:59 +0000

salimsalim

Sarosh — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:00:41 +0000

grounded

jmoreland — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:55:46 +0000

helicopter

Sarosh — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:14:17 +0000

Fowler and Helicopter

Sarosh — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:38:22 +0000

Fowler and Braima

Sarosh — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:54:59 +0000

Helicopter group

Sarosh — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:57:46 +0000

lomong1

Sarosh — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:30:50 +0000

lomong2

Sarosh — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:32:53 +0000

lomong3

Sarosh — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:34:03 +0000

Joey Cheek

Sarosh — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:58:18 +0000

Jim Mcgovern

Sarosh — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:36:58 +0000

mia

Sarosh — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:11:48 +0000

darf1_5

Sarosh — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:23:32 +0000

olemiss

lscott — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:41:43 +0000

forgottenvoices1

lscott — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:03:52 +0000

forgottenvoices2

lscott — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:07:46 +0000

plastic_people2

lscott — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:36:22 +0000

Postcard Launch

nghent-rodriguez — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:37:06 +0000

55868872

lscott — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:13:54 +0000

Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) (L) and Republican vice presidential nominee Alaska Governor Sarah Palin appear onstage during the vice presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, October 2, 2008. REUTERS/Rick Wilking/Pool (UNITED STATES) US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2008 (USA) ST. LOUIS - OCTOBER 02: Democratic vice presidential candidate U.S. Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) speaks as Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin looks on during the vice presidential debate at the Field House of Washington University's Athletic Complex on October 2, 2008 in St. Louis, Missouri. The highly anticipated showdown between the two vice-presidential candidates will be their only debate before the election. (Photo by Rick Wilking-Pool/Getty Images)

Was1944592

lscott — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:10:00 +0000

Republican presidential nominee John McCain and Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama stand on stage together following the first debate of the 2008 elections at the University of Mississippi on September 26, 2008 in Oxford, MS. AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

Was1968789

lscott — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:14:07 +0000

Democrat Barck Obama (L) and Republican John McCain greet each other prior to their second presidential debate at Belmont University's Curb Event Center on October 7, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee. AFP PHOTO STAN HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

townhalldebate08

lscott — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:19:34 +0000

jerry_blog

lscott — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:09:25 +0000

bass

aburnette — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:57:23 +0000

women_panel

aburnette — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:04:49 +0000

act_now_logo

Ashley Spitz — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:51:42 +0000

act_now_for_darfur_text

Ashley Spitz — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:53:51 +0000

act_now_text_only

Ashley Spitz — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:54:49 +0000

Senator Feingold

nghent-rodriguez — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:40:59 +0000

Pledge wall

atyson — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:42:24 +0000

Quote-table

atyson — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:45:31 +0000

darfuri_family_reunited_blog

HIAS — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:13:48 +0000

darfuri_girl_and_mother_blog

HIAS — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:15:47 +0000

darfuri_girl_mother-nytimes_blog

HIAS — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:25:00 +0000

dallaire

Dustyn — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:44:12 +0000

dallaire1

Dustyn — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:50:42 +0000

cgs

Dustyn — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:20:34 +0000

Citizens for Global Solutions

Dustyn — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:35:10 +0000

Darfuri Women in Front of the White House

Dustyn — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:45:41 +0000

gen-scott_gration

Allen Combs — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:46:45 +0000

scott_gration

Allen Combs — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:47:44 +0000

US Special Envoy Scott Gration

damanga-rally-7-23

Mohamed Yahya — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:37:13 +0000

damanga-rally-7-23-09

Mohamed Yahya — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:43:11 +0000

scott_gration_150

Allen Combs — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:46:09 +0000

sen-kerry-and-sen-lugar

Allen Combs — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:02:52 +0000

sen-kerry-with-sen-lugar

Allen Combs — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:08:19 +0000

un_ambassador

Allen Combs — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:08:38 +0000

Amir Testifying

Allen Combs — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:51:26 +0000

Darfuri Woman

Allen Combs — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:47:41 +0000

john_prendergrast_cap

Allen Combs — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:17:23 +0000

Rep_Keith_Ellison_200

Allen Combs — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:48:21 +0000

SOS_HRC

Allen Combs — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:02:02 +0000

Ken Bacon

Allen Combs — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:29:59 +0000

Ken Bacon

Allen Combs — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:34:33 +0000

UN_rally_Aug_09

Allen Combs — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:04:54 +0000

USHM_GoogleEarth_Darfur

Allen Combs — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:08:00 +0000

World Humanitarian Day Poster 200

Allen Combs — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:23:42 +0000

A Haitian holds the hand of a student buried under the rubble after a school collapsed in a suburban shantytown killing several people and injuring many more

Gration with SPLM NCP

Allen Combs — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:07:17 +0000

Abdel Wahid al-Nur

Allen Combs — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:57:44 +0000

Darfuri Women embrace 480

Allen Combs — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:49:40 +0000

Water lilies

Allen Combs — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:20:08 +0000

Lubna_Hussein

Allen Combs — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:52:12 +0000

lubna-hussein-3

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:17:19 +0000

Pledge 2 Protect Conference

Allen Combs — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:04:45 +0000

Poster

Allen Combs — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:23:09 +0000

Colonel Muammar Qaddafi

Allen Combs — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:29:01 +0000

DARFUR/DARFUR

Melissa Warnke — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:09:04 +0000

Kristof&WuDunn Luncheon

Melissa Warnke — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:55:01 +0000

Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, co-authors of "Half the Sky," Adrienne Germain, President of International Women's Health Coalition, and Tamara Kreinin, Executive Director of Women and Population at the United Nations Foundation.

Rally Image

nghent-rodriguez — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:43:26 +0000

PDEC Press Conference

nghent-rodriguez — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:57:23 +0000

PDEC Press Conference

nghent-rodriguez — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:58:05 +0000

MBF 2

nghent-rodriguez — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:36:27 +0000

MBF Photo

nghent-rodriguez — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:39:04 +0000

MBF Photo

nghent-rodriguez — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:40:38 +0000

MBF 2

nghent-rodriguez — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:41:31 +0000

Sec-Clinton-Image

Melissa Warnke — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:34:06 +0000

DestroyedVillages

Allen Combs — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:57:19 +0000

darfur_dance_logo2

Allen Combs — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:27:04 +0000

Darfur- Rebecca Davis Dance Company

Rebecca Dennis — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:59:57 +0000

Facebook pic

nghent-rodriguez — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:33:34 +0000

Policy Review SS

Allen Combs — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:34:00 +0000

img gration clinton rice

Allen Combs — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:05:52 +0000

Albashir.sd

Allen Combs — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:03:53 +0000

PHR Briefing

nghent-rodriguez — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:06:24 +0000

PHR Briefing

nghent-rodriguez — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:09:38 +0000

Obama_Gration_Front_500

Allen Combs — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:33:50 +0000

Obama Oval meeting Scott Gration on Darfur . Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Omar al-Bashir

seanbrooks — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:08:33 +0000

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Charlie Rose

Allen Combs — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:57:33 +0000

rep_steny_hoyer_150

Allen Combs — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:05:17 +0000

PAR2004103159350

wcfischer — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:11:56 +0000

EL-FASHER, SUDAN: A Sudanese custom official checks 31 October 2004 the serial numbers of AK-47 rifles of some 100 Rwandan troops of the African Union Cease Fire Commission who arrived with a USAF C-130 in El-Fasher, Sudan. One hundred Rwandan troops arrived in the Darfur town of El Fasher today as part of an expanding African Union (AU) mission monitoring a shaky ceasefire for the conflict-ravaged province in western Sudan. AFP PHOTO/MARCO LONGARI (Photo credit should read MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images)

Made in China?

wcfischer — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:25:11 +0000

chris

wcfischer — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:14:40 +0000

chris

wcfischer — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:16:21 +0000

rebeccadavispic

goalawal — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:44:03 +0000

rebeccadavispic

goalawal — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:52:59 +0000

Rebecca Davis

goalawal — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:43:19 +0000

Zhou Yongkang and Ali Osman

Allen Combs — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:25:12 +0000

Zhou and Taha

seanbrooks — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:07:48 +0000

White Ribbon - 16 Days Campaign Blog Pic

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:19:06 +0000

Andrea_16days

Allen Combs — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:37:06 +0000

DSC_0540

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:16:02 +0000

photo

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:21:33 +0000

thanksgivingDSC_0540

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:27:52 +0000

16 Days Photo - EDF

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:12:15 +0000

16 Days Photos - Will 2

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:15:44 +0000

Facebook screenshot

nghent-rodriguez — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:20:40 +0000

Table

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:58:46 +0000

mail.google.com.1jpg

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:59:52 +0000

16 Days Photos - Rebecca Blog

Rebecca Dennis — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:31:41 +0000

Dr. Ali B. Ali-Dinar

seanbrooks — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:28:08 +0000

Sorors Fletcher & Harris

goalawal — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:22:33 +0000

gration

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:33:21 +0000

gration

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:34:48 +0000

16 Days blog photo

cwagner — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:40:13 +0000

Jim_moran twitpic1

goalawal — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:18:02 +0000

Jim_moran twitpic1

goalawal — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:20:22 +0000

Protests in Sudan today

seanbrooks — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:31:05 +0000

Protestors Detained

seanbrooks — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:33:49 +0000

Protestors Detained Today

seanbrooks — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:34:43 +0000

Halima Bashir wide

Melissa Warnke — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:57:18 +0000

16 Days Photos - Britney Blog

Melissa Warnke — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:36:53 +0000

Clinton and Gration / Jim Watson AFP/Getty Images

wcfischer — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:20:48 +0000

16 Days CC 1 - Lori's Listen

Melissa Warnke — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:19:17 +0000

16 Days CC 1 - Lori's Listen

Melissa Warnke — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:22:01 +0000

15558_1284696750984_1037073030_898462_7255794_n

seanbrooks — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:33:25 +0000

USCIRF Presser

Allen Combs — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:07:18 +0000

USCIRF Presser

Allen Combs — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:12:00 +0000

Propr Launch Party 500

Allen Combs — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:46:36 +0000

Propr Shirt 250

Allen Combs — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:48:28 +0000

ChadPHOTOS (182 of 193)

seanbrooks — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:01:29 +0000

HRC_Gration_1_8_2010

Allen Combs — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:16:14 +0000

spaceball

seanbrooks — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:57:29 +0000

Rwandan military personnel with UNAMID

spaceball

seanbrooks — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:58:37 +0000

Rwandan military personnel with UNAMID

AJ1

goalawal — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:47:08 +0000

AJ2

goalawal — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:01:42 +0000

Beja Protest at Sudanese Embassy

marissa.glauberman — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:20:41 +0000

DNI Dennis Blair

Allen Combs — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:29:57 +0000

ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo

Allen Combs — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:35:32 +0000

AJ Fay

Allen Combs — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:03:49 +0000

AJ Fay Idaho

Allen Combs — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:07:31 +0000

ML_Meeting_With_IDPs

Allen Combs — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:02:06 +0000

ML_Jerry_In_Otash

Allen Combs — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:11:07 +0000

ML_Jerry_In_Otash

Allen Combs — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:24:58 +0000

UNAMID-SLA

Celeste Robinson — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:38:59 +0000

Propr Launch Party 500

Allen Combs — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:55:02 +0000

SUDAN-SOUTH/INDEPENDENCE

Allen Combs — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:02:55 +0000

Mi-35P

Celeste Robinson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:50:35 +0000

UNAMID Mi-35P

Celeste Robinson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:57:08 +0000

UNAMID Mi-35P

Celeste Robinson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:59:15 +0000

UNAMID Mi-35P

Celeste Robinson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:01:50 +0000

Melissa & Theresa at DC "Join Me on the Bridge" March

Melissa Warnke — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:28:59 +0000

Melissa & Teresa at "Join Me on the Bridge" in DC

Melissa Warnke — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:32:07 +0000

Over 100 people marched across the Memorial Bridge

Melissa Warnke — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:34:40 +0000

We wrote to our Congress(wo)men asking them to restore SGBV services

Melissa Warnke — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:38:22 +0000

Some of the letters we wrote

Melissa Warnke — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:40:36 +0000

Prayer Bfast Picture

Melissa Warnke — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:49:40 +0000

ISWG_PB_480

Allen Combs — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:12:40 +0000

Darfuri women and child

Megan Flemming — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:09:31 +0000

Darfuri women and child

Megan Flemming — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:13:26 +0000

Darfuri women and child

Megan Flemming — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:16:07 +0000

Darfuri women and child

Megan Flemming — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:13:58 +0000

Darfuri women and child

Megan Flemming — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:16:52 +0000

Jebel Marra Map

Celeste Robinson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:04:05 +0000

Jebel Marra Map

Celeste Robinson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:06:18 +0000

Abou Shouk Camp, near El-Fasher (Save Darfur/Mark Lotwis)

seanbrooks — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:09:51 +0000

IMG_1455

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:45:55 +0000

Female Soldiers

lsittley — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:55:46 +0000

IMG_1555

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:59:11 +0000

Members of the all female Indian Formed Police Unit

lsittley — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:02:02 +0000

PDEC Summit

goalawal — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:18:24 +0000

David Rosenberg

goalawal — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:02:34 +0000

PDEC

goalawal — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:33:46 +0000

PDEC

goalawal — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:34:51 +0000

Cartoon at the African Review

seanbrooks — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:11:57 +0000

Sudan365 Logo

goalawal — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:19:26 +0000

Sudan365 Logo

SuDEMOP logo

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:48:03 +0000

SuDEMOP logo image

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:49:34 +0000

SuDEMOP logo image

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:50:31 +0000

MARCH PHOTO

Melissa Warnke — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:18:51 +0000

MARCH PHOTO

Melissa Warnke — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:21:01 +0000

FrankWolf_photo

Allen Combs — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:40:41 +0000

Activists at the White House

Niemat — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:19:15 +0000

Activists at the White House

Activists marching toward the Department of the State

Niemat — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:29:17 +0000

Activists marching toward the Department of the State

Sudan Democracy First Post Election Scenarios English

lsittley — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:03:04 +0000

sudanese_rally_500px

Allen Combs — Thu, 06 May 2010 18:47:08 +0000

BashirMbeki

Celeste Robinson — Wed, 12 May 2010 21:59:54 +0000

Assessing_Elections_in_Sudan

Celeste Robinson — Thu, 13 May 2010 18:28:39 +0000

Sifting Through Shattered Hopes

Celeste Robinson — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:57:26 +0000

here

Celeste Robinson — Wed, 19 May 2010 22:13:59 +0000

Investors Against Genocide Protest

Allen Combs — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:55:24 +0000

Gordon

goalawal — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:04:57 +0000

Gordon Rothrock

goalawal — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:07:06 +0000

Picture of Gordon Rothrock, June 2010 Darfur Hero.

Gordon Rothrock

goalawal — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:44:23 +0000

Gordon Rothrock- June 2010 Darfur Hero

Refugee in Sudan

BreeBarton — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:09:21 +0000

Refugee in Sudan

BreeBarton — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:10:41 +0000

Refugee in Sudan from daveblume's photostream

Susan Rice

Shannon Orcutt — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:14:03 +0000

Ambassador+UN+Susan+Rice+Discusses+North+Korean+bVseQb8l36zl

Shannon Orcutt — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:16:06 +0000

SC pm

Shannon Orcutt — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:16:14 +0000

Security Council Meeting: Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (S/2009/439) Security Council Meeting: Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (S/2009/439) Security Council Meeting: Security Council Meeting on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (S/2009/439) Security Council Meeting: Security Council Meeting on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. Former President and Special Envoy to Haiti, Bill Clinton, addressed the meeting. Security Council Meeting: Security Council Meeting on the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. Former President and Special Envoy to Haiti, Bill Clinton, addressed the meeting.

President Obama

Esha Bera — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:27:40 +0000

ASP president and civil Society

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:25:47 +0000

Kampla

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:26:55 +0000

ICC Review Conference

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:34:00 +0000

Haile_Menkerios_-_un-fb26c

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:54:41 +0000

mbeki1

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:55:15 +0000

Recently Freed Slaves

Hannah Woit — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:06:37 +0000

UNHCR World Refugee Day Poster

Michelle Sawyer — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:24:53 +0000

World Refugee Day

Michelle Sawyer — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:40:56 +0000

manute bol

Hannah Woit — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:04:58 +0000

World Refugee Day 2009

Michelle Sawyer — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:06:38 +0000

Cairo, Egypt

divestment image

Hannah Woit — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:47:38 +0000

picture ofDarfur prisoner with burns and scarec as the result of torture

Esha Bera — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:42:38 +0000

picture ofDarfur prisoner with burns and scarec as the result of torture

Esha Bera — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:55:32 +0000

The Justice and Equality Movement

Shannon Orcutt — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:25:48 +0000

IDP

Shannon Orcutt — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:29:29 +0000

IDP_tents

Shannon Orcutt — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:30:21 +0000

IDPS at Zam zam UN Photo Olivier Chassot_0

Shannon Orcutt — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:30:29 +0000

Kalma IDP

Shannon Orcutt — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:31:56 +0000

abu_shouk_unep

Shannon Orcutt — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:37:58 +0000

SN3

Rebecca Dennis — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:55:03 +0000

black and white srebrenica memorial

Hannah Woit — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:24:43 +0000

n770827207_9085

Shannon Orcutt — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:15:06 +0000

Joey Cheek with AJ and others in Boise

Allen Combs — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 21:47:08 +0000

July14rally

goalawal — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:09:47 +0000

DSC_0008

dtannenbaum — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:47:19 +0000

Lewis-Darfur-Legacy-no2-500-750

dtannenbaum — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:27:31 +0000

The Darfur Heroes honors individuals and groups who have done inspiring and important work in an effort to end the violence in Sudan. This July, Save Darfur Coalition is proud to honor Mitch Lewis. Mr. Lewis has produced a series of sculptors dedicated to the suffering women of Darfur, and is an ardent supporter of peace and justice in Sudan.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:54:42 +0000

omar_al-Bashir_1359153c

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:55:34 +0000

2297474362_b3a5b24756

dtannenbaum — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:36:53 +0000

Gaga refugee camp interview

Hannah Woit — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:51:37 +0000

IOM

Shannon Orcutt — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:50:28 +0000

IDPs in Sudan

Hannah Woit — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:32:28 +0000

UNAMID

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:41:14 +0000

rainy season

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:44:29 +0000

abu nabag3_3

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:50:47 +0000

UNAMID

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:09:41 +0000

246461039_0a351c4519

dtannenbaum — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:08:40 +0000

1580019827_0a7d25fad8

Hannah Woit — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:55:21 +0000

petro china

dtannenbaum — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:45:12 +0000

Sudan Divestment Rally in NYC

dtannenbaum — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:32:43 +0000

black gold 1

dtannenbaum — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:39:40 +0000

black gold 2

dtannenbaum — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:44:11 +0000

JP blog post image

Hannah Woit — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:24:37 +0000

The Enough Moment

dtannenbaum — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:33:44 +0000

CCGAA pic 1

dtannenbaum — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:13:53 +0000

Kalma IDP

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:35:31 +0000

Kalma IDP Camp

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:35:41 +0000

Darfur, Kalma Camp, 2007. Humanitarian aid agencies organize food and non food item distributions. Distributions usually take a whole day exposing people waiting in line (mostly women) to the heat of the desert, which often reaches 50 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit) in the shade.

IDPs in Kalma

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:42:26 +0000

A Day for Those Who Save Lives

goalawal — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:59:56 +0000

A picture of an Humanitarian aid worker and kids at a camp

Photo by STAND at Queens College

goalawal — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:03:23 +0000

Refugee CAMPus 2010

goalawal — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:14:00 +0000

refugee_campus_2010

goalawal — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:57:36 +0000

Omar al-Bashir

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:36:56 +0000

President Omar al-Bashir

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:38:54 +0000

unamid

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:49:33 +0000

rwandan_soldiers_march.jpe

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:53:54 +0000

ban ki moon and rwanda

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:54:09 +0000

rwandan_soldiers_march.jpe

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:55:36 +0000

Obama in Chad

Hannah Woit — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:11:49 +0000

President Obama while on a trip during which he visited Darfuri refugees in Chad

Sudan Freedom Walk 2006

Ariana Harner — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:49:51 +0000

Kids and Drawing panels

Rebecca Dennis — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:48:34 +0000

Kids and Drawing panels

Rebecca Dennis — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 18:12:59 +0000

Kids and Drawing panels

Rebecca Dennis — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 18:16:05 +0000

John Prendergast

Ariana Harner — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:40:32 +0000

unhq

Hannah Woit — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:16:57 +0000

UN photo/Fred Noy

Ariana Harner — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 16:21:00 +0000

Burning Village in Darfur

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 21:18:29 +0000

2 kids at unga

Hannah Woit — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:10:57 +0000

Drumming Circle

Hannah Woit — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:12:03 +0000

never again

Hannah Woit — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:13:42 +0000

my_home_logo

Hannah Woit — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:27:22 +0000

UN Convention on Rights of Child art piece

Hannah Woit — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:50:50 +0000

taking action at my home

Hannah Woit — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:51:45 +0000

MYHOME child's art

Hannah Woit — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:53:00 +0000

vigil on front of sudan embassy

Hannah Woit — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:08:17 +0000

signs in front of embassy for vigil

Hannah Woit — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:08:38 +0000

stand up dancers

Hannah Woit — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:29:33 +0000

sudan 365 with dancers

Hannah Woit — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:29:53 +0000

darfurian voices

Hannah Woit — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:27:04 +0000

darfurian voices 2

Hannah Woit — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:29:25 +0000

myhome poster

Hannah Woit — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:48:58 +0000

lopez lomong

Hannah Woit — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:52:21 +0000

Ian, Osman, Omer

Joe Maddens — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:01:02 +0000

Omer interview

Joe Maddens — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:03:33 +0000

salva kiir

Hannah Woit — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:06:28 +0000

soldier

Hannah Woit — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:09:56 +0000

Ahmat2

Joe Maddens — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:12:49 +0000

Ahmat

Joe Maddens — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:13:14 +0000

Emmanuel suit coat

Joe Maddens — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:15:44 +0000

clooney 1

Kaiser — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 21:31:12 +0000

George Clooney at Save Darfur Rally

Kaiser — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 21:31:42 +0000

obama2

Rebecca Dennis — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:33:41 +0000

obama3

Rebecca Dennis — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 18:47:11 +0000

obama3

Rebecca Dennis — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 18:47:57 +0000

donald payne

Hannah Woit — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:14:46 +0000

southern_sudan_2010-11

Hannah Woit — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:21:47 +0000

rich williamson

Hannah Woit — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:28:00 +0000

IMG_0974

Hannah Woit — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:14:27 +0000

IMG_0973

Hannah Woit — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:30:45 +0000

IMG_0973

Hannah Woit — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:34:07 +0000

UNAMID

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 19:06:40 +0000

JEM

Shannon Orcutt — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:12:32 +0000

jk-ghazi-sitting

Allen Combs — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:15:57 +0000

240px-John_Prendergast_World_Affairs

Ariana Harner — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 20:39:55 +0000

Clooney's Call for Sudan

Ariana Harner — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 20:40:11 +0000

obama darfur

Hannah Woit — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:43:23 +0000

obama 08 campaign plan

Hannah Woit — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:43:44 +0000

What the Heart Remembers

Rebecca Dennis — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 22:47:06 +0000

bashir

Shannon Orcutt — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:02:45 +0000

540670442_F92A5B1B2F

Shannon Orcutt — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:19:49 +0000

JCM and Qatari Foreign Minister visit Nyala

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 17:16:07 +0000

1 December 2010. The Doha peace negotiation team, headed by Qatari Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Abdulla Al-Mahmoud and AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator Djibrill BassolÃ©, visited today Zalingei, West Darfur, in the final leg of a four day visit to Darfur. The delegation was in a meeting with Civil society representatives at Zalingei University when a demonstration began outside. In response, Minister Al-Mahmoud and Mr. BassolÃ© addressed the crowd in attempt to ease the tension. However, as the party departed, the protests turned violent, resulting in at least one person killed and several wounded. Photo by Albert Gonzalez Farran / UNAMID

SConRes71pic

Ariana Harner — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:54:48 +0000

4506005042_30326153e0

Hannah Woit — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 17:08:15 +0000

Darfur Task Force Students

Ariana Harner — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 20:13:48 +0000

Archbishop Desmond Tutu & President Jimmy Carter

Hannah Woit — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:35:28 +0000

darfur refugee photo

Hannah Woit — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 19:49:10 +0000

16 days-2010 final

Niemat — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 23:45:48 +0000

16 ways to defend women’s rights

Niemat — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 23:48:58 +0000

16 days-2010 final

Niemat — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:01:46 +0000

4464626325_08bd078a7c

Niemat — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 14:31:09 +0000

Sarah Rial

Ariana Harner — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:58:36 +0000

Sudan-Now-Week-of-Action-Ad

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:50:31 +0000

Sudan-Now-Week-of-Action-Ad

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:51:31 +0000

Sarah Rial and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:04:51 +0000

SIS Dane Smith

Shannon Orcutt — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:35:06 +0000

Screengrab-from-a-YouTube-007

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:46:57 +0000

2009 Carl Wilkens Fellows

Emily Roberts — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 19:16:06 +0000

CWF Network Map

Emily Roberts — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 19:26:22 +0000

clintonqddr

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:46:49 +0000

clintonqddr

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:25:23 +0000

eaf01_George_Athor_Deng-6-df98b

Shannon Orcutt — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:08:46 +0000

CongressCanHelpPrevent

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:09:38 +0000

NeverAgain

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:32:35 +0000

Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Shultz, Don Cheadle, George Clooney and activist Adam Sterling at the California divestment bill signing

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:46:58 +0000

JohnRuggie

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:28:25 +0000

John Ruggie the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Business and Human Rights

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:31:14 +0000

Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Shultz, Don Cheadle, George Clooney and activist Adam Sterling at the California divestment bill signing

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:34:24 +0000

not on our watch

Hannah Woit — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:02:53 +0000

OIL BARRELS 1

David Kienzler — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:30:20 +0000

sudan1_1

Daniel Sullivan — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:53:22 +0000

sudanvotemonitor

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 17:56:37 +0000

sudanvotemonitormap

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 15:16:22 +0000

sudanvotemonitormap

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 15:17:39 +0000

CarnegieMap

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 17:26:44 +0000

Congress

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:45:11 +0000

Congress

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:46:26 +0000

Kiel and Renee

Emily Roberts — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:43:56 +0000

Smiling Darfuri Girl / Burnt Village in Darfur

Allen Combs — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:57:31 +0000

398px-Ileana_Ros-Lehtinen_Congressional_Portrait

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:49:29 +0000

Xinhua News Photo of Chinese Engineers arriving in Darfur in 2007.

Daniel Sullivan — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 16:37:04 +0000

Chinese Engineers in Sudan

Daniel Sullivan — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 16:39:27 +0000

Keep your eyes on Darfur2

Niemat — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:54:27 +0000

Ahmed_Haroun

Allen Combs — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:02:53 +0000

Naomi

Emily Roberts — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:59:45 +0000

600px-Seal_of_the_House_of_Representatives.svg

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:16:19 +0000

Gabriel Stauring with refugee children at the Djabal camp in eastern Chad. He wGabriel Stauring with refugee children at the Djabal camp in eastern Chad.

goalawal — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:36:28 +0000

Gabriel Stauring with refugee children at the Djabal camp in eastern Chad. He works with Sister Schools to connect camp classrooms to those in the US.

Abyei

Daniel Sullivan — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:19:13 +0000

Abyei

Daniel Sullivan — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:20:15 +0000

UNAMID-20101230-OlivierChassot-IDPShangilTobaya-9139

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:26:38 +0000

UNAMID rapid assessment mission in Shangil Tobaya, after recent clashes in December Picture: UNAMID - Olivier Chassot

Omar al-Bashir at the 12th A.U. Summit

Joe Maddens — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:12:48 +0000

reuters bashir-kiir 2-7-11

Daniel Sullivan — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 18:31:52 +0000

KayGranger

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:05:43 +0000

About

zach — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:17:06 +0000

The Save Darfur Coalition is an alliance of over 180 faith-based, advocacy and human rights organizations. Our member organizations represent 130 million people of all ages, races, religions and political affiliations united together to help the people of Darfur. The Coalition was founded in 2004 when our organizational members signed a unity statement demanding peace and security for the people of Darfur. We regularly conduct domestic and international campaigns.

Drone

Daniel Sullivan — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:32:46 +0000

Drone

Daniel Sullivan — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:34:53 +0000

Capuano

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:48:12 +0000

SenatorRogerWicker

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:53:43 +0000

DarfurAid

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:00:07 +0000

MIDEAST Sudan Women Flogged

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:10:56 +0000

Dozens of Sudanese women protest Tuesday Aug. 4, 2009 outside a Khartoum court where a female journalist is on trial for wearing trousers in public _ a violation of the country's strict Islamic laws. Arabic slogan read as " No for public order law". Sudanese police fired tear gas and beat women protesting outside a Sudanese court Tuesday during the trial of a female journalist accused of violating the Islamic dress code by wearing trousers in public. (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)

trousers_1455994c

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:12:54 +0000

sudan.protests

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:19:24 +0000

Shaddad IDP Camp

Jessica Gisondo — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:50:18 +0000

Shaddad IDP Camp

Jessica Gisondo — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:51:57 +0000

CongressionalSeal

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:08:36 +0000

GatesClinton

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:46:08 +0000

SenateSeal

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:38:01 +0000

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Niemat — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:20:15 +0000

DIN1

Niemat — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:42:30 +0000

NGOLetterGenPrevFunding

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:36:20 +0000

Investing resources to effectively prevent and respond to crises is cost-effective

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:37:10 +0000

GatesClinton

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:25:38 +0000

SenatorGraham

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:41:14 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 02: Senate Armed Services Committee member Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) questions witnesses during a hearing about the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on Capitol Hill December 2, 2010 in Washington, DC. Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced earlier this week that a comprehensive study found that allowing gay men and women to serve openly in the United States armed forces presents a low risk to the military's effectiveness, even at a time of war, and that 70 percent of service members believe that the impact of repealing the law would be either positive, mixed or of no consequence at all. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Activist Forum

zach — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:14:54 +0000

angeladarfur — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1" caption="Honor the Past Act Now for Darfur postcard action"][/caption]

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Gloria White-Hammond from Genocide Prevention Month on Vimeo.

Ashley Spitz — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Our activists have been very busy this past month, Genocide Prevention Month created a huge movement in the Darfur activist community, with over 250 events around the world. Although April is over there are still events happening this weekend in honor of Genocide Prevention Month.

nghent-rodriguez — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

The Global Peace Index: Measuring Peace for a Better Tomorrow

mtcolbert — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

The Global Peace Index is the worlds only measure of countries in their varying states of peace. The index was created in order to further the understanding of what nurtures and sustains peace and to measure the progress of a countries and the international system. The state of the worlds peace is measured by a country to country basis and in various ways, these include varying states of: 1) Social and Political Peace (i.e. degree of non-violent conflict) 2) militarisation 3) Organized conflict 4) Number of displaced people 5) Number of external and internal conflicts 6)Respect for human rights 7) Social urest (i.e. violent protest) 8) Political instability 9) Number of deaths due to conflict 10) Potential for terrorist attacks The Global Peace Index (GPI) was started in 2007 by Clyde McConaghy and Steve Killelea. Each year since then they have gathered a panel of Peace and International Relations specialists together to study and speak about the state of the Global Peace Index (GPI) and what that means for the world. This year at the 2009 GPI the hot topic was the economy and how that has effected the state of the worlds peace. Below is the world chart for the 2009 GPI results:

Engineers and Darfur

atyson — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Bob Hebert is a columnist for NY Times, his May 30, 2009 column was extensively quoted in the "Darfur Daily News" of June 1, 2009. His column quoted from a 1999 speech of Elie Wiesel.

It is so much easier to look away from victims, it is so much easier to avoid such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, our hopes.

But indifference to the suffering of others is what makes the human being inhuman. The political prisoner in his cell, the hungry children, the homeless refugees -- not to respond to their plight, not to relieve their solitude by offering them a spark of hope is to exile them from human memory. And in denying their humanity, we betray our own.

I profess the Christian worldview. By it, the need to "suffer for righteousness' sake" is just part of the moral fabric of the universe - institutional evil will not be removed, or even controlled without it. Darfur's agony manifests much institutional evil, therefore significant "suffering for righteousness' sake" is required, among other things, to end it. "Suffering for righteousness' sake" has some clear distinctives from the more run of the mill, unbidden, seemingly random and meaningless suffering all too common to humanity - the illness, the accident, the natural disaster, etc. One decides, at some point, to take actions that result in "suffering for righteousness' sake" instead of "looking the other way." It generally involves confronting institutional evil, not just personal evil. And good can - not necessarily will, but can - come from it, by the control or stanching of institutional evil. It is also highly commended for Christians by Jesus Christ and writers of the epistles. This may be sound vainglory, but I have extensive, first-hand, experience with "suffering for righteousness' sake" in upholding and defending my profession of engineering, its code of ethics, and the public health and safety as a licensed professional engineer (PE), employed as a nuclear safety engineer by US Department of Energy (one can google my name for details). The most dismal aspect of my experience has been the lack of Christian religious professionals and Christian faith communities criticizing the repeated, established, unappealable record of government lawbreaking against me - taken to punish me for putting my duty to protect others before my self-interest and intimidate other concerned employees into silence. The second most dismal aspect has been the near complete silence of my profession to it. As a result of their indifference, their "looking the other way," I am just a "speeding ticket" to my employer and my profession basically says "Show us the money, one cannot eat ethics.'" So what to Darfur? Darfur is, in essential part, enabled by my profession of engineering whose members play essential roles in the extraction, transportation, and refining of Sudanese oil that funds the war. In turn, my profession is enabled by religious professionals of all kinds, who take no exception to the role the significantly self-regulating profession of engineering plays in Darfur, nor the silent complicity of engineers in their faith communities to it. Why? Because "suffering for righteousness' sake" in confronting the evil and malfeasance in and enabled by our modern professions can require members of those professions to put themselves at some degree of economic jeopardy in their most economically valuable asset - their standing and reputation in their profession - and that is apparently just off the table for consideration. And woe to any religious professional who takes exception to it - that religious professional is rolling dice with his/her job and career security. So can we state the unpleasant, economically inconvenient, fact that we will support Darfur as long as it involves saying a prayer, writing a letter, sending a check, or going without food for a day or two - but we (particularly religious professionals) will not ask others to risk "suffering for righteousness' sake" in their vocations, because just making that request puts us at economic jeopardy, and we will not put ourselves at risk of economic jeopardy in our professions to end their role in enabling Darfur, because that is just unreasonable. If we can own up to how much "love of money is the root of all evil," including the enabling, look the other way type of evil that allows the engineering profession to be complicit in Darfur, we can do something about it, something that will change the "facts on the ground" in Darfur - but it will likely require "suffering for righteousness' sake" - loss of professional status, reputation, goodwill - by some the involved engineers in their jobs and vocation - because they will show themselves not to be "team players." And the religious professionals who stop giving engineers in their faith communities a "free pass" about their profession's complicit role in Darfur are also "rocking boats" and may end up saying "would you like fries with that?" in their next job.

Engineers and Darfur

nghent-rodriguez — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

How engineers enable Darfur genocide/civil war and how religious professionals enable engineers in their doing so by Joseph Carson, PE of the Affiliation of Christian Engineers Bob Hebert is a columnist for NY Times, his May 30, 2009 column was extensively quoted in the "Darfur Daily News" of June 1, 2009. His column quoted from a 1999 speech of Elie Wiesel.

It is so much easier to look away from victims, it is so much easier to avoid such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, our hopes. But indifference to the suffering of others is what makes the human being inhuman. The political prisoner in his cell, the hungry children, the homeless refugees -- not to respond to their plight, not to relieve their solitude by offering them a spark of hope is to exile them from human memory. And in denying their humanity, we betray our own."

I profess the Christian worldview. By it, the need to "suffer for righteousness' sake" is just part of the moral fabric of the universe - institutional evil will not be removed, or even controlled without it. Darfur's agony manifests much institutional evil, therefore significant "suffering for righteousness' sake" is required, among other things, to end it. "Suffering for righteousness' sake" has some clear distinctives from the more run of the mill, unbidden, seemingly random and meaningless suffering all too common to humanity - the illness, the accident, the natural disaster, etc. One decides, at some point, to take actions that result in "suffering for righteousness' sake" instead of "looking the other way." It generally involves confronting institutional evil, not just personal evil. And good can - not necessarily will, but can - come from it, by the control or stanching of institutional evil. It is also highly commended for Christians by Jesus Christ and writers of the epistles. This may be sound vainglory, but I have extensive, first-hand, experience with "suffering for righteousness' sake" in upholding and defending my profession of engineering, its code of ethics, and the public health and safety as a licensed professional engineer (PE), employed as a nuclear safety engineer by US Department of Energy (one can google my name for details). The most dismal aspect of my experience has been the lack of Christian religious professionals and Christian faith communities criticizing the repeated, established, unappealable record of government lawbreaking against me - taken to punish me for putting my duty to protect others before my self-interest and intimidate other concerned employees into silence. The second most dismal aspect has been the near complete silence of my profession to it. As a result of their indifference, their "looking the other way," I am just a "speeding ticket" to my employer and my profession basically says "Show us the money, one cannot `eat ethics.'" So what to Darfur? Darfur is, in essential part, enabled by my profession of engineering whose members play essential roles in the extraction, transportation, and refining of Sudanese oil that funds the war. In turn, my profession is enabled by religious professionals of all kinds, who take no exception to the role the significantly self-regulating profession of engineering plays in Darfur, nor the silent complicity of engineers in their faith communities to it. Why? Because "suffering for righteousness' sake" in confronting the evil and malfeasance in and enabled by our modern professions can require members of those professions to put themselves at some degree of economic jeopardy in their most economically valuable asset - their standing and reputation in their profession - and that is apparently just off the table for consideration. And woe to any religious professional who takes exception to it - that religious professional is rolling dice with his/her job and career security. So can we state the unpleasant, economically inconvenient, fact that we will support Darfur as long as it involves saying a prayer, writing a letter, sending a check, or going without food for a day or two - but we (particularly religious professionals) will not ask others to risk "suffering for righteousness' sake" in their vocations, because just making that request puts us at economic jeopardy? and we will not put ourselves at risk of economic jeopardy in our professions to end their role in enabling Darfur, because that is just unreasonable. If we can own up to how much "love of money is the root of all evil,"including the enabling, look the other way, type of evil that allows the engineering profession to be complicit in Darfur, we can do something about it, something that will change the "facts on the ground" in Darfur - but it will likely require "suffering for righteousness' sake" - loss of professional status, reputation, good will - by some the involved engineers in their jobs and vocation - because they will show themselves not to be "team players." And the religious professionals who stop giving engineers in their faith communities a "free pass" about their profession's complicit role in Darfur are also "rocking boats" and may end up saying "would you like fries with that?" in their next job.

UNHCR: Displacement in 2009

mtcolbert — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

On June 16, 2009 I attended the 2009 United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 2009 annual report. The forum which was headed by refugees high commissioner, Antonio Guterres, reported that there are 42 million person displaced worldwide. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="371" caption="Sudanese Refugees"][/caption] There are a reported 2 million internally displaced refugees Darfur, Sudan and thousands have found asylum in Chad and other neighboring African nations. During the forum the high commissioner also mentioned several other noticeable trends in refugee displacement including the significant decrease in displacement since 2007, however as conflicts develop and become more intense those numbers can rise. The UNHCR Global Report

Campus Progress Conference: Youth are the Future of the World

mtcolbert — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

June 8th was an exciting day as the 2009 Campus Progress Conference was in full swing. The annual conference which is centered around involvement in social justice on college campuses brought out over 1,400 young people for discussions on everything from human rights to the economy. One of the biggest highlights of the day was the list of phenomenal speakers Campus progress is a division of the the Center for American Progress, which trains, develops and educations the leaders of the future, using college campuses as their main mobilizing points. They hold their annual conference each year in Washington, DC.

Dustyn — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id="attachment_861" align="alignright" width="100" caption="Citizens for Gloabal Solutions"][/caption]

On Friday, July 17 Citizens for Global Solutions and Senator Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT) sponsored A Seven Year Assessment of the International Criminal Court: Accomplishments, Next Steps, and U.S. Priorities. While the forum was over before I could fully write out the title, there was a lot to be gained from the mostly positive, informational panel and the ensuing Q & A session.

The panelists included were the Honorable Patricia Wald, a judge who served on the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and is chair of The American Society of International Law's ICC Task Force; Tod Lindberg, a research fellow at Stanford University and noted author; and Benjamin Ferencz, a prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials and Chief Prosecutor of the Einsatzgruppen Trial. Also expected was the Honorable Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the Jordanian Ambassador to the U.S.; he was instead with his wife and their newborn daughter.

While each panelist was very qualified to be there, Ben Ferencz stole the show before it even started, as he mingled with the audience asking seemingly everyone “what do you want me to talk about?” Nobody in that room was as lively as this small, 90 year old man who had brought justice to some of history’s worst criminals.

His message was that the world is to be run by law, not war. He drew from the valuable lessons gained from Nuremberg, saying essentially, “If it worked before, it will work again.”

In response to the doubts of the validity, necessity and relevance of the ICC, he pointed to 1991 Iraq as an example. He said that it took him two days to convict Einsatzgruppen, and it would have taken him one day to convict Saddam Hussein with war crimes. Had the ICC been established by then, America would not have had its hands tied for the last six-plus years.

The overall sense of the assessment was that the world needs the ICC, and that, when it comes to justice, the international community cannot play favorites.

Facebook Widget Test

Allen Combs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Kireopoulous Elected SDC Chair - Press Release

Save Darfur Coalition on Facebook

USHM and Google release

Allen Combs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Work and work.. Tick tock and you don't stop... ALLLL GGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDD!

Save Darfur Coalition Responds to General Agwai's Comments

Allen Combs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

War in Darfur over? Not quite

The Washington-based Save Darfur Coalition also finds fault with Agwai's statement. "The political and humanitarian crisis in Darfur is not over. Nor is the threat of full-scale fighting over, said Sean Brooks, policy associate of Save Darfur Coalition. "We find Gen. Agwai's statement surprising, considering that just a few weeks ago he said that the U.N. forces are only at 70 percent deployment and need to be fully deployed to protect the people of Darfur. There are still no U.N. helicopters to fully meet the protection mandate for refugees and aid workers. 2009 has been the most dangerous year for aid workers with kidnappings and hijackings."

In addition, Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler spoke with Bloomberg's Janine Zacharia for his piece UN General’s Darfur War Comment Worries Anti-Genocide Groups:

Jerry Fowler, president of the Save Darfur Coalition, an alliance of more than 180 organizations that seeks to raise public awareness of the genocide in Darfur, said the area remains “a very unsafe place for civilians” and people are still subject to militia attacks.

Agwai’s comments “could obscure the fact that you still have a massive displaced population of civilians,” Fowler said in a telephone interview yesterday.

And Alex spoke with... What

"The fact that open hostilities between rebel groups and the government militias have dwindled is certainly a good sign that we are one step closer to what would hopefully be an eventual peace. But unfortunately it does not mean the situation is getting that much better for the millions of affected civilians who remain in Darfur," he said.

Meixner said UN-African Union peacekeepers are still needed in Darfur because the main purpose of their deployment was to protect the suffering civilians.

He said the process to bring about a political agreement for Darfur has been a bit slow.

"Unfortunately the political process is probably not quite as far along. What is clear is that until there is that final peace agreement that takes into account the rebel groups, the government as well as the millions of civilians and civil society throughout Darfur…the causes of the violence and of the initial war, would not have been sufficiently dealt with," he said.

Meixner praised President Obama's Sudan envoy Scott Gration for the work he and his staff are doing with regards to the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

He said the Obama administration should work bring about a comprehensive peace agreement for all of Sudan.

"What we would like to see President Obama and his administration to do is capitalize on whatever momentum already exists and use that to try to coordinate the international community around finding and resolving these underlying issues once and for all," Meixner said.

He expressed disappointment that Darfur rebel groups were not unified enough to articulate a common position toward lasting peace in Darfur.

NewsHour: ICC Makes Case Against Sudan's President

Allen Combs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Jerry Video 2 test

Allen Combs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Darfur/Darfur in New York City

Allen Combs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

save

Save Darfur at the G20

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:49:08 +0000

Our team is tweeting from the G20 in Pittsburgh. To learn more about what the world's richest countries can do for Sudan watch our expert panel's discussion. And, check our ads that are sending our message - "You can save lives in Sudan" - throughout Pittsburgh.

Don't Forget Darfur Photo Petition

Allen Combs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Don't Forget Darfur Photo Petition Video

Don't Forget Darfur Photo Petition Mosaic

Call

Allen Combs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

From the Politico:

"Given the track record in the past nine months, we believe that the violence, terror, death rates in Darfur are greater after the appointment of Major General Scott Gration as Special Envoy than before his appointment. The good-intentioned yet soft approach of the General towards the Government of Sudan is abused and exploited by a regime that has continued to rule Sudan with fire and blood throughout the last twenty years," the groups wrote in a letter addressed to President Obama, as well as Vice President Biden, Secretary Clinton, U.N. Ambassador Rice and Sens. Kerry (D-Mass.) and Lugar (R-Ind.) "The Darfuris and the Southern Sudanese are the ones who are paying the price now. Major General Scott Gration, after hearing the complaints of the victims in the camps, is stubbornly staying the course of treating the government of the killers of our people, with the same soft approach. Not even a public condemnation of the latest round of violence in Darfur is heard from his office."

Sudan Strategy Roll Out in the Media

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

The New York Times:

One human rights group, the Save Darfur Coalition, cautiously welcomed the administration’s statements, saying, “The policy is built around a balance of incentives and pressures similar to what Save Darfur and its partners have been calling for.” But Jerry Fowler, president of the coalition, said that incentives should not be granted before there is “concrete and lasting progress” in Sudan, both in ending violence and abuses and in ensuring political openness. He said that the United States should build multilateral support for both incentives and pressures, and he called for “substantial personal involvement from President Obama.”

National Public Radio:

Many activists are watching to see whether Obama will now take an active role in Sudan diplomacy. "We need to see substantial personal involvement from President Obama," says Jerry Fowler, president of the activist group Save Darfur. "His presidency is the game-changer here. His ability to influence is the game-changer here."

AP:

Jerry Fowler, president of the private Save Darfur Coalition, said the president had put his administration back on course to a more effective policy, but he said Obama must become personally engaged. "We need to see substantial personal involvement from President Obama; his presidency is the game-changer here," Fowler said.

Senator Feingold:

“We need a comprehensive, coordinated approach toward all of Sudan to end the genocide in Darfur while preventing a return to civil war between the North and South. The administration’s strategy, as presented today, is a good step in that direction. I am pleased that the administration is committed to using ‘all elements of influence’ to achieve these objectives and I look forward to working with them to do so. Still, I hope to learn more about the specific pressures being considered to make the Sudanese government comply and under what specific conditions these steps would be triggered. I strongly agree that incentives and disincentives must be based on real changes to conditions on the ground, not process-related accomplishments. Too often the Sudanese government has dragged its feet on its promises and has not been a trustworthy negotiating partner.”

Ask U.S. - activist questions answered by the Administration

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

This afternoon, at 3 pm EST, Save Darfur Coalition president Jerry Fowler and STAND student director Layla Amjadi will be

Government 2.0?

Allen Combs — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:47:15 +0000

The Obama Administration has taken great strides to engage... Ixx Bxx over at techpresident.com...

The webcast was notable not just for its interactivity -- members of both STAND and Save Darfur were encouraged to submit questions, which were then asked directly of Gration on air -- but for its accountability. Some anti-genocide activists have been critical of the Obama administration for positioning Darfur and Sudan as a prominent human rights issue during the campaign, but taking little action since the election. Here was a chance for anti-genocide activists to put the White House's point person on Sudan on the spot and demand answers. The responses from Gration -- Power, other than introducing and concluding the event, largely remained silent -- were generally panned by activists watching the chat via Twitter and Facebook. "In his opening remarks Gration said 'we owe you answers' -- you still do," said Will Fischer. "I respect the hell out of Sam Power but I'm not going to buy Gration's vague answers just because she's sitting there," said Genocide Intervention Network Director of Membership Janessa Goldbeck.

More...

seanbrooks — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

It matters very little who is striking the match to set Sudan’s clothes on fire, for the whole country is now threatened in its existence. Some might say that this is not the first time Sudan is under threat,…but that is the real problem of Sudan: each crisis causes another crisis that is more dangerous. It is pointless to list the grievances of the opposition whether in the North or South of the country…what is important is to notice that the opposition whether inside or outside Sudan has united in its opposition to the regime in Khartoum. Internationally there is the International Criminal Court, which wants to arrest not only those involved in Darfur war crimes but also those who deny those crimes. Internally, there is the opposition, which includes Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, and its million-man demonstration. This op/ed is not in support of Monday demonstration and the opposition demands, which, although legitimate, now seem impossible to fulfill because that would require a new pact in Sudan. What we see in Sudan today is a desperate attempt to hold on to power and a fear that the temple would implode on the heads of its occupiers. The South is for all practical reasons close to becoming independent and all it needs is to announce that. And the Darfur crisis puts the regime at odds with the international community in addition, of course, to the suffering of Darfur people. When we say that every crisis in Sudan creates another crisis, we recognize that the main cause of all of these crises is the regime’s mismanagement of the country’s affairs and its desperate attempt to hold on to power even if it meant the territorial disintegration of the country. And regardless of who is right, the regime or the opposition, one thing is true and that is Sudan must be above all. Its stability and security must be above those in the regime and those who seek to topple it. Reason must prevail otherwise both sides will be fighting over the remnants of a country in tatters.

Gold Stars for Bashir vs. Freedom for the People: What will Gration promote in upcoming trip?

wcfischer — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Earlier today Secretary of State Hilary Clinton announced that Special Envoy to Sudan, General Scott Gration will be returning to Sudan. This announcement comes within one month of the Envoy’s last trip to the war-torn country in Africa. The timing of the trip comes amid multiple protests and rising tensions ahead of elections and a referendum for southern Sudan. The latest demonstration was spawned in reaction to political events last Monday, December7^th, 2009 in Khartoum in which political leaders including SPLM Secretary General, Pagan Amum and his Deputy for Northern Sector, Yasir Arman, were unlawfully arrested and taken to police custody – 50,000 people showed up. This large demonstration occurred peacefully because it took place in South Sudan, away from the tight grip of Bashir’s security services. Northern Bahr El Ghazal State Governor, Maj. Gen. Pual Malong Awan, voiced that “the old Sudan was gone forever and the destiny of the people of marginalized areas would never be dictated by anyone other than the people themselves.” In response to the illegal arrests, Secretary Clinton said, "Freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, protection from arbitrary arrest are instrumental to allow for credible elections in 2010." They absolutely are, Madame Secretary. That said, when General Gration travels to Sudan this weekend to, (according to Sec Clinton) “restart dialogue and resolve outstanding issues that are contributing to these rising tensions”, will he be promoting the rights of the Sudanese people, or will he be back to promoting his “gold stars and smiley faces” for al-Bashir? One cannot help but wonder what the plans might be. It was only last week that the populous realized that there wasn’t a firm annex plan for Sudan, as was earlier said by State. Let’s us hope that Envoy Gration and his team heed the words of their boss, President Obama who, during his Nobel Prize acceptance speech this morning said, “and it is the responsibility of all free people and free nations to make clear to these movements that hope and history are on their side.”

A Drumbeat For Peace In Sudan

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

A global day of action on Sudan will take place on January 9, 2010, marking the fifth year anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between North and South Sudan and one year out from the referendum that will determine whether the Southern region of Sudan will separate from the North. With many highly contentious issues still to be resolved, with growing violence in the South and unresolved conflict in Darfur, there is a real risk of a return to widespread conflict that could destabilize the entire region and place civilians in grave danger. Groups will gather across the world to call on leaders to take urgent diplomatic action to prevent conflict returning to Sudan. Events will happen in Mali, Togo, Benin, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Kenya, London, Edinburgh, Italy, Norway, New Zealand, Cairo and other places to be confirmed. In the United States events will take place in:

Washington, DC New York Avenue Presbyterian Church 1313 New York Ave, NW; Washington, DC 20005 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
San Francisco, CA Congregation Emanu-El 2 Lake Street; San Francisco, CA 94118 6:45 PM - 8:45 PM
Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Federal Building 11000 Wilshire Blvd; Los Angeles, CA 90024 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
New York, NY Washington Square Park W 4th St and Waverly Pl; New York, NY 10012 Time TBD
Boise, ID Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial 777 South 8th Street; Boise, ID 83702 Time TBD
*Additional locations and details coming soon*

Interested in hosting a small drumming event? Post it on our events page or contact the Save Darfur organizer in your region and we'll help you out.

Melissa Warnke — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

International Women’s Day, SDC Style At noon, in honor of International Women’s Day, several of us snuck out of the office for a bit to attend the “Join Me on the Bridge” March in Washington DC, hosted by our friends at the Enough Project and Women for Women International. After grabbing signs and t-shirts, the crowd began its march down Memorial Drive, across the Memorial Bridge, and to the Watergate Steps at the base of the Lincoln Memorial. There, we sat on the steps and listened to Candice Knezvic of RAISE Hope for Congo, Andree Simon of WFWI, Sylvie Muanga Mbanga, a Congolese human rights lawyer and Seema Jalan of Women Thrive speak about what the day meant to them. We heard about the struggles of women and girls in the Congo, Rwanda and beyond, many of whom have been intimidated, tortured and raped due to their gender. We heard about the heroic acts of women and men fighting for an end to sexual violence within their own countries. And, looking around at more than a hundred people who had come out to march on a workday, we saw the faces of activism in our own city. Afterwards, our staff gathered together to “share a special meal” – one of our actions to mark the day. Catherine, SDC’s Grants Liason and Field Coordinator, was the only one who had made a truly Sudanese recipe – the Yogurt and Tahini Dip – but homemade hummus, chicken and cupcakes made the group a happy one. We talked about the day, and then all settled down to write letters to our representatives about sexual violence in Sudan (those of us who live in DC and are Representative-less wrote straight to Secretary Clinton). We agreed that the United States needs to lead the charge to fully restore services for Sudanese women, particularly in the areas of food security, protection and gender-based violence. And a bit futher away, men and women came together in solidarity on a bridge that crosses from Rwanda to the Democratic Republic of Congo. They made a statement that, as neighbors, the lives of Rwandan and Congolese women are tied together, that peace and progress for one can lead to the same for the other. The relationship between us in the United States and our sisters in Sudan, while geographically disparate, is similarly interrelated – as Americans, we are caught in King’s “inescapable network of mutuality,” called to help when we are able and to raise our voices when we witness injustice. If you want to get involved in the movement to fight for women’s rights in Sudan, check out our International Women’s Day actions, which can be done throughout the month of March, or email us at women@savedarfur.org. Answer the call.

Darfuri Civil Society: Still Missing from the Table

seanbrooks — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Cross posted from the Huffington Post. "This step constitutes a strong and vital addition to efforts to bring peace in Darfur," declared Sudan’s Second Vice President Ali Osman Taha in Doha yesterday, after signing a framework agreement with the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM). That may be true, but as I wrote last week, peace in Darfur remains a long way off. In addition to doubting the sincerity of Taha and the Government of Sudan’s commitment to the peace process, this new deal immediately faced opposition from the other rebel movements. A leader from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) – which signed its own bilateral deal with the Government of Sudan – denounced the development: "[The LJM] is not a real group with no presence on the ground or among the Darfuris.” Meanwhile Abdel Wahid al-Nur in Paris mocked the agreement as “merely [a] ceremonial one that lines up with all the others signed before." Each of the movements claims to represent the people of Darfur, especially the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have been most directly affected by the conflict. It is noteworthy that the leader of the LJM has never held a gun, but instead is a former state minister nominated by rebel commanders to represent them at the negotiations. With that said, the negotiations in Darfur continue to progress without the significant involvement of IDP and civil society leaders. In my recent trip to Darfur, I heard repeatedly from camp leaders and other Darfuris that they feel inadequately represented in Doha. Some people were aware and supportive of the Doha Declaration signed by 170 leaders last November that outlined collective demands for the negotiations; however, many individuals had not heard of the document and/or felt alienated from the formal processes of the mediators to include these voices in the talks. As such, upcoming meetings of civil society leaders in Doha should be regarded as equally important to the political maneuverings and deal makings of the constellation of rebel movements. As I heard from UNAMID staff in Darfur, one must address conflict resolution in Darfur from two layers: 1) a political deal between the Sudanese government and rebels; and 2) creating the groundwork among various Darfuri stakeholders to accept the peace agreement. It is for this reason that UNAMID Civil Affairs and others initiatives have focused on empowering those Darfuris who do not carry weapons to stand up for the rights. Many believe that such support has injected confidence into civil society leaders. If given security guarantees and political space, these leaders now feel more capable of representing their communities’ concerns and interests with the Sudanese government and armed movements. Rather than spending such a disproportionate amount of time chasing down rebel leaders and mediating their personal differences, the international community should focus more of their attention on listening to these emerging constituencies for peace within Darfur. It is tribal and camp leaders, women’s organizations, and Darfuri youth who could help put pressure on both the movements and Sudanese government to commitment to real negotiations – and, equally important, they will be the Darfuris instrumental in ensuring that any future peace agreement holds and serves as a basis for the rebuilding of Darfur.

The Need for a United Front

marissa.glauberman — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:17:39 +0000

For my internship with the Save Darfur Coalition, I attended a hearing for the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health. As expected, these panelists convened to discuss how the United States and the international community are addressing the dire health issues plaguing developing nations in the African continent. As I listened to experts such as Johnnie Carson and Congressman Donald Payne discuss the Global Health Initiative, the Millennium Development Goals and the efforts of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, I was reminded of just how comprehensive and wide-ranging the challenges are. They discussed two of the Obama’s administration’s development initiatives on global health and food security, as well as the need for placing African Union peacekeepers in countries such as Somalia and Sudan. I was extremely encouraged by the focus and initiatives that these panelists were discussing. Unfortunately, while the discussion was only an hour long, one of the Representatives devoted nearly 25 minutes to discussing an individual woman’s story in his home district, which was tangentially related at best. Certainly, the health issues affecting the entire continent of Africa are serious enough to fill an hour-long conversation. The Africa and Global Health Subcommittee convenes irregularly, and I was sorry to see such a rare opportunity for serious discussion squandered. However, as the panel left me with many unanswered questions, I began to research the health statistics in Sudan independently. I found that there is a dire need not only for sustained conversation on these issues, but for real action. As the International Rescue Committee reported in January of 2010, the health statuses of many Sudanese are alarming. In Southern Sudan alone, 4.3 million people are dependent on food aid. The hunger epidemic is reportedly so bad that families will go five days with only one cup of grain. Mothers will go to tremendous lengths to try and secure food for their children. The Associated Press reported stories of women walking for 12 hours, 3 days a week in order to gather a small fruit, similar to an orange, called lalif. Moreover, as of 2009, it is estimated that between 220,000 and 440,000 have contracted HIV/AIDS, and are in need of antiretroviral therapy. Clearly, the obstacles to care, access, medicines and food aid in Sudan are very real. It is overwhelmingly apparent that to solve these complex and deeply difficult issues, we will need the full attention and involvement of not only the Africa and Global Health subcommittee members, but of Congress more broadly. The most basic step in trying to provide sustainable peace and medical assistance to Africa begins with a united front.

Allen Combs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Yesterday, National Congress Party member Omar Rahma (who is serving as the Sudanese Government's spokesperson at the Darfur talks in Doha) sat down with Al Jazeera's Imran Guarda for a disucssion about Sudan's upcoming elections and next year's referendum on southern secession. When asked if the NCP was committed to holding the

"We still want to go ahead with the elections simply because this is the aspiration of the people of Sudan. They have been waiting for the thing for over 20 years. Now, that is the chance to decide the right to elect their legitimate government, so we are going all for that."

Watch the whole interview here:

Election Intimidation and Delusions in Darfur

Allen Combs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Post-Election Trouble Brewing

seanbrooks — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

IRIN has a must-read article this morning on the widening divisions within the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM). The differences over how to participate in the elections has exposed various rifts and

Celeste Robinson — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Assessing_Elections_in_Sudan The African Centre for Peace and Justice Studies (ACJPS) has released a report entitled: The report is based on the Sudanese electoral proces and the elections themselves, held from 11 - 15 April. The electoral period was marred by violations and irregularities, and was accompanied by rights abuses occurring concurrently throughout the country. Patterns began to emerge that document the extent to which the closely-linked National Elections Commission and the National Congress Party undermined opposing voices, and held fundamentally flawed elections with high levels of technical irregularities, intimidation, manipulation, harassment, and arrest. The report has been framed by monitoring conducted by the African Centre during elections and in the months prior, and includes analysis on the census, the NEC's creation and contradictions in the legal framework, the electoral procedure envisioned by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the National Elections Act, delimitation of constituencies, voter registration, and finally the campaigning period and elections.

Megan Flemming — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

US Delegation to the ICC U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Stephen Rapp stressed American support for ICC African war crimes probes in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and most recently against the Lord's Resistance Army group that has terrorized northern Uganda and neighboring states. "What we're here talking about is ways that we can support this court constructively when it works in our interest. And so far in the cases it is taking on, they are in our interests and in the interest of all of human kind."

Rebel Commanders Appear Before ICC

Megan Flemming — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

The Connection Between Darfur and South Sudan

Allen Combs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

http://untoldstories.pulitzercenter.org/2010/01/the-connection-between-darfur-and-south-sudan.html http://untoldstories.pulitzercenter.org/2010/07/in-focus-sudan-why-should-we-care.html I recently stumbled across this interesting clip from Jen Marlowe's Rebuilding Hope documentary. The segment examines the parallels between the situations in Darfur and South Sudan through interviews with several Sudanese. Take a look: You can watch more of Rebuilding Hope at www.rebuildinghopesudan.org.

Special Envoy Gration Speaks At State Department Briefing

Allen Combs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

http://www.state.gov/s/sudan/rem/2010/147194.htm

MR. CROWLEY: Good afternoon and welcome to the Department of State. We are in the midst of a very intensive period of effort leading up to the scheduled referendum in Sudan early in 2011. Scott Gration, last weekend, made his 20^th trip to Sudan as special envoy, had meetings in Khartoum and in Juba, and laid out for authorities in both capitals what we expect them to do in terms of full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the potential benefits and consequences if they do or do not fulfill their obligations under the CPA. But we thought it was a good time to bring Scott back down just to bring you up to date on his most recent trip and what we’ll be doing between now and January to help support a successful referendum in Sudan. Scott. MR. GRATION: Thank you, P.J., and good afternoon. Let me start by saying that the U.S. strategic priorities and objectives in Sudan have not changed and we support the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. We seek a definitive end to the conflict in Darfur, to the gross human rights abuses, to the genocide that has existed there. And we seek to make sure that Sudan never again becomes a haven for international terrorists. The South has fought for 40 years for this opportunity to express their will in the referendum. The last 22 years they were at war ended when the CPA was signed. And they look forward to the referendum that will occur on the 9^th of January of 2011. The North, on the other hand, is looking at losing 80 percent of its oil – or oil reserves, 50 percent of the oil revenues, to a third of their land, and to 30 percent of their population. So they’re still seeking to make unity attractive. So you can see that there’s a tension between the North and the South. With only 114 days left before the referendum, there’s a lot of work that has to be done, and this is really a make-or-break period for Sudan. And we must ensure that the parties make those tough decisions to find agreements, to implement those things that have to be done so that there can be a peaceful and an on-time referendum, and also to avoid the potential for war. The Obama Administration has been working very hard to implement our strategy. We’ve elevated our diplomatic efforts, and we’re working with other nations, with the United Nations, African Union, the European Union, and other multilateral organizations to get done all those things that have to be done. We’re making significant investments on the ground to prepare for whatever happens after the referenda. And we’re presenting the parties with actions that they can take and we’re incentivizing them. Specifically, President Obama has agreed to participate in the high-level meetings, especially the one that’s hosted by the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the 24^th of September. And this will bring high-level attention and focus on Sudan. Vice President Biden has also been engaged in Sudan. He traveled to Africa and engaged with leaders throughout the continent, and even the delegation from Southern Sudan, to make the points known about a free and fair, transparent referendum. And he urged the parties to do what they needed to do to make this happen. Secretary Clinton has been involved in the entire time that I’ve been the envoy to Sudan. Most recently, she called Vice President Kiir and Vice President Taha to invite them to UNGA and to meetings there, and also to encourage them to take the steps that they need to take to improve the humanitarian situation in Darfur and implement the CPA. General Jones just called these individuals again yesterday to reinforce the themes that I presented last weekend. We now have onboard Ambassador Princeton Lyman, a very seasoned diplomat, a respected negotiator, who will be the head of our U.S. negotiation support unit in Sudan. As many of you know, we’ve expanded our capacity in the South, and Ambassador Barrie Walkley is heading that effort as we build the capacity so that we can help Southern Sudan build its capacity. Ambassador Susan Rice has really been involved in helping bring together the United Nations and the nations represented there in full alignment with our goals and policies in the region. This past Sunday, I did have an opportunity to go to Juba and Khartoum, and I outlined our expectations and I described potential incentives that could be theirs if they fully implemented the CPA. In the North, I described a pathway to normalization of relationships between the United States and Sudan. I made it clear that there was also a wide range of consequences that could be deployed if the situation in Sudan deteriorated or if they failed to make progress. There are four phases to the initiative that we’ve outlined, and these are all made very clear in the fact sheet that you got yesterday. We will continue to build a robust and multinational response, one where the world stands together in contributing resources, in helping to implement the CPA, and helping making sure that Sudan doesn’t return to war. We’re very involved with President Thabo Mbeki and the African Union’s High-Level Implementation Panel. We continue to work with Haile Menkerios and his UN team. We work with Ibrahim Gambari in UNAMID to work those issues of security in Darfur. We’re working with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, to work on those financial issues that must be resolved if the south chooses to be independent. I personally made calls to the African Union, the UN, EU, to the troika made up of the UK and Norway, and to all the envoys of the P-5 countries. We’re making continued investments in Sudan, and our hope and belief is that we can have a referendum on time, one that’s peaceful, but it’s certainly going to take the parties doing their job and it’s going to take the international community working together with the parties to make sure this gets pulled off. At this time, I’m ready for your questions. Yes, ma’am. QUESTION: Elise Labott with CNN, thank you. I have a couple of questions if you don’t mind. First of all, can you expand on what Ambassador Lyman will be doing out there? What specifically does this negotiation support unit do? Can you talk a little bit more about the upcoming meeting at the UN General Assembly on Sudan and what you hope to accomplish out of that? And then I was just wondering about these kind of four steps that you lay out about the kind of balance that you’re trying to walk between getting the CPA implemented and getting a referendum done and peacefully, and also addressing the situation in Darfur. I mean, it seems as if a lot of the phases or a lot of the stages that you’re willing to implement aren’t kind of contingent upon the Darfur conflict, but ultimate normalization of relations – and I’m not sure, like, with the exchange of ambassadors and stuff – what needs to be done in Darfur for you to move ahead on a kind of large trajectory? MR. GRATION: Great. I hope I can remember all that, but let me just run through as best I can. First of all, with Ambassador Princeton Lyman, as I said, he’s an extremely well-respected negotiator. He’s been involved in not only the negotiations as we came out of the apartheid period with South Africa, but he’s been involved in Nigeria. And so he brings a wealth of experience not only in Africa, but how to deal in Africa. And so we feel that he’s going to be a tremendous asset on the ground. As you know, my job takes me around the world. It takes me not only to Africa, but it has a lot of responsibilities back here as we engage with advocacy groups, as we engage with the congress, as we engage with the diaspora and whatever. And having Ambassador Lyman on the ground in a full-time capacity, working specifically on the CPA issues and on the post-CPA issues – what we call the transitional issues – that’s going to be tremendous. And so I believe that he will bring not only a wealth of experience, but he’ll bring that continuous pressure and help to the parties as they work through these tough agreements. So I’m extremely pleased that he’s part of our team. QUESTION: Is he going to be actually mediating the talks like Ambassador Zoellick did all those years ago? MR. GRATION: Right now, we’re going to be supporting the talks. The African Union really has the mandate through Chairman Thabo Mbeki to do the first round of facilitation. But there will be times where Ambassador Lyman can be of tremendous help to both parties, and to suggest options to President Mbeki and his team. On the second issue, you were asking about -- QUESTION: The UN meeting. MR. GRATION: -- the UN meeting. What this will do, by having the president decide to participate early – he made the decision early – and what we’ve seen is that many other heads of states and senior leaders are also coming to the Sudan meeting. And what this will do is it will elevate Sudan on the world stage and make the international community pay a little bit more attention to what is happening. And for us, I think that’s great because it’s going to need everybody’s help in terms of infrastructure development – and I’m not just talking about the South, but I’m talking about Darfur too. Sudan has put together a strategic plan for Darfur, and they themselves have put $1.9 billion over the next five years toward infrastructure development and improvements. The Arab League and – has put money toward this. And so what we’d like to do is capitalize on that momentum and come out of the UN General Assembly period with a renewed commitment to helping Sudan, if they choose independence, to be birthed in a way that avoids war and builds a new country, and if they choose to be unified, that they can work together in a way that makes one strong country that provides security and stability to all of the Africa. QUESTION: And then just on the Darfur issue? MR. GRATION: Yeah. It’s an excellent question because there has been some allegations that we’re neglecting Darfur for the CPA. What it – and it’s a perception issue. The issue is that there is 114 days left of the referendum, but that doesn’t mean we’re any less interested in Darfur. And the fact is I spent time on this last visit working with (inaudible) to find out how they’re doing in implementation of their strategy. We continue to be involved with the joint mediation team in Doha. In fact, I’ll be meeting with Gabriel Bassole in the UN in the next week to help them as they put their plans and negotiate their plans for peace in Darfur. Now, peace with the rebels is a priority. We’re also very concerned about some of the things that we’ve seen recently that are destabilizing. There have been some assassinations. There have been fighting between those who are pro-Doha and those who are against Doha. And we’re very concerned in getting to the bottom of these and mitigating those tensions. So we are very involved in Darfur, we will continue to be involved in Darfur, and we don’t see a solution in Sudan until the Darfur issues are resolved, and we’re talking there about increased stability, we’re talking about an environment that people voluntarily can go to places that they want to settle, we’re talking about access for UNAMID, and we’re talking accountability, justice, and ability for people to have their wrongs righted in a way that they respect and the way they want. MR. CROWLEY: Sir. MR. GRATION: We’ll work our way back. We’ll start in the front here. QUESTION: Andy Quinn from Reuters. Just one follow-up on that – on the Sudan strategic plan for Darfur. Some critics are saying that they’re worried that this, by sort of – by emphasizing what they’re calling development, that that may deemphasize the peace process and that the effect would be sort of sweeping the problem under the rug – if you can get the IDPs resettled, get the sort of obvious problems of Darfur put away from the peace table, then the impetus for a real peace deal is going to decrease. I’m wondering if you could give me your assessment of what their strategic plan means for Darfur. And secondly, on your – this basket of incentives and consequences that you’ve laid out, this comes a year after the first sort of announcement of the new carrot-and-stick approach. I’m wondering why, did it take so long? I mean, we’re – here we are, as you emphasized, so close to the referendum. Why was the U.S. so slow in putting its cards on the table here and telling them what they have to gain and lose by actually getting to a deal on all of this? It seems like it’s a little bit late in the game for it. MR. GRATION: Right. On the first question on Darfur – okay, remind me what – QUESTION: Their strategic – your assessment of Sudan’s strategic – MR. GRATION: Okay. QUESTION: -- plan. MR. GRATION: Yeah. QUESTION: Is that enough? MR. GRATION: Okay. Let me just say that I was there when this plan was rolled out with President Mbeki, with the UK. And we listened to this plan, and it was very impressive for me to see that on the Sudan side was the chief of police, the head of the military, representatives from the governance in Darfur, and members of the humanitarian organization, the justice organization. In other words, it’s the first time that there’s been an all-of-government approach to this. The second thing that was impressive about this is that they actually had a transparent approach. They gave me a copy of this and asked me to give my views on it before it happened. They opened it up to the international community to take a look at it. They really want this thing to succeed. And yes, there are some parts of it that we may have maybe a different approach on, but we’re continuing to work with them during the implementation phase to make sure the concerns you raised are looked at and seriously addressed. Let me just walk back and talk to you about the two tracks that we’re pushing. The first track is in Doha, and that track has been primarily oriented toward rebels. And therefore, that’s probably the track that’s going to result in a ceasefire, because civilians don’t sign ceasefires. And so that – the ceasefire, the cessation of hostilities, and the transition through a DDR program will have to probably come out of the Doha arrangement. And sure it needs to be dovetailed, because there’s power arrangements, there’s well-sharing arrangements, land reform arrangements, so that it has to be dovetailed. But on the other side is track is track two. And that’s one that looks at the IDPs, it looks at the civilian population, it looks at the Arab population, and figures out how do we come up with increasing their security, that in many ways, they’re getting in the way of the rebels fighting the government and they get involved in collateral damage. But the worst part is they are subject to the banditry, the lawlessness, and just a place that’s devoid of accountability and justice. And so what we really have to do is start working – in addition to Doha on track one, we have to work on these rule of law issues and patterns of justice issues. And that’s what we’re doing. And in that also is transitioning from what is seven years of sustained relief to the next phase, which is sustainable development. And so we’re working with them to figure out how do we fix the environment, how do we stop the degradation so that more land is arable, and more – and that we can restore some of the trees that have been devastated. Sudan ranks number three in the world for cutting down trees behind Indonesia and Brazil. And the fact is, if you take a look at the pictures of Sudan, and especially Darfur in 1973 and now, you’ll see that it’s totally changed in terms of what is under cultivation and where the forests used to be. And so what’s happening is is because the forests are gone, the water tables are shrinking, and all those kinds of things – so we actually have to start with the very, very big basics if we’re going to really have a sustainable development. There has to be a big push on infrastructure development. And what we’re looking right now, if we’re going to bring peace and security is making sure that there’s roads between Fasher, Nyala, and Geneina. And in that triangle that’s captured by those three towns or cities is about 50 percent of the population, almost a hundred percent of the IDPs that are in that region. And so if we can bring some security to that triangle, if we can bring development, if we can make opportunities to create wealth and jobs, then we’re off to a good start. And that’s what the Sudan strategy for Darfur does: It brings development, it brings infrastructure, and it brings security to that region and then the rest of the region. So I think it’s actually a very good plan. But the key is not in the words and that document. The key is in implementation, and they can’t do it by themselves. They’re going to need the United Nations and they’re going to need to have the support of international NGOs. MR. CROWLEY: Farah. QUESTION: Sudan has a long – I’m Farah Stockman with the Boston Globe. Sudan has a very long history of striking peace agreements and then backing away from them, failing to implement them. Your predecessors worked very hard to get the borders of Abyei demarcated by an international court. And Sudan signed that Abyei protocol and now they refuse to accept the ruling of the court, as I understand it. What have you done to press them to demarcate the borders of Abyei and to implement that part of the agreement? MR. GRATION: Border demarcation, in general, is a big issue we’ve been working on. And we’re very happy to say that now the process has been established. The presidency just decided that in addition to the technical teams that will survey the border and implement not only the court of appeals border for Abyei, but the 1956 border that goes back to January 1^st when they got their independence, that process will start shortly. And we’re hoping that that process will actually be able to demarcate on the ground the borders that are on paper. QUESTION: To follow up, sir, should they accept the ruling of the court or not, and can you address the criticism that has been lobbied against you for – by people who say you haven’t worked hard enough to implement some of these things that your predecessors put in place? MR. GRATION: I’m getting to that. First of all, my predecessors didn’t put anything in place. The agreements that we’ve been working on are agreements that have resulted from The Hague ruling, and we’re right now in the process to figuring out how we justify the competing themes. Right now, the Misiriya, as you know, are concerned that they keep having access to the water. The Dinkas believe that that area is theirs and they believe they need to have control over it. There’s many competing things and we’re in the process right now of sorting that out. But I don’t think anybody questions the border and where the border should be. They question how fluid the border is, how soft it is, and how if the South – or if Abyei goes with the South – how they will continue to have access and who will govern it. QUESTION: You said CPA – I mean, the CPA was something, no? (Laughter.) MR. GRATION: What do you mean? QUESTION: You said, “My predecessors didn’t put anything in place.” MR. GRATION: I’m talking about Abyei. The Abyei decision was done on the 22^nd of July of last year; that’s when the ruling came down. And we’ve been working hand-in-glove with both the South and the North. I had meetings on Sunday on this issue. We will continue to have meetings. This is a very emotional issue for both the South and the North, and so there’s a wide gulf right now, and it’s a passionate issue. And – but we’re working very hard to help them find an agreement. This agreement is an agreement that they themselves are going to have to find, and we are trying to create the environment where they can come down and determine how they want to resolve this tough issue. MR. CROWLEY: We’ll do Mary Beth and (inaudible). QUESTION: Thanks. General, the ICC prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, is in town for meetings. I’m wondering if you’re going to meet with him. If not, why not? And he’s pressing for the arrest, or for steps by the international community, particularly in the case of Haroun – the guy that’s the governor of, I believe, South Kordofan – who has been indicted by the ICC and so on. I’m wondering what the U.S. is willing to do or able to do on that case in terms of him being removed from his position or arrested. Thank you. MR. GRATION: Yes, I am – I’m not scheduled to meet with him at this time, but we’ll take a look at that schedule. In terms of Haroun and President Bashir and others who have been indicted by the ICC, we continue to support calls of the ICC for these people to comply with the restrictions and requests from the ICC, and we’ll continue to do so. QUESTION: Is there going to be any effort to bring pressure on Sudan so that they – they’ve been ordered to turn this guy Haroun over and they have not done so. MR. GRATION: As I said, we continue to apply pressure, and this is one of the things that we’re asking for, and we’ll continue to make known our desires to have them comply with the ICC. QUESTION: Thank you, sir. My name’s (inaudible) newspaper. General Gration, are you totally reconciled to the fact that come January 9^th, we will have an independent state or an independent in the southern – in South Sudan? And how would you prepare for the eventuality that you might end up with two, possibly three failed states with volatile issues – loss of revenues, loss of oil, loss of all this. And what role – lastly, what role will the UN play in this particular – under these conditions? MR. GRATION: First of all, we are working very hard for the compliance and implementation of the CPA so that the people of Southern Sudan and the people of Abyei have a chance to vote in a way that expresses their will. So we are not choosing sides whether unity should be attractive or whether succession should be the way to go; we’re just trying to put in place a process so that the people themselves can make the decision. It is true that based on what we’re seeing and the sentiments that we’re able to read, that many people in the South are likely to vote for succession. And we are planning for both, because whether they secede or whether they still stay unified, the South still needs to have better governance, better security, better agriculture, better education, better delivery of public sector services, and so we’re continuing to build those. And if it remains united or if it becomes independent, the international community, the United Nations, all of us have a large role and things that we can do to make sure that Sudan is either successful as a whole or as two countries hopefully at peace with each other. QUESTION: A quick follow-up, sir. If war is to break out, what kind of force would be needed to, let’s say – to sort of act as a buffer between the two countries in this case? MR. GRATION: Well, as you know, we’re doing everything possible to make sure war doesn’t break out. And the main thing is to make sure that we have a referendum that allows the people to express their will. If we don’t have a referendum or if it’s delayed, then it obviously increases the risk and tensions go up. So that’s why we’re working so very hard to make sure the referendum takes place on time. MR. CROWLEY: Last question. QUESTION: Sir, how do you see or assess the Arab League contribution to the United States efforts to bring this to a good solution where probably, that would eliminate any – the fears that are dominant in the Middle East about any possible breakup of Sudan as a country? How do you assess the Arab League contribution to your efforts in Sudan? MR. GRATION: Well, the good part is, is that most of the people that I’ve talked to in the Arab League recognize that the CPA is an internationally mandated process that allows the people of the South to express their will. This is not about President Bashir and the North giving up part of their land. It’s about full implementation of a process that was internationally mandated. And so what I’ve seen as I’ve gone around, I’ve seen Egypt providing electrical power to Rumbek, I’ve seen programs where Arab countries are provided education and medical and infrastructure development. Certainly in Darfur, they’re doing a tremendous amount with building villages for IDPs to move into that have housing, have water, have schools, have mosques, and those kinds of things. So the Arab League is involved; sure, everybody can do more, but the reality is, is that many countries are participating. As you know, the Government of Qatar provided a billion dollars in terms of grants and matching grants and loan guarantees and that kind of thing. The pledging conference – that was another $800 million that was pledged. So there is a lot of interest in participation, but we’re hoping, at the UN General Assembly, that we can get more participation, especially from countries like Saudi Arabia and others who have the funds to be able to give, and we would like to see more efforts from countries like China and other folks who, again, have a stake in the outcome, the peaceful outcome, of this referendum. So we’ll be continuing to urge countries to get involved and participate more. QUESTION: Can we say that the United States supports or leans more toward keeping Sudan as one country and not divided along ethnic lines or religious lines? MR. GRATION: We can say that the United States would like to see stability and security in all of Africa, and we believe that Sudan has a major part. And we want to see this referendum, and whether they choose to be independent or whether they choose to be united, that the transition is smooth and peaceful and the countries – whether united or independent – are economically viable and that the future of Sudanese is better tomorrow than it is today. QUESTION: Thank you. MR. GRATION: That’s what we’re trying to seek. QUESTION: Thanks. MR. CROWLEY: Thank you. # # #

Allen Combs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

6j5 dbhrgh The wall street journal said sudan is screwed.

The real strategy for Darfur

Allen Combs — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Our friend Laura Jones over at the Enough Project penned an excellent http://www.majalla.com/en/ideas/article179457.ece

Obama on Darfur: A Timeline of President Obamas Darfur Policy Actions

mtcolbert — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

President Obama has assembled an impressive envoy to Sudan and has made credible acknowledgments towards a lasting and sustainable peace. Below is a compiled time line of Obama's Darfur policy and advocacy during his current presidency and during his time as a senator. [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="370" caption="Obama in Darfur"][/caption]

Mentions of Darfur During Presidency:

February 23, 2009- President Obama and Vice President Biden met with actor George Clooney to discuss the situation in Darfur. President Obama promised Clooney that he would appoint a “full-time, high level envoy on Darfur” and that Darfur is a “high level issues on their administrations agenda. (Article Here)

March 2009- After receiving a letter from concerned Darfuris Obama sent another envoy to Sudan led by Scott Gration. (Article Here)

March 10, 2009- Obama meets with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and expressed support for peace keeping in Darfur stating in part after the meeting “I impressed upon the Secretary General how important it is from our perspective to send a strong, unified, international message that it is not acceptable to put that many people's lives at risk; that we need to be able to get those humanitarian organizations back on the ground.” (Article Here)

March 12, 2009- After a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, the White House reported:“On Darfur, President Obama expressed his deep concern about the unfolding humanitarian crisis and the Government of Sudan’s decision to expel major humanitarian organizations that had been providing lifesaving assistance to the people of Darfur.” (Article Here)

March 30, 2009- Obama meets with Sudan special envoy Scott Gration, congress members and Darfur advocates. Obama spoke about the need for US action and humanitarian intervention. (Article Here)

April 1, 2009- After meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao, the White House background readout for the travel pool said: Q What was the discussion surrounding Sudan? Can you also explain what they talked about in terms of human rights in Tibet and Taiwan?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, the President expressed his concern about the humanitarian situation in Darfur, and the – Khartoum’s decision to expel the NGOs, so that, you know, that innocent people should not be bearing the consequences of what Khartoum is doing and that we should find ways to get the NGOs back and to get assistance to people who need it. (Article Here)

April 23, 2009- During a holocaust remembrance ceremony at the United States Holocaust Remembrance Museum Obama made significant references to Darfur stating it is our job to, “prevent and end atrocities like those that took place in Rwanda, those taking place in Darfur.” He also stated that “in a movement to save Darfur that has thousands of high school and college chapters in 25 countries, and brought 70,000 people to the Washington Mall -- people of every age and faith and background and race united in common cause with suffering brothers and sisters halfway around the world." (Article Here)

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="408" caption="Darfur protesters sending a strong message to President Obama"][/caption]

April 24, 2009- Obama is briefed by Gration. The White House blog says: Special Envoy for Sudan, Scott Gration briefs President Obama on his recent visit to the region, providing an update on the urgent humanitarian situation as well as recent key political, economic, and security developments. (Article Here)

June 4, 2009- During Obama's speech in Cairo he referenced Darfur saying "when innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience." (Article Here)

Additional Mentions of Darfur During Presidency:

January 2009- While not explicitly stating “Sudan” or “Darfur” in his inauguration speech, Obama made several references to healing and helping developing nations. (Article Here)

March 2009- Obama administration meets with humanitarian organizations at the White House to discuss Darfur. (Article Here)

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="245" caption="Darfuri Mother and Child-It is images such as these that continue to push the international community to respond to the conflict."][/caption]

Mentions of Darfur Pre-Presidency:

2006- Obama traveled to Chad to speak with Darfuri refugees.

2006- Obama helps enact the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act with Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas.

2006- Co-sponsored the Menendez Amendment for U.N. peacekeeping in Darfur.

2006- Obama Worked with Senator Harry Reid of Nevada to secure $20 million for the African Union peacekeeping mission.

April 3, 2006- At a Save Darfur rally in Washington, DC Obama made a speech.

2007- Obama did an interview with the Save Darfur Coalition.

2007- Obama was one of forty-two co-sponsors to sign an urgent Congressional letter to President Bush demanding immediate action in Darfur.

2008- Obama along with presidential hopefuls Clinton and John McCain made a joint statement on Darfur, stating in part “After more than five years of genocide, the Sudanese government and its proxies continue to commit atrocities against civilians in Darfur. This is unacceptable to the American people and to the world community.”

2008- During his presidential campaign Obama posted the following on his website on his stance on Darfur “Obama believes the United States needs to lead the world in ending this genocide, including by imposing much tougher sanctions that target Sudan’s oil revenue, implementing and helping to enforce a no-fly zone, and engaging in more intense, effective diplomacy to develop a political roadmap to peace. The international community must, over the Sudanese regime’s protests, deploy a large, capable U.N.-led and U.N.-funded force with a robust enforcement mandate to stop the killings.”

April 2008- Obama Describes Bush administrations attempts to “normalize relations” with Sudan as a “reckless and cynical initiative.”

August 16, 2008- In a presidential campaign forum with John Mccain Obama was asked by the moderator if “evil exists” his response was “Evil does exist. In Darfur, on the streets of our cities, in parents who abuse children, it has to be confronted.”

Vanishing Culture: The Loss of Indigenous and Tribal People in Sudan

mtcolbert — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="439" caption="A Sudanese Tribal Family"][/caption] In Sudan their are many social issues that have plunged the country further into a humanitarian crises. These issues are receiving a large amount of media and political attention, however a large issue that does not effect Sudan alone is the degradation of tribal and indigenous peoples way of life. The constant on set of westernization and modernization has forced many tribes to disband their traditional livelihoods. Many tribes lose their land and rights because powerful land owners and governments push them out of the way without any regard to their lives and well being. Tribes also face what is called "progress" which is an attempt to modernize tribes way of life but it only results in pushing them into poverty and evaporates their culture. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="210" caption="A Nuba Tribesmen"][/caption] In Sudan warfare is tearing the fabric of tribes apart. One tribe in particular the Nuba who occupy the Nuba mountains area of Sudan, face an array of issues. 'Survival' which is the only international organization that works on behalf of tribal peoples rights reported the following on the Nuba tribe. To learn more about indigenous and tribal people of Sudan click here.

Don't Give Up On Africa

mtcolbert — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

The Africa Progress Panel met recently in Cape Town, South Africa to discuss various issue within Africa and to address what needs to be done for the future. A major part of their discussion centered around Africa's enormous potential because of it beauty, resources and amazing culture. An article on the meeting is available here.

Campus Progress 2009 Annual Conference: 'Delivering Change'

mtcolbert — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

June 8th was an exciting day as the 2009 Campus Progress Conference was in full swing. The annual conference is centered around getting youth involved in social justice and community organizing particularly on college campuses. The event brought out over 1,400 young people for discussions on everything from human rights to the economy. One of the biggest highlights of the day was the list of phenomenal speakers. John Prendergast co-founder of the Enough Project and UNICEF Goodwill ambassador Joel Madden gave a speech about the conflicts in Darfur and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They focused on the importance of consumer awareness particularly in the Congo which is a conflict heavily rooted in resources and is fueled by consumption of those resources. Prendergast also showed a clip from NBA star Tracy McGrady's trip to Darfur that document his experience. Daily Show correspondent John Oliver also stopped by to share a few laughs. He spoke about his views on youth participation in politics, journalism and his hilarious adventure while interviewing people at a Sarah Palin rally. Former President Bill Clinton also stopped by to make a final address to the crowd of eager young activist. He spoke about the success of his campaign the Clinton Global Initiative and what he hopes to continue to achieve. The most pressing issue that he addressed was seeing opportunity in grim situations especially those that we are facing in these harsh economic times. Another treat during the conference was the workshops. I attended one in particular that focused on alternative and independent media. Many people were intrigued about how independent media uses its freedom from corporate sponsorship to get in depth news that is not necessarily covered by mainstream media. The Campus Progress Conference is one of the many innovative ideas that is getting youth together to change the world we live in. During the conference a key point that was stated by every speaker and guest was,

"Youth are the future and this generation will lead the world into a place of peace and justice."

Campus progress is a division of the the Center for American Progress, which trains, develops and educations the leaders of the future and uses college campuses as their main mobilizing points. They hold their annual conference each year in Washington, DC. For another prospective on the conference the Enough Project also wrote about the conference.

On justice and peace in Darfur

Dustyn — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="260" caption="Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire. Photo by Chris Beauchamp."][/caption] So I have been doing some reading lately. This is by no means a remarkable feat, but the readings are certainly worth a look. I am a little over halfway done with Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire’s Shake Hands with the Devil. I also read the much shorter transcript of Dr. Mukesh Kapila’s “The Seven Excuses of Inaction in Darfur” yesterday. Additionally, over the past month or so, I have read up on some opinions that are highly critical of the work of the International Criminal Court—at least where al-Bashir’s warrant is concerned. This has become significantly more prominent since the African Union passed a resolution of non-compliance with the ICC. Amidst my scanning of Dr. Kapila’s comments, this one was particularly poignant: “. . . we know that peace agreements, if they’re not founded on a foundation of justice, always unravel.” And somewhere in the middle of Romeo Dallaire’s account of the 100 day massacre that befell Rwanda in 1994, the UN, as it was considering pulling out of Rwanda altogether, stated: “Ultimately, it is only the parties who signed the Arusha Agreement, namely the government of Rwanda (or its successor) and the RPF, who must bear the responsibility whether their country and people find peace or suffer violence” (320). Consequently (and very understandably), Dallaire saw this as ludicrous. As he points out, “its successor(s)” were the extremist forces that had thrown a coup d’etat and were committing the atrocities that amounted to what we now call the Rwandan Genocide. Further, all negotiations prior to that had amounted to a perpetual stalemate, as both sides—the government and the rebel group, the Rwandese Patriotic Front—demonstrated a rigidity, irresponsibility, and unaccountability that led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians. Sounds familiar . . . Maybe, just maybe, a strongly enforced UN peacekeeping mission is not a bad idea. Maybe arresting the men responsible for human rights abuses—perhaps even genocide—is not a bad idea, even if they are heads of state that made their way to power through a coup. Perhaps trying to build a nation of peace on a foundation of justice might actually, I don’t know, work.

Good call, Uganda

Dustyn — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Amidst the confusion that has surrounded Uganda’s stance on the International Criminal Court and Omar al-Bashir over the past couple of days—whether he would be arrested when traveling to Uganda or he wouldn’t—a conclusion seems to have been reached by the government. Although Bashir will not be making his intended trip to Uganda, Sudan’s neighbor to the south has vowed not to arrest him.

And the reasoning? “To avoid embarrassment and inconvenience to anybody.” Oh, well that’s reasonable. We don’t want to shame anyone who is at least partly responsible for the deaths of 300,000 and the displacement of millions.

I mean, what kind of imperialist nonsense is it to ask a nation that has signed the Rome Statute to abide by it? In fact, while we are trying to spare human rights abusers some humiliation, why not allow Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army to have a stake in northern Uganda?

Isn’t it just a little inconsiderate of Yoweri Museveni to make this child abductor/murderer/rapist live in the uncomfortable rainforest? Just give the LRA some ground in Acholiland, and let them set up their Ten Commandments-based government in peace, already.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="195" caption="Joseph Kony. Photo by: Billie O’Kadameri"][/caption]

Call me crazy, but I think if we want to “avoid embarrassment”—which is the general consensus of the international community, if I’m not mistaken—we should at least be consistent.

How unjust of Uganda to seek the arrest of Kony! The poor guy is probably blushing from humiliation at this very moment.

Oh yeah, Joseph Kony has no regard for human life. That’s right. Ok, so let’s go ahead and continue seeking justice for Joseph Kony.

In the mean time, we will make every attempt to spare the leader of a regime that has ruined millions of lives any and all "embarrassment and inconvenience".

Good call, Uganda.

A Walk-to-Save-Darfur

goalawal — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

The Darfur Heroes program is a way for the Save Darfur Coalition to honor individuals and groups who have done inspiring and important work in an effort to end the violence in Sudan. This December, the Save Darfur Coalition proudly honors Cherie Jackson, an activist from Buffalo, New York and a member of the Buffalo Alumnae chapter of the Greek organization Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Having attended a historically black university I am well aware of the role Greek organizations play in being socially conscious and active to help bring about change within our communities both far and near. So, it was with great excitement and joy that I received a call from Ms. Cherie Jackson a member of such an organization whose history I know dates back to 1913. Delta Sigma Theta’s history is rich --being the only organization of black women present at the demonstration of the “Women’s Suffrage March of 1913. Ms. Jackson decided to host a walk-a-thon titled “Walk-To-Save-Darfur” and actively worked with the Coalition to spread the word, build awareness , and engage her community in the fight to bring peace to Darfur and all of Sudan. The walk-a-thon was held on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at the University of Buffalo Alumni Arena. It kicked off at 10am and drew over 70 participants ranging from ages 3-80. During the walk activists spoke with other participants about the situation in Darfur, encouraged them to help keep the issue alive and got many to sign Save Darfur’s petition to President Obama calling for him to keep his promise of unstinting resolve to end the Darfur genocide. Lots of gear and swag were sold and hundreds of dollars were raised to support our cause. Cherie Jackson is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated- a Sisterhood of over 200,000 predominantly Black college educated women in over 900 chapters located in the United States, England, Japan, Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Republic of Korea.

Save Darfur Coalition Responds to New York Times

Emily Diamond-Falk — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Last week, The New York Times published an article that, among other things, accused the Save Darfur Coalition of misrepresenting the crisis in Darfur. The article, “New Study Estimates That Disease Caused 80% of Deaths During Years of Darfur Strife,” claims that direct violence only caused a fraction of the deaths over the years of the Darfur genocide. Save Darfur’s own Campaign Advocacy Associate Melissa Warnke responded to the article in a Letter to the Editor or LTE that was published in yesterday’s New York Times. Melissa’s letter stresses the need for international aid in the region and she calls on the U.S. government to do more to help the people of Darfur. She explained that deaths in Darfur are commonly the results of a scorched-earth campaign - a fact has been known and addressed since the genocide began in 2003. Read Melissa’s letter here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/opinion/lweb01darfur.html Writing letters to the editor about this issue or Darfur in general is incredibly important. We encourage you to write a letter to your local newspapers. See tips on how to write a Letter to the Editor: http://www.savedarfur.org/pages/how_to_get_media_attention_letter_to_the_editor/

Election Updates

lsittley — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

March 31, 2010- Sudanese citizens are expected to take to the election polls April 11-18 for the first time in 24 years. There is great international suspicion that Sudan’s ruling party, the National Congress Party (NCP), will rig the elections in the Darfur region. International organizations have observed the hypocrisies in voter registration as a sign of what is to follow in the upcoming elections. The current government did not allow sufficient time and information about registration to citizens in areas that are opposed to President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. As a result, qualified voters were unable or unwilling to register for this year’s elections. With Darfur containing 19 percent of the population of Sudan, and southern Sudan demonstrating very little support for the current ruling party, the NCP will need votes from Darfur to ensure it maintains power. There is expected to be an increase in government officials overseeing the polls in Darfur, leading to stronger suspicions of the possibilities of rigged elections. Bashir is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court for the genocide that occurred in Darfur, leading to estimates of 300,000 deaths and more than 2.5 million displaced people. “Sudan's opposition groups have said the conflict and emergency law in Darfur have hindered their campaigns there and some have asked for elections to be delayed” (Reuters). The NCP has not demonstrated any signs of accepting a delay in elections, leading opposition parties to suggest staging a boycott.

Amnesty International: Violence against Women

Esha Bera — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Amnesty International’s recent Agents of Fear report included startling reports on violence targeting women in Sudan. Many women in Sudan are targets of harassment by the National Intelligence and Security Services, but women human rights defenders are often even more specifically targeted. Many prisoners in Sudan face sexual abuse as one of the wide range of torture methods employed by the NISS. For many survivors of such abuse, their suffering doesn’t end in the ghost houses where they are tortured. Rape and sexual abuse can cause victims to be shunned by families and ostracized from society. Amnesty’s report, which recounts the stories of numerous survivors of torture at the hands of the government of Sudan’s security apparatus, is worth a thorough read.

Several human rights defenders told Amnesty International that the harassment of women human rights defenders often goes unnoticed and unreported by international human rights organizations. Women human rights defenders in Khartoum, for instance, are seldom detained and tortured. They suffer instead from other forms of harassment and intimidation, including being closely monitored and followed by NISS agents, having NISS agents visit their offices, and receiving text messages and phone calls from NISS. Such harassment restricts their ability to move freely and to perform their work.

Women human rights defenders reported that methods of intimidation employed by security agents in Sudan often had a sexual connotation. One described receiving some 10 calls and text messages a day from security officers on her private phone until she had to change her number. She described the sexual nature of text messages sent by security agents and told Amnesty International: “they allow themselves to use ghazal, (courtship), with women human rights defenders, to intimidate them and make them feel how vulnerable they are…” It is common practice in Sudan for women human rights defenders to change or even cancel their mobile phone numbers because of constant harassment by the NISS.

The offices of civil society organizations are regularly visited by plain clothed NISS agents with various excuses, such as the need to inspect the offices or to inquire about one of their employees. “While human rights defenders who have been involved in human rights work in Sudan for a long time immediately recognize NISS agents”, one human rights defender said to Amnesty International, “these visits can be confusing to new and young employees. They are often unable to identify an interrogation if it happens that way”.

According to Amnesty’s report, many organizations are forced to take precautions to increase the safety of their women employees. For example, they ensure that there is always more than one employee in an office and that women are accompanied home after dark. Some organizations, especially those operating in Khartoum and in Darfur, avoid having just one male and one female employee in their office at any given time, for fear of accusations of “prostitution” or “zina”. In Darfur, international organizations working on women’s rights, particularly in the area of protection and sexual violence, were particularly targeted by the Humanitarian Aid Commission which has close links with the NISS in Darfur. Many of these organizations were expelled from Sudan in March 2009. Civilians and human rights defenders in Darfur and Sudan have suffered myriad forms of terrible treatment at the hands of the NISS and the Sudanese government. Halima Bashir’s account of her torture at the hands of the Sudanese government in her book Tears of the Desert demonstrates just how merciless the perpetrators of such mistreatment and torture can be. Ms. Bashir writes that her second detainment ended with these words from her captor: “It’s over, for now. You know what rape is, so go. The Teacher and the others- they’ve shown you. As for me, I wouldn’t touch a black dog like you if my life depended on it. Anyway go. Go and tell the world. For the rest of your life, you’re going to have to live with it. Go and tell whoever you want to what rape is.” (228, Bashir)

Activists Around the World Rally for Global Day 2010

Ariana Harner — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Thousands of activists in 14 countries around the world and in New York, LA, and Washington DC gathered on September 19^th for a global day of action for Sudan. Activists urged world leaders to support the free and fair execution of the upcoming referendum and sent a powerful signal that people care about a peaceful future for Sudan. We rallied in front of the UN headquarters alongside Darfuris and Southern Sudanese from the east coast to challenge Obama and other leaders at the UN General Assembly to take responsibility for ensuring justice and respect for human rights in Sudan.

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1h1t6wB5ZE&feature=player_embedded[/youtube] A global drumming circle was also part of the day’s events, and the drum beats were meant to “send a warning cry” about the risk of conflict in Sudan and the need for leaders to work together and develop concrete actions for the region. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Drumming Circle/Photo by Kim Howell"][/caption] We also rallied at the UN on Friday the 24^th, just before Obama met with other world leaders about Sudan. Once again, the activists demonstrated their passion and desire for justice with chanting, singing, and protesting for action to be taken in Sudan. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Protest at the United Nations before the 9/24 meeting on Sudan"][/caption]

100 Days to the Referendum: Briefing on the Hill

Ariana Harner — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

On October 5^th, approximately 100 days before a referendum on independence in South Sudan, advocacy organizations hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill titled Sudan: 100 Days to the Referendum. The event featured prominent panelists, including Ian Schwab of American Jewish World Service, Osman Hummaida of the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies, and Omer Ismail of the ENOUGH Project. Additional speakers included Simon Deng, a former Sudanese slave and Chairman of the Sudan Freedom Walk, and Dr. Abdel Gabar Adam, founder and president of the Darfur Human Rights Association of the U.S.A. [caption id="attachment_5685" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Ian Schwab, AJWS, opens the briefing (Photo: Martha Bixby, Save Darfur Coalition)"][/caption] Ian Schwab highlighted the upcoming referendum's importance and emphasized the urgent need to make Sudan and Darfur a priority for the Obama administration. Schwab pointed to the Administration's recent progress on Sudan, but suggested that many unresolved issues surrounding the referendum remain, including voter registration, vote counting, debt, currency, and the status of northerners in the south and southerners in the north. Osman Hummaida brought up a constant problem facing Sudan: the human rights abuses and war crimes that continue while President al-Bashir in office. Hummaida questioned the legitimacy of a war criminal sitting at the negotiations table and called on the international community to end such injustices by pushing for Bashir's arrest and using him as an example for other high-level perpetrators in Sudan.To close out the session, Omar Ismail introduced numerous policy recommendations for the U.S., including: [caption id="attachment_5686" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Omer Ismail speaks with the press (Photo: Martha Bixby, Save Darfur Coalition)"] [/caption]

Press for a free and timely referendum and independent vote-monitoring
Assign a high-level diplomat to Darfur specifically
Ensure access for peacekeepers and humanitarian workers and a restoration of gender-based violence services
Include civil society in all negotiations
Ensure accountability by imposing multilateral consequences, publicly denouncing all parties who violate human rights, and refusing normal relations with Sudan until abuses end
Fulfill U.S. policies set out in October of 2009

Freedom Walkers Simon Deng and Abdel Gabar Adam concluded the panel with passionate words for a peaceful future in Sudan. Deng and Adam pleaded with members of the U.S. government to listen to the Sudanese people and help bring relief after decades of suffering. The two arrived in Washington after a 250-mile walk from New York, and will speak about their journey at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 6^th. On October 7^th, Deng and Adam will finish the walk from American University to the Capitol lawn for a rally and a performance by Sudanese musician Emmanuel Jal. Information about the rally and concert at the Capitol can be found here.

George Clooney on Sudan: "If you knew a tsunami, or Katrina or a Haiti earthquake was coming, what would you do to save people?"

Kaiser — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

George Clooney is in Sudan this week, on a field mission to help raise awareness about the possible civil war that could be reignited by the referendum on southern independence in January. So far he, along with Enough Project co-founder John Prendergast and news reporter Ann Curry, have visited the contentious Abyei region and various remote regions of the South. Clooney has also met with rape survivors and other people affected by the violence in the earlier North-South war that lasted nearly 21 years. "If you knew a tsunami, or (Hurricane) Katrina or a Haiti earthquake was coming, what would you do to save people?” he asked Ann Curry. The famous American actor, producer and director has been involved with the Darfur movement since the US government proclaimed the conflict a genocide in 2003, and in 2006 he spoke at Save Darfur’s rally on the National Mall that drew 100,000 people. In 2007, Clooney and his father, Nick, risked their lives travelling around Darfur and visiting refugee camps in Chad while filming the documentary report, A Journey to Darfur. Since then he has continued to be a vocal figure, using his celebrity status to attract attention to the issues plaguing Sudan and especially Darfur. He has spoken at several high-level press conferences and has met with Vice-President Biden and White House officials to lobby for US engagement.

Congress Reviews the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act

Hannah Woit — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id="attachment_6320" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Photo courtesy of Flickr user antisocialtory."][/caption] On November 30^th, the House of Representatives Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade met for a hearing entitled “Investments Tied to Genocide: Sudan Divestment and Beyond.” The hearing gave the Subcommittee an opportunity to review the effectiveness of the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (SADA) of 2007. The meeting began with statements from committee members from both sides of the aisle, each of whom stated their commitment to fighting genocide, wherever it occurs. Rep. Michael Capuano of Massachusetts, who has been consistently active on issues related to Sudan as the Co-Chair of the Sudan Caucus, declared, “Every human being should stand as tall as they can against genocide.” In his statement, Rep. Erik Paulsen of Minnesota noted that the pressure he received from the Edina High School STAND chapter was one of the reasons he decided to join the Sudan Caucus. Rep. Paulsen also raised the point that the Subcommittee should look at the elements of SADA that have achieved results and consider how similar provisions might be effectively applied to make progress on other human rights crises. Rep. Jim McGovern, also of Massachusetts, reminded those in attendance that genocide is not only an issue for governments, but also a problem that companies should address. On that note of corporate responsibility, the witness testimony began with a summary of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)’s June 2010 report on divestment in Sudan by Thomas Melito, GAO’s Director of International Affairs and Trade. Melito said that GAO had found that investors consider three factors when deciding whether to divest from companies with ties to Sudan: fiduciary responsibility, the challenge in identifying exactly which companies have ties to Sudan, and the effect that divestment could have on the Sudanese people. Some of GAO’s interview subjects were concerned that divestment could result in an unintended negative impact on the very people we want to help. Instead, they advocate engagement in order to encourage companies operating in Sudan to use their resources to help the Sudanese people. The GAO report also recommends that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) require companies to disclose their business activities tied to Sudan. The next witness, Eric Cohen, Chairperson of Investors Against Genocide (IAG), reiterated the need for disclosure in his testimony, arguing that companies have the duty to empower their shareholders to make investments that are consistent with their moral values. He noted that IAG has found that despite U.S. sanctions against Sudan, major financial institutions still invest in foreign companies with ties to Sudan, yet 88% of Americans, many of whom entrust their savings to these financial institutions, do not want their investments tied to genocide. Since few investors actually do the research to determine whether their investments are genocide-free, but instead choose to trust their investment companies, these companies need to be more transparent. Managing Director and General Counsel for Domini Social Investments LLC Adam Kanzer’s testimony was consistent with the issues raised by Melito and Cohen, stating that investors need data to be able to hold their investment companies accountable. Thus, there must be a mechanism for mandatory human rights-related disclosure in place. He also pointed out that doing business in unstable areas like Sudan can be a poor investment decision as there can be disruptions to operations, damage to company reputation for involvement in human rights abuses, and other unintended consequences. Kanzer notes in his testimony that Domini, a member of the advisory board for GI-Net’s Conflict Risk Network (CRN) has found CRN’s research on corporate activity in Sudan particularly informative. Kanzer pointed to the Ruggie framework to contextualize the discussion of corporate responsibility in Sudan and other human rights abuses:

“the State duty to protect against human rights abuses by third parties, including business, through appropriate policies, regulation and adjudication; the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, which means to act with due diligence to avoid infringing on the rights of others and to address adverse impacts that occur; and greater access for victims to effective remedy, judicial and non-judicial.”

Kanzer also brought up a critical loophole that exists in the implementation of SADA’s provisions regarding the prohibition on contracts with the U.S. government by companies operating in Sudan. A narrow interpretation of these restrictions has allowed these companies’ parents and subsidiaries to contract with the U.S. government to avoid the ban. Testimony from Ambassador Richard Williamson, former U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, provided a less financially-based view of the ongoing genocide in Darfur. The Ambassador said that although he is generally skeptical of using economic sanctions, he supports enhancing SADA, as he argued that it is past the time to look at incentives. At this point, the U.S. government should instead be seriously considering how it can apply pressure on the Government of Sudan. Throughout the hearing, witnesses and Representatives alike expressed their regret that this conversation on how to address the genocide in Darfur was taking place seven years after it began. The hearing ended on this note with a short statement by Chairman Gregory Meeks of New York expressing the sense of urgency the world needs to feel when genocide occurs: “This is about preserving human life.” Hopefully, there will never be a need for another hearing regarding action against genocide in Darfur or elsewhere. The U.S. Government and financial institutions should look at the impact divestment has had in the case of Sudan with a view to discover which tools might be useful in the future for preventing mass atrocities.

Student Activists Honored as November’s Darfur Heroes

Ariana Harner — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

SDC/GI-NET honored the students of the Darfur Task Force at Newtown Friends School in Newtown, Pennsylvania as November's Darfur Heroes. The Darfur Heroes Program celebrates individuals and groups who have done inspiring and important work in an effort to end the violence in Sudan. Students of the Newtown Friends School launched the Darfur Task Force in 2007 as a subcommittee of The Agents of Social Change (TASC), a social action group at the school, when a few 6^thgrade students started writing about Darfur in English class. This captured the attention of others who wanted to get involved and all 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade students have been welcomed to participate in the Task Force weekly meetings which are run by students. The mission of the Darfur Task Force is to raise awareness about the genocide in Darfur. Members strive to educate their fellow students, parents, and community members about the struggle for human rights in Sudan. The group recognizes that there are people in need everywhere but believes the world should work together so that “never again” truly means never. Over the past three years, The Darfur Task Force has raised over $15,000 for the Darfur Human Rights Organization based out of Philadelphia and led by Dr. Abdelgabar Adam. Task Force members have organized activities of all kinds, including:

Texting campaign to Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton
Letter and petition writing campaigns to government officials
Obtained donation of 500 crocs for refugees – Dr. Adam delivered to camps in Chad last year
Clothing and shoe drive – Dr. Adam delivered to camps in Chad last year
Sweet Dreams for Darfur pajama day fundraiser
Dance-a-thon fundraiser for Darfur
School benefit talent show with student and faculty performers
Skate for Darfur fundraising ice skating party for the entire community
The Darfurnament, an annual basketball tournament for students in grades 4-8

Dr. Adam has spoken at the Newtown Friends School several times, most recently as part of the Sudan Freedom Walk. SDC/GI-NET greatly appreciates the hard work and commitment of the students at Newtown Friends School for the people of Darfur. You are setting a great example for other students and schools, and your effort really makes a difference!

Members of Congress on the Referendum

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/07/AR2011010703910.html

"They deserve credit for making the decision to follow through and deliver on the (peace agreement)," Kerry said. "I think there has been a constructive change there and we need to follow from there."

Kerry on Darfur

Kerry said lifting economic sanctions would require progress toward a peace deal in Darfur. "Darfur remains a very critical issue and center of our focus and I went there today to purposely link the future of Sudan to our ability to resolve what happens in Darfur," he said.

Letter to President Obama on President Hu's Upcoming Visit

amenon — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

On January 19^th, President Obama will welcome Chinese President Hu Jintao to the White House. In anticipation of this meeting, the Save Darfur Coalition/ Genocide Intervention Network sent a letter to President Obama both thanking him for his Administration’s high level diplomatic efforts to actively promote a free, fair and on time referendum in South Sudan, and urging him to work with President Hu to keep the spotlight on Sudan even after the referendum is over. As the international community focuses on the referendum, there needs to be ongoing attention on the situation in Darfur, where there are concerns about the recent escalation of attacks on civilians, limited access for humanitarian organizations and peacekeepers, as well as an ever elusive peace agreement between the government and all of the rebel groups. China is in a unique position to influence the Government of Sudan positively in regards to all of these concerns, as one of the biggest investors in Sudan, they hold considerable leverage over Khartoum. Specifically, the letter urges President Obama to raise three points; the first of these is that the U.S. and China release a joint statement concerning the road forward on post- referendum issues such as determining the status of Abyei, oil revenue sharing arrangements, the division of debt and determining the status of northerners in south and southerners in the north. In the letter, SDC/GI-NET also calls on “the United States and China should commit to not stand in the way of UN sanctions against any party instigating violence in Sudan. The United States and China should also call on all parties involved in the conflict in Darfur to join negotiations being held in Doha or an alternative neutral location.” The second point the letter raises is about arms sales between China and Sudan. China’s agreement with Sudan specifically forbids the use of Chinese weapons in Sudan, this is not happening, so the U.S. should urge China to halt the sale of weapons to Sudan until the situation in Darfur is resolved. The final point that President Obama should raise is about the economic transparency in the relationship between China and both North and South Sudan. Oil transparency will prove to be particularly important for a couple of reasons; the first is that it will make the revenue sharing agreement between the North and South much easier to carry out, the second is that transparency of oil revenues would keep the government accountable to its citizens and donors. For more, read the letter to President Obama and the SDC/ GI-Net Press Release.

Looking Back at Referendum Voting

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Voting Commences http://petemullerphotography.com/blog/?p=480 Day Two http://petemullerphotography.com/blog/?m=201101 Enough Project's Photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/enoughproject/ multimedia journalist Jonathan Shuler sent these pictures to UN Dispatch from around Juba, South Sudan today. http://www.undispatch.com/sudan-votes-photos-from-the-historic-day-in-south-sudan Diaspora voting: http://allafrica.com/photoessay/Sudanese_in_the_United_States_Vote http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=326191&id=25309165109

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Radio Dabanga Fierce fighting between government and Darfur rebels in Wadi Mora Fierce battles broke out Tuesday in North Darfur between the government and a joint rebel force of SLA-MM, SLA-AW, and LJM. The rival forces struggled in Wadi Mora, between Abu Zereiga and Shangil Tobaya. Sudan Tribune UNMIS’s mandate will not be extended beyond July, Sudan says The United Nations peacekeeping force known as UNMIS monitoring Sudan’s North-South peace accord will not be allowed to remain in theNorth beyond July when its mandate expires. Sudan’s presidential adviser Mustafa Ismail told the government-sponsored Sudanese Media Center (SMC) website that Khartoum has no intention of agreeing to any renewal of UNMIS’s mandate, saying this will be done in coordination with signatories to the peace agreement. Sudan Tribune South Sudan rules out sharing oil revenue with North The new state of South Sudan that is expected to officially become the world’s newest state in July has no intention of continuing to split the proceeds from oil revenue, an official in the South’s ruling party said on Tuesday. Sudan Tribune SPLM: North-South border demarcation commences Sunday Sudan Tribune Khartoum University students arrested in Sudan security services raid Sudanese security authorities employed heavy force to disperse and arrest students protesting at Khartoum University against the dismissal of their colleagues for failure to pay tuition fees. Miraya FM Revenge behind recent attack in Yeri, official says Investigations in to the recent killing of ten people in Mvolo County reveal the motive was revenge, Commissioner of Mvolo County, Paul Teer, told Radio Miraya. Last Friday, farmers reportedly attacked a cattle camp in Yeri Payam. Teer said the attack was retaliation for an earlier attack on a farmer, whose motorcycle was robbed in the incident. Teer added that the situation in the area is now calm.

International Affairs Funding: The National Security Argument

Allyson Neville-Morgan — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Funding for the international affairs account of the United States budget—in addition to saving lives—is a critical investment toward advancing national security interests. Unfortunately, common misconceptions have reinforced a view that national security is provided solely through defense spending. This view puts critical U.S. interests at risk. Combating these misconceptions among policy makers offers a crucial opportunity for anti-genocide activists. Top Government Officials Connect State & USAID Funding to National Security The United States Government funds the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through discretionary funding accounts. Discretionary accounts are allocated each year and offer Congress the opportunity to decide how much money will be spent on specific programs. As part of the process, each U.S. President submits a budget to Congress in advance of the upcoming fiscal year and top Government officials publicly defend the needs of their program. In testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 2, 2011 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “It is no longer possible in the 21^st century to say that you are walling off national security by going after non-defense discretionary spending. We are so much more integrated and interdependent, and it would force us to scale back dramatically on critical missions that are absolutely supported by Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, General Petraeus and others.” Although almost exclusively involved in defending his own budget, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has made groundbreaking statements on the relationship between national security and non-defense government spending. Almost a year after Gates had taken the secretary position during the Administration of President George W. Bush, a New York Times article detailed comments made by Gates, “One priority is money, Mr. Gates said. He called for ‘a dramatic increase in spending on the civilian instruments of national security—diplomacy, strategic communications, foreign assistance, civic action and economic reconstruction and development.’” Critically—throughout his ongoing tenure as Secretary of Defense—Gates has continued to call on Congress to fully fund the State Department and other civilian-led programs citing their importance for national security. [caption id="attachment_7614" align="alignright" width="316" caption="Secretaries Clinton and Gates appear on Meet the Press in April 2010 Photo Credit: William B. Plowman/Meet the Press/AP"][/caption] The coordinated fight to protect civilian funding in the interest of national security by both the State and Defense Department is ongoing. One of the best examples occurred almost a year ago when Secretaries Gates and Clinton appeared together on Meet the Press to oppose cuts to the State Department Budget. Members of Congress Jeopardize National Security through Budget Cuts Despite repeated calls from top military officials that State Department and USAID programs be adequately funded in the interest of national security, Congress continues to put civilian-side funding on the chopping block. Most recently, the House of Representatives passed a funding bill that cuts the international affairs budget by 21 percent over the President's request. In fact, when announcing proposed cuts in a initial bill, H.R.1, that would fund the U.S. Government for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year the entire international affairs budget was put in the category of "non-security" spending. The House went on to cut even more money in a subsequent version of the bill. These cuts (100 million as promised by some members of Congress) were focused solely on "non-security" discretionary funding and did not touch the sections of the budget that make up the most costly expenditures and account for the vast majority of U.S. spending. The result was a disproportionate impact on the international affairs accounts that makes up approximately 1 percent of the entire budget. Unfortunately, some leaders of the movement to drastically reduce foreign aid spending include many of the members of Congress that you would expect to support this critical funding like the Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and the Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations Kay Granger (R-TX). [caption id="attachment_7627" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Senator Lindsey Graham, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations"][/caption] However, many on the Senate side—including a leader on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Aid Lindsey Graham (R-SC)—understand the importance of the international affairs budget. Speaking of the need to increase funding for State and USAID work in conflict areas, the Graham said, "The way I look at it is, it's national security insurance that we're buying." It will be left to members of the Senate to fight to restore critical funding for the remainder of 2011. Related to our work on genocide prevention and response, this funding includes accounts related to life-saving humanitarian aid and genocide prevention. Investing resources to effectively prevent and respond to crises is cost-effective and a critical means of advancing our security interests abroad.

Welcome to Our Blog

zach — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:01:22 +0000

Today is the 'soft launch' of this website, the Save Darfur Coalition's Blog, meaning we're not actively promoting it yet, but we're going to start writing posts. The goal of this site is to make it easier for people interested in saving Darfur to find timely information about what's happening in Sudan, what they can do in their own countries, and what can be done online to help. Please create an account to comment, and be sure to check out the activist forum.

How Contract Prohibition Works

zach — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:40:23 +0000

Sure, you know how divestment works in the interest of Darfur. But what about contract prohibition? We've created some easy to understand graphic representation of how banning contracts between our government and firms that do work with the Sudanese government can help the plight of Darfur. The Problem: How Your Tax Dollars Are Funding Genocide (pdf) The Solution: How Contract Prohibition Can Help End the Genocide in Darfur (pdf) General Divestment Information

Another way to get involved online

Sarosh — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:22:26 +0000

Here's a new way for Darfur activists to get engaged online: Check out our new channel on friction.tv.

Friction.tv is kinda like YouTube for debates. Users can check out videos, comment on them, or respond to them with their own videos. You can also respond to others' comments. If you disagree with someone, let them know!

The point is to get as many people as possible to talk about Darfur and to take action to help end the crisis there.

We'll continue to add videos to the channel as we produce them. If you have any ideas about videos you think we should produce, please let us know by commenting on this blog or by posting a video on our friction.tv or YouTube channels

Dollars for Darfur students come to Washington

cwagner — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:58:22 +0000

It’s normal to see groups of tourists flooding Washington in the summer months. Dozens of student groups come to tour historical monuments and learn about U.S. history and government. This year, one group came to make a difference. Thirty-five students, teachers, and parents - winners of this year’s annual Dollars for Darfur National School Challenge - came to Washington on an all-expense-paid trip to lobby their elected officials. The students, who ranged in age from 11 to 18 years old, won their trip for their outstanding efforts raising money, building awareness, and advocating for the people of Darfur. The winning schools were chosen from more than 440 participating schools for their fundraising success, student leadership, advocacy efforts, community outreach, and creativity. The Lobby Day trip is designed to enable young activists to become effective voices for the people of Darfur. It gives students the opportunity to hone their skills and participate directly in our government. At a reception in their honor in the Capitol Building, they had a chance to share their experiences and ideas with each other and members of Congress. The next day, they attended workshops with staff members from the Save Darfur Coalition, Oxfam America and the International Rescue Committee to help prepare for face-to-face meetings with Congressional representatives about Darfur. The trip culminated in a student-led demonstration in front of the White House. Oval office in sight, the students exercised their First Amendment right to raise an issue, and the experience energized the group as the young activists caught attention from passersby. In the coming school year, these students, teachers and parents – along with thousands of other students across the country – will renew their efforts for the people of Darfur. Want to participate in next year's Dollars for Darfur campaign? Visit www.savedarfur.org/dollarsfordarfur. Photos of the Lobby Day can be viewed here.

Jerry Fowler on CNN

zach — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:28:45 +0000

The Save Darfur Coalition's President, Jerry Fowler, was on CNN last night. We're trying to locate the video clip, but you can read the transcript right now.

JERRY FOWLER, PRESIDENT, SAVE DARFUR COALITION: I think there's a tremendous amount of frustration, but even deeper than that it's a disappointment. And all we can hope is that when President Bush does go to China, that he takes the opportunity to really press the Chinese and get commitments from them to start being part of the solution in Darfur instead of being part of the problem.

Complete transcript (scroll most of the way down).

The Impact of Divestment on the Ground in Sudan

sarah — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:51:40 +0000

Save Darfur. It’s a concept that sends people running to action, willing to volunteer time and money to do what it takes to save the people of Darfur from rape, murder and displacement. We have taken action, we have sent the messages to world leaders, we have raised the issue in our communities and we have built a movement more than a million strong. So why haven’t we yet saved Darfur? At times, the victories of this movement seem few and far between. The violence continues and the peacekeeping force has yet to be deployed. The problems are deep and complex. But amid the frustration, there are real victories. There are triumphs that are difficult to gauge, such as the impact of country-wide awareness of the genocide or the personal impression left on someone after taking action to help another person half way around the world. These small victories are often hard to recognize or even pin down. But sometimes, we can see them. Last month, the Bush administration implemented the final provision of a law that was passed in 2007, the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act. The act authorizes states to divest from companies that help to fund the genocide and to ban contracts with such companies. It also prohibits such companies from receiving federal contracts. A number of organizations and countless individuals worked hard for more than a year to pass the law, and we stuck with the process to make sure it makes a difference. The good news today is that any company helping to fund the genocide will no longer be able to work with the federal government. Activists made phone calls and wrote letters and organizations came together to demand full and complete implementation. After months of intense advocacy, the administration put out the ruling in June, and the contract ban went into effect. As a result of this law and divestment efforts around the country, companies have changed the way they operate in Sudan. They have taken political, humanitarian and operational steps to make sure their business in Sudan helps people instead of hurting them. When the federal law was introduced, several companies quickly engaged on the issue. They held high level meetings with the Sudanese foreign finance minister, started using oil drilling equipment to drill water wells for refugee camps and froze business operations until the genocide ends. At least eleven companies either left Sudan or significantly modified their behavior in the country. The federal bill continues to spur such company reform today. The Darfur genocide is complex – it is not a problem with a single solution or victory. It is a crisis that requires our ongoing attention, our continued efforts and our sustained resolution to stick with it until we see the big results. It requires our efforts on the small victories, such as the passage of the 25th state divestment bill this year or an awareness fundraiser at your local middle school. These small efforts do yield results. When the twelfth company suspends its operations until the genocide ends or sits down in a room with the Sudanese finance minister, it will be in part because an activist picked up her phone to call her Senator. The solution is not simple, but the effort is. Save Darfur. There is likely not one answer, one victory or one solution to end the genocide in Darfur. There are, however, thousands of people working to stop it. And one step at a time, one effort at a time, one seemingly small act of conscience at a time, we are making a difference. We are doing the only thing we can do – our part to build a long and lasting peace in Sudan. To help build the economic pressure on the Sudanese government to end genocide , please visit www.divestfordarfur.org.

Critical Darfur Funding Approved - More to Be Done

Robert — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:58:23 +0000

On June 30, President Bush signed into law H.R. 2642, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008. Thanks to the strong efforts of Save Darfur activists, as well as the leadership of Darfur champions within Congress and the Administration who heard their call, the bill includes over $800 million in funding within six different accounts to support critical Darfur programs. The bill provides more than $400 million for the United Nations - African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), which not only fulfills the U.S.'s basic commitment to the force, but also provides additional tens of millions for the training and equipping of UNAMID troops and police to help speed up deployment. The bill also includes more than $420 million in emergency food and disaster relief, a significant portion of which will go to support Darfur's vulnerable civilians. In addition to peacekeeping and humanitarian accounts, the bill provides critical funding for the Office of the Special Envoy for Sudan, as well as $70 million to support preparations for the 2009 Sudanese national elections. Given this year's fiscal constraints, this is an overwhelming amount of funding that all Darfur activists should be proud of. These are amazing victories, but we still have work to do. In mid-July, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will consider funding for Fiscal Year 2009. The Save Darfur Coalition is calling for $430 million for UNAMID, which includes $16 million for training of additional UNAMID troops. We are also calling for an additional $800 million in international disaster assistance, a significant portion of which would go to help Darfur refugees and internally-displaced persons. You can help by contacting your Congressional Representative and Senators and urging them to make sure that all necessary funds are included in the Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations bills. Please visit our pending legislation page for more information on pending legislation related to Darfur and ways you can help ensure that Congress and the Administration make the right decisions for the people of Darfur.

SDC condemns 'brutal attack' on UNAMID

Ashley — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:11:12 +0000

A brazen attack launched yesterday in North Darfur killed seven UNAMID peacekeepers and wounded 22, many of them critically. This is likely to be the largest assault ever on Darfur peacekeepers - a sad display of the deteriorating conditions in the region and the world's failure to address them. According to a report by the United Nations, the unidentified militia used heavy weapons and exchanged fire with the UNAMID convoy for more than two hours. It is a miserable state of affairs that a year after the U.N. Security Council authorized UNAMID, the troops have neither the numbers, the training, nor the equipment to protect themselves, let alone the people of Darfur. Twelve months, and the world's most powerful nations cannot find it within themselves to produce the political will, a few hundred trucks, or even just 24 helicopters to protect Darfuris who have weathered more than five years of genocide. What are they waiting for? Are they waiting for the Sudanese government to finish its campaign until there are no more Darfuris left to protect? The world's inaction is simply ridiculous. We cannot let the U.N. Security Council authorize a peacekeeping force and then stand idly by as it fails because of they did not provide it with the equipment it needs to succeed. Save Darfur Coalition president Jerry Fowler responded to this brutal attack earlier today with the following statement: “The Save Darfur Coalition vehemently condemns yesterday’s brutal attack on the UNAMID civilian protection force between the towns Gusa Jamat and Wadah in North Darfur. The U.N. Security Council must impose consequences on the parties responsible for this act of brutality – which comes just weeks before the one year anniversary of UNAMID’s authorization and violates numerous Security Council resolutions. Additionally, the attack underscores the need for the council to work diligently to ensure the full and rapid deployment of UNAMID – which currently only has one third of its authorized troops on the ground – and the swift delivery of necessary equipment if the force is ever to have the hope of fulfilling its mandate.” UN peacekeepers caught in deadly Darfur ambush Photo Credit: AFP

Reported Al-Bashir Genocide Charges Underscore Need for Security Council Action

jerry — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:43:35 +0000

Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo’s pending charges against al-Bashir underscore the need for the U.N. Security Council to finally act decisively with a comprehensive strategy for Sudan. The world at-large, primarily the Security Council, has allowed al-Bashir to continue his reign of destruction, recalcitrance and violence with utter impunity. These pending charges must now sober al-Bashir’s international apologists who continue to shield and protect the Khartoum regime from meaningful measures with meaningful consequences. For those concerned about how the pursuit of justice impacts the pursuit of other critical efforts in Darfur and Sudan – we point to the critical passage in Moreno-Ocampo’s report last month to the Security Council wherein he urged the world body to adopt a ‘comprehensive strategy’ in addressing Darfur. That is key. The pursuit of justice has indeed taken a significant step forward. It is now time for the pursuits of peace and protection to advance commensurately. The focus now shifts not to the ICC tribunal judges, but to the U.N. Security Council which has refused to act on standing ICC arrest warrants, failed to provide the necessary equipment, and has allowed the Sudanese to both obstruct peacekeeper deployment and continue to use violence and destruction against its own population. Moreno-Ocampo has acted. Now the Security Council must as well.

Messinger and Fowler reiterate China's role in bringing peace to Darfur

Ashley — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:53:06 +0000

The Nation published a column today by American Jewish World Service president Ruth Messinger and Save Darfur Coalition president Jerry Fowler on the essential role that China must play in bringing peace to Darfur. Below is an excerpt from the column, which can be found here.

Beijing's theme for this year's Games is "One World, One Dream." According to the official website, this theme is meant to convey China's commitment to "peaceful development, harmonious society and people's happiness." We'll state the obvious: China's espousal of universal brotherhood flies in the face of its policies in Darfur. But China still has time to set things right. This is why advocates worldwide are urging China to take the following steps. First, immediately stop dealing small arms in Sudan. Providing these weapons only serves to arm many of the actors that are killing, raping, and maiming at will. Second, pressure Sudan to comply immediately with all existing UN Security Council resolutions, including the deployment of African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) forces to secure the region from the government-backed Janjaweed militia. Third, if Sudan does not change its behavior, China should refrain from vetoing UN sanctions against Sudan and its officials.

Darfuris Rally in Support of ICC in London

Sarosh — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:55:11 +0000

Darfuris in London rallied in support of ICC prosecutor, Moreno-Ocampo's charges against President Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan. A video of the rally, which took place in front of the Sudanese embassy in London, is available on Friction TV.

Save Darfur blasts China's ongoing military links with genocidal regime

amjad — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:41:40 +0000

Beijing’s military support of Khartoum – in addition to its economic and diplomatic support - has been troubling for many years, and Sudan and China’s tight lid on information has made it difficult to discern the true nature of their current relationship. The BBC evidence uncovers the ongoing nature of that military support – though the full extent remains unclear. It also remains unclear whether China is willfully violating the U.N. arms embargo, is turning a blind eye to the consequences of its military support, or is simply being manipulated by al-Bashir’s government. What’s clear is that China, and other nations, must end their military relationship with a regime whose president was just accused by the chief prosecutor of the ICC of bearing criminal responsibility for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes against his own people. No nation can provide such support to, an individual and regime behind the cruel acts committed against millions of Darfuris, and still claim to be a responsible member of the international community. Long after peace is achieved in Sudan, the long-suffering Sudanese civilians will remember which nations helped Sudan achieve peace and which prolonged its anguish. ”

Atallah interviewed on Washington's News Channel 8

Ashley — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:00:15 +0000

Amjad Atallah, Save Darfur's senior director for international policy and advocacy, was interviewed last night on News Channel 8's Federal News Today by Beverly Kirk. In the interview, Atallah discusses yesterday's ICC indictment of Sudanese President al-Bashir and the potential ramifications for the process of bringing peace to Darfur.

Have you asked Darfuris about the ICC?

Ashley — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:29:53 +0000

In the myriad debates speculating the implications of this week's indictment of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, one voice has been drowned out. The voice of Darfuri people who have suffered under this genocidal campaign. In an effort to ensure that their voices were heard, the Darfuri Leaders Network, a broad-based alliance representing Darfur diaspora organizations across the United States, responded yesterday with a letter that was delivered to U.N. Security Council member states.

Our people have cried out for justice for the last five years only to see the humanitarian and political crisis worsen in Darfur. Mr. Moreno-Ocampo’s request to examine the culpability of President Al Bashir for the genocide committed against our friends and families brings us some hope that the international community may finally match its rhetoric with actions that lead to real results in The Sudan. It is for this reason that we give our unequivocal support to Mr. Moreno-Ocampo’s decision which aims to provide much delayed accountability for those responsible for the destruction of the lives and livelihoods of Darfuris.

The full text of the letter can be found here.

China, Sudan, and Zimbabwe

Sarosh — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:00:35 +0000

David Sullivan, Research Associate at Save Darfur's partner organization, the ENOUGH Project, wrote for the Wonk Room about China's support for the brutal dictatorships in Sudan in Zimbabwe. David suggests that China's defense of Al-Bashir and Mugabe may soon exhaust the patience of the rest of the U.N. Security Council. But in order to make a difference in Darfur, it's time for the U.S. to act. Read the blog posting here.

Ahmadi Addresses ICC Meeting

reidrector — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:12:06 +0000

Niemat Ahmadi, Darfuri Liaison Officer at the Save Darfur Coalition today addressed an open meeting of the States Parties to the International Criminal Court at UN Headquarters in New York. The meeting comes just three days after the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, announced that he is seeking an arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir. The prosecutor has charged Bashir with criminal responsibility for 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Ahmadi represented the Darfuri community, many of whom overwhelmingly support the prosecutor’s decision, and made a strong claim that both peace and justice are necessary and achievable. The event also included remarks by Moreno-Ocampo and the Secretary General of the U.N., Ban Ki-Moon. The full-text of her remarks is below.

The Danger of Enabling Al-bashir As the slaughter in Darfur is in its sixth year, conditions continue to deteriorate for civilians. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, even by the most conservative estimates. The United Nations officially puts the death toll at roughly 300,000, while Jan Pronk recently puts the number at no less than 400,000. Up to 2.5 million Darfuris have fled their homes and continue to live in camps throughout Darfur, or in refugee camps in Chad and the Central African Republic. Based on Sudan’s behavior over the past five years—indeed since al-Bashir assumed power in 1989, it is clear that unless the international community imposes massive political costs for al-Bashir’s intentional and calculated obstructionism, not to mention criminal behavior, his government will continue to buy time by accepting initiatives only to backtrack later or impose new conditions that render them useless. Darfuris have been suffering, not only from an orchestrated campaign to eliminate them, but also from year after year of inaction by the international community. This week, Darfuris finally got a welcome bit of news: the prosecutor at the ICC charged al-Bashir with 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Let me be categorical about this: the people of Darfur wholeheartedly welcome and support this effort by Mr. Luis Moreno Ocampo! Unfortunately, this good news is being drowned out by the many voices that insist —falsely, I might add—that justice and peace for Darfuris are incompatible and that they can only have one at the cost of the other. Unfortunately, whether they realize it or not, the intellectuals, academics, and practitioners who are advancing this claim that peace and justice are mutually exclusive are helping al-Bashir and his inner circle avoid the consequences of their crimes, and therefore are unnecessarily prolonging the suffering of innocent civilians. Let me be clear about this as well: the people of Darfur categorically reject this approach in principle! We reject it because it is inaccurate, we reject it because it is unjust, and we reject it because it flaunts centuries of traditional Darfuri conflict resolution mechanisms that have been intentionally sabotaged by Khartoum. Let me ask you this: what does peace mean to me as a Darfuri woman who was forced to flea her home in the dark of night? What does peace mean to the many thousands of girls and women who were repeatedly raped in a calculated effort to destroy a community? What does peace mean to those that are dying a slow agonizing death in the camps while strangers have taken over their land? What does it mean to hundreds of thousands of orphaned children? What does it mean to the millions of elderly, women and children who rely on the WFP and others to not starve? Let me tell you that to those people there is NO peace WITHOUT justice. It is important to listen to the voices of the victims, and those who have argued that justice will derail a non-existent peace have not done so. I, and millions of Darfuris and other advocates of peace AND justice, commend Mr. Ocampo for his courage and diligence. I appeal to all states and all UN organs to not undo his great work through their inaction. On behalf of those millions who have died, suffered and continue to suffer as I speak to you today, I call on the ICC, the Security Council and all other relevant actors to not engage al-Bashir in the perverse calculus of justice OR peace. We want and deserve both justice AND peace. He has not taken meaningful steps toward either of those goals for nearly six years. It would be shortsighted to give him the benefit of the doubt now. Over the past few days, as many of you have surely seen and heard, al-Bashir has made some of the most conciliatory statement with regard to Darfur in the past six years. He is also calling on his allies in the African Union and the Arab League and China, not to help resolve the crisis, but rather to provide him with the political cover that he so desperately needs now. Al-Bashir has not had a change of heart, he is reacting to increased international pressure; now is the time to demand verifiable changes in Khartoum’s behavior, changes that will further both goals of peace AND justice…actions that will have a concrete and measurable positive effect for the people of Darfur who have suffered for far too long already. Nobody can ask the people of Darfur to relinquish their right to hold the perpetrators of mass atrocities accountable in exchange for vague promises of peace and security in Darfur. Our people have witnessed too many peace initiatives fail and too many delays in the deployment of peacekeepers who can protect the vulnerable. We understand the difficulty at hand in dealing with an authoritarian and genocidal government such as the one led by al-Bashir. However, there are no moral or legal grounds to strip the victims of their rights for political expediency. Thank you.

Sudanese Activists: It is Time to End the State of Fear

seanbrooks — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:01:31 +0000

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project released the following statement today:

(Banjul 13th November 2009): Osman Hummaida, Monim Elgak and Amir Suliman, three leading Sudanese human rights defenders, have submitted a communication to the 46th Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) calling for the reform of Sudan’s National Security Act in order to ensure its compatibility with the Sudanese Constitution and Sudan’s international and regional human rights obligations. In the communication the defenders also called for redress for their detention, interrogation and torture by the National Internal Security Service (NISS) in Sudan in November 2008. Lodged at the seat of the African Commission almost one year after the incident, the application describes how the NISS arbitrarily arrested and detained the three applicants, denied them custodial safeguard and subjected them to torture and ill-treatment in violation of articles 1, 5, 6 and 7 of the African Charter. During their interrogations and torture the applicants were questioned about their work on human rights and the pursuit of justice and accountability in Sudan, in particular their support for the International Criminal Court( ICC). The arrest of three human rights defenders marked the beginning of a renewed crackdown on independent civil society and the human rights movement in Sudan, exemplified by the suspension of three leading national human rights organizations in March 2009. Since then many human rights activists have been harassed, arrested, charged with state security offences, tortured and their families and friends intimidated. Many have fled into exile. “Human rights activists continue to suffer arbitrary arrest, incommunicado detention and torture in Sudan because of their work to uphold the rule of law and the principles of the African Charter. Darfurian civil society activists and students are bearing the brunt of the repression. Given that the African Commission has just completed a human rights promotional visit to Sudan we hope that it will be willing to give the situation the attention it requires”, said Hassan Shire, Executive Director of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP). Speaking from Banjul, Mohamed Badawi, a Sudanese human rights defender in exile said: “The NISS and the National Security Act which guides its operation continue to be tools of injustice and oppression, used in particular against civic and political rights activists. It is time to end the state of fear deployed by NISS after the arrest and torture of three applicants. This case is a case on behalf of all the independent civil society and human rights movement in Sudan.” "Reforming the Sudanese National Security Act, the law pursuant to which the three applicants were arrested and held without charge, is urgent ”, said Hassan Shire. “The Security Services should no longer be given policing powers of arrest and detention because of the risk of abuse as highlighted in a recent report by the Project for Criminal Law Reform in Sudan ‘Security for All-Reforming Sudan’s National Security Law.’ " “Such a reform is not only key to the enhanced protection of human rights and the strengthening of the rule of law. It is also an essential prerequisite for democratic and peaceful elections, popular consultation and referendum in Sudan”, said Mohamed Badawi.

This statement echoes Human Rights Watch's call last week for Sudanese lawmakers to "curtail broad arrest and detention powers" and "strip immunity" for national security personnel in the new National Security Act.

Twitter Tweet Test

Allen Combs — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:17:28 +0000

follow me on Twitter

marissa.glauberman — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:57:18 +0000

Originally Posted at Religious Action Center (RAC) I've written before on this blog that it is somewhat understandable that the Obama Administration is trying not to rock the boat with the Sudanese government in attempt to assure that the January 2011 independence referendum, in which the government of South Sudan is widely expected to vote for secession, will go off without violence. Understandable, mind you, but not an excuse to not engage with them on Darfur. A little more than a week ago, New York Times op-ed columnist Nick Kristof wrote a blog post entitled, Has Obama Forgotten Darfur?, that takes the argument a little further. "I think the U.S. and Britain and other countries have bought into the argument that they need to focus on avoiding war in southern Sudan," he writes, "and that means putting Darfur aside." However, he continues, "the problem is that Darfur and southern Sudan are related problems, and ignoring Darfur doesn't diminish the risks in southern Sudan. On the contrary, it increases them." Kristof does a great job making the complex political situation in Sudan easy to understand, and for anybody who is interested in the fate of the millions of people who are still unable to return home, it's a must-read. The sticking point in the conflict is that four fifths of Sudan's oil is in the South, and, as Kristof notes, "There's a very significant chance that the north will foment insecurity and tribal wars in the south so that it can continue to hold on to key oil wells and keep that revenue. The result may well be another major war -- and the last one claimed 2 million lives."

Indeed, after a period of relative calm, violence has started to pick up again. As the BBC reported earlier this month, "about 600 people died in fighting in Darfur last month, the highest monthly toll since UN and African Union peacekeepers were deployed in 2008." The time to make Darfur a priority is now: tell your Members of Congress that you care about making it so at the RAC's Legislative Action Center.

David Goodman is an Eisendrath Legislative Assistance at the Center. He is a graduate of Trinity College.

Senate Passes Resolution Condemning Qaddafi

amenon — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

On Tuesday, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.) that calls for the resignation of Muammar el- Qaddafi and for the U.N. to impose a no- fly zone over Libya. The resolution condemned the systematic abuse of human rights by the Qaddafi regime, as well as violent attacks on the protesters that have been authorized by Qaddafi and his sons. The resolution further demanded that Qaddafi refrain from further violence, and immediately release all protesters, journalists and human rights defenders that are currently being detained. It welcomed steps taken by the international community in support of peace and the protesters, including the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) referring the situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the ‘African Union's condemnation of the "disproportionate use of force in Libya"’ and urged the members of the AU, and particularly the border states ‘are in full compliance with the arms embargo imposed by United Nations Security Council resolution 1970, including the ban on the provision of armed mercenary personnel.’ At a press release found on his website, Sen. Menendez said “Today, we stand with the Libyan people today as they demand the right to choose their own government and to live in a state that respects and guarantees basic human and civil rights. Qaddafi must go.” Ahead of the vote, Sen. Coons of Delaware is quoted as saying “"I am deeply concerned about the human rights abuses being perpetrated against the Libyan people by Qadaffi and the possibility of a humanitarian disaster as he desperately struggles to hang on to his despotic regime.”

Introducing Team Darfur

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:51:21 +0000

The buzz is building for this summer's Olympics. There are many records set to be broken and many athletes will establish themselves as the future of their respective sports. However, some athletes have another thought in the back of their minds - the suffering men, women, and children in Darfur. Most of those athletes have joined with Team Darfur to raise awareness about Darfur and to encourage China, the Olympic host, and all nations of the world to take responsible actions to alleviate the suffering of so many Darfurians. Team Darfur is an international coalition of athletes committed to raising awareness about and bringing an end to the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. Team Darfur was co-founded by Olympic gold medalist speed skater Joey Cheek and UCLA water polo player Brad Greiner. Joey represented the United States as a member of the men's Speed skating team at the 2006 Turin Olympics. After winning gold in the 500m race and silver in the 1000m, he donated the $40,000 in medal bonuses awarded to him to Right To Play, an international aid organization focused on bringing the benefits of sport and play to the most disadvantaged children in the world. Joey's donation inspired his sponsors and other athletes to collectively donate over one million dollars to children in Darfur. This act of generosity also helped get the still little known conflict in Darfur into the news. After seeing the impact of his action Joey wanted to encourage other athletes to use their time in the spotlight to raise awareness about one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Team Darfur now has over 380 athletes representing 63 countries from around the world, and the numbers continue to grow. Team Darfur athletes have shown their support for the people of Darfur by wearing Team Darfur gear, expressing their concerns to the media, participating in awareness-raising events, and recruiting their fellow athletes and competitors to join the movement. Many well-known athletes have joined the cause including Philip Dunn, an Olympic racewalker, who will be competing in his third straight Olympic Games for the United States. Doug Lennox II, an Olympic swimmer from Puerto Rico, has also served as an active voice for Darfur. Both athletes have signed the open letter that asks the international community to call for an Olympic Truce for Darfur. Lennox recently spoke at a symbolic torch relay for Darfur in Montclair, NJ. He walked alongside Darfuri refugees, politicians, a Special Olympics gold medalist and over 1,000 members of the Montclair community in solidarity with the people of Darfur. Team Darfur is a very important organization to him. "I joined Team Darfur because I believe in the idea of paying it forward," he said. "I realized that after achieving my Olympic dreams that I have been bestowed even greater opportunities than a new level of athletic competition. In learning more about Darfur, I have become much more aware of the atrocities occurring in other parts of the world to which I had no previous exposure." Philip Dunn strongly believes in speaking out about wrongdoings in the world. "One of the things that I have found frustrating as an Olympic athlete is the USOC's desire to create apolitical ambassadors of sport: mute, smiling, sports robots. When athletes have the rare opportunity to be heard on important social, economic or political issues, we should be given a voice to speak loudly and clearly. Thank you, Team Darfur, for creating an outlet for our expression of discontent with human rights violations in Darfur and around the world." Dunn has spoken to the press on these issues while wearing his Team Darfur T-shirt. To date, athletes have participated in press conferences on Capitol Hill and at the Chinese Mission to the UN, met with members of Congress and members of the International Olympic Committee, and testified before the Senate. Team Darfur athletes were also instrumental in reversing a trend practiced by Olympic Committees in which they attempted to gag their athletes on human rights issues. The United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Belgium all made early attempts to ban political speech by athletes at the Olympics. This news quickly made its way to the press who were anxious to speak with Team Darfur athletes. The attention given to this issue has led both the UK and New Zealand to weaken or reverse their ban on athletes' right to free speech. Team Darfur athletes are now working to enact an Olympic Truce in Darfur by calling upon the UN Security Council, with China in the lead, to implement the Olympic Truce for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In just a few short weeks, over 60 Team Darfur athletes will be competing in Beijing. We hope you'll join us in cheering on their efforts in their sports, and their efforts for the people of Darfur. You can show your support by wearing a Team Darfur tshirt or sweatband during the games, and by following Team Darfur's athletes at www.TeamDarfur.org. Photos from top: Joey Cheek and Daoud Hari delivering signatures to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC; Doug Lennox at a symbolic torch relay in Montclair, NJ; Team Darfur athletes showing their support for the team headed to Beijing.

Darfur and the ICC in the Arab Media

Sarosh — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:08:16 +0000

Journalist Diana Mukkaled wrote an interesting piece last weekend in the Arabic Daily, Asharq Alawsat, about ICC prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo's charges of genocide against Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir. She suggests that many in the Arab media have been too quick to condemn the charges, saying:

Confronting the indictment must be preceded by proving the injustice that surrounds it. But for sovereignty to precede justice, this is a violation of the rights of those groups and victims, estimated at tens of thousands, as they remain in their [refugee] camps with no real indications of when their ordeal will be dealt with.

For the record, there is one factual inaccuracy in the article, where Mukkaled says,

Al Bashir is the third president that the International Criminal Court has filed accusations of this kind against after Liberian President Charles Taylor and former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

This is actually the first time the ICC has sought an arrest warrant for a sitting head of state. Charles Taylor was indicted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone and Slobodan Milosevic was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Both men were indicted by special courts set up specifically for Sierra Leone and the former Yugoslavia, not to be confused with the permanent International Criminal Court. (The ICC didn't come into force until 2002 -- three years after Milosevic was indicted.)

Trail of Delays

reidrector — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:30:04 +0000

In the last two weeks, 8 peacekeepers have been killed in Darfur. Commenting on the loss of 5 Rwandan soldiers, Rwanda Defense Force spokesman Jill Rutaremara said:

I imagine if UNAMID had better equipment, for instance, if they had attack helicopters, if they had surveillance aircraft and other logistical support, and if their number was 26,000, as it was planned, I'm sure the situation would not be the same on the ground.

These comments underscore the relationship between the unacceptably slow deployment of UNAMID, and the dangerous situation on the ground in Darfur today. UNAMID was supposed to add 17,000 additional troops to the 9,000 AMIS troops already on the ground. To date, less than 1,000 troops—or less than 6% of the total—have actually been added But what is the story behind this unacceptably slow deployment? A review of published UN reports shows an embarrassingly inadequate effort so far:

According to the most recent UN report, “the only deployment to be completed since the transfer of authority (from AMIS to UNAMID) has been the Egyptian Signals Company, which deployed in May 2008.”
Since that report, a Chinese engineering unit composed of 315 individuals has also deployed after months of waiting for their equipment to arrive in Darfur. The Chinese Engineering Company’s equipment was originally scheduled to arrive in Nyala by the end of December 2007. The deadline was pushed back to April, and the equipment finally arrived just before the July 7 Secretary General’s Report.
The Egyptian Engineering Company’s deployment was delayed 4 times from mid-February to July 2008 and is now delayed indefinitely until damaged equipment is repaired.
The Egyptian Transport Unit was delayed 5 times from mid-February to late August 2008, and the Bangladeshi Logistics Company was also delayed to August. The original deadline was late March 2008.
The first Ethiopian battalion – approximately 800 troops originally scheduled to be fully deployed by 15 May 2008 –is now slated for deployment “before October.”

This is simply unacceptable. The people of Darfur desperately need a comprehensive and rapid deployment. Although UNAMID provides the framework for an appropriate response, a robust mandate is not enough. UNAMID needs supplies, equipment, police, hospitals, and military support now - not tomorrow, if it is to satisfactorily fulfill its mandate. Both the UN and the Government of Sudan bear responsibility for these delays. UNAMID needs political support from UN member states to overcome hurdles erected by the Government of Sudan. Once this support is granted, change will come at a more rapid pace; deadlines will come closer to being met; lives will be saved; and Darfur will move one step closer to peace.

UNAMID Deployment Deadlines and Delays by Unit

(All quotes taken from Secretary General’s Reports on UNAMID) Chinese

Engineering company
- Dec. 24, 2007:
  - “…equipment is expected to arrive by the end of Dec. The cargo readiness date for the main body of the unit has yet to be provided, and the unit’s full deployment is expected by the end of Mar. 2008.”
- Feb. 14, 2008:
  - “…(equipment) is currently being loaded and shipped”
- Mar. 25, 2008:
  - “The unit’s main body…is scheduled to completely its deployment to Nyala by 5 Apr.”
- Apr. 14, 2008:
  - “The main body of the Chinese engineer company and its equipment are expected to arrive in Darfur in Apr.”
- May 9, 2008:
  - “While the advance party…has been on the ground for several months, the main body of the unit can deploy only once the movement of its equipment from Port Sudan to Darfur is completed. Some 75% of the equipment is now en route to Darfur, but 25% remains in Port Sudan.”
- July 7, 2008:
  - “Sufficient contingent-owned equipment…has now arrived at the Nyala supercamp for the advance party to build the main body’s accommodation, and the main body is expected to arrive in July.”

Egyptian

Engineering company
- Dec. 24, 2007:
  - “…will deploy by mid-Feb. 2008”
- Feb. 14, 2008:
  - “…(equipment) is currently being loaded and shipped”
- Mar. 25, 2008:
  - “…scheduled to arrive in El Geneina on 24 Mar.”
- Apr. 14, 2008:
  - “…started deploying in Mar. with the arrival of (its) equipment. While a portion of the equipment has arrived in Darfur, much of it has yet to leave Port Sudan. The personnel…are expected to arrive in Apr. 2008.”
- May 9, 2008:
  - “…the equipment…which is currently in transit will arrive in El Fasher in the coming weeks.”
- June 17, 2008:
  - “The majority of the equipment…is also in transit to El Fasher.”
  - “…the deployment of the advance parties…originally anticipated for June, is likely to be delayed until July.”
- July 7, 2008:
  - “As of 15 June, a large portion of the contingent-owned equipment…had arrived in El Fasher, where the Company is due to deploy in July. Much of the equipment was damaged en route to El Fasher, however, and the deployment date of the company will depend upon the ability of the maintenance party to repair it quickly.”
Medium transport unit
- Dec. 24, 2007:
  - “…will deploy by mid-Feb. 2008”
- Feb. 14, 2008:
  - “…(equipment) is currently being loaded and shipped”
- Mar. 25, 2008:
  - “…scheduled to arrive in Nyala on 16 Mar.”
- Apr. 14, 2008:
  - “…started deploying in Mar. with the arrival of (its) equipment. While a portion of the equipment has arrived in Darfur, much of it has yet to leave Port Sudan. The personnel…are expected to arrive in Apr. 2008.”
- May 9, 2008:
  - “The movement by road of the equipment…from Port Sudan to Nyala has yet to commence…”
- June 17, 2008:
  - “…the equipment…arrived in Port Sudan on 31 Jan. 2008, but only 15% of it had arrived in Nyala as at 29 May.”
  - “…the deployment of the advance parties…originally anticipated for June, is likely to be delayed until July.”
- July 7, 2008:
  - “Owing to delays in the transportation of contingent-owned equipment…units are not expected to arrive in Nyala until late Aug.”
Signals company
- Dec. 24, 2007:
  - “…will deploy by mid-Feb. 2008”
- Feb. 14, 2008:
  - “…(equipment) is currently being loaded and shipped”
- Apr. 14, 2008:
  - “…started deploying in Mar. with the arrival of (its) equipment. While a portion of the equipment has arrived in Darfur, much of it has yet to leave Port Sudan. The personnel…are expected to arrive in Apr. 2008.”
- July 7, 2008:
  - “As a result of related delays, the only deployment to be completed since the transfer of authority has been the Egyptian Signals Company, which deployed in May 2008.”
Battalion
- Mar. 25, 2008:
  - “…the Egyptian battalion is expected to deploy its lead company group to Nyala on 19 Mar., the remainder of the battalion completing its deployment on 15 Apr.”
- Apr. 14, 2008:
  - “The advance-party personnel…is expected to arrive in Apr., and the main body in May 2008.”
- May 9, 2008:
  - “The equipment of the advance party…was flown into Darfur on 15 Mar. and is en route to its base in Northern Darfur.”
- June 17, 2008:
  - “Pending the completion of the camp construction, UNAMID plans to airlift the equipment from El Obeid and deploy the advance party…by early July.”
- July 7, 2008:
  - “The advance party…is expected to deploy by the end of July…”
Formed police units
- June 17, 2008:
  - “…it is expected that…Egypt will finalize deployment preparations in the coming weeks, with a view to deploying (its) formed police units to…Greida (Southern Darfur)…”

Bangladeshi

Logistics company
- Dec. 24, 2007:
  - “…deploy by the end of Mar. 2008”
- Feb. 14, 2008:
  - “…(equipment) is currently being loaded and shipped”
- Apr. 14, 2008:
  - “The equipment and vehicles…arrived in the Sudan and are expected to reach Nyala…in Apr., with (its) personnel following in May 2008.”
- June 17, 2008:
  - “…only 14% of the equipment…which arrived in Port Sudan on 21 Feb., was in Nyala at time of drafting.”
  - “…the deployment of the advance parties…originally anticipated for June, is likely to be delayed until July.”
- July 7, 2008:
  - “Owing to delays in the transportation of contingent-owned equipment…units are not expected to arrive in Nyala until late Aug.”
Police unit
- Feb. 14, 2008:
  - “Currently only the unit from Bangladesh is in the mission area, although the seven-week delay…prevented the Bangladeshi unit from becoming operational before the end of Jan. 2008.”

Pakistani

Engineers company
- Dec. 24, 2007:
  - “…deploy by the end of Mar. 2008”
Level III hospital
- Dec. 24, 2007:
  - “…deploy by the end of Mar. 2008”
Aerial reconnaissance unit
- Dec. 24, 2007:
  - “…deploy by the end of Mar. 2008”

Nigerian

Level II hospital
- Dec. 24, 2007:
  - “…deploy by the end of Mar. 2008”
- Feb. 14, 2008:
  - “…(equipment) is currently being loaded and shipped”
- Mar. 25, 2008:
  - “…scheduled to arrive in El Geneina on 5 Apr.”
- Apr. 14, 2008:
  - “The equipment and vehicles…arrived in the Sudan and are expected to reach…El Geneina…in Apr., with (its) personnel following in May 2008.”
Formed police units
- June 17, 2008:
  - “…it is expected that Nigeria…will finalize deployment preparations in the coming weeks, with a view to deploying (its) formed police units to El Geneina…”

Nepalese

Police officers and police units
- Dec. 24, 2007:
  - “…by Feb. 2008”
- Mar. 25, 2008:
  - “…major equipment arrived in Port Sudan on 18 Feb.”
- Apr. 14, 2008:
  - “The equipment of the Nepalese formed police unit arrived in Port Sudan on 18 Feb, and the unit’s main body will deploy once the equipment arrives in Nyala. It is estimated that the five formed police units will be deployed in Darfur by the end of July 2008.”
- May 9, 2008:
  - “The equipment…which arrived in Port Sudan on 18 Feb. is still in transit to Nyala.”
- June 17, 2008:
  - “The equipment…arrived in Port Sudan on 18 Feb., but only 11% of the equipment had arrived in Nyala as at 25 May.”
- July 7, 2008:
  - “The contingent-owned equipment…has arrived at Port Sudan and the main bodies are expected to deploy by Aug. provided the equipment is transported in time…

Ethiopian

Battalion
- Mar. 25, 2008:
  - “The Ethiopian battalion’s lead company group is scheduled to arrive in El Fasher on 7 Apr. The remainder of the battalion will complete its deployment of 15 May.”
- Apr. 14, 2008:
  - “The equipment and personnel of the advance party…is expected to be flown into El Fasher in Apr. It is anticipated that the main body’s equipment will arrive in the Sudan in Apr. and in Darfur in early May, with the personnel arriving in May 2008.”
- May 9, 2008:
  - “The movement of the equipment of the advance party…began on 2 Apr. and the equipment is expected to arrive in Darfur by mid-May. The advance party…will deploy in May, and the main body is due to begin to deploy in June.”
- June 17, 2008:
  - “The equipment of the advance party…is en route from El Fasher to Kulbus (Western Darfur).”
- July 7, 2008:
  - “The advance party…is expected to move forward in July. The Operation is also using all means possible to accelerate the movement of the…equipment to Kulbus in order to permit the deployment of the main body before Oct. 2008.”
Transport company
- July 7, 2008:
  - “The final contingent-owned equipment…arrived in Port Sudan in late Apr.; however, 72% of the contingent-owned equipment is still in Port Sudan awaiting movement into the mission area.”
Logistics company
- July 7, 2008:
  - “The final contingent-owned equipment…arrived in Port Sudan in late Apr.; however, 72% of the contingent-owned equipment is still in Port Sudan awaiting movement into the mission area.”

Indonesian

Formed police unit
- May 9, 2008:
  - “The equipment…arrived in Port Sudan on 25 Apr. but has not yet been released from Customs.”
- June 17, 2008:
  - “The equipment…arrived in Port Sudan on 25 Apr. and has been cleared by the Sudanese customs authorities. However, the Indonesian equipment has not left for Zam Zam (Northern Darfur), owing to a breach of contract by the local companies contracted to move the equipment.”
- July 7, 2008:
  - “The contingent-owned equipment…has arrived at Port Sudan and the main bodies are expected to deploy by Aug. provided the equipment is transported in time and the land required…is provided.”

Sudanese

Land
- Mar. 25, 2008:
  - “The Government has still not provided UNAMID with the land it requires in El Geneina, Western Darfur.”
- Apr. 14, 2008:
  - “…(UNAMID) has been provided land in El Geneina…however, to date the mission still has not received land in Seleia…”
- June 17, 2008:
  - “…the land required to expand the Kulbus camp has not yet been appropriated by the Government. UNAMID has requested the Government to allocate land in Kulbus and all other locations.”
  - “Land for new camps must also be obtained and prepared in Korma, Seleia, Buram, Habila and Um Dukhum. In its request of 9 May, UNAMID sent the Government a comprehensive list of the land required in a total of 35 locations; a formal response has not yet been received.”

GI-NET Interview with Luis Moreno-Ocampo

Sarosh — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:11:47 +0000

Our partner organization, GI-NET, recently recorded the following interview with Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

How Much Longer Must They Wait?

Sarosh — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:38:04 +0000

As the one-year anniversary of the authorization of UNAMID approaches, we are constantly reminded of the world's failure to protect the people of Darfur. The Darfur Consortium released a report today that provides a view of Darfur from the ground, the miserable conditions that Darfuri civilians are enduring, and the inability of a long-delayed and ill-equipped peacekeeping force to protect them. The report focuses on the failure of the world to deploy or equip peacekeepers for Darfur. In the year since the U.N. Security Council authorized UNAMID, the force has not even reached half its intended numbers. And the troops that are in Darfur have none of the equipment they need to be successful. The report points out one particularly telling example of the world's failure: Some troops have to wear blue plastic bags on their heads to identify themselves as UNAMID troops because they have no blue helmets. Are all the mighty nations of the world so helpless that they can't even give the troops helmets? This is simply inacceptable. Click here to download the report and please click here to urge the U.N. Security Council that it cannot continue to drag its feet. The Security Council promised protection. It must deliver. Not tomorrow, not in a month, but now.

UNAMID Chief Welcomes Darfur Consortium Report

Sarosh — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:07:44 +0000

Yesterday, I wrote about a Darfur Consortium report that illustrates the effects of the international community's inadequate efforts to deploy UNAMID, the A.U.-U.N. peacekeeping force for Darfur. The report received a high-level endorsement today. Rodolphe Adada, the Joint A.U.-U.N. Special Representative for Darfur, expressed his appreciation for the Consortium's effort to produce the report. Adada, a former Congolese foreign minister, was appointed to his role in May 2007 and has dealt first-hand with the world's sluggish response to the atrocities in Darfur. A press statement issued by his office today said:

[Mr. Adada] concurred with the report on its major findings, especially the critical shortages UNAMID continues to face in the area of troops, personnel, equipment and logistics. He thanked the Consortium for adding its voice to that of UNAMID’s leadership in urging the international community to live up to its commitments and facilitate the Mission to implement its mandate.

Please add your voice to those of Mr. Adada and the Darfur Consortium: Click here to urge the U.N. Security Council to provide UNAMID the resources it needs to be successful.

Peacekeeping on the Cheap?

reidrector — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:03:05 +0000

Salim Salim, the former chief mediator for the African Union in Darfur, published an op-ed in the International Herald Tribune yesterday strongly criticizing the international community for failure to support UNAMID:

If the international community is serious about fulfilling its responsibility to protect civilians in Darfur, it can start by providing the basics that Unamid urgently needs. Such support could have saved some of those peacekeepers who died this month gallantly trying to protect civilians. The least we can do in their memory is to make sure that no more civilians or peacekeepers perish because of resource constraints.

Salim Salim spent the last 18 months trying to reinvigorate the stalled peace process and believes that only a peace process can ultimately solve the conflict in Darfur. But he also argues convincingly that UNAMID can be an effective building block towards peace in Darfur.

A properly equipped Unamid could protect civilians in key areas and help to bring some measure of stability to the region, thus making the atmosphere more conducive to dialogue. But it can only do so if the peacekeepers receive adequate resources.

It is absurd that a peacekeeping force sent to protect millions of civilians does not have the necessary trucks, helicopters, and other resources to do their job effectively. Salim Salim’s op-ed is yet another call for these resources, but now we need our elected leaders to take action. Please click here to urge the U.N. Security Council to immediately deploy peacekeepers and provide them with the resources they need to be successful.

Keeping the Promise to Darfur

jmoreland — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:16:14 +0000

A year ago today, people around the world gained hope that change was coming to Darfur. After four years of killings, rape, and destroyed villages, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to deploy a joint UN-African Union peacekeeping force, known as UNAMID, to protect the people of Darfur. One year has passed, and the world community has failed to deliver the basic support the mission needs to succeed. One key gap in the force's capability is its lack of helicopters, which can enable the force to operate effectively and react quickly. The force is seeking a mere 18 transport helicopters, but so far, no country has stepped forward to provide even one. A new report compiled by an aviation expert titled "Grounded: The International Community's Betrayal of UNAMID," presents data on which countries have suitable helicopters and the number available for deployment to Darfur. Read the report and an AP article covering this issue to learn more. Click here to urge the Permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to fulfill their promise to the people of Darfur.

Helicopter in NYC Sends Message to World Leaders

jmoreland — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:47:52 +0000

Passers-by didn't know what was happening. A helicopter was parked in the middle of the street, one block away from the United Nations headquarters in New York City. What seemed like a wrong turn was actually a direct message to world leaders. As the U.N. Security Council debated its hybrid peacekeeping mission to Darfur, activists brought this helicopter one block away to deliver a strong message to the world's leading nations: "Fulfill your promise to Darfur."

Jerry Fowler, Save Darfur Coalition president, holds a petition to the U.N. Security Council with more than 55,000 signatures urging world leaders to "fulfill their promise to Darfur." Behind Fowler is a helicopter -- a symbol of the world's failure to supply critical helicopters and equipment so desperately needed by the UNAMID peacekeeping mission.

The helicopter event coincided with a new report, endorsed by 36 human rights groups and non-governmental organizations around the world, which highlights the key nations capable of supplying helicopters so critically needed for the Darfur peacekeeping mission. According to the report, many air assets that could prove useful to the mission are collecting dust in hangars or performing in air shows around the world. In addition to the helicopter, Save Darfur Coalition president Jerry Fowler delivered petitions, signed by more than 50,000 activists, urging the U.N. Security Council permanent five members to match their words on Darfur with meaningful action.

Jerry Fowler, Save Darfur Coalition president, looks on as Darfur native and Coalition board member, Dr. Mahmoud Braima, speaks about the crisis in Darfur.

Thomas Withington, author of the helicopter report and an international aviation expert, said peacekeepers in Darfur continue to be at risk, because the proper airlift assets have not been provided. He said the lack of adequate helicopters lowers survival rates from injuries and diminishes the peacekeepers' agility in responding to urgent crises throughout the western region of Sudan. Dr. Mahmoud Braima, Coalition board member and Darfur native, said the lack of helicopters has real-life implications for not only the peacekeepers, but also the civilians who continue to suffer violence.

Standing before the helicopter are (l. to r.) Dr. Braima, Thomas Withington, report author and aviation expert, and Jerry Fowler.

U.N. officials weren't the only ones who took notice. Passing pedestrians took pictures in front of the aircraft. One woman, out on her lunch break, just shook her head. "A tragedy," she said. "They just keep issuing memos and passing resolutions. When will they do something?" When, indeed.

Principled U.S. Abstention on Darfur Peacekeeping Vote

jerry — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:12:39 +0000

We commend the U.S. government's principled decision to abstain from a Security Council vote which unconscionably linked the reauthorization of the UNAMID civilian protection mission to possible legal protection for the architect of the Darfur genocide. The resolution was tainted by unnecessary language aimed at diminishing the role of justice and accountability in this conflict – and which ultimately could accord impunity to a government apparatus accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Leading nations must not blithely bargain away the ICC investigation. Now that the UNAMID force has been reauthorized, the members of the Security Council must show real courage, leadership and sacrifice in obtaining and supplying the necessary equipment and support for this mission to succeed. The resolution to reauthorize UNAMID won't be worth the paper it's printed on if the peacekeepers on the ground don't have the personnel, equipment and political support to complete their mission. Leading nations can begin by supplying the helicopters needed for the force.

Lopez Lomong of Team Darfur Named August's Darfur Hero

jcheek — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:05:53 +0000

My name is Joey Cheek and I am the president and co-founder of Team Darfur. Team Darfur is an international coalition of athletes committed to raising awareness about and bringing an end to the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. I am so pleased and grateful that the Save Darfur Coalition is honoring one of Team Darfur's most inspiring members, Lopez Lomong. Lopez will compete for the U.S. Olympic team in Beijing this summer. As a Sudanese refugee, Lopez provides a unique perspective on the crisis in Darfur and frequently speaks out about the need to raise awareness about the genocide because "a lot of people here don't know what was going on in Sudan and I need to send a message as an athlete from Sudan." Lopez speaks from experience about what it is like to be separated from home and family. At age 6, he was abducted from a Sudanese church by a militia faction that wanted to turn young boys into child soldiers. He eventually escaped the militia camp through a hole in a fence with three older boys who carried them on their backs as they walked for three days until they reached Kenya, where police arrested them and sent them to a refugee camp. He spent 10 years in the camp, living on one meal a day. Lopez learned of a program that sought to relocate 3,500 refugees to the U.S. After an interview with a U.S. embassy official, Lopez resettled with a family in New York and attended Northern Arizona University where he began to pursue his Olympic dreams. Now a member of the U.S. Olympic team, Lopez realizes his unique opportunity as an elite athlete to spread awareness about the crisis in Darfur. "As athletes, we need to send the message to the government not to kill or bomb and to China to stop because those guns are not to defend the country, but to kill innocent people. This is the 21st century. We don't want kids growing up in refugee camps like I did.” Lopez's journey from imprisoned child soldier to Sudanese refugee to member of the U.S. Olympic team has inspired his fellow U.S. Olympic teammates. Philip Dunn, a U.S. Olympic racewalker, told me that "Lopez Lomong represents so many wonderful aspects of the Olympic movement: youth, talent, and an ability to overcome amazing obstacles in life with poise and determination. The movement to bring awareness to Sudanese suffering is well served by someone who has lived through it. As a fellow U.S. Olympic team member, I know I will be more inspired by his life experiences." Lopez hopes his story will also be an inspiration for Sudanese children. "I’m worried about the kids who are dying in Darfur and South Sudan. The kids don’t have the dream they could be Olympic athletes or doctors. I want those kids to reach what their dreams are. It's not just what's going on between the Chinese government and the Sudanese. It's what's going on with the people. We hope those kids can pursue what their dreams are." Lopez would like to take his message to the medal podium: "I would hold an American flag and a Sudan flag. It would be a way to say, ‘Here was a victim who had to run away, and look where he is now.’" Of the more than 2 million people driven from their homes in Darfur, at least one or two could be Olympians. Lopez is clearly proof of that, and I hope that when you read his story and the many challenges he has faced, you are as proud as I am that he will represent us in the Olympics.

Joey Cheek Denied Entry to China

Sarosh — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:00:40 +0000

Joey Cheek, 2006 Olympic gold medalist and co-founder of Team Darfur, has been denied entry to China for the 2008 Olympic Games. Joey, who has also contributed to this blog, had been granted an entry visa to attend the games and support Team Darfur, an international coalition of Olympic athletes helping to raise awareness about the Darfur genocide. Last night, however, the Chinese government revoked the visa. According to the Washington Post (registration required):

A Chinese official informed Cheek that it was not necessary to give a reason for revoking his visa less than 24 hours before he was scheduled to fly from Washington to Beijing.

In a statement published on the LA Times web site, Cheek said:

I am saddened not to be able to attend the Games. The Olympic Games represent something powerful: that people can come together from around the world and do things that no one thought were possible. However, the denial of my visa is a part of a systemic effort by the Chinese government to coerce and threaten athletes who are speaking out on behalf of the innocent people of Darfur.

When Will China Stop Supporting Genocide?

Robert — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:38:30 +0000

Posted on behalf of Congressman Jim McGovern (MA), Co-Chair of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. As millions of people around the world get ready to tune in and watch the Olympics in Beijing, they are probably unaware that their TVs likely share a common trait with the weapons used to kill up to 400,000 people in Darfur: they bear the stamp “Made in China.” By some estimates, Sudan buys 90 percent of its small arms from China, as well as big ticket items such as A5 Fantan ground-attack fighter jets. Despite an existing UN Security Council arms embargo for Darfur, China and Sudan are working together to exploit a loophole to keep the arms flowing. Specifically, China argues that it sells weapons to the Sudanese regime in Khartoum, and that it cannot be held responsible if Sudan then sends those weapons on to Darfur in violation of the embargo. For its part, Sudan doesn’t much care if it violates yet another Security Council resolution, so long as it continues to receive the arms it needs to fuel its genocidal campaign in Darfur, as the BBC and others have recently documented. Despite this recent evidence, China has been unwilling to demand that the Sudanese government abide by the Security Council mandated arms embargo, and instead continues to turn a blind eye to these violations and cash Sudan’s checks. Fifty-three of my colleagues and I recently sent President Bush a letter asking him to urge the Chinese to end their arms sales while he attends the Olympics in Beijing, and to seek a United Nations Security Council Resolution expanding the Darfur arms embargo to include all sales to the al-Bashir regime, thus closing the arms embargo loophole. China may well veto such a resolution, but their political and military support for the genocidal government of Sudan would be laid bare for the world to see. China’s continued arms sales may, in fact, put them in violation of their international obligations under the Genocide Convention to prevent genocide. At a minimum, China’s weapons transfers to Sudan are helping to fuel the conflict. Given China’s continued intransigence and Sudan’s continued flagrant violations of Security Council resolutions, the only way to stop the flow of Chinese arms to Darfur is to impose an arms embargo which stretches past the borders of Darfur and bars all weapons sales to the murderous regime of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

Lopez Lomong named U.S. flag bearer for Opening Ceremonies

Ashley — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:19:26 +0000

Just one day after Save Darfur named Lopez Lomong its August Darfur Hero and Olympic gold medalist Joey Cheek's visa was revoked by China, U.S. Olympic team captains selected Lopez as the flag bearer for the Opening Ceremonies. Lomong - who spent 10 years in a refugee camp in Kenya after fleeing South Sudan - will compete in the 1500 meter run and gained U.S. citizenship just 13 months ago. In a statement published in an LA Times column by Helene Elliott, Lomong said:

"The American flag means everything in my life -- everything that describes me, coming from another country and going through all of the stages that I have to become a U.S. citizen. This is another amazing step for me in celebrating being an American. Seeing my fellow Americans coming behind me [in the opening ceremony] and supporting me will be a great honor -- the highest honor. It's just a happy day. I don't even have the words to describe how happy I am."

More coverage can be found on Bloomberg.com and the front page of the LA Times.

Join Mia Farrow for the Darfur Olympics

Sarosh — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:13:54 +0000

Please see the note below from Mia Farrow:

Dear Friends, I am currently visiting the Darfur region for the tenth time since 2004. On this trip, I will once again listen to people tell me their stories and again they will plead for protection. Yet again I will promise them that I will tell the world what has happened to them. This week, you can hear their stories -- on the "Darfur Olympics," my daily webcast August 8 to 15 from a refugee camp. Sign up to watch my reporting by clicking here -- we will even deliver each day's broadcast directly to your inbox. China continues to refuse to use its unique influence with Sudan and its role as Olympic host to persuade the Sudanese government to stop their attacks upon civilians and to allow the full deployment of peacekeepers. You can show your solidarity with the people of Darfur. Watch my daily webcasts during the first week of the Olympic Games in Beijing. Sign-up now and we'll send you each day's broadcast. You can listen to my first report from the region -- it was on NPR. Best, Mia Farrow

Samantha Power's CUBE Portrait

Sarosh — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:00:10 +0000

Samantha Power, award-winning journalist, anti-genocide advocate and Harvard University professor, recently participated in Esquire magazine's "Portrait of the 21st Century." The project, a creation of sculptor and new-media artist Lincoln Schatz is "an evolving video portrait of the most influential people of the coming decades." Below is Samantha Power's video portrait

Jerry Fowler Reports From Tanzania

Sarosh — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:56:25 +0000

Jerry Fowler, president of the Save Darfur Coalition, recently returned from Tanzania where he attended a workshop on re-energizing the Darfur peace process. He recorded the following video at the conference: Stay tuned for more reports from the conference and to hear from Darfuri civil society leaders.

Click here to support the Save Darfur Coalition today >>

Reports indicate attack by government forces on Kalma camp

Ashley — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:40:41 +0000

Just days after announcing at a press conference in Istanbul that Sudan was beginning to undertake new efforts to bring peace to Darfur - including holding talks with opposition groups - there are news reports that government forces killed at least 27 in an attack on Kalma camp in Nyala, South Darfur. The camp is home to 80,000 internally displaced persons - the largest in Darfur. The United Nations reported during their noon briefing today that they are "gravely concerned" about the reports of the attack, and UNAMID has sent police and military patrols to the camp to investigate the attack.

The Olympics - a view from Team Darfur

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:51:14 +0000

Nearly 70 members of Team Darfur competed in the recently completed 2008 Olympic Games. Team Darfur members won 17 medals and competed honorably on the field. While International Olympic Committee rules prevented them from making open statements about their support for the people of Darfur, Team Darfur athletes in Beijing and at home did what they could to ensure Darfur was a part of the 2008 Olympic dream. Team Darfur runner Lopez Lomong was nominated by the US team to carry the American flag into the opening ceremonies. Lopez, who was honored by Save Darfur as the August “Darfur Hero”, has an incredible personal story which drives him to help the children of Darfur. Lopez said, "I lived that life before. That's why I'm a member of Team Darfur. I lived that situation," Lomong said. "Olympics is supposed to be a thing to bring people together. It's a peaceful thing." From Beijing, Team Darfur member Nikki Dryden covered swimming events and said , “I have been able to witness perhaps the greatest swimming competition in history and had the opportunity to once again celebrate the Olympic Games. Team Darfur swimmers were incredible, performing well in what was the fastest Olympics ever. I was very proud of them, not just for their swimming prowess, but for their decision to join and support Team Darfur. In my heart, they are the true heroes of these Games. At fifteen, Elizabeth Beisel is wise beyond her years and she truly is a role model whom people of any age can admire. Fred Bousquet won silver in the relay and Indian's first Olympic gold medalist, Abhinav Bindra is amazing. Of course seeing Lopez Lomong carrying the flag at Opening Ceremonies was a fitting tribute to an incredible man.” Unfortunately, other members of Team Darfur were not allowed into Beijing. Joey Cheek, Chris Boyles, Brad Greiner and Kendra Zanotto all had their visas revoked or denied because of their involvement with Team Darfur. Not ones to let something like this silence them, Joey, Chris, Brad and Kendra took to the airwaves and used this opportunity to raise awareness about Darfur and the athletes in Beijing who wished they could speak out about it. Shortly after his visa was revoked, Team Darfur decathlete Chris Boyles stated: “When I initially joined Team Darfur a few months ago, I had a general idea of the situation. It wasn't until recently, however, when began to read and educate myself on the situation and see the complete destruction and gruesome acts against human beings that are taking place and being overlooked by much of the world. This awareness needs to continue to be addressed. While I am saddened that I will not be able to be a part of the Olympic Games and cheer on my friends in person, I am confident that my voice here will resonate even louder than it would have in the Olympic Stadium.” Team Darfur President Joey Cheek summed it up: “I remain a huge believer in the power of the Olympic Games to bring people together and to be a force for conflict resolution around the world. The athletes that have joined Team Darfur did so out of a sense that the more than 2 million men, women, and children, who have been driven from their homes in Darfur deserve protection. Brad and I founded Team Darfur because we feel trying to stop conflicts such as the one in Darfur are exactly what the Olympics are about. The recent media attention that has been paid to my situation has given us a spotlight to focus on the plight of the people in Darfur, but we must continue to fight to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis. The story of this Olympic Games is certainly not finished, but I want to personally thank the more than 25,000 people who wrote to support the athletes competing in Beijing that are members of Team Darfur. I am moved by your words and I know that the athletes are too.” Everyone at Team Darfur is looking forward to cheering on the 7 Team Darfur athletes who will be competing in the Paralympics starting next month!

Guns against sticks

jerry — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:43:41 +0000

The Sudanese military attacked the Kalma camp for displaced persons in South Darfur this week, gunning down civilians armed (according to the UN) mostly with “sticks, knives and spears.” The attack left more than 30 people dead. The UN denounced the attack as “excessive, disproportionate force.” But there’s another word for it – criminal. Which makes it all the more unbelievable that a number of governments are considering UN Security Council action to suspend the International Criminal Court’s Darfur investigation, on the ground that accusing the Sudanese president of crimes impedes progress toward peace. What progress? What peace? Sources tell us that some members of the Security Council seem eager to cut a deal and have suggested some terms to Khartoum. I hope before doing anything further, they will go to Kalma and ask the relatives of those murdered this week what they think of putting justice on hold.

September Darfur Heroes

Ashley — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:54:41 +0000

The Darfur Heroes program, started last year by the coalition, highlights individuals and groups who play a crucial role in helping end the violence in Darfur through awareness-raising and other efforts. This month, Save Darfur is honoring the tireless work of Darfuri diaspora leaders in the United States - in particular, Darfur Peace and Development Organization president Suliman Giddo and Marwa Salah Eldin Abdalla, the youngest member of the Darfuri Leaders Network and executive member of the Fur Cultural Revival Organization. Here are their stories: Suliman Giddo My name is Suliman Giddo, and I am co-founder and president of the Darfur Peace and Development Organization (DPDO), a nonprofit that provides humanitarian and development assistance to victims of conflict in Darfur, Sudan. As president of DPDO, I lead the organization in supporting fifteen grade schools throughout North Darfur and Chad. DPDO will also soon begin construction on a high school for orphans in El Fasher that will feature Sudan’s only high-school computer lab, a large library, and several English classes to prepare students for advancement to university. My work with DPDO includes assisting grassroots groups with conflict resolution, organizing training in the production and use of solar cooking technology in 6 IDP camps in Darfur, and operating a women’s center in the Kassab IDP camp. My organization promotes awareness of the Darfur crisis in the United States and advocates for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Born and raised in the village of Korgi in Darfur, I learned at a young age that education could make a difference. Between 500 and 600 children from neighboring villages gathered in the city of Kutum each April to determine, at random, which children would be allowed to enroll at Zatelrasin Elementary School. I had the great opportunity to be one of only 6 children chosen in my area to attend school. The school was 64 kilometers from my home, and I walked for two days and nights to reach the city when I was only seven. Thrilled at the idea of earning an education, I began my first year, learning basic math and Arabic through lessons drawn on the sand. By age 11, I wanted to help educate the children and adults from my locality that did not have the opportunity to go to school. I requested and was granted educational materials from government officials and began tutoring my community members during my summer break from school. I was determined to create more educational opportunities in my community. I worked with community leaders over the next few years, held meetings and formed committees, and was finally able to get permission to build a school in Korgi in 1979. By 2003 and before the attacks, the Korgi School had become one of the highest-ranked schools in the Kutum locality because of the high number of students who went on to complete a university education. I also founded Jabal Mara Social and Culture Association while I was in the University of Khartoum and Darfur People’s Association in the United Arab Emirates, which provided medical supplies to the main hospitals in Darfur. I have remained active in community efforts since that time and I realize the tremendous importance that education holds in Darfuri society. The Darfuri people revere education. The loss of educational opportunity is a great sorrow to families and communities, and thousands of school age children have lost several consecutive years of their education due to the ongoing conflict. After assessing regional needs, DPDO initiated the Darfur Schools Program in 2005. DPDO now sponsors fifteen schools throughout the Darfur area, educating over 7,500 students, with over 24 other schools in the waiting list. DPDO provides textbooks, school supplies, and teaching kits for each school, and it is the only organization operating in Darfur that pays salaries for Darfuri teachers and principals. In addition to the Darfur Schools Program, DPDO has also established a Women’s Center in the Kassab IDP camp near Kutum, which focuses on income-generation projects, medical care for victims of gender-based violence, counseling, and training in literacy, vocational skills, and civil and human rights. Monthly Solar Cooker Training Workshops throughout Khartoum and Darfur train men and women to produce solar cookers, ovens constructed with locally-purchased materials that cook food by focusing the sun’s rays instead of using firewood, which is increasingly scarce in Sudan. For more information on the programs sponsored by Darfur Peace & Development, please go to www.DarfurPeace.org. Marwa Salah Eldin Abdalla Life in Darfur , Sudan Life in Darfur was beautiful and peaceful. Darfur might not be like the capital with big buildings, cars and crowded, but in our sense of vision it was always our home land that we love it so much. We had a simple life. Our parents were farmers and we didn't have the fortune life, but we were always satisfied of what we have. Life was beautiful because we were all one family who always been there for each other. We shared everything together, especially food, when you know your neighbor don't have that much tonight and you have some, we share our food with them. We were poor, but people in Darfur always shared how they feel their happiness, sadness and tough moments that affect everyone. We didn't have much, but we were happy with it, until the Government of Sudan started to send these group who call themselves Janjaweed to turn our life in Darfur upside down. First we didn't think what was happening is coming to affect us. The Janjaweed started the war smartly, they first starve people by burning the farms, and like what I said most Darfurian earn their living from farming. Then of course started to get worst, killing our men who try to fight back for their belongings, then rape our women and young girls, children were thrown into the fire. That was the time when we realized our beloved home is not safe for us any more, and we need to find a safe place to live. Life in Egypt How did I get to Egypt? Well, of course after we made our way out of Darfur being through bushes, starvation, sickness, and the lost of many that you love, through village to village, rain, mud, and so on I could keep going the whole nights and hiding during the the day. We made it to the city which is Khartoum, well of course we weren't welcome, since the Government send their troop to kill us, how would they open their homes for us? We were force to go back to face the killing, burning raping. Then we realized we need a way to get out of Sudan to find a safer life. We didn't have money or anything, the good thing we met Durfurians who lived in Khartoum that they helped us. Our chance was good for us to get out of the country to come to Egypt because my sister was out of Sudan ahead of us, she was here in the USA . My family was big of course not everyone could come together, we separated me, my dad and my brother came to Egypt in 2002, we were waiting for our process to get there, with a lot of suffering my Dad is an old man and my brother is just a child at the age of 9 , my mom and other sister till now in Egypt… we spend about 2 year, finally in June 2004, the process arrived and we finally made it to America, the great country of everyone's dream. Life in America June 16th 2004 we arrived in America where I never thought I was going to communicate with this environment of different weather, culture, food, basically everything was different for me. The language was the problem, because everything was English. Welcome to America Marwa where you're going to be a fresh high school student coming straight up from Darfur , Sudan . That wasn't fun, but to make the story short I worked hard with the help of others, of course I thanks the people of America from the bottom of my heart for opening their homes and heart to welcome us. But when I got settled I thought I must do something to help those who were left behind - to end their suffering. First I joined my organization in Portland, Maine which is Fur Cultural Revival to get me ready and give me more experience about how I could work in the future because I didn't really have any experience before. Right after I got involve with Save Darfur by the help of Niemat Ahmadi and Mansour Ahmed the president of our organization, or I would say they are very much encouraging the young generation of Darfur to work with them because they know that we are the future of Darfur, and they want to prepare us for the fight of our home Darfur. I started with my high school, by telling my peers about my own story, that was good because a lot of kids were like I never knew anything about what is happening in Darfur, I always want it to bring people's attention to what is happening in Darfur, maybe I can get them care and help our people back home, we did that part successfully, now what I want to see it in action to stop the Genocide, not just talking. I love working with Save Darfur, because I learned a lot from them, plus they are the organization that almost everyone knows about it, they helped us as Darfurian to bring our voice through their wonderful program known as voices from Darfur, through which I travelled to several States for speaking tour to educate Americans about the genocide in Darfur including: I did two speaches in New York City, I did one in a high school and another in a college. I did one in Augusta, the capital of Maine, I did another one in Boston, Massccuehest, I did one in Atlanta, Georgia, another speach in Orlando, Florida. I'm doing any events of course because people want to know how they could help? What could I do? Save Darfur helps people a lot to get involved with what is happening in Dafur. I have much more to say but I will stop here, I hope one day soon peace will come to Darfur, and I want to say thanks for giving me the Title of Durfurian hero of the month. I would be happy if one day soon I will be the Durfurian hero of the future peace, sharing it with my people back home.

Darfuris Speak about ICC Charges

jmoreland — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:39:01 +0000

While attending a conference with Darfuri civil society leaders in Tanzania, Jerry Fowler, president of the Save Darfur Coalition, spoke with attendees about the significance of the ICC charges against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. These leaders, who have witnessed the violence and injustice in Darfur, also reacted to reports that U.N. Security Council member countries may invoke Article 16 to let al-Bashir off the hook for his crimes. The people of Darfur deserve justice. Tell the U.S. to oppose any attempt to suspend the charges against al-Bashir.

The Darfur Contracting Act Passes the California Legislature

sarah — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:26:30 +0000

On August 31, the California contract prohibition law AB 498 passed both the Senate and the Assembly in California! The California legislature was in overtime session at the end of the month, so they were working late on Sunday when this bill passed both houses of the legislature.

Assembly Member Ed Hernandez authored The Darfur Contracting Act, A. B. 498, a law that will prohibit the state of California from doing business with the companies that help fund the genocide in Darfur. Through contract prohibition, this bill will ensure that the state of California does not enter into or renew contracts with companies that help fund the genocide.

In 2006 California passed divestment legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 294. This show of leadership was essential to starting the targeted Sudan divestment movement that has now swept the country and impacted the government of Sudan.

Now California is again taking the lead in using economic pressure to end genocide in Darfur. Thanks to an outpour of activist and coalition support, the legislature has acted; now is it up to the governor to sign the bill into law. If he does, California will join the state of Arizona in what could become a long list of states to pass Darfur contract prohibition. As we see violence continue against civilians and humanitarian groups, today it is clear that the people of Darfur cannot wait for the world to take action. Indeed, the California legislature has listened to that call for action.

Congress Highlights Arms Trade in Darfur

Robert — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:32:29 +0000

"It started firing. People began screaming. The shooting continued until the houses were burning. The woman was burned on her legs. Her body had a bullet hole that went from her chest to her back." Such statements have tragically become routine since the start of the Darfur genocide, but what makes this quote of particular note is that the "it" was identified as a Chinese-made anti-aircraft gun mounted on the back of a Dong Feng truck, also manufactured in China. Despite a UN embargo on arms transfers into Darfur, several countries, including Russia and China, continue to funnel weapons to the Sudanese government by exploiting a loophole. The existing embargo allows weapons sales to the Government of Sudan provided they are not bound for Darfur -- but the Sudanese government has publicly stated that it has every right to transfer military equipment wherever it wishes. In an attempt to stop the transfers of Russian-made helicopters, Chinese fighter jets, and assorted small arms, Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) have authored Senate Resolution 660, which calls for the U.S. to push the UN Security Council to expand the arms embargo to cover all of Sudan. The resolution also highlights Russian and Chinese arms shipments to Sudan and finds that any further shipments to the Government of Sudan, given its refusal to keep their arms out of Darfur, would be in violation of the arms embargo. While it may seem unlikely that two permanent members of the Security Council would cut off lucrative arms sales they profit from, this resolution will build public pressure for expanding the arms embargo in Sudan. If you would like to help in this effort, please email or call your Senators and urge them to support S. Res. 660.

Half-strength political will

jerry — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:55:20 +0000

After billions spent, countless hours of debate, and an endless stream of tough words, it is deplorable that the most powerful nations in the world can muster only a ‘half-strength force’ to protect Darfuri civilians. The U.N. has now admitted what has long been clear: the previous promise to deploy 80 percent of the UNAMID force by December will not be kept. Even the new, reduced goal of 50 percent seems a stretch. Vitally needed helicopters, trucks and logistics are nowhere in sight. How can that be so? This ‘half-strength force’ is a product of U.N. member states’ half-strength political will – not just on peacekeepers, but on the Darfur crisis overall. Talking tough about protecting Darfuris is easy; contributing equipment and peacekeepers and overcoming Sudanese government intransigence as part of a comprehensive strategy for peace is not. Speaking in platitudes about justice and accountability is easy; standing behind the ICC chief prosecutor is not. Calling for peace is easy; putting sustained effort into creating a viable and inclusive peace process is not. Deploring violence is easy; but calling out China, Russia, and others for arming a genocidal regime is not. We understand that there is no quick fix for this crisis. Many factors of the crisis were decades in the making. But U.N. member states, and particularly the Security Council, are not addressing either the long-term or the short-term challenges in Darfur. After more than four years of being ‘seized of the matter,’ the Security Council still has not adopted a comprehensive strategy that includes peace, protection, accountability and development. Rather, it has stumbled along through a succession of ineffective half-steps. While the UNAMID peacekeeping mission may indeed be a ‘half-strength force’ by December – the U.N. Security Council has already been a ‘full-strength’ failure on this crisis.

World of Challenges

Ashley — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:43:25 +0000

This weekend, on CNN's special "The Next President: A World of Challenges," former secretaries of state gathered to give advise to our future president on issues that he will face upon entering office - including Darfur. During the special, Michael Hermon of Minneapolis, Minnesota asked the following of Warren Christopher, Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright, James Baker, and Colin Powell:

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Michael Herman (ph). I'm from Minneapolis, Minnesota. And I was wondering, how do you see the U.S. responding to humanitarian crises, like the situation in Darfur? CHRISTOPHER: When you look at some of the problems around the world, we need to work through the other countries of the world and other regional organizations. And that's especially true in Darfur. It's a very demanding, appealing crisis, but I'm not sure putting a lot of American troops in there, without thinking through those other issues, makes a lot of sense for us. POWELL: I couldn't agree more with Chris. You look at something like Darfur, and it just breaks your heart. But the ultimate solution to the crisis in Darfur is political solution between the rebels and the government in Khartoum. AMANPOUR: Well, not to put... POWELL: We've done a lot, though, with humanitarian support in other places. AMANPOUR: Not to put too fine a point on it. It's the same that was said about Bosnia, Rwanda, and et cetera. Since all of you have presided over these periods in American history and global history, can we pin you down? The United States has called it genocide, what's happening in Darfur. Secretary Albright, what should the next president do? ALBRIGHT: Well, I think it's in U.S. national interests, in fact, to do something about humanitarian situations that lead to or are genocidal. And the question is how you get the will of the American people behind it. It is not easy. But, I'll say this, is, if you're the United States, you're damned if you do or damned if you don't. We intervened in Somalia, and people thought that was a mistake. We didn't intervene in Rwanda, and people thought that was a mistake. And what has to happen is for us to be clearer about the extent to which humanitarian intervention and humanitarian assistance is in U.S. national interest. And if it is, as I believe it is, it's to have the various resources that are necessary for it and explain it to the American people as a national security issue. BAKER: But you also have to have a healthy dose of national interest involved, because otherwise you lose the support of the American people. Your foreign policy can only be sustained as long as you bring the American people along with it. They are the final arbiter of foreign policy in our democracy. We cannot be the policemen for the world. We shouldn't be asked to be, couldn't be if we wanted. AMANPOUR: OK, so many, many people on campuses all over the United States have distinguished themselves by creating a grassroots movement for Darfur. If I remember, you in your administration said that we don't have a dog in this fight about the Balkans, about Bosnia... BAKER: That's not actually what I said, but it's now out there in the ether, and you'll never get rid of it. AMANPOUR: What did you say? BAKER: I didn't say that. I didn't say that. It was reported that I said that, but I didn't. I didn't say it. AMANPOUR: OK, but, nonetheless, we didn't do anything at that time. So the question is, should the American president lead... BAKER: Well, we didn't do anything for about four or five years after that, if I'm not mistaken. AMANPOUR: OK. Should the American president lead on these issues of vital human rights interests? BAKER: He should lead, but he should lead wisely and not commit American lives to a task that is not going to be supported by the American people. We should do what Colin said: work through private voluntary organizations, do what we can diplomatically with countries that are involved in Darfur, particularly the government of Sudan, the government of China and others, to bring about a solution to the problem. But don't start talking about sending troops on an issue like that all the way around the world, because you're going to lose the American people. Then you'll lose the policy. ALBRIGHT: Then we should not have declared it genocide, because once it's declared a genocide... BAKER: I didn't declare it genocide, Madeleine. POWELL: I did. ALBRIGHT: Well... (LAUGHTER) AMANPOUR: You did? POWELL: I did. No, I did. I sent teams over to see what was going on, and the reports came back in. And it was a judgment call on my part. But based on what I saw the Janjaweed doing under the leadership of the Khartoum regime and how it was affecting the people -- and I visited the area -- I felt that it met the standards of being called genocidal. And our responsibility when we make such a declaration is to report it to the U.N. for the U.N. to make a judgment independently, under the law. This is the international law. And the U.N. made their analysis and did not judge it to be genocide, and we pretty much stand alone in the international community calling it that. And I still think it is. The problem has to be solved politically between the government in Khartoum and the rebels. SESNO: If I may just follow up briefly on that, then, Secretary Albright, is not there then an important point to be made by the United States and the world going on record and saying, "This is genocide," recognizing the limitations as you've just established them. It does clearly establish a point, an important historical point, does it not? ALBRIGHT: I think it does. But, also, there are so many aspects to this. We need to figure out how to prevent genocide. And one of the things... SESNO: What you're saying is you shouldn't declare it if you can't back it up with your troops if it's happening? ALBRIGHT: Well, I think there is an issue, in terms of it isn't just our troops. It's a matter of whether we provide logistics assistance to those who might want to go in, strengthen the African Union, decide whether there should be a no-fly zone. SESNO: Do something. ALBRIGHT: But I have to say, I anguish over this, because I know how difficult it is. And we didn't do anything about Bosnia for a while, but we actually did in the end, and we won, and we did it in Kosovo, and it was the right thing to do. And I think we have to figure out where our resources are. And when you say it's up to the president of the United States, I agree. And that's why we have to figure out what the role of the United States is. That is what this election is about. AMANPOUR: And, unfortunately, we are out of time now, and we'd like to thank our panel once again, the former Secretaries of State Warren Christopher, Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright, James Baker, and Colin Powell. Thank you all very much for being here. Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright, James Baker, and Colin Powell

Darfuri and Sudanese voices on the ICC

Ashley — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:39:01 +0000

After being a voice largely ignored in media coverage surrounding International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo's case against Sudanese President al-Bashir, more than 100 Darfuri and Sudanese diaspora leaders today publicly urged the U.N. Security Council to veto any effort to delay the pursuit of justice in Darfur. In a letter to Burkinabe Ambassador to the United Nations Michel Kafando, the diverse alliance said that the ICC provided the international community a unique opportunity to match action with its rhetoric about ending the Darfur genocide.

September 23, 2008 H.E. Mr. Michael Kafando Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the United Nations 866 United Nations Plaza Suite 326/327A New York, NY 10017 Dear Ambassador Kafando: As concerned Darfuri and Sudanese activists, we write to you to express our support of the International Criminal Court’s mandate from the United Nations Security Council to investigate and prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. It is for this reason that we unite our diverse voices which includes leaders from every corner of Sudan living in the Sudanese diaspora to urge the UNSC to not grant President Omar Hassan al-Bashir any period of exemption from prosecution by invoking Article 16 of the Rome Statute. The people of Sudan and particularly Darfur have cried out for security, peace and justice for the last five years only to see the humanitarian and political crisis worsen in Darfur. ICC Chief Prosecutor Louise Moreno-Ocampo’s request to examine the culpability of President al-Bashir for the genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed against our fellow citizens brings us some hope that the international community may finally match its rhetoric about its concern for our people with actions that lead to real results in Darfur and Sudan at large. It is both the moral and legal obligation of the international community that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes be held accountable. As such, we give our unequivocal support to Mr. Moreno-Ocampo’s decision which seeks to provide much delayed accountability for those responsible for the destruction of the lives and livelihoods of Darfuris. Equally important, we believe that no one should ask Darfuris to relinquish their rights to hold their perpetrators accountable in exchange for unreliable promises regarding the establishment of peace and security in Darfur. We believe that without proper justice and accountability Sudan will not be transformed into the peaceful country of our ambitions. We further ask the UNSC to provide global leadership to ensure that the campaigns for justice and accountability in Sudan move forward as the way to sustainable peace. The international community must make it clear to the Government of Sudan that it will not tolerate any reprisals against the people of Darfur on account of the proceedings at the ICC. The savage attacks on civilians in both the Kalma camp near Nyala on August 25, 2008 and the ZamZam camp near El-Fashir on September 10th, 2008 killed more than a hundred civilians and wounded many more. We have full confidence that with coordinated diplomacy and pressure from the members of the UNSC the international community can help end the great human suffering in Darfur. We, the undersigned Darfur civil society organizations and human rights activists, urge members of the UNSC to prevent any bartering of accountability for the unconscionable crimes committed in Darfur. The UNSC members must keep their promises and refrain from interfering with the developments of the ICC. Such an action will not make security, peace or justice any more likely for the people of Darfur or Sudan. Instead, it would embolden a government in Khartoum which has repeatedly broken promises for the past five years and whose true commitment to human rights can be found in the pages of Mr. Moreno-Ocampo’s arrest warrant and not the recent pledges of cooperation from Sudanese government officials. The wish of the people of Darfur is that the international community allow justice to take its course. Sincerely, Darfuri and Sudanese Representatives of Diaspora Organizations and Communities Faisal Abakar Libya, Tripoli Aballah Dawood Abaker Cairo, Egypt Omer Abdalaziz Houston, TX, USA Asmail Abdallah Houston, TX, USA Abdu Abdalla Darfur People's Association of Iowa Des Moines, IA, USA Mahjob Abdalla Darfur Diaspora Association Toronto, Canada Adam Abdelgadir Houston, TX, USA Mohamed Abdelkarim Houston, TX, USA Abdelrahim Abdelmaolla Benghazi, Libya Mohamed Abdel Rahman Darfur Association of Illinois Chicago, IL, USA Bashir Gamous Abdelrasoul Darfur Association of Texas Dallas, TX, USA Thuria Adam Abdelshafee Benghazi, Libya Abdullah Idris Abdullah Cairo, Egypt Nuraddin Abdulmannan Rescue Nubia Washington, DC, USA Gamal Abdurrahman Ontario, Canada Elnour Adam Darfur Rehabilitation Project Newark, NJ, USA Omer Abaker Adam Benghazi, Libya Salem Mohamed Adam Istanbul, Turkey Motasim Adem Darfur People’s Association of New York New York, NY, USA Saleh Musa Adam Benghazi, Libya Mohamed Adam Ontario, Canada Osman Adam Houston, TX, USA Hamid Adris Houston, TX, USA Mohamed Adris Houston, TX, USA Mohamed Ahmed Houston, TX, USA Deng Agot Portland, ME, USA Niemat Adam Ahamdi At-Large Member of the Darfuri Leaders Network Washington, D.C., USA Ishag Ahmed Fur Association of North America Newark, NJ, USA Mansour Ahmed Fur Cultural Revival Portland, ME, USA Adam Ahmed Ontario, Canada Mutasem Ahmed Benghazi, Libya Amal Allagabo At-Large Member of the Darfuri Leaders Network Washington, D.C., USA Adam Ali Darfur Association of Colorado Denver, CO, USA Ali Almalla Houston, TX, USA Adnan Alsadati Toronto, Canada Mahoud Mohamed Arbab Cairo, Egypt Nameat Mohamed Arbab Cairo, Egypt Abdullelkarem Arbab Canada, Ontario Monib Mohamed Arbab Cairo, Egypt Suliman Awadalla Darfur Association of Texas (Houston) Houston, TX, USA Ibrahim Ayoub Rome, Italy Mohamed Babiker Houston, TX, USA Adam Babiker Houston, TX, USA Ibrahim Bahar Ontario, Canada Abrahim Zakria Basi Houston, TX, USA Hafiz Bassy Darfur Community Association of Australia Inc. Melbourne, Australia Mahmoud Braima Darfur Association in the United States Baton Rouge, LA, USA Hassan Musa Daldoum Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Domins Dsuro Portland, ME, USA Ahmed Dawalbit Houston, TX, USA Marwa Salah Eddin At-Large Member of the Darfuri Leaders Network Portland, ME, USA Nureldin Edrees Ontario, Canada Adam Edrees Houston, TX, USA Khabeb Edrees Houston, TX, USA Zeinab Eiyga Sauti Yetu Center for African Women New York, NY, USA Elrashid Eldaw Houston, TX, USA Elfadil Elsharif Hamilton, Canada Omer Elsharif Newark, NJ, USA Elfadil Elhashmi Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Mazin Elhashmi Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Lomumba Emam Ontario, Canada Thani Fadlalla Houston, TX, USA Yagub Fasheir Houston, TX, USA Abdelbagi Gibril Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre Geneva, Switzerland Suliman Giddo Darfur Peace and Development Organization Washington, D.C., USA Abdalla Guma Houston, TX, USA Abdullelrahaman Hamed Canada, Ontario Ibrahim Hamid Darfur Alert Coalition Philadelphia, PA, USA Abdul-Aziz Hammed Benghazi, Libya Adam Abelakriem Haroon Benghazi, Libya Fatima Haroun At-Large Member of the Darfuri Leaders Network Philadelphia, PA, USA Mohamed Suleiman Hassaballa Tripoli, Libya Ismail Hassan Darfur Association of Canada Toronto, Canada Nawal Hassan, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Musa Ibrahim Halifax, CA, USA Musa Ikhlas Houston, TX, USA Mansour Isak Darfur Farmers Aid Memphis, TN, USA Bashir M. Ishag Darfur People's Union Washington, D.C., USA Mohamadain Mohamed Ishag Darfur Peace and Justice Brussels, Belgium Lila Ismail Houston, TX, USA Samira Karar Manchester, NH, USA Mohamed Khalil Houston, TX, USA Abdalaziz Khamis Houston, TX, USA Emadeldin Khamis Darfur Association of Alabama Birmingham, AL, USA Yuhanus Kinning Ontario, Canada Suad Mansour At-Large Member of the Darfuri Leaders Network Philadelphia, PA, USA Ishag Mekki Darfur Union of the United Kingdom and Ireland London, UK Ahmad Mohamedain Darfur Call Amesterdam, The Netherlands Adam Mohamed Ontario, Canada Mohamed Arbab Mohamed Cairo, Egypt Yagoub Mohamed Ontario, Canada Jady Mossa Houston, TX, USA Justine Mukisi Portland, ME, USA Dense Netto Portland, ME, USA Mohamed Noureldain Houston, TX, USA Mohamed Baraka Nurain Slough, United Kingdom Angelo Okot Portland, ME, USA Adam Omer Darfur Association of Nebraska Lincoln, NE, USA Ahmed Omer Houston, TX, USA Badawi Osman Darfur Working Group Philadelphia, PA, USA Ismail Omer Darfur Renaissance Association Dallas, TX, USA Elgasim Salih World Relief Organization Philadelphia, PA, USA Samara Seddik Cairo, Egypt Bakheit Shata Darfur Community Organization Omaha, NE, USA Mohamed Shougar Refugee Friends Cairo, Egypt, USA Elrashid Suliman Ontario, Canada Mohamed Sulieman Darfur Self-Reliance Education Inc. San Francisco, CA, USA Issa Tahir Darfur Association of France Parise, France Abdalhadi Iesaa Tore Benghazi, Libya Adam Mohamed Yahya Western Sudan Aid Relief in the U.S.A. South Dakota, USA Mohamed Yahya Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy Charlottesville, VA, USA Elalim Yousif Houston, TX, USA

A Historic Promise, A Great Opportunity

jmoreland — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:03:28 +0000

In May, presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama signed a joint statement promising their "unstinting resolve" to end the genocide in Darfur. This historic moment has afforded us a great opportunity.

No matter who is elected the next president, we'll have a champion for the Darfuri people in the White House.

To make the most of this opportunity, we created an ambitious plan to keep Darfur on the national agenda and make sure the next president acts to end the violence. We have the promise, we have the plan, but we need support.

For the past week, we've been asking supporters and activists to help us meet our goal of raising $250,000 by September 26 to put our plan into action. Our deadline is midnight tomorrow – will you help us meet our goal?

Donate Today.

Here is what your generous gift will help us do:

Organize events. We are conducting a series of events around the presidential debates to ensure that the candidates address the genocide in Darfur.
Host conferences. In the days immediately following the election, we'll host an activist conference in Washington D.C. to make sure a coordinated effort to end the Darfur genocide starts on day one of the new administration. We'll plan efforts to pressure the newly elected president and Congress, and demonstrate the importance of making Darfur a priority.
Develop a "Blueprint for Success." Coalition leaders are working with leading foreign policy experts, former diplomats and academics to craft a "Blueprint for Success" to guide the new administration's actions between Election Day and Inauguration Day.

Thank you for your support and all you do to help bring peace and protection to the people of Darfur.

Senate Passes Darfur Resolution

Robert — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:22:57 +0000

As Congress prepares to adjourn prior to the November elections, the Senate has passed an important resolution, S. Res. 684, which demonstrates the continued resolve of Congress to ensure that the U.S. Government remains dedicated to ending the conflict in Darfur. The resolution reaffirms Congress' 2004 finding that genocide is occurring in Darfur, and highlights the need for a just and inclusive peace process, the full deployment of UNAMID, and the free flow of humanitarian aid. S. Res. 684, which was authored by Senator Richard Durbin and sponsored by a third of the Senate, also condemns the Government of Sudan for its obstruction of UNAMID deployment; condemns ongoing acts of violence; and calls upon all parties to end hostilities, respect the UN arms embargo, and participate in peace negotiations. A similar resolution, H. Con. Res. 423 has been introduced in the House by Representative Mark Kirk. While Congress clearly has many items on its plate this week, it should be commended for finding time to once again show its determination to find a solution to the conflict in Darfur.

The forgotten voices of Darfuris

Niemat — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:10:13 +0000

While the United Nations Security Council and diplomats at the UN General Assembly were discussing Darfur this week, they forgot to listen to the voices of Darfurians – who are the most important voices to be heard in this crisis. Darfurians feel that they are being left behind, and that their voices should be considered that is why we decided to meet with Mr Luis Moreno Ocampo. On September 24, myself and a group of about 150 Darfurians and Sudanese from different parts of the United States gathered in Brooklyn, New York to meet with Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, and have a Ramadan Iftar with him. They wanted to stand with him and support his work – and make sure that he knows that they are the ones whose voices need to be heard. When Ocampo entered the room, we as Darfurians stood up and showed our appreciation to him with one voice. We clapped and welcomed him with chants of support for over 10 minutes. People shouted things like, “Thank you” and “Justice for Darfur Now.” We as Darfurians said that we are there to show our unanimous support of the ICC to continue its work and indict Bashir – because at this critical moment we feel like we have been left behind. So many African and other international leaders have come to New York to figure out how to protect al-Bashir, who has committed genocide against our people. They have not, instead, thought of how to protect the IDPs and refugees and the Darfuri people who have suffered over the last six years. He greeted us warmly and stood up and looked at every ones face carefully, and then he asked, how many of you were in Darfur when the crises started? The majority raised their hands up, and then followed by another question: how many of you who lost a family member or friend? All of us raised our hands up; he responded that this is why we do our work. All spoke in one voice said Mr. Ocampo you are making history, we must all stand together to make it happened, we have faith in what you are doing, because it's a legal process and the law must be above all. We all admired him, a man with less speech and great deeds. I heard my fellow Darfuians and Sudanese at the meeting express passionately their support for Mr. Ocampo’s bold efforts. For example, Motasim Adam - who spoke on behalf of the Darfur Peoples Association of NY - stated that we are here today to support your effort and to let the world know that perpetrators of genocide should held accountable. Brothers and sisters let us rally ourselves and unite behind our people’s right to justice. Omer Ismail - who came with the Darfuri and Sudanese group living in the Washington metropolitan, Virginia and Maryland area - stated: “Mr. Luis, what you have done is great work and we cannot allow others to let you down. We believe that this is the most important moment for Darfur and that we should stand for our people and voice our support for your work loudly.” And then there was Hisham from New Jersey - a Sudanese human rights activist from New York who attended with members of his community. He said, “Mr. Ocampo, Sudanese have long suffered under this regime and now Darfurians are currently suffering. We believe al-Bashir and all those who have committed crimes in Darfur should be held accountable. On behalf of many Sudanese human rights organizations, we are fully supporting you. Justice must be achieved in Darfur. We are against any delay or suspension of al-Bashir’s indictment.” A Darfuri leader who has spoken out about the crimes committed in Darfur since 2003, Mohamed Yahya, spoke emotionally: “For those speaking about a suspension of the ICC’s work in Darfur, do they not believe that the murder of 21 members of my family are not enough to bring al-Bashir to justice?” He added, “Let us know whatever obstacles are facing you. We will do whatever we can to help you achieve justice in Darfur.” Abdou Abdalla, a young Darfuri leader who arrived with five others from Des Moines after an eighteen hour drive to New York, said, “We came 18 hours because we believe that the work you have done is most important to our people, and that it will help bring peace to our people. This is why we wanted to come and show our appreciation and support to you. And to speak out on behalf of victims who are currently suffering.” Another Sudanese leader, Nouraddin Abdulmannan, from rescue Nubia - the Sudanese organization based in Washington DC, advocating for the right of the marginalized people of Sudan - spoke on behalf of the millions of marginalized people in Sudan. He said, “All marginalized people in Sudan support the indictment of al-Bashir and they believe that justice should be implemented in our country. No one will accept al-Bashir receiving another year to continue his crimes against the people of Darfur.” Amira who currently lives in Philadelphia, but just recently returned from a trip to Sudan, mentioned that “while she was in al-Fashir, she saw Bashir come to the town.” His supporters said that unless people support the government they will lose their jobs. He also threatened IDPs and refugees to return to their homes. She reported that the situation is worsening in the camps and throughout Darfur. With tears in her eyes, she pleaded, “How! I have just seen people suffering in the camps. But how are people considering delaying the indictment of al-Bashir to allow him to continue committing crimes against our people. I appeal to you Mr. Ocampo, please do not allow anyone to stop your work and stop your prosecution of the people who committed these crimes against our people.” Samira Karar, a Sudanese woman from Khartoum who represents the Ramadan Family Martyrs organization, spoke by telephone from New Hampshire. She said, “I am one of the people who have suffered the most from this regime which killed 28 martyrs who were slaughtered during the holy month of Ramadan and buried in mass graves in 1990. The regime left family members like myself suffering until this day. I thank you for your historical stand with the people of Darfur. I support you, and I appeal to you and the entire international community to bring this genocidal criminal to justice. Justice must be implemented without any delay we the Sudanese people of Sudan who are eager to see these dictators brought to justice” Finally, I was given a chance to speak and this was my message to Mr. Ocampo: “With the magnitude of the crisis in Darfur, the most who have suffered are the women. I am speaking on their behalf today. We stand for justice for those in the IDPS camps, and women like myself who have been repeatedly rape and subjected to different kinds of violence on a daily basis. No one should ask them to compromise their rights to justice. All Darfuri women believe that the perpetrators should be held accountable and that the indictment should not be delayed for one day or even one hour. My message to those African leaders: we are the African victims; the ICC is working to protect us. We hope that a day will come when African leaders can take care of us – instead of protecting al-Bashir who continues to commit crimes. We should be given a chance to make our voices heard and given a chance to give the opinions of the people inside Darfur, the refugee camps, and the diaspora. All of us unanimously support the indictment of al-Bashir. As we have received letters and other messages from the people living in the camps in Darfur and other Sudanese like organizations of the Ramadan martyrs. They all call for the indictment of al-Bashir without any delay.” I believe you fulfilled your part, the UNSC must live up to its responsibility and do its part, they should say if al-Bashir will react against the people of Darfur and the humanitarian organizations, the court must proceed and we will protect the civilians and move forward. You can view a letter sent to the UN Security Council two days ago from 120 representatives of Darfuri and Sudanese organizations and human rights activist that urged world leaders not to consider any delay or suspension of the decision by the ICC to indict al-Bashir. The letter is here: www.savedarfur.org/pages/sudanese_voices. Photo credit: Meryl Tihanyi

The Darfur Contracting Act of 2008 Becomes Law in California

sarah — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:31:40 +0000

Last Wednesday, Governor Schwarzenegger signed The Darfur Contracting Act into law. This important move will bring pressure to bear directly companies that are very interested in California contracts that until today have not taken steps to stop their revenue from helping to fund the Sudanese military. We will be following through with them to make sure that they change those operations and confront the Sudanese government.

Thanks to the ideas, words, emails and the consistent support of activists across the state, the Sudanese government will have to face further economic consequences for its truly unconscionable behavior. California groups took the lead in passing this law, including Jewish World Watch, American Jewish Committee, San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition, Armenian National Committee, Genocide Intervention Network, STAND: A Student Anti- Genocide Coalition, Sudan Divestment Task Force, Orange County for Darfur, Americans Against the Darfur Genocide, Genocide No More-Save Darfur, Sacramento Committee on Conscience and others.

The bill was introduced last year and tabled in the Senate Appropriations Committee. But the coalition of California groups fought to make it become law. We sent letters to the state assembly and the state senate at each of the critical points of the legislative process. Grassroots activists across the state called in their support to Assembly and Senate offices over the whole of 2008. Some activists wrote letters on a regular basis to their legislators demanding their tax dollars not help fund the genocide in Darfur and others came to a lobby day on behalf of the bill in August to pressure for its final passage.

The coalition sent join letters of support that extended to four pages of supporting organizations from across the political and religious spectrum. The organizations also made visits to the office of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Assembly and the Senate and over the course of several months were able to garner support for the bill. The leadership of the author’s office, Assembly Member Ed Hernandez and the ongoing work of his staff was essential to its passage. The steady support of both Senate and Assembly leaderships was essential, from Speaker Karen Bass’s ongoing support to Senator Steinberg’s statements on the Senate floor. The co-authors of this bill - Assembly Members Bass, Carter, Davis, Dymally, Eng, Hancock, Jeffries, Krekorian, and Portantino Portantino, Price, and Swanson and Senators Perata, Ridley-Thomas, Runner, Steinberg, and Vincent - were critical to its passage and when the bill impacts the financing of the genocide in Darfur, it will be due to their leadership and the activism that drew their attention to the issue.

Congratulations to all of the individuals who were part of the effort to make this law happen!

Add Your Voice! The Postcard Campaign Is Here.

nghent-rodriguez — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:05:48 +0000

Today the "Be a Voice for Darfur" postcard campaign website was launched at AddYourVoice.org. It has resources such as an activist toolkit, information on the current state of the Darfur genocide, and ways for us to take action by sending a message to the next president. Be a voice for Darfur, add your voice today online. The campaign launched with a small group of coalition partners on September 9, 2008. The opening event was incredible. More than 20 organizations attended, and 90 partners signed by the first day of the campaign! Signers included Olympic Gold Medalist Joey Cheek, actress Mia Farrow, and radio personality Joe Madison. Save Darfur Coalition board chair Gloria White-Hammond shared inspirational words that energized attendees. Words from other organizational leaders, including coalition president Jerry Fowler and Aram Hamparian of the Armenian National Committee of America, added even more energy to the room.

Plastic People of the Universe

jerry — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:58:03 +0000

I saw in the Washington Post Express today that they’re playing at a local club on Thursday night. “Who the heck are they???,” you’re probably asking. They are a Czech punk rock band from the 60s and 70s – they were harassed and oppressed by the Communist government for playing their music, and in 1976 they were arrested and put on trial for “disturbing the peace.” The trial inspired Vaclav Havel and other dissidents to draft and sign Charter 77, demanding basic human rights for the Czech people. It also led him to write a famous and prescient essay called “The Power of the Powerless.” Ultimately, Havel and Charter 77 played a vital role in the collapse of communism and the fall of the Berlin Wall. What I thought about today when I saw that PPU is playing here this week, is that they probably couldn’t see in 1976 anyway that their world could change. Communist oppression seemed to be a permanent fact. But they kept doing what was important to them. And it inspired other people. And the world did change. Can we really end a genocide? Sometimes peace in Sudan seems far away. But I’m certain, if we keep doing what we think is right and necessary, it will make a difference. Indeed, it already has. Our work just is not finished, and it’s as vital as ever.

Samantha Power Among Esquire's Most Influential People of the 21st Century

Ashley — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:28:02 +0000

Esquire Magazine today named genocide scholar Samantha Power one of the most influential people of the 21st century - citing her critical involvement in the Save Darfur movement and a 2003 Pulitzer prize for her book A Problem from Hell.

What Norman Podhoretz is to the neocon movement Power is to this as-yet-unnamed force. (Neo-internationalism? Moral interventionism? Machiavellian idealism?) She espouses talks--firm talks--with rogue states, a respect for internation-al law, and a moral and pragmatic duty to intervene--with troops if necessary--in cases of genocide.

Read the full story here.

Darfur in last night's VP debate

Ashley — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:26:43 +0000

Below is the exchange on Darfur between Sen. Biden and Gov. Palin from Thursday evening's vice presidential debate. You can learn more about the candidates' Darfur positions at AddYourVoice.org.

IFILL: Senator, you have quite a record, this is the next question here, of being an interventionist. You argued for intervention in Bosnia and Kosovo, initially in Iraq and Pakistan and now in Darfur, putting U.S. troops on the ground. Boots on the ground. Is this something the American public has the stomach for? BIDEN: I think the American public has the stomach for success. My recommendations on Bosnia. I admit I was the first one to recommend it. They saved tens of thousands of lives. And initially John McCain opposed it along with a lot of other people. But the end result was it worked. Look what we did in Bosnia. We took Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks, being told by everyone, I was told by everyone that this would mean that they had been killing each other for a thousand years, it would never work. There's a relatively stable government there now as in Kosovo. With regard to Iraq, I indicated it would be a mistake to -- I gave the president the power. I voted for the power because he said he needed it not to go to war but to keep the United States, the UN in line, to keep sanctions on Iraq and not let them be lifted. I, along with Dick Lugar, before we went to war, said if we were to go to war without our allies, without the kind of support we need, we'd be there for a decade and it'd cost us tens of billions of dollars. John McCain said, no, it was going to be OK. I don't have the stomach for genocide when it comes to Darfur. We can now impose a no-fly zone. It's within our capacity. We can lead NATO if we're willing to take a hard stand. We can, I've been in those camps in Chad. I've seen the suffering, thousands and tens of thousands have died and are dying. We should rally the world to act and demonstrate it by our own movement to provide the helicopters to get the 21,000 forces of the African Union in there now to stop this genocide. IFILL: Thank you, senator. Governor. PALIN: Oh, yeah, it's so obvious I'm a Washington outsider. And someone just not used to the way you guys operate. Because here you voted for the war and now you oppose the war. You're one who says, as so many politicians do, I was for it before I was against it or vice- versa. Americans are craving that straight talk and just want to know, hey, if you voted for it, tell us why you voted for it and it was a war resolution. And you had supported John McCain's military strategies pretty adamantly until this race and you had opposed very adamantly Barack Obama's military strategy, including cutting off funding for the troops that attempt all through the primary. And I watched those debates, so I remember what those were all about. But as for as Darfur, we can agree on that also, the supported of the no-fly zone, making sure that all options are on the table there also. America is in a position to help. What I've done in my position to help, as the governor of a state that's pretty rich in natural resources, we have a $40 billion investment fund, a savings fund called the Alaska Permanent Fund. When I and others in the legislature found out we had some millions of dollars in Sudan, we called for divestment through legislation of those dollars to make sure we weren't doing anything that would be seen as condoning the activities there in Darfur. That legislation hasn't passed yet but it needs to because all of us, as individuals, and as humanitarians and as elected officials should do all we can to end those atrocities in that region of the world. IFILL: Is there a line that should be drawn about when we decide to go in? BIDEN: Absolutely. There is a line that should be drawn. IFILL: What is it? BIDEN: The line that should be drawn is whether we A, first of all have the capacity to do anything about it number one. And number two, certain new lines that have to be drawn internationally. When a country engages in genocide, when a country engaging in harboring terrorists and will do nothing about it, at that point that country in my view and Barack's view forfeits their right to say you have no right to intervene at all. The truth of the matter is, though, let's go back to John McCain's strategy. I never supported John McCain's strategy on the war. John McCain said exactly what Dick Cheney said, go back and look at Barack Obama's statements and mine. Go look at joebiden.com, contemporaneously, held hearings in the summer before we went to war, saying if we went to war, we would not be greeted as liberator, we would have a fight between Sunnis and Shias, we would be tied down for a decade and cost us hundreds of billions of dollars. John McCain was saying the exact opposite. John McCain was lock- step with Dick Cheney at that point how this was going to be easy. So John McCain's strategy in this war, not just whether or not to go, the actual conduct of the war has been absolutely wrong from the outset. IFILL: Governor. PALIN: I beg to disagree with you, again, here on whether you supported Barack Obama or John McCain's strategies. Here again, you can say what you want to say a month out before people are asked to vote on this, but we listened to the debates. I think tomorrow morning, the pundits are going to start do the who said what at what time and we'll have proof of some of this, but, again, John McCain who knows how to win a war. Who's been there and he's faced challenges and he knows what evil is and knows what it takes to overcome the challenges here with our military. He knows to learn from the mistakes and blunders we have seen in the war in Iraq, especially. He will know how to implement the strategies, working with our commanders and listening to what they have to say, taking the politics out of these war issues. He'll know how to win a war. IFILL: Thank you, governor.

Learn more at AddYourVoice.org.

Be a Voice for Darfur

jmoreland — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:15:19 +0000

Our combined voices can turn a promise into action.
Visit AddYourVoice.org.

Alaska Divestment and Governor Sarah Palin

sarah — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:10:20 +0000

Last night during the vice presidential debate, I held my breath during the answer to a question on Darfur. Because I have been working on divestment efforts over the past year, I was hoping that Governor Palin would discuss the Alaska divestment legislation that our partner organization the Sudan Divestment Task Force worked so diligently on with activists in Alaska during the last year’s legislative session.

Governor Palin did discuss the bill and came out publicly in support of it. She touted the bill as a law that must be passed “because all of us, as individuals, and as humanitarians and as elected officials should do all we can to end those atrocities in that region of the world”.

This coming year, we must work to hold her to her pledge to do all she can. While her words have yet to result in action, there is a new opportunity in the coming legislative year.

Just as Governor Palin has the opportunity to make this issue an important part of her campaign, there is a new opportunity in the coming year. The Alaskan legislature must listen to the activists knocking on their doors, calling into their offices, and writing in their support for the divestment legislation. It is up to us to make them act.

Economic pressure is one of the main tools by which the government of Sudan will be convinced to halt the violence in Darfur. It is one of the economic tools that has been carefully sharpened to affect only those companies that help to fund the central Sudanese government and limits the negative effects on marginalized populations in Sudan, such as Darfur and South Sudan. The companies that are helping to fund the genocide must instead become active agents of positive change for Sudan.

This year, if you would like to be part of the campaign for divestment in Alaska, email divest@savedarfur.org and check out the Divest for Darfur portion of our website. Let’s get Alaska to divest for Darfur!

Tonight's debate

Ashley — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:18:12 +0000

Last week, you heard Gwen Ifill prompt vice presidential candidates Joe Biden and Sarah Palin on Darfur. Tonight's presidential debate at Nashville's Belmont University will be in the town-hall style format - with questions coming from audience members and the internet. In the run up to the debate, we asked activists to submit questions via MySpace on both candidates' Darfur platforms. Tune in tonight at 9pm EST to see if debate moderator Tom Brokaw or an audience member asks the candidates to outline their plan for peace in Darfur.

Save Darfur at the Presidential debate

Ashley — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:18:39 +0000

As part of the Save Darfur Coalition’s efforts during this year’s elections, Darfuri refugee Daoud Hari and SDC’s Amjad Atallah were at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi on Wednesday and Thursday in advance of the Presidential Debate. Daoud and Amjad addressed a standing-room-only crowd of students and faculty, met with Darfur activists from Mississippi and sat down for interviews with local and international press. Students, faculty and reporters who attended the midday event, “Voices from Darfur” sponsored by the Croft International School, were gripped by Daoud’s eyewitness accounts of the crisis and his experience as a guide and translator for journalists covering Darfur. Daoud, who translated for New York Times writer Nicholas Kristof and was jailed in Sudan with National Geographic reporter Paul Salopek, reminded the packed room that without the leadership of the next US president, the people of Darfur have little hope for a peaceful future. Amjad, SDC’s Senior Director of International Policy and Advocacy, fielded questions from the audience and evoked the role of the United States in halting the genocide that ravaged the Balkans in the 1990’s. It was clear that students and faculty wanted to be more involved in stopping the killing in Darfur. Many wanted to know how they could influence our government. Many more wondered why the US had not yet exerted effective leadership to unite the international community in stopping the genocide. Some were not waiting for our advice. In Oxford, Amjad and Daoud met Anthony Hervey, an Ole Miss graduate known locally as “Colonel Reb.” Hervey, flying the state flag of Mississippi, staked out prime real-estate on the town square and engaged journalists and passers-by with his compelling message for Senators McCain and Obama.

Darfur in last night's town-hall debate

Ashley — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:45:56 +0000

Last night the presidential candidates participated in their second debate in Nashville - this one in the town-hall style format - and we again had the opportunity to listen to the campaigns' platforms on Darfur and humanitarian intervention. Below is the candidates' exchange - spurred by moderator Tom Brokaw. To hear more about what the candidates have to say on Darfur, check out AddYourVoice.org.

Brokaw: Sen. Obama, let me ask you if -- let's see if we can establish tonight the Obama doctrine and the McCain doctrine for the use of United States combat forces in situations where there's a humanitarian crisis, but it does not affect our national security. Take the Congo, where 4.5 million people have died since 1998, or take Rwanda in the earlier dreadful days, or Somalia. What is the Obama doctrine for use of force that the United States would send when we don't have national security issues at stake? Obama: Well, we may not always have national security issues at stake, but we have moral issues at stake. If we could have intervened effectively in the Holocaust, who among us would say that we had a moral obligation not to go in? If we could've stopped Rwanda, surely, if we had the ability, that would be something that we would have to strongly consider and act. So when genocide is happening, when ethnic cleansing is happening somewhere around the world and we stand idly by, that diminishes us. And so I do believe that we have to consider it as part of our interests, our national interests, in intervening where possible. But understand that there's a lot of cruelty around the world. We're not going to be able to be everywhere all the time. That's why it's so important for us to be able to work in concert with our allies. Let's take the example of Darfur just for a moment. Right now there's a peacekeeping force that has been set up and we have African Union troops in Darfur to stop a genocide that has killed hundreds of thousands of people. We could be providing logistical support, setting up a no-fly zone at relatively little cost to us, but we can only do it if we can help mobilize the international community and lead. And that's what I intend to do when I'm president. Brokaw: Sen. McCain, the McCain Doctrine, if you will. McCain: Well, let me just follow up, my friends. If we had done what Sen. Obama wanted done in Iraq, and that was set a date for withdrawal, which Gen. [David] Petraeus, our chief -- chairman of our Joint Chiefs of Staff said would be a very dangerous course to take for America, then we would have had a wider war, we would have been back, Iranian influence would have increased, al Qaeda would have re- established a base. There was a lot at stake there, my friends. And I can tell you right now that Sen. Obama would have brought our troops home in defeat. I'll bring them home with victory and with honor and that is a fundamental difference. The United States of America, Tom, is the greatest force for good, as I said. And we must do whatever we can to prevent genocide, whatever we can to prevent these terrible calamities that we have said never again. But it also has to be tempered with our ability to beneficially affect the situation. That requires a cool hand at the tiller. This requires a person who understands what our -- the limits of our capability are. We went in to Somalia as a peacemaking organization, we ended up trying to be -- excuse me, as a peacekeeping organization, we ended up trying to be peacemakers and we ended up having to withdraw in humiliation. In Lebanon, I stood up to President Reagan, my hero, and said, if we send Marines in there, how can we possibly beneficially affect this situation? And said we shouldn't. Unfortunately, almost 300 brave young Marines were killed. So you have to temper your decisions with the ability to beneficially affect the situation and realize you're sending America's most precious asset, American blood, into harm's way. And, again, I know those situations. I've been in them all my life. And I can tell you right now the security of your young men and women who are serving in the military are my first priority right after our nation's security. And I may have to make those tough decisions. But I won't take them lightly. And I understand that we have to say never again to a Holocaust and never again to Rwanda. But we had also better be darn sure we don't leave and make the situation worse, thereby exacerbating our reputation and our ability to address crises in other parts of the world. Brokaw: Sen. McCain, thank you very much.

Olympians in DC

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:00:49 +0000

Yesterday hundreds of 2008 Olympians visited Washington, DC to meet with President Bush at the White House. Two Team Darfur athletes - Cheri Blauwett and Mike Altman - stuck around to meet with some of the people making real change for the people of Darfur. Cheri, a 3 time Paralympian and gold, silver and bronze medal holder in wheelchair racing, and Mike, a 2 time Olympic rower, first visited USAID's Office of Sudan Programs and Africa Bureau for a briefing on American aid to Sudan. Officers at USAID informed us that since the beginning of 2008 the humanitarian indicators, which include malnutrition and disease rates, have significantly worsened. They said this marks a departure from the past few years, when humanitarian agencies had been able to reach affected populations with more consistency, so there was less disease and malnutrition. We learned, however, that the US provides over 1/2 of the food (or money for the food) distributed by the World Food Program in Darfur. US humanitarian aid to Darfur in FY 2008 totaled over $830 million. While of course the US, like all countries, can do more for Darfur, it was refreshing to hear how much our tax dollars are doing to save lives. At the State Department, Cheri and Mike helped the Bureau of African Affairs celebrate their 50th birthday. At the small celebration, we learned about intiatives that the Office of Public Diplomacy is engaged in throughout Sudan. We also heard from members of the Sudan Program Group, who talked about the US government's emphasis on protection, especially the deployment of 4,000 new peacekeepers by the end of the year. At both meetings people emphasized the importance, and challenge, of the upcoming elections in Sudan. With so much energy focused on the US's presidential elections, it was a good reminder that elections hold promise and risk around the world. It was an incredibly informative day, and inspiring to to see how yet again the energy and commitment of Olympians adds so much to the fight for the people of Darfur. And, don't forget to sign a postcard to Obama and McCain asking them to make Darfur even more of a priority in the next administration!

Goal uncertain for peacekeeping

Allyn Brooks-LaSure — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:12:39 +0000

How many UNAMID peacekeepers will be deployed to Darfur by year's end? The answer depends on what U.N. official is talking. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said Tuesday that two-thirds of the peacekeeping mission should be in place by December. Ban said:

"Despite the many obstacles, we aim to reach 65 percent deployment by the end of the year, and 85 percent by March 2009. I may have to adjust a little bit in view of the circumstances on the ground."

This certainly backtracks on the U.N.'s previous pledge of 80 percent deployment by December, but also seemed to contradict the lowered expectations set by Alain LeRoy, under-secretary-general of U.N. Peacekeeping Operations. Two weeks ago LeRoy said only 50 percent of the peacekeeping mission would be deployed by December:

"I think 80 percent sadly has been, as far as I know so far, a bit optimistic."

Following LeRoy's comments, Save Darfur president Jerry Fowler issued a strong statement condemning the U.N. for downgrading their peacekeeping projections.

"While the UNAMID peacekeeping mission may indeed be a ‘half-strength force’ by December – the U.N. Security Council has already been a ‘full-strength’ failure on this crisis."

Does this now mean the U.N. Security Council will only be a 65 percent failure?

Take the poll

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Fowler: Strong Words Must Become Strong Actions

Allyn Brooks-LaSure — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:38:00 +0000

Jerry Fowler, Save Darfur Coalition president, yesterday emailed Darfur activists regarding the presidential and vice presidential debates wherein Darfur was a topic of discussion. Jerry said tough words from the candidates on Darfur was only part of our work:

Now we must ensure that strong words in debates turn into strong actions in the Oval Office. And to do it, we must raise our voices together as one.

Jerry urged all activists to be a voice for Darfur by sending a message to the next U.S. president. The full text of Jerry's email follows:

Dear Darfur activist,

During last night's presidential debate, I watched as Sens. McCain and Obama spoke about the United States' responsibility to end the crisis in Darfur.

It was a moving moment for me, and an important one for our movement. In the past week, we've heard the next president and vice president of the United States call for leadership to end the suffering.

Now we must ensure that strong words in debates turn into strong actions in the Oval Office. And to do it, we must raise our voices together as one.

Add your voice today—send a postcard to the next president urging Day One action on Darfur.

Think about it: millions of Americans just heard the next president of the United States talk about ending the genocide. This was only possible because of your outspoken support for Darfur.

We can't let up. Your actions have compelled the next president to speak strongly about Darfur. Now we must compel the next president to act strongly on Darfur from Day One of his administration.

One million voices calling for U.S. leadership—voices from all political parties, all faiths, all walks of life—can compel the next president to act.

Sign the postcard and make sure the new president acts on his promise to the people of Darfur.

When thousands upon thousands of citizens of conscience speak with one voice, our leaders listen. That's how we've gotten this far. Now let's continue to hold them accountable. Let's demand that they keep faith with the people of Darfur.

My best,

Jerry Fowler Save Darfur Coalition

Activists spur Palin divestment

jmoreland — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:00:58 +0000

As posted on blogs.ABCnews.com: Informed by ABC News that She Owns Mutual Fund with Sudan Holdings, Palin Says She Will Divest 10 Oct 2008 12:51 PM Informed by ABC News that she holds an investment in a mutual fund that owns shares in companies that human rights organizations say help the government of Sudan, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Friday said through a spokesman that she will divest from that mutual fund. According to financial disclosure forms Palin released last week (read them HERE). Palin owns up to $15,000 in Legg Mason International Equities, which the McCain-Palin campaign specified is the Legg Mason International Equity Fund. Read the full article.

Omar al Bashir Interview with Channel 4 News in Khartoum

lscott — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:08:00 +0000

On October 8, Omar al Bashir was interviewed by Lindsey Hilsom, international editor for Channel 4 News in Khartoum. During this interview, al Bashir's approach was to deny any wrongdoing altogether, claiming that the killings and mass rapes are all rebel lies. Al Bashir even went as far as to deny the existence of rape itself in Darfurian culture, claiming there is no DNA evidence that janjaweed or Sudanese government soldiers ever committed rape.

FULL TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW WITH OMAR AL BASHIR, PRESIDENT OF SUDAN, WITH LINDSEY HILSUM, INTERNATIONAL EDITOR CHANNEL 4 NEWS, IN KHARTOUM, 8TH OCTOBER 2008:

Note: Only the edited version has been broadcast.

Lindsay Hilsum: You’ve been in power almost 20 years. What have you achieved?

Omar al Bashir: Since we came to power, we have had distinct goals – we have achieved peace in Sudan, especially South Sudan through the agreements we made. Our second goal was national consensus and reconciliation. Now this is fully in practice, all political parties and entities are practicing their programs with freedom and preparing themselves to participate in elections. The third goal was the salvation of our economy. When we came to power, we were in a very poor economic position; we were one of the five poorest countries in the world. Now we have a growing, viable economy that is recording high rates of growth.

LH: But hanging over you is that you may be indicted for genocide. You said in Ghana [at the ACP meeting} that if this happens, there will be no peace, while the further deployment of UN troops and aid will be held up. That sounds like blackmail

O al B: First that isn’t exactly what I said in Ghana. We agreed to negotiate with rebel groups who refused peace, but any measure like that taken by the ICC, encourages them not to attend peace talks. This was evident in their rejection and lack of interest in making peace as long as we are facing these charges.

LH: It’s not just a question of peace but of justice. These allegations of genocide, war crimes against humanity, war crimes – the prosecutor quotes recorded and written and words of yours calling for forces to take no prisoners, and for a scorched earth campaign..

O al B: These allegations are not correct. Everything is fabricated and made up. Anything saying that we ordered killing people is untrue. The sources used by the ICC prosecutor are all hostile; they are from the rebels who revolted against the state.

LH: You say the sources are rebel groups, but the atrocities are well documented. I’ve been there, I’ve seen the burnt villages, the women who have been raped, the thousands living in terror in the camps.

O al B: It’s true that many people are living in camps. After the rebels were defeated in the field, many entered the displaced people’s camps. They are managing the camps, and they direct the people who meet visitors and dictate what they should say. It’s very normal for people to be displaced from areas of operations and to flee. The question is where did these people move to? They moved into places where there are Sudanese armed forces, police and security because they were sure that they would find safety there. Is it rational for people to flee and look for security in the very place where they find the same forces that were carrying out mass murder and rape? When these people went to Nyala, El Fasher and Geneina, there were no humanitarian organizations or African Union or UN, rather there were Sudan Armed forces and police.

LH: There wasn’t much protection for people in Kalma attacked by Sudanese forces in August. There’s not much protection for women who run gauntlet of janjaweed whenever they go to look for firewood…

O al B: When it comes to mass rape, there is no document or evidence, just accusations. Anything which claims these things are documented is untrue. But if we are talking about Kalma, in Kalma there were arms inside the camp. The crime of murder was committed inside the camp. We agreed that the operation would be made in collaboration between government forces and UNAMID, but at the last moment the UNAMID mentioned that they had received orders not to be involved. They knew when the forces moved because the information had leaked. A number of citizens confronted the forces. Behind them, there were armed men and the shooting started from inside the camp. Some soliders when shot at, automatically retaliated and casualties occurred. But after this incident, a shot was fired at a UN plane from within the camp, and it was brought down. This is a displaced people’s camp, not a rebel camp, and arms are not allowed inside. Arms should be removed from the camps.

LH: So you shot at people in the camp because you believed there were rebels behind them…?

O al B: That’s not what I said. The casualties were in the crossfire.

LH: I’m interested that you deny that there’s been mass rape. Because this is something that not just the rebels are saying. What we see is the UN, the Ministry of Health people, we see women turning up with evidence of rape at healthcare facilities. We see children with this. And they all tell the same story, that it’s usually janjaweed, sometimes government of Sudan troops. Are you really denying this, are you really saying that women of Sudan are lying?

O al B: The women inside the camps are under the influence of the rebels and some are even relatives of the rebels. That’s why they make these claims. Now there are scientific methods that can reveal who are the fathers of these children which are born. We are fully convinced that no rape took place. It might have happened at an individual level, but this is a normal crime that can happen in any country in the world. Mass rape does not exist.

LH: So you’re going to take DNA of the janjaweed…?

O al B: You can bring any accused, and take his DNA.

LH: They don’t know who did it, individual, Just know the janjaweed

O al B: These are all false allegations. It’s not in the culture of the Darfurians. The Darfurian society does not have rape. It’s not in the tradition.

LH: Do you have no pity?

O al B: No-one has more compassion for their people than we do in Sudan. We have been fighting rebels and in any country where people raise arms against the government, they are to be fought. In fact, people who fight now are classified as terrorists even those who are resisting foreign occupation like in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and so on. If we had no mercy, those displaced people wouldn’t have come to the government areas. They wouldn’t have been received and cared for until the humanitarian organisations arrived. [long passage about how Sudan helped refugees from Ethiopia during the war there]

LH: Do you take responsibilty for action of the armed forces of Sudan including the janjaweed?

O al B: Any armed forces are governed by law. This law defines exactly who is responsible for any operation carried out. If a commander exceeds his limits of responsibility, the law is there to hold him accountable. Of course, these responsiblities are shared. We are not leading or commanding forces in the field. We give general instructions or orders, which the forces carry out.

LH: Two significant people in conflict, your former Minister of Interior Ahmad Haroun and a janjaweed commander Ali Khusyab, have been indicted. You said you won’t hand them over to the ICC? Why not? Let them defend themselves.

O al B: We have a competent and qualified judicial system. It has a history and has set judicial precedents that have tried commanders of police and security. We are not members of the Rome Protocol, but we assure you that there’s no one above the law. If there is anyone who has accusations against Ahmad Haroun and Ali Khusayb the prosecution is there, the judiciary is there, and there is no impunity for anyone who commits a crime.

LH: It’s a bit embarrassing, isn’t it, to have a head of state who faces indictment, possible indictment? It means you might not be able to travel to various countries… Are you really going to stand for election next year, do you think you can stay? Or do you think it would be for the good of the country, better to step down now?

O al B: First of all, we are facing a challenge and the referee is the Sudanese people. They should decide if we are really criminals, or if we are leaders of the people who should govern them in the future. I issue a challenge: if I get less than 50% of the people’s votes in Darfur then truly I don’t deserve to lead the country.
LH: They’re now saying this ship carrying tanks and other weapons hijacked by pirates off coast of Somalia was carrying weapons for the GOSS, previously your enemies now part of your government. What’s your reaction?
O al B: There were conflicting reports. Acually I met the Kenyan Foreign Minister in Accra and he assured me that this shipment of arms was for Kenya. Of course, the media says otherwise. Now we are talking to our brother in Southern Sudan to see the truth about it.

LH: There’s worry about the war in the south re-starting. Darfur, Kordofan, Blue Nile, Nuba Mountains… There are a lot of unhappy, restless people in Sudan. This country is boiling. How are you going to deal with that? How do you see it in five years time?
O al B: I’m very keen to show that this thing of the country boiling is untrue. We have no problems in Blue Nile, or Nuba Mountains. Everything is fine. The implementation of the peace agreement with the south is fine. Now even in Darfur, you can say most of it is safe. There are no problems and life is very normal. In the media it’s boiling, but in the field it’s not.

Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition

Ashley — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:51:33 +0000

The Post-Gazette yesterday covered the Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition's involvement in the Tents of Hope campaign, along with the myriad other initiatives in which they have been involved. The mission of the Tents of Hope project is to support a one-year process in which people respond as communities to the crisis in Darfur by creating tents that are both unique works of art and ongoing focal points within communities for learning about, assisting and establishing relationships with the people of Sudan. An excerpt of the article appears below.

Pittsburgh residents' efforts to focus international attention on the genocide in Darfur might seem relatively simple -- a painted tent, a signed postcard, a protest bus trip to Washington, D.C. -- but they mean everything to the war's victims, according to a Darfuri activist with the national Save Darfur Coalition. [...] "When they know people around the world are thinking of them, it gives them hope," [Niemat] Ahmadi told about 50 community and student leaders at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill yesterday. "They need this hope and this will be a great hope for them. They know there are still bad people who make them suffer, but this will give them hope."

The full story appears here.

Halima Bashir on NPR

Ashley — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:08:31 +0000

Halima Bashir, a physician from Darfur and recent author of the memoir Tears of the Desert, was a guest this morning on NPR's Diane Rehm Show. During the interview, she described her life in Darfur, the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, and the challenges she has faced since fleeing her homeland for England. You can listen to the interview here.

Bashir's "People's Initiative for Sudan"

Ashley — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:38:50 +0000

In response to yesterday's launch of President al-Bashir's "People's Initiative for Sudan" conference, Save Darfur released the following policy statement:

The Save Darfur Coalition views President Omar al-Bashir’s “People’s Initiative for Sudan” as yet another attempt to distract Sudanese and international attention from real solutions to the violence and suffering in Darfur. These “fig leaf” efforts clearly are designed to build support in the international community to oppose the issuance of an arrest warrant for President Bashir by the International Criminal Court and have no connection to stopping the killing in Darfur. Joint Chief UN/AU mediator Djibril Bassole stated that the discussions at the conference must “take into account everything that will lead to a dialogue with these [rebel] movements." Experience shows that the Sudanese government will fail to heed this advice. Were the Sudanese government serious about leading a reconciliation conference that could lead to long-term security, peace and justice in Darfur, it would take the following steps: · Cease all attacks on civilians, IDP camps, and offensive military flights in Darfur. · Unilaterally declare a cease-fire and withdraw its security forces from the main Darfuri cities. · Immediately disarm the Janjaweed, as mandated by UN Resolution 1556 (passed on July 30, 2004) · End all obstructions to the deployment of the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Before these conditions are met, any offer of the Sudanese government to negotiate with Darfuri leaders is a sham. It is for this reason, furthermore, that only a group of handpicked Darfurians are attending this three-day meeting. Only demonstrable steps forward in security on the ground in Darfur will create the appropriate conditions for the people of Darfuri to express their true grievances – resulting from the Sudanese government’s genocidal campaign – and their legitimate demands for peace. A true peace process that advances a dialogue between the disputing parties will require the above improvements in security, an empowered mediator who has the trust of all sides, and a unified strategy towards ending the genocide by the major international powers.

Gary Bass to speak at upcoming activist conference

Rich Stazinski — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:15:17 +0000

Professor Gary J. Bass of Princeton University, author of the critically-acclaimed Freedom's Battle: The Origins of Humanitarian Intervention, will be our special guest salon discussant at the upcoming Darfur Activist Leaders Conference in Washington, DC from November 7-9. Bass is associate professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton University. He is also the author of Stay the Hand of Vengeance: The Politics of War Crimes Tribunals. A former reporter for The Economist, he has written for The New York Times, as well as The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The New Republic, and Foreign Affairs. Peter Maass, author of Love Thy Neighbor: A Story of War, writes of Bass's latest achievement:

"Gary Bass has written an innovative book that broadens the idea of humanitarian intervention. Though we might like to regard contemporary anti-genocide campaigns as unique achievements of our times, Freedom's Battle offers a striking and original argument that activists and politicians of the nineteenth century paved the way with a series of interventions to stop the slaughter of innocents. Bass's new and provocative reading of nineteenth-century political history teaches us how to better react to the genocides in our world."

In short, modern anti-genocide activists like you are part of a long and proud lineage. Don't miss this unique opportunity to engage Professor Bass. Sign up for the conference now!

HRW slams Sudan's Darfur investigation

Ashley — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:03:05 +0000

Human Rights Watch today labeled the Sudanese government's probe on Darfur crimes as "window dressing" and a clear attempt to halt the proceedings of the International Criminal Court.

"The Sudanese government is putting up more window dressing as part of its ongoing effort to block the investigations of the International Criminal Court," said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "No one should be fooled by these moves," she added. [...] "Even if the government were serious about prosecuting Kosheib, limitations in Sudanese law mean that he could not be tried for the full range of crimes... that have been committed in Darfur," said Gagnon.

The full Agence France-Presse story is available here.

Join Tents of Hope in DC!

Rich Stazinski — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:43:08 +0000

Through the Tents of Hope project, communities across the United States and abroad have transformed simulated refugee tents into unique works of art to express their compassion and desire for peace in Darfur. The tents are decorated with a variety of images and scenes conceived and painted on the tents by individuals from all walks of life and backgrounds. More than 300 tents will be erected on the National Mall on November 7-9, 2008. Weekend activities will include a rally on Sunday, November 9, music, children’s activities, panels and workshops. For information, contact Amber Neuroth -- tentsofhopedarfur@gmail.com, 202-470-3226

Thousands of voices, 1 message

jerry — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:39:45 +0000

In less than two weeks, Americans will select the next president who is responsible for taking strong actions on Darfur. We've set a goal of collecting 20,000 new postcards for the next president before Election Day. A stack of urgent messages from Darfur activists will be waiting for him when he sits down in the Oval Office in January. Make sure yours is among them. Send your postcard, and be one of 20,000 new voices for peace. We've come such a long way with your help. People are alive today in Darfur because we raised our voices together. And your consistent work has sparked strong words on Darfur from our nation's leaders. Look at what we've accomplished just this year: May 28: The three presidential candidates issue an unprecedented joint statement pledging to pursue peace in Darfur with "unstinting resolve." October 2: In their debate, both vice presidential candidates express their plans for U.S. leadership on Darfur. October 7: In the presidential town hall debate, Sens. McCain and Obama discuss how to end the genocide. Your actions have spurred strong words on Darfur. Now we have to take the next critical step together: ensure that strong words in debates become strong actions in the Oval Office. Thousands and thousands of voices speaking together can compel the next president to keep the promise he made to Darfuris. Will you be a voice for Darfur? Add your voice: send a postcard today! After you've added your voice, please click here to ask your friends and family to add their voices and help us collect 20,000 signatures before Election Day. Thank you for your commitment to ending the violence in Darfur.

Pass it On: 'Be a Voice for Darfur'

jmoreland — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:31:51 +0000

I'm often caught off guard by the number of people I meet who aren't aware of the crisis in Darfur. These interactions -- however surprising -- serve as a great reminder that there's much we can all do to spread awareness and build a movement that brings peace to Darfur and all Sudan. I've recently spread the word using the video below. A quick email, blog posting, or note on Facebook with a link to the video encourages friends and family to "Be a Voice for Darfur" - as part of Save Darfur Coalition's campaign to collect and deliver 1 million signed postcards to the next president. Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTSaD-XLuBk

November Darfur Hero: Ethan Barhydt

Ashley — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:45:23 +0000

The Darfur Heroes program, started last year by the coalition, highlights individuals and groups who play a crucial role in helping end the violence in Darfur through awareness-raising and other efforts. This month, Save Darfur is honoring Chicago teen Ethan Barhydt. Here is his story: On the final day of my 7th grade class on the Holocaust, our religious school teacher unexpectedly announced that we would be taking a final exam. As he passed out the exam face down, I became nervous that I would be unable to conjure up all of the information that we had learned throughout the year. However, when I turned over single sheet of paper, I realized with relief that it was not a typical final exam. Instead, it consisted of a single paragraph we had to read that simply stated: Your final exam in how you conduct the rest of your lives. Can it happen again? The answer is up to YOU and to YOUR CHOICES. Will YOU CHOOSE to get involved or will you be a bystander? It was on that day that I promised never to by a bystander to injustice. Five years later, I continue to use those words as a reminder of my responsibility to stand against human rights atrocities. Throughout my high school career, I have worked with a lot of amazing people to improve the lives of victims of the genocide in Darfur. While the following paragraphs will discuss the actions that I have specifically taken, effective activism results from a community of people working together towards a single goal. Through this unity, great change occurs. During my sophomore year of high school, I began taking a lot of action to help genocide victims. My first action was initiating a school-wide petition drive encouraging the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to support greater attention for Darfur within the international organization. Before sending hundreds of signatures to the Secretary General, a group of us brought the petition to Congressman Mark Kirk in an effort to encourage him to dedicate more time towards Darfur efforts. As the result of our action and the voices of thousands of people around Chicago, Congressman Kirk has supported important legislation to end the genocide. The following year, after taking many school-wide actions, I began looking for a way to broaden the effect of my activism. In a discussion about Darfur activism with a representative of the organization Facing History and Ourselves, we discussed how powerful an event would be that united young activists from around the Chicago area. Following that discussion, I contacted several student activists in the area, and we began to plan an event called Youth United for Darfur. Our group of 10 worked extremely hard to plan the event, and it was quite a success. On April 27, 2008, almost 170 students gathered from around the Chicago area to learn about effective activism techniques and to take action. The event began with presentations on the situation in Darfur, followed by breakout sessions about activism techniques. After lunch, there was a press conference in which state representatives, state senators, a world renowned architect, and others, presented an initiative to build a Sudanese Community Center in Chicago. Finally, students celebrated Sudanese culture with live Sudanese music and food. We raised money, collected a ton of petition signatures, educated students on how to be effective activists, got media attention, and most importantly, we showed Chicago that teenagers won’t stand for genocide! In my most recent efforts, I worked with several organizations to create a benefit event for the Sudanese Community Center in Chicago, which included a community service project and live music. People were asked to bring school supplies for the children of Sudanese refugees who cannot afford to buy what they need, and we gathered hundreds of pounds of markers, folders, pencils, backpacks, and other essential supplies! In addition, the nationally acclaimed band State Radio, who often uses their musical influence to effect change, attended and played an inspiring acoustic set, including their song “Sudan,” which educates people about the current atrocities. In total, the event raised over $3,000 to help organize programs for Sudanese refugees. Our efforts are truly making a difference to the Sudanese Community! The mass violations of human rights in Darfur are truly remarkable. But even more remarkable than the abuses themselves is the power that we have to stop them. Each and every one of us has the ability to make a positive difference to the victims of the most recent genocide. Each action that we take against this issue, no matter how small it may seem, will contribute to creating change. John Prendergast, co-author of Not on Our Watch, believes that average citizens are the ones who provide the base for such important change. When we, the citizens of the United States, speak loud enough against such crimes, politicians, religious leaders, television and radio hosts, musicians and even other citizens, will join. Whether we sign a petition, call our representative, or donate a couple of dollars, we slowly but surely move Sudan towards peace. Already we have seen influential politicians and celebrities speak out against the genocide as a result of our actions. And as we continue to speak up, people from all around the world will continue to speak with us.

Are you a "troublemaker"?

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:42:20 +0000

Because 9 Team Darfur athletes were listed as such by the Chinese government in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics. Yesterday, USA Today broke the story that:

China's government was so concerned about the possibility of athlete demonstrations in the Beijing Olympics that it created a list of nine U.S. athletes and one assistant coach it thought might cause trouble at the Games, according to an internal U.S. Olympic Committee e-mail obtained by USA TODAY... The list was given to USOC officials in a July 8 meeting by Shu Xiao, minister counselor for cultural affairs at the Chinese embassy in Washington, according to the e-mail.

You can read the whole e-mail here, but apparently:

"The subject matter had to do with information the Chinese have received regarding the intention of certain members of the U.S. Olympic team to stage some sort of demonstration at the Games, perhaps displaying banners or wearing apparel or wrist bands bearing political slogans," the e-mail stated. It added that Shu said "many of them" were "apparently associated with Team Darfur," an international coalition of athletes committed to raising awareness about the crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

It's scary to know you're on a target list, but instead of being scared, Team Darfur athletes were flattered:

"This may be the biggest compliment of my life," Wambach, a member of Team Darfur, said in a phone interview when informed of the list. "If they're worried about us, maybe we do have more strength as athletes and as people to speak out. This just gives me more empowerment."

"It doesn't surprise me but it makes me laugh," said Mendoza, who also is president-elect of the Women's Sports Foundation. "We're not burning our shirts and ranting and raving. We're just trying to help thousands of people from dying."

Cheri Blauwett, a Paralympic gold medalist who was also on the list, told me:

"As Olympic and Paralympic athletes, we understand that we have a voice, and as members of Team Darfur, we have chosen to utilize this voice to support a global movement to bring about peace in Sudan. Through bringing us together in action, we can provide support for negotiations and multilateral government intervention that promote the end of fighting in the Darfur region and surrounding conflict zones. Our support of peace should not be subject to censorship, but rather, be applauded as an example of athletes acting to promote peace and international cooperation."

Unfortunately, American athletes weren't the only ones targeted. Athletes from 5 other countries reported to Team Darfur that Chinese government officials approached their Olympic committees asking them to "encourage" the athletes to leave Team Darfur before attending the Games. The USOC was one of the only Olympic Committees, however, to so forcefully stand up for their athletes.

In addition, Team Darfur's President - Joey Cheek - and two other Team Darfur members had their visas revoked right before they were supposed to attend the Games in non-competing capacities. The world-wide pattern of the Chinese Government targeting athletes who had no plans to break IOC rules or openly protest, simply because the Government was so scared their connection to the Sudanese government would come out, should encourage us all to ask: what was the Chinese government so afraid of? Some world-class athletes talking about foreign policy? Or, that their support for ongoing genocide would be revealed?

Photo: Joey Cheek in front of the Chinese Embassy.

Young Role Models: Dollars for Darfur Students Win Service Awards

cwagner — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:33:41 +0000

It’s no secret that high school students are busy. Classes, friends, sports, applying to college – it’s enough to occupy anyone. What is extraordinary is that all across the country, students are dedicating their time to bring peace to Darfur. The Dollars for Darfur program is proof of how generous and effective young people can be, and how importantly they view the crisis in Darfur. The students who devote their time to this cause remind us of what each person can achieve, and recently, several have been acknowledged for their hard work. This month Ana Slavin and Nick Anderson, aged 18 and 19 respectively, were honored with a Global Action Award by Mercy Corps for founding the program as juniors in high school. Their enthusiasm and commitment kindled a nationwide effort that has engaged thousands of students and inspired them to speak out for the Darfuri people. Recently Meera Basu, a student at Wyoming High and member of the Dollars for Darfur National Student Advisory Board, was awarded this year’s YMCA Character Award in Cincinnati, Ohio. Meera’s high school has twice placed in the top 10 Dollars for Darfur schools nationally. These committed students deserve their awards for the hard work they’ve done and the examples they provide. Beyond their personal accomplishments, their work with Dollars for Darfur has given other students the tools for success and has empowered them to become effective advocates. With Dollars for Darfur, they challenge their young peers to raise not just money, but the level of their social conscience and activism as well. And, across the country, students are responding and getting involved to end the genocide. Visit www.savedarfur.org/dollarsfordarfur to join the campaign or learn more. Photo: Ana Slavin and Nick Anderson on the Hill.

School of the Month: Homer Junior High School in NY

cwagner — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:18:17 +0000

The School of the Month for November is Homer Junior High School of Homer, New York! The Humanitarian Club of Homer Junior High is a group of 8th grade students raising money for charities around the world. For the past two years they have focused on the Save Darfur Coalition. Each year, before they begin fundraising, social studies teachers at Homer play the eight-minute video “The Promise” for their classes and discuss the situation in Darfur. The video touches many students and encourages them to help. This year, the Humanitarian Club organized a school-wide Hat Day, when students can pay $1 to wear a hat in school (they are not allowed to normally). They also hosted a school dance, charging admission and donating all the money they collected. In addition to these events, the club sells green Save Darfur wristbands to raise awareness and funds. The club plans to continue these activities throughout the year and is organizing a car wash for the spring. Its members work continuously to come up with new and unique ideas to raise money to help the people of Darfur. Humanitarian Club members include:

Evan Alexander
Olivia Card
Becca DeWitt
Manseerat Dhami
Kayla Fisher
Addie Fox
Cheyanne Gaffney
Abbey Gray
Molly Gray
Meagan Hartquist
Taryn Heath
Danielle Howell
Pat Kiernan
Billy Luety
Kevin McNeil
LeeAnne Pedrick
Max Randolph
Katie Sinclair
Michelle Spencer
Tim Walsh
Zach Williams
Kim Butts (advisor)

Dear President-Elect Obama

jmoreland — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:05:42 +0000

It's official. The U.S. has decided who its next president will be. The inauguration of a new president promises to provide new opportunities to bring protection and peace to the people of Darfur. Even better, these promises are supported by strong statements of commitment from President-elect Obama: "I will make ending the genocide in Darfur a priority from Day One. It is a collective stain in our national and human conscience that the genocide in Sudan, now starting its sixth year, has gone on for far too long." (April 2008) "We can't say 'never again' and then allow it to happen again. As President of the United States, I don't intend to abandon the people or turn a blind eye to slaughter." (April 2008) President-elect Obama's opportunity to turn his promises into action is coming soon. And our opportunity to hold him accountable has already begun. Send a postcard urging President-elect Obama to make Darfur a day one priority. Together, our combined voices cannot be ignored. Together, we can help end a genocide.

Witness for the Persecuted

aburnette — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:08:11 +0000

The Washington Post reviewed Tears of the Desert today. Here's what they have to say about it.

"Tears of the Desert" is that rarest of literary endeavors, not just a book you read but a book you experience. Halima Bashir's story of growing up in the Zaghawa tribe of Darfur is vivid, poignant and brutally candid. It is also, simply, brutal. When she describes (with the expert help of her co-writer) the life of her remote desert village, readers will not want to put the book down. When she turns to the violence that shattered her village, her family and her own life, readers will have to steel themselves to go on.

I urge everyone to pick up a copy. Let us know what you think.

A 'Peace Surge' for Sudan

aburnette — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:45:45 +0000

The election of Barack Obama opens a window of opportunity for the United States to use its considerable experience in peacemaking. So, today the ENOUGH Project, the Genocide Intervention Network, and the Save Darfur Coalition released a joint statement urging President-elect Obama to make Darfur a top priority. In short, it calls on Barack Obama to "lead a concerted international peace surge for Sudan." Some suggestions for the President-elect include:

Don’t try to contain the damage from the war in Darfur—END the war.
Don’t just declare that genocide is taking place—END the genocide.
Don’t just manage the consequences of crisis after crisis in Sudan—END these crises.

Read the full text of the letter at http://www.enoughproject.org/files/reports/sudanpeacesurge_0.pdf.

Help Save the Children Save Children

aburnette — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:14:51 +0000

Our friends at Save the Children gave us a heads up about a contest they are part of. TripAdvisor is giving away up to $1 million to 5 charities. The money will be divided between the charities, based on the number of votes each receives. Save the Children is currently working in Darfur to bring relief to children and families, as well as many other campiagns. If you want an easy way to help them out, go to the contest site and vote. Check out their web site to learn more about the organization.

Save Darfur Annual Conference

aburnette — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:04:28 +0000

The Save Darfur Coalition is hosting its annual conference this weekend, along with STAND. This makes for a very diverse group of Darfur activist. Last night, there was a salon discussion with Gary Bass, who is the author of Freedom's Battle: The Origins of Humanitarian Intervention. I admit that I haven't read it yet, but the author highly recommends it. If you've read it, please let us know what you think. This morning's opening remarks were delivered to a packed ballroom, full of enthusastic supporters. Sam Bell from the Genocide Intervention Network and Nick Gaw, Director of STAND got the crowd fired up. Our own Jerry Fowler and John Pendergast (from the ENOUGH Project) explained the urgent need to continue to develop our 'constituency of conscience.' Right now, I'm sitting in on an interactive panel titled "Weaving a Web of Protection for Darfuri Women and Girls." Anna Bartlet, Katie Gualtieri, Shelly Moskowitz, and Kara Smith sit on the panel. SDC previewed our Violence Against Women video, which will be released in February. More later...

SDC Annual Conference, Part II

aburnette — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:26:58 +0000

Here's a summary of from Friday night's opening session. Jen Maceyko, a conference attendee and Darfur activist, summarized the presentation as follows:

Professor Gary Bass of Princeton University opened the 2008 Save Darfur Coalition Conference last night with an honest assessment of the future of the movement while also providing insight into how we might best move forward. The key take-away: We are the people who make the phones ring. Professor Bass is perhaps best known as a former Economist reporter whose recent book, Freedom’s Battle, explores the history of the humanitarian movement. His vignettes from his book – from the London Greek Society standing up for the Greeks in the early 1820s to the British civil society’s outrage over the massacre of Bulgarians in the 1870s – demonstrated the importance of civil society in stopping genocide and crimes against humanity. Bass’s optimism about the crowd in the room – at least 100 people – was paired with a realistic assessment of where we are in the world now, especially considering the forthcoming Obama Administration. He warned that while there will be new leadership in the White House, many top foreign policy issues aren’t going anywhere; Iraq, Afghanistan, China, Russia, and the foreign and domestic economies are all trump issue. But there is still room for Darfur on the agenda of policymakers. Bass said that the Darfur movement needs to ensure that if they Administration is faced with a decision on whether to focus on Cuba or Darfur, for example, the case has been made for stopping the genocide in Darfur. How can we make the case?

Make sure every elected official in Washington and at your local level knows that their constituents care about this issue and want the genocide stopped. Make phone calls and office visits. But don’t overwhelm them with information. Be direct in what you want.

Do not give the press a free pass. Many large newspapers have completely eliminated their foreign correspondents. Continue to pressure the press to cover this story. And if they need help, make it newsworthy. There is always a new, important story to tell. Show them that story.

Build a constituency. The Holocaust had a built-in constituency, but Rwanda did not. That public and civil society pressure is what leaders need in order to make the right decisions.

Bass also shared stories about his recent trip to China to meet with Chinese officials. China does not take human rights reports seriously because they think they are being baited. But if leaders can change the frame through which China views the Darfur, there might be room for progress. China is interested in US hegemony, so the US needs to begin showing China how they can learn from our mistakes, particularly as they relate to our relations with states and their people. Bass’s discussion was a frank assessment of what we need to do to ensure the genocide in Darfur is ended. We need to set the agenda. And it happens the louder we are, the more we make the phones ring. Even with a new administration coming into office, we face an uphill battle. But it is up to us to ensure the goodwill that comes with a new administration is focused on Darfur.

Obama and Darfur

Michael Kleinman — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:21:18 +0000

[Barack Obama explaining his position on Darfur - Footage from Save Darfur]

There have been a number of articles recently providing advice about how the new administration should address the crisis in Darfur. For instance, the Enough Project, Save Darfur and the Genocide Intervention Network recently issued A Peace Surge for Sudan, an open letter to President-Elect Obama with a number of specific policy recommendations. (For a summary, see the recent post by my co-blogger Michelle.) Yet to get a sense of what an Obama Administration might actually do, it's useful to take a moment and look back at some of the statements he made over the course of the campaign, and even before. In the second Presidential debate, Obama offered the outlines of an Obama Doctrine, of when he would intervene in a humanitarian crisis. He said the following:

"So when genocide is happening, when ethnic cleansing is happening somewhere around the world and we stand idly by, that diminishes us. And so I do believe that we have to consider it as part of our interests, our national interests, in intervening where possible. But understand that there's a lot of cruelty around the world. We're not going to be able to be everywhere all the time. That's why it's so important for us to be able to work in concert with our allies."

The Obama Doctrine seems to say that the United States has a moral obligation to respond, but a measured moral obligation - idealism tempered by realpolitick. Hence the emphasis on working in partnership with others. Besides the importance of working with allies, he also mentioned two specific steps he would take. First, providing logistical support to the existing AU-UN peacekeeping force, and second imposing a no-fly zone. Obama has consistently advocated this sort of measured approach. In 2004, he called for sanctions against Sudan’s leaders and oil industry, as well as US logistical support for a peacekeeping force. He reiterated both the need for sanctions (in conjunction with the EU) and the importance of US support for UN peacekeepers in a November 2007 interview with Save Darfur. In addition, he recently took a strong line against President Bush’s negotiations with Sudan to remove it from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. According to Obama: “This reckless and cynical initiative would reward a regime in Khartoum that has a record of failing to live up to its commitments.” He has also spoken in favor of divestment. It's important to note that though he spoke in favor of a no-fly zone during the second debate, his other comments on the subject have been more ambiguous. He was the co-sponsor of a 2006 bill supporting a no-fly zone, and then again called for a no-fly zone in a May 2007 statement. Yet he was more hesitant in November 2007, saying that as some NGOs oppose a no-fly zone, he would have to evaluate the pros and cons before making a decision. Vice President-elect Joe Biden has taken a stronger line in the past - in April 2007, he said “I would use American force now”. During the Vice Presidential debate, however, he advocated a more measured approach, with a focus on implementing a no-fly zone and supporting the AU-UN peacekeeping force:

"I don't have the stomach for genocide when it comes to Darfur. We can now impose a no-fly zone. It's within our capacity. We can lead NATO if we're willing to take a hard stand. We can, I've been in those camps in Chad. I've seen the suffering, thousands and tens of thousands have died and are dying. We should rally the world to act and demonstrate it by our own movement to provide the helicopters to get the 21,000 forces of the African Union in there now to stop this genocide."

He also outlined his own vision of when he thinks the US should intervene militarily:

“The line that should be drawn is whether we A, first of all have the capacity to do anything about it number one. And number two, certain new lines that have to be drawn internationally. When a country engages in genocide, when a country engaging in harboring terrorists and will do nothing about it, at that point that country in my view and Barack's view forfeits their right to say you have no right to intervene at all.”

A statement which seems to indicate that Biden would be more willing to use force unilaterally, at least compared to Obama's statement above, which focuses more on the importance of working with allies. For more information, see Michael Kleinman's blog on Humanitarian Relief at change.org.

2008 Annual Conference Photostream

aburnette — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:23:58 +0000

Here's a nice collection of photos from the 2008 Annual Conference and the Tents of Hope exhibit on the National Mall. The conference was held November 7-9, 2008.

More on the Annual Conference

aburnette — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:30:02 +0000

One final note on the Save Darfur Coalition's annual conference, held last weekend. Activists from 45 different states, including Alaska, attended. Overall, it was a great conference. But don't take my word for it. Ashley Epes, an activist from Texas, has posted her comments on this blog. She sumarizes the conference and Tents of Hope exhibit far better than I can.

Jerry on Huffpo

aburnette — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:31:24 +0000

Our very own Jerry Fowler has a post on the Huffington Post that reminds us that both the candidates promised "unstinting resolve" to end the genocide in Darfur. Now that Barack Obama is the president-elect, Jerry urges him to keep his promise. "People in Darfur are alive today who otherwise would not be," he says, "because this growing constituency of conscience cried out. But still the suffering remains." But there is hope.

The inauguration of Obama presents a new opportunity to push for a lasting peace. He should invest heavily in diplomacy and work with allies to apply leverage on the parties, including further targeted sanctions for uncooperative key players.

Read the full post here.

Saving Darfur: A Plan for the Obama Administration

Robert — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:17:58 +0000

As Congress prepares to return to Washington next week, we at Save Darfur are looking ahead at the coming U.S. transition, as well as the opportunity for real change in Sudan that will be brought on not only by the advent of the Obama administration and the 111th Congress, but also by the expected issuance of an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court. All of these game-changing events are expected in January, which means that President Obama's first breaking international crisis could easily erupt in Khartoum. It is critical that over the next 3 months, the Bush administration, the Obama transition team, and Congress pay attention to the situation in Sudan, and that the Obama team craft a comprehensive plan for solving the crisis in Darfur within the context of a holistic approach to Sudan. This plan must begin with an examination of how to take full advantage of the internal Sudanese flux created by the coming ICC indictment and create a lasting peace out of potential chaos. For any solution to work and any breakthrough to last, the plan must also include the other necessary pieces of the conflict resolution puzzle, such as improving civilian protection, continuing the flow of humanitarian aid, building a stronger and better coordinated multilateral diplomatic effort, planning for long-term development, supporting democracy and governance efforts, holding the perpetrators of genocide accountable, and compelling Sudanese and rebel cooperation via an array of sticks and carrots. We have therefore prepared a new paper, Saving Darfur: A Plan for the Obama Administration which suggests a framework for such a plan. We will also be periodically publishing additional information on specific points within the framework in the coming weeks. These papers are intended to provide information to and spark a conversation amongst Congress and the transition team as to how Darfur and Sudan will be addressed in the coming year. Save Darfur has also begun a campaign to mobilize our 1 million U.S. activists as well as our 180 coalition members to ensure that the requisite political will needed to act is at hand, and to make clear that a large and growing constituency of Americans expect a full court press from Congress and the Obama administration on Darfur in the new year.

Will there really be a cease-fire?

amjad — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:43:54 +0000

Khartoum announced that it was ceasing all military operations and will begin disarming government allied militias in Darfur, “provided that an effective monitoring mechanism is put into action and observed by all involved parties.” That is a loophole big enough to drive a tank through, or for that matter, fly an Antonov bomber through. There is a desperate need for a unilateral cease-fire by Khartoum which even now continues to build up forces in West Darfur according to Darfuri sources. And there is a desperate need to have an international monitoring and verification force on the ground, and in the air, in Darfur to ensure that the cease-fire is in fact being observed. This can be done through the existing UNAMID mission with immediate assistance from Security Council members of necessary resources. If the government of Sudan is serious for the first time since the genocide began about bringing an end to this shameful chapter in Sudan’s history, it will actually implement these steps immediately and without condition. Should they enact such a cease-fire and disarmament effort, and should any Darfuri rebel movement attempt to launch attacks during this time, the international community must weigh in with the full force of its condemnation. The suffering of Darfuri civililans must be brought to an end and any who would continue to threaten that must be held to account. The situation on the ground only provides more evidence of the need for the current White House administration to coordinate with incoming President-elect Barack Obama’s administration on a coherent US strategy to work with the international community to end this tragedy. The situation on the ground will not wait for us. We must be able to begin the process of ending this conflict now.

Smoke and Mirrors? A commentary round-up

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:59:48 +0000

Earlier this week, Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir announced a unilateral ceasefire as part of the government's new peace initiative in Sudan. That push for peace, called the "Sudan People's Initiative", included very few voices other than government supporters. On the face of it, peace and ceasefires sound great, right? However, in Bashir's decades in power his actions have rarely corresponded with the nice words he's telling the world. This new effort from the government of Sudan comes as the the International Criminal Court is nearing a decision on issuing an arrest warrant for al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and genocide. Support for the arrest of al-Bashir is strong among the Darfuri community, as was evidenced last Friday at the delivery of a "People's Arrest Warrant" for al-Bashir at the Sudanse Embassy in Washington, DC (see photo at right). Seeing the extraordinary support for justice and accountability among the Darfuri community last Friday made me wonder what the leading experts were saying about the new peace initiative, the possibilities of a ceasefire, and how it all related to the case against al-Bashir. Omer Ismail, advisor to the Enough Project and leader in the Darfuri community in the United States, commented in October on the Sudan People's Initiative:

"The conference was opened without defined agenda and clear objectives. As if by saying the conference is a gathering of Sudanese that are going to look into the issue of Darfur is enough to make this souk a success. The bazaar of initiatives continue, with the GoS now shopping locally after going around carrying their “baggage” to all the markets abroad. The GoS is desperate to hear the echo of its own voice since the assumed “dialogue” is within “the “family” and in the absence of the “other-the Darfurian”. ...

In my humble opinion, I believe the GoS is wasting time on distractions instead of using its limited resources to seek lasting solutions to the Drafur issue, and the rest of the ailments distressing the country. The strategy of delay and stall has long since turned to the tragedy of successive failures and fewer chances to find solutions. Only the GoS can pull itself out of the Darfur conflagration, unfortunately for the regime, its choice of “fire-fighters’ may keep the fire ablaze, for time to come."

Save Darfur Coalition president Jerry Fowler responded to this week's ceasefire announcement:

"With their latest batch of hollow proposals and promises, Khartoum's smoke and mirrors show is in overdrive trying to suspend the ICC case against President al-Bashir. We've been down this road before. Time will tell if the Sudanese regime is for the first time serious about abiding by their newly declared ceasefire and bringing an end to this shameful chapter in Sudan's history... Only real, verified security on the ground, coupled with a just and inclusive peace agreement and justice mechanisms broadly acceptable to the Darfuri people, would justify any consideration of suspension of the ICC case. The suffering of Darfuri civilians must be brought to an end. Any who would continue to threaten that must be held to account."

Amjad Attalah, in his most recent post on this blog, emphasizes:

"There is a desperate need for a unilateral cease-fire by Khartoum which even now continues to build up forces in West Darfur according to Darfuri sources. And there is a desperate need to have an international monitoring and verification force on the ground, and in the air, in Darfur to ensure that the cease-fire is in fact being observed. This can be done through the existing UNAMID mission with immediate assistance from Security Council members of necessary resources. If the government of Sudan is serious for the first time since the genocide began about bringing an end to this shameful chapter in Sudan’s history, it will actually implement these steps immediately and without condition."

More optomistically, Alex de Waal sees a "flicker of hope" in this unilateral ceasefire. At Making Sense of Darfur, he says:

"Over the last year, the great majority of ceasefire violations have been by the Sudan armed forces and airforce and pro-government militia. Stopping these offensive military actions will certainly have an impact on the ground. Disarming the militia will also have an impact, if it can in fact be done. But these activities need to be monitored and verified. Bashir has promised verification... But the most important reality today is that the denial and self-imposed political paralysis that have marked the Sudanese political establishment’s approach to Darfur have been decisively overcome. Sudanese leaders are back at doing what they do best–talking through their issues. There’s a glimmer of hope."

And over at Change.org, there are dueling posts today on the suspension of the ICC. Michelle, at the Stop Genocide Blog, believes:

"The suspension of the indictment proceedings now, while Bashir is merely paying lip service to peace, will empower the regime even further, and will completely eliminate any international clout in forcing the government to the peace negotiation table. If Bashir bullies the UN Security Council into deferring the indictment, the international community will lose all credibility and points of leverage to a virtually-unstoppable dictatorship."

While Michael at the Humanitarian Relief Blog says that:

"...just because the Sudanese Government hasn't yet moved against the camps (which they see as supporting the rebels) doesn't mean that they'll continue to show the same restraint, especially if they feel that they have nothing to lose. I don't like the Sudanese Government, and I certainly hope there's space in one of the lower circles of hell reserved for Mr. Bashir. But it's easy to argue for justice when you're thousands of miles away. The human rights community tends to argue about how things should be. The humanitarian community is left with a somewhat different task - actually trying to keep people alive today, this week, this month."

There's a lot more commentary out there - but what do you think?

ICC Prosecutor Requests Warrants for Darfur Rebels

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:50:00 +0000

Yesterday, The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor on sought arrest warrants for three Darfur rebel leaders over a deadly attack on African Union peacekeepers in 2007 in Haskanita, Darfur. The Darfur advocacy community responded with praise for the fairness of the process of the International Criminal Court, and hope that the perpetrators of all of the most serious crimes in Darfur will be brought to account. The Save Darfur Coalition's Jerry Fowler:

“While we don’t equate this horrendous attack with the systematic campaign of destruction of violence orchestrated by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir – we strongly denounced this attack when it occurred and applaud Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo for pursuing the responsible parties. All actors in Sudan must recognize this fundamental truth: those who obstruct peace, security and lasting stability and who target civilians must be held to account. As we have previously noted, the focus of attention must now shift back to the U.N. Security Council, which has the responsibility to end the crisis and bring peace. So far, the council has abdicated that responsibility. It has refused to act on standing ICC arrest warrants, failed to provide the necessary equipment to UNAMID, and has allowed the Sudanese to both obstruct peacekeeper deployment and continue to use violence and destruction against its own population. That must end. Moreno-Ocampo has acted. We call again on the council to follow suit.”

Human Rights Watch's Richard Dicker:

"Civilians rely on peacekeepers for protection and any hope for restoring security for civilians in Darfur depends on peacekeepers being able to do their job These warrant requests send a strong message that such crimes will not be tolerated"

The Enough Project's John Prendergast, John Norris and Omer Ismail:

"The Chief Prosecutor’s actions are a powerful reminder that the Court will pursue justice with an even hand and follow the chain of evidence with regard to crimes against humanity wherever it leads. Today's move by the prosecutor makes clear that repeated claims by the Sudanese government that it is being unfairly targeted by the Court are without merit. Now that government officials, rebels, and militia leaders all have been subject to I.C.C. actions, it is clear that the Court is pursuing its work in a professional and impartial manner. Further, this balanced pursuit of accountability underscores the importance of all sides in the conflict partaking in credible peace talks and forging a lasting solution... Peace remains possible in Sudan, and today the Chief Prosecutor took an important step in helping the international community fulfill that goal."

State Department to Engage Online Youths

aburnette — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:08:31 +0000

Last week, the State Department announced its plans to promote online youths groups as a new way to fight crime, political oppression and terrorism. The Alliance of Global Youth Movements will be meeting today and Friday to discuss successes and failures. Save Darfur will be one of the organizations in attendance. The plan is to create a field manual that will give youths all over the world some steps they can take to mobilize others. An impressive array of groups that will be attending, including Burma Global Action Network, Shabab 6 of April and Million Voices Against the FARC. You will be able to watch the conference streaming live today and tomorrow on at http://youthmovements.howcast.com/.

New Facebook Petition

aburnette — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:10:11 +0000

Today we launched a petition on Facebook as part of our Be a Voice for Darfur campaign. Members of our Facebook cause will be able to sign our petition urging President-elect Obama to keep his promise of "unstinting resolve" to end the crisis in Darfur. This is a great opportunity for us to use new technology to reach out to people in different ways. If you're on Facebook, you can sign the petition at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/72. We've set a goal of 100,000 new signatures by January 20. Let us know what you think about it.

End Violence Against Women Day

sarah — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:00:26 +0000

In December 1999, the U.N. General Assembly adopted resolution 54/134, proclaiming November 25th to be the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Unfortunately, resolutions or days of recognition alone cannot end the sexual and other forms of gender-based violence targeted at women and girls all over the world. Only resolve, commitment, and passion on the part of strong women and men, dedicated policymakers, and advocates can create the conditions to bring an end to this violence. It is no small task, but there are concrete actions that can be taken to move us one step closer. This is especially true in areas where sexual violence is used as a weapon of war, not the least of them in Darfur. Gender-based violence in Darfur is rampant. In the over five years of conflict in the region, it has been systematically used as a tool of genocide. And it continues to claim hundreds of victims every day, in turn creating thousands of strong-willed survivors. Today, there will likely be a lot of talk. The U.N. Secretary-General may mark the day with a call to action against all forms and manifestations of violence against women and girls. Other senior officials of the United Nations and high-level office-holders may also comment on the global advocacy effort. There is already an active community in place that has taken on the fight to stop gender-based violence throughout the world. As it stands today, gender-based and sexual violence against women is a universal phenomenon. But in every instance, there is an opportunity to act. And with every opportunity, we must engage. Darfur is that opportunity. But talk is far from action. Today, we ask that you mark the day with a commitment to the women of Darfur – that you will stand with them to combat the daily acts of violence committed against them. On February 11, 2009, the Darfur advocacy movement will come together in an evening of advocacy to discuss what we can do to stop sexual violence against women and girls in Darfur. In our communities and as citizens of a global world, we must fight to stop crimes like those committed in Darfur and be strong advocates for the protection of innocent civilians. Throughout the night we will discuss the violence in Darfur and how it uniquely affects women and girls. And because talking is only the first step, we will take part in actions that engage activists from every corner of the world. These actions will be aimed at deploying a civilian protection forced armed with the necessary resources to effectively protect women and girls. At the top of that list we will work to get female boots on the ground and to secure training for troops in the gender-specific portions of their mandate. This is not easy work, but it is absolutely essential work. Together, we can stand with the women of Darfur in their fight to end the violence and facilitate peace. Mark your calendars for February 11, 2009 – contact Sarah Grundahl (sarah@savedarfur.org) or Katie Gualtieri (katie@savedarfur.org) to learn more information and sign up for updates. Click here to view the teaser of the video that will be shown that evening.

Darfur Hero raises money and awareness for Save Darfur on MTV's 'My Super Sweet 16'

Ashley — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:18:49 +0000

The Darfur Heroes program, started last year by the coalition, highlights individuals and groups who play a crucial role in helping end the violence in Darfur through awareness-raising and other efforts. This month, Save Darfur is honoring Christy Anderson - daughter of Salt-N-Pepa's DJ Spinderella and former NBA player and basketball legend Kenny Anderson. Check out her story below: When I knew for certain that I was to be joining the ranks of the many extravagant "MTV Super Sweet 16" parties, I knew I wanted to be different. I somehow wanted to challenge all the other super sweet sixteen-ers and do something that had never been done before. I wanted to give back. I had a feeling that this party would be just the place to do it! I remembered the Save Darfur campaign from a few years ago and when I finally got to research this coalition, the issue at hand in Darfur tugged at me. The Save Darfur Coalition is a U.S. based advocacy group that was formed to help stop the atrocities happening in the Eastern African country of Sudan. Some of these atrocities I came across, you couldn't even imagine. After learning what this campaign was all about, I decided I wanted to set up a Save Darfur charity table at my party. I am happy that I did what I wanted to do in the beginning, which was give something back. Despite what anyone may tell you, you're never too young to give back and you don't need an MTV Super Sweet 16 show to do it! I'm so proud to be named Save Darfur's Hero of the Month! I hope that all you will follow in my foot steps, take a stand, and give back!

Susan Rice nominated as ambassador to U.N.

aburnette — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:06:44 +0000

Jerry Fowler was quoted in a recent NYT article and praised Obama's choice of Susan Rice as the ambassador to the U.N. Jerry says, "It sends a very strong signal about his approach to the issue of Sudan and Africa in general.” You can read the full story here.

CNN Special this Thursday: Scream Bloody Murder

Ashley — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:39:22 +0000

Since the adoption of the U.N.'s Genocide Convention sixty years ago next Tuesday, the world has been witness to numerous genocides. CNN's Christiane Amanpour will host a 2 hour documentary called Scream Bloody Murder tomorrow at 9PM ET/PT to understand why individuals who spoke out against these crimes were ignored. Additional dates and times can be found here. Amanpour interviewed Mukesh Kapila, a British doctor and former U.N. official, on the international community's response to the Darfur crisis for the documentary.

"What happened in Darfur would be classified as obscene," he told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "It's a combination of a horror movie and a snuff movie."

However, Amanpour also notes the role that activists have played in bringing the crisis to the forefront and demanding action by elected officials.

But as conditions in Darfur became more widely known, a grass-roots movement began to grow, putting pressure on the White House and a spotlight on the U.N. Security Council. According to Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, "no other tragedy since 1945 has caught the imagination of so many people as Darfur has."

Check out the documentary tomorrow and let us know what you think.

Vote for Obama to end the genocide in Darfur

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:22:39 +0000

Save Darfur has partnered with Change.org on their "Ideas for Change in America" campaign. You can help make ending the genocide in Darfur a priority for the Obama administration by voting for Save Darfur's idea on Change.org's site. The idea:

End the Genocide in Darfur: President-Elect Obama must create a peace surge for Sudan, focused on ending the crisis in Darfur rather than managing it. Supporting a U.N.-authorized peacekeeping force that actively protects civilians and holding the perpetrators of the genocide to account are important elements of this "peace surge." Making Darfur a priority from Day One will help ensure immediate and lasting benefits for the people of Sudan.

Then, visit www.addyourvoice.org to add your voice to chorus asking Obama to make Darfur a priority from day one!

Moreno-Ocampo's briefing to the Security Council

Ashley — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:53:23 +0000

ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo briefed the Security Council yesterday and urged them to prepare for the possibility of the court issuing an arrest warrant for President al-Bashir in January or February. Moreno-Ocampo described the current situation on the ground and said that "genocide continues" in Darfur. Check out this Agence France-Presse story on the briefing. New York Times reporter Neil MacFarquhar also quoted in this story a Darfuri Leaders Network letter delivered to the council in advance of the briefing. The letter was a response to the Sudanese government's attempt to win support for a suspension of the ICC's case against Bashir.

[T]he Darfuri Leaders Network, a coalition of academics and others in exile in the United States, said the government was just making “empty gestures” while the threat of the indictment loomed. The group said in a statement that the indictment presented the best chance for accountability for crimes in Darfur.

Save Darfur on NPR

Ashley — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:46:20 +0000

Save Darfur board chairwoman Rev. Gloria White-Hammond was interviewed today on NPR's Tell Me More. You can listen to the segment here.

Genocide Prevention Task Force report

Ashley — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:25:24 +0000

The Genocide Prevention Task Force - a joint initiative of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the American Academy of Diplomacy and the U.S. Institute of Peace - issued a report today that outlines critical steps to prevent future genocide and mass atrocities around the world. Coalition president Jerry Fowler issued the following response to the report:

As an organization committed to ending the first genocide of the 21st century, the Save Darfur Coalition applauds the conclusions of the Genocide Prevention Task Force and supports the imperative goal of preventing genocide. To prevent and respond effectively to future genocide and mass atrocities, two things are necessary: a government that is better equipped to recognize and respond to these horrific situations as they develop and a politically salient constituency of conscience that demands action. The Task Force report outlines concrete steps that, if taken, will move toward achieving the first goal of improving the U.S. government's ability to recognize and respond to impending threats of mass murder. And essential to taking those steps and making them real, as Secretaries Cohen and Albright recently wrote, is leadership, especially from the White House and Congress. We can also be optimistic that the American people will do their part. The mass movement that has responded to genocide in Darfur shows that there is a constituency of conscience of people from all walks of life, all ages, and all political, religious and ethnic backgrounds that will raise its voice in response to mass atrocities. While Darfur has been this constituency’s primary focus during the past five years - it hasn’t been its only focus. And moving forward, this movement will demand presidential and congressional leadership to end the Darfur genocide and prevent the next Darfur from occurring.

Update on Hassa Hissa camp

Katie Gualtieri — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:30:26 +0000

Over the last several days, we received reports from contacts on the ground in Darfur that janjaweed militiamen have been massing around Hassa Hissa, an internally displaced persons camp near Zalengei, West Darfur. The Sudan Tribune reported that the tension in Hassa Hissa stemmed from a scuffle between camp residents and two janjaweed after several camp residents found the janjaweed attempting to rape a woman working on the outskirts of the camp. One militiaman was killed in the confrontation. In retribution, the approximately 30 janjaweed militiamen surrounded the camp. According to UNAMID, the men shot sporadically into the air, set at least five main water pumps on fire, and destroyed electricity generators. Although a UNAMID team was dispatched to the area to calm tensions directly following the incident, we continued to receive reports from Darfuris that the janjaweed were harassing civilians. From sources on the ground, we have heard that over 100 water pumps and irrigation systems were at least partially damaged and the main line supplying drinking water to the camp was completely destroyed, leaving camp residents without water for multiple days. As of the weekend, the residents remained without water. Leaders from Zalengei sent a list of those injured in the attacks, including an eight-month old boy. Reportedly, two have died. At the same time these events were unfolding near Zalengei, the ICC prosecutor was informing world leaders at the U.N. Security Council that genocidal acts are still occurring in Darfur. Are they listening? As of this writing, Darfuris already displaced by violence and insecurity are facing another day with a lasting source of water. In recent weeks, we have seen an upsurge in violence with a direct impact on the civilian population, despite a government proclaimed unilateral ceasefire. Sexual violence against women and girls remains rampant. Sudanese President Omar al Bashir has recently claimed that he is committed to finding a peaceful solution to the violence in Darfur, in hopes of securing a suspension of the ICC’s case against him. A good start to this commitment would be disarming the janjaweed and publicly prosecuting incidents of sexual violence by members of the armed forces. But President Bashir has shown no signs of doing either. Sadly, the suffering residents of Hassa Hissa are just another example of how his promises continue to fall short. Read the report written by Refugees International and commissioned by the coalition in June 2007 for more information on the need for law reform and accountability for rape in Darfur.

Author Halima Bashir at the White House

Ashley — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:30:45 +0000

Darfuri author and advocate Halima Bashir today met with President Bush in the Oval Office. Below is a transcript of their comments to the media follow their meeting.

THE PRESIDENT: I have just had the distinct pleasure and honor of visiting with Dr. Halima Bashir, who wrote a book called "Tears of the Desert." This good soul brings firsthand accounts to what life is like in Darfur. She has witnessed violence, deprivation, and she carries a message of a lot of people who want our help. I assured her that, in spite of the economic difficulties, our aid will continue to flow. We will use our influence to make sure the aid gets to the people of Darfur. I also made it clear that I am frustrated with the pace of activities; that the United Nations must expedite sending troops, peacekeepers, to provide security for the people -- that's what they want, they want to be able to have a secure life -- and that we'll help. The United States continues to stand at the ready to provide airlift. The pace of action out of the United Nations is too slow. We support the mediation process by the A.U.-U.N. mediator. In other words, we recognize in order for there to be peace in Darfur that parties must come to the table in good faith and solve the problems. And finally, it's very important for President Bashir of Sudan to know that he cannot escape accountability; that if he so choose, he could change people's lives, the condition of people's lives very quickly. I've appointed a special envoy to Sudan to help put pressure on the government. The United States must continue to rally the international community to put pressure on the government, as well. The urgency of the situation is never more apparent than when I had the honor of visiting with this brave soul. And so I welcome you to the Oval Office. And I welcome any comments you want to make. DR. BASHIR: Yes, of course. Thank you very much for the President to invite me to the White House. I think this is -- I'm very happy because now Darfur victims' voices is heard in the White House and to the American people and to the world. And I think the President, the message I send to him is going to -- to do more work in Darfur to handle the situation, and to (inaudible) troops and the ICC ruling and just to stop the genocide and the crisis in Darfur, because now more than five years and we do not need to wait anymore. We need real action. I thank you very much. THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thank you all.

One year later

Ashley — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:27:33 +0000

The excerpt below comes from a New York Times editorial in today's paper.

In January, President Bush said this about Darfur: “My administration called this genocide. Once you label it genocide, you obviously have to do something about it.” Yet, last week — nearly one year later — this is what the International Criminal Court prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, told the United Nations Security Council about Darfur: “Genocide continues. Rapes in and around the camps continue. Humanitarian assistance is still hindered. More than 5,000 displaced persons die each month.” How can this still be?

You can read the full editorial here.

Vote for Change

aburnette — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:45:51 +0000

Save Darfur is participating in a contest run by Change.org that's called "Ideas for Change in America." They will present the top 10 ideas to the Obama administration on Inauguration Day. Then, they'll build a national campaign to advance those ideas in Congress. The first round of voting ends on December 31. The top three ideas from each of the 30 categories will make it into the second round. Round two voting starts on January 5 and ends January 15. Save Darfur has an idea listed in the Genocide category. You can vote for your idea at http://www.change.org/ideas/browse/genocide. Please help us make it into the finals, so that we can be sure that President-elect Obama makes Darfur a priority from day one.

Dream team for Darfur?

Ashley — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:37:58 +0000

Jerry Fowler was quoted in an AP story Friday evening on the coalition's hopes for the Obama foreign policy team. Jerry said, "There is a new window of opportunity. We want them to take advantage of this incredible outpouring of enthusiasm in the rest of the world to the election and launch a sustained peace process to end this." You can read the full story here.

The Security Council's 54 percent effort

Ashley — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:08:51 +0000

The U.N. released figures today for end-of-year UNAMID troop deployment, which fails to meet even their already downgraded target. Officials previously pledged to deploy a modest 80 percent of the mission by this month - almost 18 months after the force was authorized - but that number was lowered to 60 percent in October. Jerry Fowler denounced this failure today and underscored the need for President-elect Obama to make ending this crisis a priority from his first day in office. Here's what he said:

It is an outrage that the world's leading powers can muster only 54 percent of a peacekeeping mission that they themselves authorized 17 months ago. While heads of state profess their sympathies for, and solidarity with, the Darfuri people they follow-up heartfelt talk with half-hearted actions. Members of the U.N. Security Council and their collective 54 percent effort deserve at best an “Incomplete” and are on a path for an “F,” as lasting peace, justice and security continue to elude the Darfuri people. This is the challenge President-elect Obama will inherit – and one he must be prepared to confront from day one of his administration. We and others urge him to end the crisis instead of merely managing it by leading a 'peace surge' for Darfur. President-elect Obama must seize this opportunity by rallying key powers to devote full-time attention and resources to ending the continued hostilities, violence and suffering once and for all. Fifty-four percent efforts won't be good enough – he must lead the world in devoting a 100 percent effort to resolve this crisis.

Foreign Policy Priorities for the Next Administration

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:52:02 +0000

By Joe Maddens & Martha Heinemann Bixby

On Monday, we attended an event hosted by Bob Schieffer called “Foreign Policy Priorities for the Next Administration”. A respected panel of journalists and commentators outlined what they believe Obama’s foreign policy focuses should be, and answered questions from the audience.

The panelists were: Arnaud de Borchgrave of The Washington Times and UPI, Ed Henry, CNN’s Senior White House correspondent, William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard and columnist for the New York Times, Clarence Page, editor of the Chicago Tribune and Susan Page, USA Today’s Washington Bureau Chief.

A surge in Afghanistan, Iran and a potential nuclear race in the Middle East, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, withdrawal from Iraq, and Pakistan were all immediately mentioned by the panelists.

During the question and answer period Joe asked the panel: “How much of a priority should be given to solving conflicts like DR Congo or Darfur? If those conflicts are not a top tier priority, what resources should be given to solving them?”

Ed Henry responded by noting that both Susan Rice and Joe Biden have talked a lot about Darfur and possible solutions, but he questioned whether their voices might be drowned out by other priorities or other vocal members of the administration.

William Kristol added that both Rice and Biden have proposed a no fly zone as a potential solution to Darfur. Kristol voiced his approval for this option, and said that neo-conservatives and ‘liberal interventionists’ would also support it.

Kristol emphasized that Obama’s response to other crises in Africa – such as the turmoil in Zimbabwe, and the problems caused by Somali pirates – would be a “test of where he is personally on humanitarian intervention”.

Finally, Susan Page noted that “he can’t do everything” and that Obama is disciplined and is good at making tough choices.

This last comment - and the entire event - drove home the importance of Save Darfur’s “Add Your Voice” campaign that asks Obama to make Darfur a priority from Day One of his presidency. There are a number of important international issues (as well as domestic ones!) that the new administration needs to address – but Darfur should not be forgotten. Click here to add your voice.

Bush Sending Aid to Darfur

aburnette — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:41:58 +0000

The White House issued a press statement yesterday that it planned to send vehicles and equipment to Darfur to support peacekeeping mission there. No U.S. troops will be sent. The statement says the airlift has been in planning for months. But many human rights activist question the timing. Bush also waived the requirement that he give congress at least a 15 day notice. Jerry Fowler believes that Bush might be looking to build his legacy at the last minute. He's quoted in the New York Times saying, "[this] might be a little bit of last-minute legacy shopping by the administration." Our partners at the Enough Project had similar things to say. While we're glad that the Bush administration has decided to take some action on Darfur, the timing does seem suspicious. What do you think? Too little, too late? Legacy shopping? Or finally doing what he should have done years ago?

Ending genocide - ask Obama to make it a priority!

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:16:50 +0000

A peace surge for Sudan is currently in 47th place in Change.org Ideas for Change in America contest. We know that millions of Americans care about the people of Darfur - we just need to hear your voices! By January 15 we need to make sure that it is in the top 10 ideas - so we need your help getting the word out! First, please vote for the idea by clicking on the box below or visiting the site. Then, please e-mail your friends, tweet about it on Twitter, post it to Facebook, or link to the idea on your blog! We appreciate the help - but even more, the people of Darfur will appreciate having peace in Sudan be a priority for the new Administration. Thanks!

And of course, if you haven't already, please Add Your Voice to our postcard campaign.

China Supports "Criminal" Bashir

Robert — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:26:40 +0000

On Wednesday, Liu Guijin, China’s point man on Darfur called for an expected indictment by the International Criminal Court for the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to be “postponed.” While the judges of the ICC have yet to rule on the request for the indictment against Bashir, China’s efforts to preemptively defend Bashir are both outrageous and irresponsible, and ignore the plight of those still suffering in Darfur. Suspending an investigation into crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide would be unconscionable.

Moreover, China’s logic for calling for the postponement is baffling. Liu said that if an ICC indictment is issued “[Bashir] will become a kind of criminal suspect.” Liu asked “how can the international community consider the criminal suspect as a credible partner…for the Darfur political process.” The Chinese government is arguing that an indictment should not be handed down because the world will not be able to deal diplomatically with a criminal – in essence, Bashir should be let off the hook for his crimes because of his responsibility for those same crimes!

Fortunately, China does not seem willing to offer the necessary motion at the United Nations Security Council to suspend the Bashir investigation, so their opposition is thus far purely rhetorical. That said, Liu’s statement provides an important insight into how China plans to deal with the Darfur issue in the coming year, and shows that they plan to continue their unvarnished support for the Bashir regime.

With a new year starting at the United Nations and with an incoming Obama administration which has voiced strong support for ending the genocide in Darfur, China’s hand may quickly be forced by potential U.S.-led efforts to expand the U.N. arms embargo and strengthen the sanctions regime against the Sudanese government. Will China finally become a responsible stakeholder in the process to end the Darfur genocide in 2009 or will it continue to play an obstructionist role? Time will tell, but early returns aren’t promising.

Darfur Hero refurbishes and auctions car to support Darfur advocacy

Ashley — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:34:43 +0000

The Darfur Heroes program, started in 2007 by the coalition, highlights individuals and groups who play a crucial role in helping end the violence in Darfur through awareness-raising and other efforts. This month, Save Darfur is honoring college student Jon Brian for his work to educate his community and raise money for Darfur advocacy by refurbishing and auctioning off a car. Check out his story below: Initial Idea- Throughout high school, I had many classes such as Leadership, AVID, and Civics that required community service hours in order to pass. Personally, I never had trouble getting enough hours but I noticed that others were having trouble finding service to perform. One day, on my way home from volunteering at the Senior Citizen Center I starting thinking that there must be a form of service that was more suited to people's interests. My good friend Willie Berger and I shared an interest in cars so I began to think of how we could use that interest to help others. When I spoke with him about the idea, we decided that we should raise money for a car and parts to go on it. Because donations would be tax deductible and for a good cause, we believed that we could get a discount on many parts which would in turn help us sell the car for a greater profit. We could install these parts ourselves, thus saving thousands in labor costs. Our main goal was to sell the car for more than we put into it, thereby raising more money than would have been otherwise possible. This also gave people something tangible to donate too. Once we had the idea, we began talking to more friends and pretty soon had a solid group to work on the car. Darfur- After knowing what we wanted to do to help, we had to decide where to send the aid. It was my fourth year in Debate, and throughout the class, my teacher Mrs. Gray had introduced us to a huge variety of world issues. The three of which i felt most passionate about were the war in Iraq, the genocide in Darfur, and the war in the Congo. After talking with Willie we settled on Darfur for many reasons. It was an issue that had been gathering attention at our school in past year and that we could continue to educate people about. Setting up the organization- Our first move was to establish a group of trusted sponsors to invest in our idea. This first place that we went was to Goodguys Rod and Custom organization. We chose them because they hosted 4 large events in our area every year and because they had a long list of connections in the automotive world. When we met with them we discovered that this issue was recognized by the public even less than we had anticipated. After presenting them with the facts about Darfur, they were quick to lend us a helping hand. It was a similar process with most of the organizations we met with. Our most frequently asked question was what is Darfur? Spreading the Word- When we set up our booth at the first Goodguys event we saw almost no visitors for a long time. Many people walked by our booth but not too many stopped to share their support. This was not because people did not want to help, but because they did not know what we were all about. As we started talking to people, they started getting more interested and although donations were slow, we were having a much larger impact on our area. The news about what we were doing was quickly spreading throughout our school and our effort began to gain momentum. I believe that our most successful act of raising awareness was when we were featured on Channel 4 News. This gave us our first real opportunity to reach out to a larger audience and let them know that there is a situation across the world that needs out help. The most important lesson that we took away from this project was that the best way to help the world at large is through a medium that you are interested in. For us, the best way was through the automotive world. When you are truly interested in an area of service, it will come through to others and they will get excited as well.

No time to spare

Ashley — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:48:01 +0000

During Sen. Hillary Clinton's confirmation hearing today, she said, "There is a great need for us to sound the alarm again about Darfur. It is a terrible humanitarian crisis compounded by a corrupt and very cruel regime in Khartoum." But there is no time to spare as the ICC action looms and Khartoum continues hostile actions against Darfuri civilians. The new administration must be ready to act on Darfur from day one. A Reuters story on the hearing quoted Save Darfur president Jerry Fowler saying, "Secretary-designate Clinton and the new administration must be prepared to lead on ending the genocide starting next Tuesday and not a day later."

Protecting Civilians

sarah — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:18:38 +0000

In the year since the deployment of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, we have seen the force struggle to deploy and fulfill its mandate. It has faced obstructionist tactics by the Sudanese government, a lack of resource support from U.N. member states, and increased banditry in the region.

Even as the force struggled, it did not fall short of leaving an impact on the lives of Darfuri civilians. And we haven’t stopped calling for its full and effective deployment because we know how much greater that impact could be. For over a year, the Save Darfur Coalition, our international partners, and millions of concerned citizens worldwide have called on the international community to overcome barriers, muster political will, and effectively support civilian protection in Darfur.

Today, just over a year since UNAMID took over in Darfur, we saw the force take a proactive approach to saving civilians from attack. The U.N. News Centre reported that a UNAMID patrol was able to thwart an attempted abduction of six women who were collecting firewood outside the Hassa Hissa internally displaced persons camp in West Darfur. This is just one example of UNAMID’s potential ability to provide desperately needed protection to Darfuri civilians. If fully equipped and empowered to fulfill its mandate, the force’s impact would increase exponentially. At a moment when it might seem easier to declare UNAMID a failure in the face of downgraded deployment targets and a year’s worth of struggles, it is more important now than ever to keep pressing for a fully functional force. Next month, you have an opportunity add your voice to this pressure and make a difference. Take a look at www.savedarfur.org/women today to see how people across the country are coming together on one night, with one voice to demand protection for the women of Darfur. You can host an event to spread the word and take action to make sure that stories like we have heard today are not few and far between, but rather, an everyday reality.

Scenes from Save Darfur's inauguration day activities

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:27:40 +0000

January 19th: Save Darfur staff prepping for Inauguration Day:

Volunteers answered President Obama's call to service and celebrated Martin Luther King day with a day "on" at Save Darfur (Thanks!). January 20th: Volunteers began to arrive at the office around 6:45 am. We greeted them with coffee! Around 6:50 am Save Darfur President Jerry Fowler signed the first postcard of the day! At 11 am I ran into volunteers who had left Pittsburgh on buses at midnight. They were still cheerful and collecting signatures like crazy (although I did see them bribe one potential signatory with peanut butter crackers...!) For more photos from inauguration day, check out Save Darfur's flickr pool, Save Darfur at the Inauguration.

Free webcast with Jerry Fowler and John Prendergast TODAY!

angeladarfur — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:11:46 +0000

WHAT: Webcast on Darfur Policy Expectations for the Obama Administration WHEN: Today! January 22, 2009 — 2 p.m. EST to 2:45 p.m. EST WHERE: Visit http://www.savedarfur.org/enoughproject/webcast

About the Web Cast The new administration presents a real opportunity for the United States to use its tremendous experience in peacemaking to finally resolve the Darfur conflict. A policy letter to the new President from the Save Darfur Coalition and the Enough Project advocating an end to genocide, war, and the crisis in Sudan details a practical plan to bring peace to the region. Our two experts will discuss the plan and their expectations for the new administration: who the key players will be, the likely timetable and level of priority peacemaking in the Sudan will receive.

Jerry Fowler, President, Save Darfur Coalition, an expert on genocide and international law. An international human rights lawyer and author, he previously served the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Lawyers' Committee on Human Rights.

John Prendergast, Co-chair of the Enough Project, an Africa policy expert, activist, and author who has participated in numerous peace processes in Africa, including his service at the National Security Council and the Department of State during the Clinton Administration.

Please sign up for future notices of webcasts hosted by the Save Darfur Coalition.

Shepard Fairey's "Hope" Painting Inspiration

mslutsky — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:19:04 +0000

Not sure if everyone saw this, but the photo Shepard Fairey used as inspiration for his now iconic Obama painting actually came from the Obama/Clooney event in April, 2006 at the National Press Club on Darfur. AND, Obama is holding a SDC wristband! We, my friends, are part of history and the most famous painting (arguably) since the Mona Lisa.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ries/the-mysterious-original-hope-photo-6y

Blog post from a Pittsburgh activist...

angeladarfur — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:55:48 +0000

One of our Inauguration Day volunteers from Pittsburgh was kind enough to send us the following email about her experience. We were so happy to receive this and she really captured that day well: --- I attended the Save Darfur bus trip to DC on Inauguration day and would like to share my story. The frigid January weather did not deter us from being involved in such a good cause, and bearing witness to the historic events of the day. Due to lack of a map, and directions, we did not get to see any of the inauguration ceremonies, but instead concentrated on collecting signatures for Save Darfur. I collected over 120 signatures while my son and his friend collected a few. The cold finally got to us and we ventured to Union Station, where it was much easier to collect signatures. As the ceremonies started, thousands gathered in the courtyard of Union station to try to catch a glimpse of Obama on a TV screen in a restaraunt on the second floor. People were not at all bothered by the cramped space and were amazingly polite. Determined to hear his address, I, my son and his girlfriend wandered into a gift shop that was broadcasting the speech on a speaker. The shop owners were gracious enough to let hundreds of people gather in the store and just stand there, listening to the speech, without purchasing anything. It was as if for a moment the world stood still, united in a common cause. I was surprised at how many people were aware of the situation in Darfur and were more than willing to sign the petition. At one point, I actually had a line of people who couldn't wait to sign it! I was thrilled to be a part of such a historic event and look forward to working with Save Darfur in the future. Sincerely Joanne Mule

Suzie Armstrong on BlogHer

Ashley — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:30:15 +0000

Last week, political director and election '08 producer for BlogHer.com Erin Kotecki Vest sat down with coalition development director Suzie Armstrong to get a sense of what we're looking for from the new administration and upcoming campaigns. Check out the interview below, but be sure to turn up your volume.

"Hope began with a midnight bus ride from Pittsburgh"

angeladarfur — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:38:18 +0000

Hope was evident in many forms that day and it started with seeing so many people, including high school and college students, caring deeply about something beyond their own corner of the world. Our buses were met by friendly, energetic people from the Save Darfur Coalition who efficiently transformed us into a “fleet of green beanies on a mission!” It was cold, lines were long, and crowds were thick but people all over the city treated each other with patience and kindness. Many people already knew of the unimaginable suffering in Darfur and were eager to sign our petition to President Obama. For others, we were able to increase awareness about a situation new to them. Amanda Tyson, Joan Marshall, and I made our way through the streets of D.C. with a large Darfur postcard. People actually stopped us to sign it which prompted others passing by to do the same. School-aged children explained what they knew about Darfur to their parents and vice versa. A man from New York said he had participated in a fashion show there and the proceeds went to Darfur. People waiting in lines would talk to others in their group about Darfur. Because of the volunteer effort, people like those I met from Mozambique, Australia, U.K., Iceland, Puerto Rico, and countless other parts of the world heard about Darfur that day. Hope for Darfur is renewed with every person that knows and chooses to get involved even in the smallest of ways.

By the end of the day, I looked and felt every day of my almost 50 years but if that bus was leaving again tomorrow I would enthusiastically be on it. To experience hope not only for tomorrow in America but also for people living in Darfur was nothing short of a gift.

To all of my new friends at PDEC, it was an honor to “serve” the people of Darfur with you on Inauguration Day. Individually and collectively let’s keep doing what we can to secure peace in Darfur

Darfur Heroes compile anthology of essays to benefit Darfur advocacy

Ashley — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:39:54 +0000

The Darfur Heroes program, started in 2007 by the coalition, highlights individuals and groups who play a crucial role in helping end the violence in Darfur through awareness-raising and other efforts. This month, Save Darfur is honoring Luke and Jennifer Reynolds for their work to compile an anthology of essays titled Dedicated to the People of Darfur: Writings on Fear, Risk and Hope. The anthology will benefit Darfur advocacy and features essays by Nobel Laureates and Pulitzer Prize winning authors. Check out their story below: In compiling the anthology, Dedicated to the People of Darfur: Writings on Fear, Risk and Hope, one of the biggest lessons that we have learned is that we don’t need fame, money or power to rally people together for a cause we believe in and accomplish something meaningful. When we began the project we were graduate students (Jennifer in Communication, Luke in English). We were working our way through our degrees, with little money in our pockets and less in the bank account. Yet, we felt a strong passion to somehow create funds to help those doing work in and for the people of Darfur. Each time we read a New York Times article about the situation there, or in reading Not on Our Watch by John Prendergast and Don Cheadle, we felt more and more enraged by the atrocities being committed and more and more inspired to make whatever contribution we could to help. We both love writing, reading and in general believe in the power of literature to change lives. We also believe in the principle of organizing around a purpose--rallying people to a certain cause. So, we designed an anthology around the themes of taking risks in personal and social contexts in order to foster change and growth. The advance and all royalties (that would normally go to the editors and authors) will be donated to the Save Darfur Coalition, an organization that we have admired and supported. We created a proposal for the book, and began to send it out via invitations to authors and activists whom we respected. We were overwhelmed by the response of over 40 contributors, including: Jane Smiley, Frank McCourt, Ishmael Beah, James McPherson, Ann Hood, Kim Edwards, Nadine Gordimer and Uzodinma Iweala. Each felt a passion for the cause, and believed in the purpose of the book. Jenny Bent, an agent at Trident Media Group in NYC, agreed to help sell the project to the right publisher. It took about eight months, but eventually Rutgers University Press made an offer. The highs and lows of those eight months taught us that endurance and patience are also an essential part of advocacy and activism. To be honest, we both had moments where we didn’t know if the book would ever make a penny for Save Darfur, but the time invested by our writers and agent kept us from losing faith. Currently, we are waiting, with great anticipation, for the Fall 2009 release of Dedicated to the People of Darfur by Rutgers University Press. This past fall, during the final stages of the anthology, we welcomed our first child into the world. The fact that his arrival dovetailed the completion of this project was poignant for us in that we have the luxury of raising our child in relative prosperity and peace while many children of Darfur live in fear and poverty. It’s just not fair. We must eradicate genocide from the workings of our world. Though we do not have a lot of money, we recognize that we have been given much: time, energy, freedom, a warm place to live and innumerable other gifts. And of all the things we teach our son, we want one thing to stick out above the rest: those who have been blessed with much have much to give.

Responding to the Rumble

jmoreland — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:20:45 +0000

A lively discussion about the Save Darfur movement was recently kicked off by Michael Kleinman, who blogs for Change.org. In his post, Kleinman restated remarks made by John Holmes, U.N. under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, during an interview with journalist Steve Bloomfield. As response postings, comments, counter-arguments and various viewpoints have been added to the discussion by Change.org blogger Michelle, the Enough Project’s David Sullivan, Bloomfield, and others, I see a few points that should be made and reinforced. Save Darfur’s understanding of the situation on the ground has been questioned. One cause for this is the noted use of incorrect mortality numbers in a Save Darfur promotion published three years ago. (The error in this example was due to the improper use of the word "slaughtered," not in the use of the figure "400,000," which was used by other sources at the time.) Tragically, there is no "right" or "wrong" mortality number. The reality is: no one knows for sure. And there are pretty good reasons why no one knows – the Sudanese regime would not allow the epidemiologists into the country. Today, Save Darfur relies on figures published by the United Nations (300,000 dead and 2.7 million displaced), and not exaggerated data that the organization hopes will elicit the largest emotional response from the public. There are also concerns that efforts to Save Darfur endanger humanitarian aid workers in the region. I don’t think there’s an activist out there who wants to bring harm to aid workers, and many understand the potential risk that exists when there appears to be an association between their work and ours. But as David Sullivan stated:

Humanitarian relief is essential but it is no substitute for political strategies and conflict resolution policies that would actually help to end conflict.

Our belief is that the two approaches are necessary and must work in concert. One arm rallies for resolution, while another protects and supports innocent civilians. Meanwhile, we do our part to stay informed about the situation on the ground. Inaccurate representations of Save Darfur’s position on military intervention in Darfur have also been used to imply limited understanding of the conflict. The fact: Save Darfur has never advocated for military intervention (yet this was also the mistaken impression held by David Rieff, whom Kleinman quoted in one of his postings). Save Darfur has eschewed calls for U.S. military intervention and has advocated for the joint AU/U.N. civilian protection force that was authorized by the U.N. in July 2007. Questions have also been raised about the use of the term genocide. Some imply that the death toll in Darfur is not high enough, and Kleinman goes as far as saying "it could be far worse." These viewpoints seem to regard the term genocide as one that relies on quantity of death. But the term genocide implies intention, systematic approaches, and planned extermination to eliminate an ethnic group of people. Though we’ve witnessed systematic exterminations of people in short time spans, as in Rwanda, intentional campaigns to eliminate an ethnic group of people can take place over 100 years and still be labeled genocide. The idea that we shouldn’t advocate an end to the violence in Darfur because "it could be far worse," is one we choose not to accept. At the same time, the reduced number of attacks is a good point to raise. It doesn’t seem likely that the Sudanese government would have curtailed its genocidal campaign were it not for the increased attention that the Save Darfur movement has placed on the conflict. Nor does it seem likely that the civilian protection force would be in place, were it not for citizens lobbying their governments. So while civilian lives are still very much threatened in Darfur, the advocacy work of this movement has made a difference. This discussion began with a blog titled, "Save Darfur can’t save Darfur." But the notion that the Save Darfur Coalition itself would "save Darfur" has never been our calculus. "Save Darfur" was a name chosen as a call to actors around the world (world leaders, the constituency of conscience, in-country leaders, and others with leverage) to take firm action to end the suffering and violence. In addition, Save Darfur has always supported Darfuris and Sudanese in their pursuit to find their own solutions to the conflict. We support institutions such as the Darfuri Leaders Network and civil society development in Darfur through vehicles like the civil society conference held in Tanzania in July 2008. The goal of these networks is to provide a forum for Darfuris to articulate a way forward for their own country. Save Darfur’s work will continue. There is much to be done and the constituency of conscience will continue to advocate on this issue until there is lasting peace and security for all in Darfur and Sudan.

A clear mission

sarah — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:24:17 +0000

Today the President of The Gambia sent seven officers and three female soldiers to Darfur to serve as peacekeepers for the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur.

When he sent them off, he spoke to a topic that is not discussed often enough.

He said, “The Gambia will be seen through your behaviours during the peacekeeping mission".

And he warned "we will never tolerate certain things in peacekeeping operations such as rape, stealing, drug trafficking, and immoral acts towards women refugees." He commended the soldiers that have served in Darfur and expressed his hope that those who will replace them will create a good image of the country in international peacekeeping missions.

This week, activists across the country are highlighting the issue of violence against women in Darfur and are speaking out with One Voice to say there must be an end to it. Today, their voices were foreshadowed by a sitting head of state, who saw to it that his troops were sent with a clear mission: to protect the men, women and children of Darfur. To bring them no further harm, and to protect them from one of the most harrowing of genocidal tactics: sexual violence.

One Night, One Voice: Ending violence against women in Darfur

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:17:13 +0000

Silence the weapons of war. Help end physical and sexual violence against women in Darfur.

What: An Advocacy Night to End Violence Against Women in Darfur Who: Women and Men Across the United States Where: Online, and in local communities, including yours! When: 8:00 p.m. Eastern/7:00 p.m. Central, February 11, 2009. Live Panel Discussion begins at approximately 8:10/7:10 p.m., following the film. If you're not already planning on attending one of the many local screenings of the film and panel discussion, you can download the film, then watch the live online panel discussion at home, and learn from Maria Bello, Niemat Ahmadi, Dr. Kelly Dawn Askin, John Hefferan and Reverend Gloria E. White-Hammond, M.D. Follow Save Darfur on Twitter for a live-tweeting of the event. And if you can't watch it live, visit www.SaveDarfur.org/women to watch the filmed event any time. A preview of the short documentary:

In One Voice: Demanding an End to Violence Against Women in Darfur

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:55:43 +0000

Panelists: Rev. Gloria White-Hammond, MD; John Heffernan; Maria Bello; Niemat Ahmadi; Dr. Kelly Askin

Last night Americans joined together on one night, in one voice, calling for an end to violence against women in Darfur.

Here in Washington DC, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum hosted a premier of Save Darfur's short documentary, Reclaiming Dignity, and a panel discussion on the topic. You can watch the incredibly powerful video and panel by downloading them here.

The documentary is an important call to action to concerned citizens around the world. Sexual violence in Darfur is a destructive and pervasive weapon of war and genocide. However, the women who survive this violence and those who support them are pillars of strength and fonts of knowledge about how to stop these atrocities. Only by hearing their stories can we begin to understand how to support these women in their quest for peace in Darfur.

Save Darfur president Jerry Fowler introduced the panel by reminding the audience that April, Genocide Prevention Month, is quickly coming up. For this year's Holocaust remembrance the Holocaust Museum will be highlighting the work of Raphael Lemkin, the man behind the Genocide Convention. The theme is "what you do matters".

"What you do matters" could've been the theme for last night's event, as well. It was an honor to hear from our colleague Niemat Ahmadi, who survived assasination attempts by the Sudanese government for her work to help women and girls in Darfur. Niemat told the activsts watching, "you kept our people alive".

You can take immediate action to help the women and girls of Darfur by sending them a message of support:

Call 1-888-473-7885. Express your moral support by leaving any message you feel comfortable with. Let the women of Darfur know that you care, are thinking of them and are acting to help them. We will play these messages over the radio to camps in Darfur so that they hear our collective voices as "One Voice."

You can also urge Secretary of State Clinton to act to end violence against women in Darfur.

We urge you to direct the U.S. Department of State to create the necessary mechanisms to stop this type of violence and immediately address the continued targeting of women in Darfur, Sudan.

Maria Bello shared an inspiring quote from journalist Amy Goodman:

"People need to go where the silence is and say something."

The best way to break the silence around sexual violence in Darfur is to literally say something - to the women and girls in Darfur, to President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton, and to your members of Congress. The women of Darfur have spoken up with strength and dignity. We must stand with them and call on our leaders to do the same.

For more details on the event please see our press release.

For more photos of the event please check out my Flickr set.

Podcast Interview with Jerry Fowler

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:48:01 +0000

Today, Bridget Conley-Zilkic from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's Committee on Conscience did a podcast interview with Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler. Take a quick listen to get a peek into the history of the Save Darfur movement and a sense of the Coalition's plans for 2009.

Save Darfur in 2009

	Interview: Jerry Fowler, president of the Save Darfur Coalition, provides an overview of what international activists have done on Darfur and what issues they are currently focusing on. Subscribe \| Listen now \| Transcript

Human rights groups under attack in Sudan

seanbrooks — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:52:48 +0000

I received a press release from one of our partners in the Middle East, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, at the end of last week. The release in Arabic highlights a statement by 12 Sudanese human rights organization that sounds the alarm on retaliatory actions taken by the Sudanese government against certain organizations in the lead up to the International Criminal Court’s decision. Recently, the bank accounts of some groups have been frozen and there are also daily raids by the security services of the offices of some of these organizations. These human rights organizations are calling for the protection of not only their organizations but also their rights in Sudan – particularly in the aftermath of comments by Lt. General Salah Gosh, the head of Sudan’s National Security and Intelligence Service. On February 21, he added to a series of recent threats from the Sudanese government, warning, “Anyone who attempts to put his hands to execute [ICC] plans we will cut his hands, head and parts because it is a non-negotiable issue.” Of course, this is not the first time that Sudanese human rights organizations have been harassed. The statement recalls the government’s detention of three human rights activists in late November 2008. They were tortured and interrogated about their relationship with the ICC and then finally released with future charges pending. These threats and harassment make clear that Sudanese political space is severely limited. The security agents and censors enforce redlines such as advocacy around the ICC – but there are also other issues such as the ongoing military campaigns in Darfur where advocates and the press in Sudan operate with self-censorship. It is for this reason that Save Darfur and other organizations and activists continue to help promote messages of distress like this one from Sudanese human rights organizations to the greater international community.

Demonstrations in NYC and DC, March 4th and 5th

angeladarfur — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:25:58 +0000

On March 4th and 5th, join Sudanese and Darfuri community leaders and human rights activists as they rally in New York and Washington, DC in support of the International Criminal Court’s pursuit of justice and accountability in Darfur. NYC Demonstration: On Wednesday March 4th at 1:00 PM, join Darfuri community leaders at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza outside the United Nations (East 47th Street @ 1st & 2nd Ave). DC Demonstration: On Thursday, March 5th at 1:00, join Darfuri and Sudanese community leaders in Washington, DC will rally outside the Sudanese Embassy (2210 Massachusetts Ave). Visit our site to learn more about the ICC.

"The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice."

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:13:39 +0000

On Wednesday, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for the president of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Jerry Fowler, president of the Save Darfur Coalition called the international community to action in his statement regarding the ICC's decision. "First and foremost, the United States, other Security Council members, and regional world leaders must address the Khartoum regime's recent threats of retaliatory violence as well as reports of possible military escalation by other parties to the conflict. World leaders must condemn these threats and make clear that such actions will be met with swift and severe consequences."

The Enough Project also called President Obama to action with John Norris, Enough's executive director stating; "There are now millions of activists around the United States that expect the Obama Administration to make both peace and justice a priority in Sudan." John specified several key steps that President Obama should take when addressing this issue.

Ariela Blatter at Amnesty International asked president al-Bashir to stop running and to have his day in court.

Richard Dicker, director of the International Justice Program at Human Rights Watch, states: "Not even presidents are guaranteed a free pass for horrific crimes. By ruling there is a case for President al-Bashir to answer for the horrors of Darfur, the warrant breaks through Khartoum's repeated denials of his responsibility."

The Genocide Intervention Network discussed the response from The Hague, the Sudanese government and the international community and highlighted responses from Darfuris, including a letter from a group of Darfuri women survivors that stated: "we know that we cannot return to peace without accounting for what has been done."

Yesterday, the co-director of the New York City Coalition for Darfur, Dr. Sharon Sibler, gave a speech regarding the ICC's decision. She remarked that she "worked for a long time on Bosnia/Kosovo. So I remember very well when Slobodan Milosevic, the President of Serbia, and Radocan Karadzic, the Bosnian Serb leader, jeered at the charges against them...Well now, none of these men are in power, Milosevic...faced charges, and Radovan Karadzic is in prison awaiting trial. One day Omar al-Bashir, and the other architects of the genocides in Sudan, will face justice too." Sharon also reminded us of the mass atrocities in Sierra Leone and Liberia, and how their leaders also assumed they wouldn't have to answer for their crimes. But today they have, and irresponsible leaders will continue to answer for their crimes as long as they feel this world can be taken advantage of. Sharon cited the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stating: "The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice."

The ICC's decision is a "game-changer", and Jerry Fowler expresses this in the closing of his statement regarding the ICC's decision: "There is no panacea to the challenge of stopping violence in Darfur and promoting peace in Sudan, but the ICC arrest warrant opens a dramatic window of opportunity to disrupt the status quo and move toward peace."

This post was compiled by Ashley Spitz.

Aftermath of the Bashir arrest warrant

DaveYoung — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:05:16 +0000

Over the last 48 hours, the ICC’s decision to issue a warrant for the arrest of President Omar al-Bashir has been met with passionate declarations and demonstrations both for and against the ruling by Sudanese civilians. Darfuri refugees celebrated the announcement in capital cities throughout the world—calling the ICC decision an important step in their quest to find justice for themselves and their loved ones. Darfuris marked the ICC decision with gatherings in cities across Europe and the United States, including with a vigil (see photos) outside the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, DC. More than 100 Darfuri and Sudanese diaspora leaders from North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East issued a letter to the U.N. Security Council supporting the ICC warrant and thanking the Council for its commitment to justice and support of the ICC’s work in Darfur. In a letter addressed to the African Union and the Arab League, Darfuri women in the diaspora urged them to support the pursuit of justice for the victims of Darfur.” In Khartoum, the ICC decision was met with public demonstrations denouncing the ICC decision and labeling the actions of the ICC as “neo-colonialism.” With the Khartoum regime’s recent explicit threats of the consequences that would befall anyone who denounced al-Bashir or supported the ICC, there were few public signs of support for the warrant by civilians still living in Sudan.

WEBCAST on ICC decision: Today at 4 pm!

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:55:31 +0000

What: Webcast discussing arrest warrants for Bashir When: Monday, March 9, 2009, at 4:00 PM ET The Save Darfur Coalition and the ENOUGH! Project invite you to attend a webcast featuring Alex Meixner and Omer Ismail on Monday, March 9. They will discuss the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for President Bashir, their implications and the United States' response. You can watch the live webcast at http://www.savedarfur.org/enoughproject/webcast. Alex Meixner is Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Save Darfur Coalition. He is responsible for policy development and coordination with the White House, Department of State, National Security Council, Department of Defense and with Congress. Omer Ismail is a policy advisor to the ENOUGH! Project to end genocide and crimes against humanity. He is also the Vice President and co-founder of Darfur Peace and Development Organization and has over 20 years of experience in human rights and humanitarian advocacy.

50 Days in Office - What can I do?

Ashley Spitz — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:44:44 +0000

Yesterday marked President Obama's 50th day as our President. STAND and Genocide Intervention Network asked activists to send a fax to President Obama to "let the President know what he has done well in his first 50 days, and what he needs to do to fulfill his promise of "unstinting resolve" to end the genocide in Darfur." Over 1,000 people signed-up with STAND to send faxes to President Obama. The fax was a progress report of President Obama's first 50 days, with a list of actions that they would like the President to take in regard to Darfur and the ICC's decision on President Bashir. If you didn't have the opportunity to send a fax today and you still want to ask President Obama to make Darfur a priority you can send him a postcard and be a voice for Darfur.

From NGOs to PNGs

DaveYoung — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:47:11 +0000

On March 4^th, the Sudanese government began revoking the licenses of NGOs operating in Sudan and, specifically, in Darfur. All told, 13 international and 3 Sudanese NGOs were ordered to cease operations. Many of these organizations have had financial and material assets seized, including one or two warehouses of food belonging to the World Food Program.

The UN credits these agencies as “…key to maintaining a lifeline to 4.7 million Sudanese people who receive aid in Darfur.” The 13 international organizations accounted for “at least half” of all humanitarian operations in Darfur and were “vital partners” for U.N. humanitarian efforts in the region. UN Humanitarian Coordinator John Holmes warns that neither the UN nor the Sudanese government have the resources to compensate for the loss of these NGOs. Among the numerous problems facing the now-hamstrung humanitarian effort, the most pressing are water and sanitation along with health services—an area that is especially critical considering the meningitis outbreak in Kalma camp, home to some 90,000 internally displaced persons.

The gap in services created by the expulsion of aid groups has put over 1 million people in the Darfur region at imminent risk of dehydration, starvation, and disease. Despite appeals from the UN, the Sudanese government has stated that the decision to expel these relief agencies is “irreversible.”

In response to this escalating humanitarian crisis, the Save Darfur Coalition called on President Obama to pressure the Sudanese government to reinstate the aid agencies expelled from Darfur. In a letter co-signed by over 50 coalition partners, the groups said that the administration should urgently undertake a sustained diplomatic effort to resolve the Darfur crisis and restore peace to all of Sudan. The full text of the letter and the associated press statement can be found here.

Update on the Security Situation in Darfur

DaveYoung — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:39:38 +0000

In the last 48 hours, there have been numerous reports of threats and acts of violence against UN forces, diplomatic missions, and, most recently, humanitarian workers. These acts, and those who perpetrate them, only serve to further destabilize Darfur and bring added misery upon people who are already beginning to suffer from the Sudanese government’s recent decision to shutter 16 NGOs.

Following threats against American and European interests in Sudan, and due to anti-western sentiments expressed following the ICC’s issuance of an arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, the US Embassy in Sudan has authorized the departure of non-emergency personnel and their families.

On March 10^th, a UNAMID patrol was ambushed by unknown assailants brandishing small arms. Four wounded peacekeepers were flown by helicopter to the mission’s hospital in El Fasher where their conditions are listed as not life-threatening.

The following day, March 11^th, in El Fasher, a UNAMID vehicle was carjacked by three armed assailants. This incident occurred in front of the home of a UNAMID staff member in a town where at least three peacekeepers have been killed in similar incidents in the last ten months.

On the evening of March 11^th, armed gunmen stormed the office of an international humanitarian organization operating in West Darfur. The gunmen abducted three international aid workers and two Sudanese staffers. The Sudanese staffers were later released while the whereabouts of the kidnapped Canadian nurse, Italian doctor, and French project coordinator remain unknown.

Justice Denied

Ashley Spitz — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:25:30 +0000

On Wednesday, March 11, in a letter signed by 54 coalition partners, the Save Darfur Coalition implored President Obama to take a stand against President Bashir's decision to expel 13 international humanitarian aid groups from Sudan. With this action, the Sudanese government is denying 4.7 million Darfuri citizens of their last remaining lifeline. The U.N. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance estimates that this action will leave more than one million Darfuri people without access to potable water and food aid and 1.5 million without access to healthcare. "The denial of life-saving food, water and medical care in Darfur is a human rights violation that endangers health and threatens lives," said Frank Donaghue, CEO of Physicians for Human Rights. The letter urges President Obama to take diplomatic action to resolve the ongoing crisis in Darfur. President Obama, "along with other world leaders, must immediately and publicly condemn President Bashir's actions and insist that he restore access to life-saving humanitarian aid." This letter, which was brought up at the daily press briefing, shows the coalition's dedication to the people of Darfur and stresses the importance, now more than ever, of facilitating an end to this conflict and bringing peace back to Darfur and all of Sudan. Organizations and activists across the country are doing their part to show their outrage. In Los Angeles people are "right now sitting next to a tent outside of the Federal building in Los Angeles. It is 2:08am. We are staying here and more will come tomorrow and throughout the weekend and in to this coming week." i-ACT highlights what led up to this course of action and how people will continue to help, despite the challenges that come their way. The Enough Project highlights views from the Sudan Tribune in their blog about NGO expulsion and the repercussions this has on the "North-South political dynamics in Sudan." Amnesty International asks people to take action by sending letters or faxes because "without the food, water, and medicine provided by these aid groups, millions of vulnerable men, women, and children in Darfur and throughout Sudan face starvation and disease." The Religious Action Center is also encouraging people to take steps just by making a phone call. Groups all over the country are uniting for this cause, and for good reason. Please do your part to act now for Darfur.

UN Updates on the Immediate Impact of Aid Expulsions

DaveYoung — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:58:15 +0000

It has been nine days since the Sudanese government began expelling humanitarian aid workers from Darfur; all told, 16 agencies have had their licenses revoked or have been dissolved entirely. Making matters worse, material and financial assets have been seized, making it impossible for the exiting agencies to hand their missions off to the remaining groups. The remaining organizations are now finding themselves overwhelmed; with over half of the humanitarian force leaving Darfur, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to fill the gaps in service. The UN and the WHO have been issuing reports on the immediate impact on Darfuri civilians, along with some predictions of future consequences—the outlook is not good. According to the World Health Organization, some of the more immediate effects have been:

All humanitarian services in Kalma (90,000 IDPs), Bielel (26,000 IDPs), and Muhajuria (47,000 IDPs) have been disrupted. Kalma is currently suffering a meningitis outbreak that has claimed two lives this week—a vaccination program scheduled to begin soon has been disrupted.
Services in Kass (100,000 IDPs), Otash (70,000 IDPs), and East Jebel Marra (67,000 IDPs) have been partially disrupted—including the loss of all four agencies responsible for providing clean water to Kass.

These disruptions are just the beginning of a much larger humanitarian catastrophe; according to OCHA , the expulsion of these aid agencies will, in the coming days and weeks, lead to

1.16 million people without water, sanitation, and hygiene.
1.1 million people without food.
1.5 million without access to health and nutrition services.

The residents of the IDP camps in Darfur are heavily dependent on international NGOs for the necessities of human life—from drinking water to prenatal care. The expulsion of the NGOs has disrupted services throughout Darfur and the consequences are just beginning to be realized.

Urgent actions for Darfur

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:32:04 +0000

On March 4, 2009, the Sudanese government revoked the licenses of 13 international humanitarian organizations, directing them to leave the country immediately. Directly following, the Sudanese government closed down three domestic relief organizations. Local authorities seized warehouses containing World Food Program food. According to the World Food Program, four of the expelled NGOs carried out 35 percent of W.F.P.'s food distribution in Darfur, regularly reaching 1.1 million people in 130 locations and 5,500 malnourished children and mothers on supplementary feeding. What does this mean? Collectively, these organizations were part of a system that provides aid to 4.7 million Darfuri civilians. The expelled organizations account for at least half of the humanitarian operations in Darfur and are vital partners for U.N. agencies in delivering food, providing medical care, water, education and other services. Without these organizations, approximately 1.1 million people will be without food aid, 1.5 million without medical care and over a million without safe drinking water. If you’re in New York City attend the demonstration at the U.S. Mission to the U.N. on Tuesday; if you’re in LA visit the camp out demonstration at the Federal building any time this week; if in Boston join the demo Wednesday at Government Center. From anywhere in the U.S.: encourage your house of worship to participate in a "Text the Secretary" campaign (more on all of these events below). And, take action from home by calling the White House at (202) 456-1111. If you'd like to host an urgent action demonstration in your area, check out this guide.

Activists have been camping outside the LA Federal Building since Thursday night.

Take action from home:

Call the White House today and demand that the administration TAKE ACTION NOW to save lives in Darfur. Put this number in your cell phone (202) 456-1111 and call now! Tell the staff person who answers the phone that you: a) Are horrified that the Sudanese government has revoked the licenses of humanitarian aid organizations in Sudan. b) Want President Obama to lead an urgent, intense and sustained diplomatic push to ensure the continued flow of humanitarian aid and end the genocide in Darfur. Comment on the State Department's Question of the Week: What Actions Should the International Community Take To Resolve the Situation in Darfur?

Faith Groups:

FAITH GROUPS – PLEASE JOIN IN NATION-WIDE CALL TO ACTION for Darfur! WHEN: This coming weekend, March 20 -22. WHAT: Congregations across the country will join together in a five minute action during services. Worship leaders will inform congregants about the dire situation in Darfur and the one million lives at risk. Then worship leaders will take the unusual step of asking those in attendance with cell phones to take out their phones and text Secretary Clinton at 90822 asking her to act immediately reverse the expulsion of humanitarian aid organizations. Those without cell phones will be asked to spend those minutes in prayer and reflection for the safety and protection for the Darfuri people. WHY: Sudan’s President Omar al Bashir of Sudan, recently indicted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, expelled over a dozen humanitarian organizations from Sudan, placing millions of Darfuri civilians at immediate risk. With the rainy season quickly approaching, organizations are expecting widespread death from disease and starvation as millions lose access to food, water, medicine and adequate shelter. HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Contact faith@savedarfur.org if you would like to participate so that we can include your congregation in the list that will be posted on the SDC website. We will then send you materials to distribute to congregants and hand out after serves to encourage further action.

LA:

Join Jewish World Watch, Stop Genocide Now, HOPE, and other activist and citizens throughout Southern California as they make a permanent presence in front of the Federal Building to demand immediate and decisive action by the US, the UN and the EU! Activists will be present throughout each day and night, but we will be concentrating our efforts during the time periods listed below. Please make a particular effort to join us Tuesday, March 17 for a big push! Where: Federal Building, 11000 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA When: All Day and Night and these times for higher concentration: Monday, March 16: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM Tuesday, March 17: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM ** If you stay for more than 3 hours you will get a Humanity before Politics T-shirt! *** Let us know if you are interested in staying overnight: email i-actinfo@stopgenocidenow.org. We have tents!

NYC:

Join the Vigil Group, New York City Coalition for Darfur, Long Island Action Group, Brooklyn for Peace and other activist groups and citizens throughout New York City as we demand immediate and decisive action by the US, the UN and the EU! Where: US Mission to the UN, 45 Street between 3rd and Lexington, New York, NY (look for the police booth) When: Tuesday, March 17: 12:00-2:00

Boston:

Join the Massachusetts Bay Area Coalition and other activist groups and citizens throughout Massachusetts as we demand immediate and decisive action by the US, the UN and the EU! Where: Boston’s City Hall Plaza, Government Center, 1 City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA When: Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Bring signs to these events!

DARFUR - MILLIONS AT RISK! DARFUR - MILLIONS COULD DIE - WE CAN STOP IT! DARFUR - ACT NOW! SAVE DARFUR! DARFUR EMERGENCY! DARFUR - MILLIONS IMMEDIATELY FACE: NO FOOD NO WATER DISEASE STARVATION DEATH

Remember Chad?

DaveYoung — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:40:28 +0000

We might be hearing a lot more about it in the coming months.

On March 15, the European Union-led EUFOR mission in eastern Chad reached the end of its one-year mandate. As a result, command of peacekeeping was turned over to the UN Mission in Chad and Central African Republic (MINURCAT), previously an implementing partner with EUFOR over the past year. While EUFOR consisted of about 3,500 peacekeepers, MINURCAT is set to deploy around 5,000 total troops and police at full force. While the immediate impact of this power transfer was minimal—essentially, a couple thousand people changed the color of their hats to blue—the longer-term impact may be considerable.

MINURCAT’s main responsibility—like EUFOR before it—is to protect humanitarian operations, internally displaced Chadians, and refugees crossing the border from Darfur. The border region between eastern Chad and Darfur is notoriously known for attacks on civilians from both sides, as well as a staging and recruitment ground for various rebel movements.

And with the hand-over, we’re hearing familiar things. The UN force that is replacing EUFOR is not up to full strength, and is not expected to be until the end of 2009. This problem is, of course, exacerbated by the fact that UNAMID, its counterpart in Darfur, has also not reached its full deployment levels. This situation creates a potentially dangerous power vacuum in an area that is already unstable.

Making matters worse, the decision by the Sudanese government to expel aid workers responsible for the care of some 4.7 million internally displaced Darfuris may trigger a mass-migration from Darfur into eastern Chad, thereby overwhelming already-taxed humanitarian agencies and security forces in the region. This could potentially put hundreds of thousands of refugees in a vulnerable, concentrated space with an incapable aid system and a faltering security force.

With a weakened UNAMID on one side of the border and a weakened MINURCAT on the other, refugees and IDPs from both countries may be left with little protection and no options. The resulting humanitarian nightmare could further destabilize the entire region—vastly increasing the danger to civilians, peacekeepers, and neighboring nations. As UNHCR representative Serge Male states, “Darfur creates the earthquake that impacts the whole region.”

More Urgent Action Demonstrations for Darfur

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:28:10 +0000

Urgent action rallies are happening across the United States to protest the expulsion of humanitarian organizations from Sudan and the deteriorating situation there. Later this week, join events in California and keep an eye out for events across the US (or plan your own!)

San Francisco

Join the San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition for an urgent action rally this Friday! Where: the sidewalk in front of the San Francisco Federal Building located at 450 Golden Gate Avenue between Polk and Larkin (accessible by Muni - exit at Civic Center Metro Station.) When: Friday, March 20, 2009 from 4:00pm-6:00pm For more information, contact info@darfursf.org or 415-221-8400.

Burbank

Stop Genocide Now is organizing a demonstration tomorrow evening in Burbank. March 19th: Meet at 3pm Filming of the Jay Leno Show NBC is located at: 3000 W. Alameda Avenue Burbank, CA 91523 Meet at Johnny Carson Park - Corner of S Bob Hope Dr and W Parkside Ave

Phoenix

Join us tomorrow March 19th in front of the State Legislative Offices at 1700 W. Washington Street in Downtown Phoenix. We will be there from 2pm-6pm to take a stand against Genocide!

Yesterday, activists took to the streets in LA and New York.

In New York City, more than 40 people gathered outside the U.S. mission to the U.N. They included a group from St.Joseph's College in Brooklyn who came wearing their St Patrick's Day sashes on the way to the parade. Some were high-schoolers on Spring break, one was a community leader from Dallas who was visiting family. At the vigil, they delivered a letter to Peggy Kerry, Susan Rice's assistant, to Susan Rice from the Darfuri community in which they quoted Dr. Rice's words from her Washington Post piece about the necessity of standing up to Bashir forcefully back to her, and we also delivered Security Council letters prepared by one of our Westchester affiliates.

In LA, activists camped out in front of the Federal Building for 5 nights. On Tuesday, activists from across Southern California gathered in a large demonstration. Darfuris from Arizona drove overnight to be at the event!

Stay tuned for details on events in Nevada and Texas, and for a report from tonight's demonstration in Boston.

A crucial step

DaveYoung — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:10:36 +0000

In a brief statement this afternoon, President Obama announced the appointment of Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration to the position of special envoy for Sudan. This appointment comes almost exactly two weeks after the decision by the Sudanese government to expel 13 international aid organizations from Darfur. This is a critical time for Darfur, and it is heartening to see such a close advisor of the president appointed to fill this crucial role.

Despite some concerns about his lack of formal diplomatic experience, General Gration, a retired Air Force officer, brings a number of positive qualities to the position—let’s face it, you don’t become a general in the Air Force without learning diplomacy.

Perhaps the most important quality for General Gration is his close, personal friendship with President Obama. Having the ear of the President is critical for anyone who is tasked with addressing the issues in Sudan—as one of President Obama’s trusted advisors, General Gration will likely be reporting directly to the President and will be uniquely positioned to influence US policy toward Sudan.

Along with his friendship with President Obama, General Gration also has a close relationship with Africa. The son of missionaries, Gration was raised in the Congo where he and his family were frequently forced to flee outbreaks of violence—eventually becoming refugees themselves. General Gration is an expert on Africa, speaks Swahili fluently, and has worked on village projects in Uganda and other African nations. General Gration knows Africa; he isn’t going to need to spend months getting up to speed on the internal politics and cultural norms of Sudan—this will save valuable time; time that many in Darfur simply don’t have.

The appointment of an experienced combat pilot and military leader also sends a not-so-subtle message to the Bashir regime—the Obama administration has chosen to send a warrior instead of a bureaucrat. Bashir has a lengthy history of attempting to mislead or intimidate international representatives—neither tactic is likely to work with General Gration.

All things considered, what General Gration lacks in formal diplomatic experience is more than made up for by his impressive military career, his unique connection to Africa, and his close friendship to President Obama.

But none of that will matter if General Gration isn’t given the mandate and authority to really drive the Sudan portfolio. His appointment is a crucial step forward, but it comes at a critical time for the people of Darfur. General Gration’s first test will be how he handles the increasingly precarious humanitarian crisis.

Welcome, General Gration. It’s time to roll up your sleeves.

Voices for Action: Pittsburgh

Ashley Spitz — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:54:44 +0000

The Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition expressed their outrage with the genocide in Sudan and used last week as an opportunity to raise awareness and encourage action. David Rosenberg, Coordinator of The Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition, writes in a letter to the editor, "It's deeply appalling that in response to this first ICC warrant against a sitting head of state President Bashir has decided to lash out against civilians and aid workers." This statement mirrors the feelings of activists everywhere, and the Pittsburgh Coalition used last week to raise awareness for the cause. The week culminated with a powerful and tangible statement on Duquesne University's Brottier Commons, the Destroyed Villages exhibit. The exhibit consisted of over 600 signs, each with the name of a different village, placed all over Brottier Commons. As the black and white signs were put up the Commons started to resemble a graveyard, but each marker carried the weight of five villages, not just the one named on the sign.

An article in the Duquesne Duke highlighted the weight of this demonstration. Campus minister Luci-Jo DiMaggio reminded people that "when you burn a village to the ground, it's not just the people that get displaced. That is a community that provided services, not just to each, but other communities." Joe Kirik attended an event at Duquesne and later wrote of Mr. Fowler's lecture, "I have kept up with the numbers and the stories but nothing that I have heard prior to his presentation could have prepared myself for it." This exhibit set a somber tone for events later in the week when Jerry Fowler spoke to several audiences ranging from middle school students to adults. Mr. Fowler called citizens to action and his call was heard. On Tuesday, March 10 Jerry Fowler spoke to high school students, explaining that genocide still happens today. His lecture followed testimony from a Holocaust survivor, an article from The Jewish Chronicle relates the two genocides, "The details weren’t always the same, but the cruelty that gave rise to them was." The students were attending the 2009 Holocaust Arts & Writing Seminar/Competition. In addition to the art they had created based on a specific Holocaust Theme, the students also signed postcards asking President Obama to keep Darfur a priority. The PDEC provided these postcards as part of their pledge to have 20,000 signed postcards by the end of April. On Wednesday, March 11 the PDEC arranged for Jerry Fowler to address religious activists at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. He spoke about the current humanitarian aid crisis, which "Mr. Fowler believes the Sudanese government banished major aid groups 'because they are desperate. They believe if they raise the ante [of danger to the refugees], there will be a back-off on the indictment,' as quoted in an article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Events like this are springing up all over the country, in Los Angeles, Boston and New York City. People want justice and they will be heard. As Genocide Prevention Month approaches now is the perfect time to express your opinions and to host your own event. Follow the examples of activists across the country and stand up against genocide in Darfur.

“… even at close range, bullets can miss…”

DaveYoung — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:09:38 +0000

Omer Ismail, a Sudanese national and co-founder of the Sudan Democratic Forum and the Darfur Peace and Development Organization, spoke those words during a press conference today in the Capitol building. The event, organized by the Save Darfur Coalition, brought together US Representatives, religious and community leaders, and activists—all coming together to denounce the atrocities in Darfur and to renew the call for action. The press conference was organized in response to the recent decision by the Sudanese government to expel NGOs responsible for supplying life-sustaining necessities to millions of civilians in Darfur. As Mr. Ismail suggests, bullets are not the only means employed by the Sudanese government for killing people; the Bashir regime has learned from past experience that starvation and disease can be highly effective killers.

The decision to cut the lifeline for millions of civilians in Darfur is essentially a no-loss gamble for Bashir at this time; he is now holding millions of lives hostage—lives which mean nothing to him aside from their usefulness as a bargaining chip with the international community. It will have no effect on the conscience of Mr. Bashir if every man, woman, and child in Darfur suffers and dies from starvation and disease due to the loss of international assistance. The lives—and deaths—of these people only matter to Bashir insofar as he can use them as leverage against the international community. Unfortunately, this is a tactic that has been successful for Bashir in the past—he believes that eventually, if he causes enough suffering, if the atrocities are heinous enough then the resolve of the international leaders will crack.

Bashir has seen the resolve crack before; he has used every means at his disposal to debase, devalue, and destroy the people of Darfur. Employing militiamen as death squads, using rape as a weapon, disrupting food and water supplies, preventing access to medical care—even going so far as to paint military aircraft in UN colors to bomb civilians who thought they were receiving aid—and yet he enjoys impunity. All of the rhetoric directed against him has been empty—and he knows it.

If the international community gives Bashir a carrot every time he holds his own people hostage, then the misery in Darfur will continue, unabated, until another despot takes his place—and we can be assured that his successor will continue the cycle.

If the international community is serious about Darfur, then they must get serious with Bashir—he can no longer be allowed to dictate terms to the rest of the world. The aid workers must be allowed unconditional return, the obstruction of the UNAMID deployment must cease, and attacks on civilians in Darfur must not be allowed to continue. The punishments for continuing to violate these very basic terms must be laid out in specific, concrete terms and they must be followed through on by the international community. Now is the time to break the cycle, we must not allow Bashir to buy impunity with the lives of the people of Darfur—again.

Does This Mean It’s Official?

DaveYoung — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 21:27:53 +0000

On March 18, President Barack Obama appointed retired Air-Force General J. Scott Gration to the position of Special Envoy for Sudan. The appointment was made with relatively little fanfare considering the anticipation surrounding the appointment. My attention was immediately drawn toward learning everything I could about General Gration, which may explain why I missed an important line in the White House press release announcing the appointment.

In the last paragraph of the press release, the president briefly discusses his friendship with General Gration and the time they spent together visiting “…refugee camps in Chad that were filled with those who were displaced by the genocide in Darfur.” Did you miss it? It’s okay, I glossed over it, too. Once again with emphasis: “genocide in Darfur.” I haven’t been able to find another instance in which President Obama has referred to the violence in Darfur as genocide since he became president on January 20.

It may not be important; the last administration used the term genocide openly, but with little effect. Even the current administration is no stranger to the term—it has been used by Susan Rice, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations; Mr. Chang, the National Security Council spokesman recently stated that “It is in our country's interest that the most heinous of criminals, like the perpetrators of the genocide in Darfur, are held accountable.” President Obama may simply have been the next official in line to use the term.

Or it may signal something of great importance. Setting aside the issues surrounding the administration’s responsibilities under Article 1 of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, President Obama’s decision to refer to the atrocities in Darfur as “genocide” may mark the next step in a recent escalation of rhetoric directed at Sudan. With the appointment of the Special Envoy, Secretary Clinton’s calls for Bashir to be “held accountable” and the decision to reiterate the description of the conflict in Darfur as a genocide, the administration may be seeking to exert increasing pressure on Sudan and its allies.

We have seen this work before—think “Genocide Olympics.” While Bashir may not care how he is labeled in the West, there are economic supporters of his regime who may wish to avoid the embarrassment of funding a government that is internationally labeled as “genocidal,” especially when the words come directly from President Obama. And it is likely that if their money dried up, eventually Bashir’s internal support would too.

I hope President Obama’s most recent description of the conflict signals a concerted, sustained push to bring the full political pressure of the United States government to bear against the Bashir regime and its international supporters.

Urgent Action in LA

angeladarfur — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:28:11 +0000

Written by KTJ from LA. In less than a week LA-based group, Stop Genocide Now, HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere), Jewish World Watch, In his Shoes, and many other groups came together to stand for 24 hours a day for six days in front of the Los Angeles Federal Building. People are dying in Darfur, because we were not able to step up our activism sooner. We felt we needed to act as urgently as our Darfuri friends are being forced to make the decision about walking across the desert in search of supplies or staying and dying. We planned as we went, we made phones calls, and used the free wifi. We camped, we held signs with Secretary State's Text number and urged those stopped at red lights to send her a message for Darfur. Jill and her two daughters drove from Phoenix overnight, 16 nuns came with signs and texted for the first time ever, Diane from Oregon, families with their children, and 15 Darfui men brought their drums, chants, and stories of Darfur with them from Arizona. Many people came more than once, returning each time with the energy and signs! We met new friend for Darfur and built a new community of activists prepared to stay strong, loud, and consistent as we move forward with a special envoy for Sudan.

This was an Urgent Call to Action. At our rally, less than a week from when we started, we have over 200 people with signs, drums, and action items shouted over a loudspeaker on the four corners of Wilshire and Veteran. The desperate situation on the ground calls for our urgent action - our emergency action. We were not vocal enough or visible enough before, and now the situation is worsening, this is our chance, now, to renew our commitment and stand with our brothers and sisters. We must organize these rally's across the country. Find out where Obama and your leaders will be and even if they only see if from the sky - they must see and hear Darfur all around them. A new Special Envoy to Sudan is only the beginning, it must be our platform to continued and consistent pressure. In the camps, there has been no real change yet.

...okay I just want in to a slight call to action/rant... umm yeah... anyways, you can cut it down if you want! I also uploaded new photos to flickr last night that have the big rally and then yesterday at Orange County - we got on a roof and Obama flew directly over us! There is no way he missed Darfur!

Voices for Action: Boston, San Francisco, Las Vegas

Ashley Spitz — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:52:26 +0000

Another group of activists showed their outrage last week with a protest at City Hall Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur, along with STAND members gathered on March 18 for several hours as a reaction to the expulsion of over a dozen international humanitarian aid groups. The rally allowed participants to express their anger with the situation and inform passers-by about the desperate situation resulting from President Bashir's decision. A die-in attracted the attention of passers-by and gave activists an opportunity to share information about the current crisis. They also encouraged people to text Hillary Clinton and urged her to help bring aid back to Darfur.

Eric Cohen, chairman of the Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur, told the Daily Free Press, "When the events happening are affecting 2.7 million people, there was no time for hesitation." The article details the protest and the sense of urgency that is being mirrored across the country. Esther Sprague of the San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition wrote the following on their rally: "Despite very cold and gusty winds, concerned citizens from Novato to Oakland and everywhere in between showed up at the San Francisco Federal Building on Friday, March 20, 2009 to protest the expulsion of humanitarian aid groups from Darfur by Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and to demand urgent action by President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and by all world leaders to return aid to Darfur and to stop genocide by dehydration, starvation and disease." In Las Vegas, Champion Darfur founder Corey Dragge, organized a rally in front of the Foley Federal Building in downtown Las Vegas. Like activists everywhere members of Champion Darfur have taken to the streets to insure that their message is heard. In an article in the Las Vegas Sun Corey Dragge explained why he felt compelled to stand up against this atrocity. "I hate bullies. I’m not the kind of person who is going to sit idly by and say ‘OK, you know what, that’s way over there,’ because it could just as easily be right here.” Other participants in the event are appalled that our global community has let the genocide in Darfur get to this point. Jack Lester expressed this by stating, “It’s really just a shame that this has gone on so long and the world doesn’t seem to take an interest in it, and the percentage of rapes, and the killing that has gone on with no intervention from the world community is just really sad.” Events like these, that are put together quickly and with a fervent passion are showing how activists can unite their voices for action. Thank you to everyone who has stood up in the face of these atrocities. As Genocide Prevention Month nears and the situation on the ground in Darfur becomes more dire it is increasingly important that we are loud voices for those silenced. Stand up and be a voice for Darfur.

Nero Fiddled…

DaveYoung — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:32:55 +0000

Today marks three weeks since the decision by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to expel 13 INGOs—banishing half of the humanitarian workforce and crippling the agencies that remain. Despite the obvious danger this decision presents to the people of Darfur, Bashir has obstinately refused to reverse—or even to reconsider—his decree.

Since the expulsions, the situation in Darfur has worsened rapidly—both the humanitarian and security situation have markedly deteriorated over the past 21 days. From the closing of health centers to increasing attacks on aid workers and peacekeepers, the always tenuous stability of the region appears to be further breaking down.

Over the last several weeks, there have been at least 3 separate attacks on UNAMID peacekeepers—an organization whose primary purpose in the area is to provide protection for civilians and aid workers. One attack resulted in the death of a blue helmet.

Attacks on aid workers have increased in frequency and severity. On March 11^th, 3 aid workers for MSF, along with two Sudanese assistants, were kidnapped by a group calling themselves “Bashir’s Eagles”—all were subsequently released.

On March 21^st, four aid workers were attacked, beaten, and robbed while returning to Kango Haraza. Two days later, one of the aid workers, Adam Khatir, 39, was shot and killed outside of his home—allegedly by robbers demanding a satellite phone.

In one of the most heinous attacks in recent weeks, assailants—reportedly in military uniforms—set fire to the Abu-zar camp. The camp is home to more than 12,000 IDPs and refugees. Reuters has reported that the attack resulted in 2 deaths and the destruction of one quarter of the camp. In a press statement, UNAMID reported that at least 1,500 residents were affected by the fire.

The growing violence may herald the further destabilization of the region. Without the INGOs to provide water, food, and medical services, the situation in Darfur is going to become increasingly desperate—a desperation that may be reflected in increasing violence and insecurity as resources continue to dwindle. Bashir has brought together all of the ingredients for a humanitarian catastrophe—without the INGOs, the pot may be starting to boil.

And what of Omar Bashir—the feckless leader who has promised to fill any gaps in the humanitarian aid? Has Bashir ridden in on a white stallion—fulfilling his promise to provide for the people of Darfur? Nope. Bashir has decided, instead, to begin the first leg of what may become a world tour of semi-despots and sympathetic leaders who are likely more scared of the ICC coming after them next than interested in standing with Bashir. While Darfur burns, literally, Bashir has decided to commiserate with his counterparts in Eritrea and Egypt—both of whom welcomed the accused war criminal with open arms.

On Monday, Bashir visited Eritrea—one of the first countries to publicly invite him following the ICC arrest warrant. Eritrea’s president, Issaias Afeworki—himself a well-known despot—invited Bashir to his country to discuss “The drama being orchestrated by the so-called ICC…”

Bashir’s second stop took him to Egypt for a visit with President Hosni Mubarak. Bashir and Mubarak met briefly to discuss a range of issues, including the ICC warrant which Cairo has characterized as “…a move that would sabotage peace efforts in the turbulent region of Darfur.”

This was a bold step. Visiting Eritrea is one thing—almost like crossing the Canadian border from Detroit. But Cairo is a whole other story. If ever there was a time for the Obama administration to flex its diplomatic might in support of the people of Darfur—it is now. President Obama should get on the phone with President Mubarak today, demanding a more positive response from the Egyptians as leaders in the Arab world. This is part of the urgent, sustained diplomatic push that the U.S. must lead, or else Bashir will continue to keep close friends and enjoy business as usual.

Whether Bashir is travelling simply to show his defiance of the ICC warrant or to shore up his support among AU and AL countries is unknown. What we can know is that, with every passing day, the situation in Darfur becomes increasingly desperate—and Bashir continues to fiddle.

Make a difference for Darfur this April

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:01:06 +0000

April is Genocide Prevention Month, and this year it is a critical time for Darfur. An arrest warrant has been issued for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. Darfuris have been displaced by genocidal violence for six years. And, President Obama will have been in office for nearly 100 days. We must show our leaders that thousands of Americans demand action at this high-stakes moment — and they won't be able to ignore thousands of Americans rallying in communities across America. In April we will raise our collective voice with hundreds of grassroots events nationwide and demand that Obama act to ensure peace for Sudan, protection for its people and accountability for the architects of genocide. Become part of this momentous campaign.

Host or attend an event in your community

This April, during Genocide Prevention Month, communities across the country will come together to honor the past and act for change in Darfur today. Become part of this momentous campaign by hosting an Act Now for Darfur event in your community. Whether it's a film viewing or forum, a rally or vigil, or a faith-based event, there's something right for you.

Take action every day

Send a letter to Ambassador Susan Rice. Text Secretary Hillary Clinton. Film a YouTube video to President Obama. Watch a film about survivors advocating for an end to genocide. Take action!

Pray and act for Darfur in your house of worship

In the month of April we will commemorate genocides such as Armenia, The Holocaust, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, South Sudan and other mass atrocities with a Month of Sermons and Service. Congregations around the country will reflect on Darfur during Mass, Church Services, Seders and Khutbahs. The Month of Sermons and Service is a time to not only remember the inaction of world leaders in the face of past atrocities, but also to demand real action in Darfur in the present. Invite your faith community to participate by registering as a Congregation of Conscience.

Lobby your elected officials

Schedule a lobby meeting with your member of Congress during April 6-17, the congressional recess. Learn how to set up a lobby meeting, and email info@genocideintervention.net once the meeting is scheduled or with any questions.

Ask your local bookstore or library to display a table of books about genocide

Bookstores and libraries across the country will be featuring tables of books about genocide throughout the month of April. The American Booksellers Association has created a list of notable books about genocide: "Books of Conscience." Doesn't include your favorite? More books are listed here, and you can contact the Genocide Prevention Project with any further suggestions. Help us by asking your bookseller to participate!

Join a commemoration honoring past genocides in your community

Genocide survivors and advocates are holding events around the world in April to observe Genocide Prevention Month. From the Museum of Jewish Heritage to the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, survivor organizations and advocates are commemorating Bosnia, Rwanda, the Holocaust, Cambodia and Armenia – tragedies that all have commemoration anniversaries in April.

Stories from the Refugee Camps in Chad

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:51:11 +0000

Our partners at Stop Genocide Now are on their 7th iAct (interactive activism) trip to refugee camps in Chad. Above, you can see them with children in schools in the camps. Although the joy and resilience of these children is evident in this video, Gabriel from SGN sent a message yesterday saying "I asked a classroom of 52 students for anyone that ate something that morning to raise their hand, 8 of them did." Below is a sad story from their friends, Adef and Achta.

For more video from the camps, check out www.stopgenocidenow.org If you'd like to hear from the SGN team members directly, participate in this conference call hosted by Jewish World Watch.

Conference Call from Chad: Join us in an opportunity to learn more about the current emergency in Darfur and actions we can take to end the conflict. The team from Stop Genocide Now is currently in Chad visiting refugees in the camps there. Their trip comes at a time when international NGOs are bracing for an influx of refugees fleeing the deteriorating situation in Darfur. We have arranged for a conference call with the SGN team from the refugee camps. The call will take place on Tuesday, March 31 at 12:00 PM (PST). Please call 866-213-1863 and enter access code 6316927# to join the call.

Darfur advocates meet with President Obama, Gen. Gration

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:50:53 +0000

This afternoon, Jerry Fowler, president of the Save Darfur Coalition and Rev. Gloria White-Hammond, chair of the board and other Darfur and Sudan advocates met with Sudan Envoy Scott Gration and President Obama. After "publicly affirm[ing] the importance of General Scott Gration, who has been appointed as Special Envoy to Sudan, to work on a whole host of issues that I think are of importance to the international community and should touch the conscience of all of us" the President said:

"what's happened in Darfur has touched so many people around the world, and we have seen such an extraordinary mobilization of advocates, many of who are sitting at this table -- we've got bipartisan interest on the part of members of Congress around this issue -- that I actually think that America can speak effectively with one voice and bring the moral and other elements of our stature to bear in trying to deal with this situation."

After the meeting, Jerry said in a statement:

“During his campaign, President Obama often touted the power and necessity of using transformational multilateral diplomacy to address international crises. Ending the current humanitarian crisis in Darfur and bringing peace to Sudan calls for exactly this type of complete and fully resourced diplomatic effort. Gration’s role will be vital and must continue to be supported by the president’s engagement.”

In a note, Jerry emphasized:

In his public remarks, the President noted the extraordinary mobilization of advocates and the bipartisan interest in Congress... We need to maintain that mobilization and continue to insist on a sense of urgency.

You can help maintain that sense of urgency by hosting an Act Now for Darfur event in April.

Photo of Gen. Gration and President Obama from the AP.

Tour de Farce

DaveYoung — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:49:16 +0000

Indicted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir continued his tour of sympathetic countries over the past week with stops in Libya, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Bashir met with Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi—who also happens to be the current African Union president—on Thursday. Bashir was warmly greeted by Qaddafi who had condemned the ICC warrant for Bashir as “new world terrorism” and an attempt to “recolonise” former colonial territories.

The Sudanese president also attended the Arab League summit in Doha, Qatar—a summit that, despite all of its potential, rarely manages to accomplish anything meaningful. Bashir’s decision to travel to the summit may be seen as a direct snub of the UN, as Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was also in attendance. While the absence of Egypt at the conference coupled with a tantrum by AU president Qaddafi belied the “reconciliatory” intent of the summit, Bashir did manage to wrangle a surprisingly disconcerting statement of support out of the members. In all the praising of Bashir as a leader, not once did the Arab states think it was important to mention the grave humanitarian situation he has caused.

And today, Bashir traveled to Saudi Arabia for a pilgrimage to Mecca—arriving in Jeddah where he was personally greeted by Governor Prince Mishal bin Abdul Aziz.

While the statement of solidarity from the Arab League may seem to be an endorsement of Bashir, it is more likely an attempt by the AL to present a unified front against future indictments of its members. Several members of the AL could—and maybe should—face similar indictments in the future. These members hope that by condemning the ICC as “neo-colonialist” and “racist” they can discredit the court—at the same time, they hope that protecting and defending Bashir will render the ICC impotent. If they are to achieve either of these goals, then their tactic will be a success and they will be free to continue oppressing and abusing their own populaces.

The problem is, the ICC is not just going to go away. As much as African and Arab leaders offer big talk, align with, and support President Bashir, it’s likely that his friends will eventually fade. And like Milosevic and Taylor before him, Bashir will face his day in court.

Genocide Prevention Month Launches

DaveYoung — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:05:57 +0000

Yesterday marked the beginning of Genocide Prevention Month—a month-long call “…on the international community to take meaningful actions […] to mobilize resources to avert or halt such ongoing crises and protect civilians from mass atrocity crimes.” Along with this call to action, GPM also serves to commemorate past atrocities—six of which, from the Holocaust to the Armenian Genocide, coincidentally began in April.

On the first day of GPM, Congressman Jerrold Nadler introduced a statement “Calling for Action on Darfur and to Prevent Genocide” into the congressional record. This statement, signed by “… more than sixty survivor and anti-genocide organizations from around the world” urges “… immediate action to stop the ongoing genocide in Darfur.”

In his introduction, Congressman Nadler reminds us that “In April 2009, the slaughter in Darfur will enter its seventh year.” The crisis in Darfur began in April 2003 with a mass displacement of civilians—over the past six years, over 2.5 million civilians have been forced to flee their homes—seeking refuge in IDP camps and finding themselves dependent upon humanitarian organizations for their basic human needs.

Now, as this ongoing atrocity enters its seventh year, the situation for the people of Darfur has gotten worse. The decision by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to expel humanitarian agencies responsible for the life-sustaining care for 4.7 million civilians in Darfur is stunning in its inhumanity. Bashir, having failed to annihilate the people of Darfur with bullets, bombs, and rape has now turned to dehydration, starvation, and disease to finish the job—cutting the humanitarian lifeline to Darfur appears to be Bashir’s “final solution.”

And without pressure from the international community, it is a solution that may prove successful—the people of Darfur, much like Eugenie Mukeshimana, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide and GPM participant, are just “[hanging] on one more day, each day, hoping that somebody will get to [them].” The help that Eugenie believed was coming turned out to be just a rumor—this must not be the case in Darfur. The help must be real, it must be proactive, and it must be soon.

Kick off Genocide Prevention Month - events this weekend!

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:54:54 +0000

Below are some of the amazing Genocide Prevention Month events happening this weekend. Don't see one near you? Find or host an event. And don't forget to take action! Interfaith Street Seder for Darfur: An Urgent Action to Restore Aid and Create Lasting Peace in Sudan The crisis in Darfur is rapidly deteriorating. Without urgent action, millions are at risk of death from disease, dehydration and starvation. Show your outrage, raise your voice, and pray with your feet! Where: The Federal Building, 11000 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles When: Sunday, April 5, 1-4 PM Why: To send a message to our community, the media and our government, during Passover and Holy Week, that we will Not Stand Idly By while the population of Darfur is decimated. Directions: Corner of Wilshire and Veteran. Parking is on Veteran, in the Federal Building Visitor's Lot. Lake Forest Park for Peace monthly vigil for Darfur Join us for our monthly vigil to call attention to the crisis in Darfur. We have the vigil the first Saturday of every month from 11am to 12pm. The next vigil will be on April 4th. All are welcome. Bring signs and banners. Note: The Darfur vigil is on the EAST (lake) side of Bothell Way. There is another vigil on the WEST side of Bothell Way protesting the Iraq War. Time: Saturday, April 4 from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: The corner of Ballinger Way & Bothell Way - Lake Forest Park, WA Directions: Exit I-5 at the Ballinger Way exit. Go east on Ballinger Way to Bothell Way. Vigil is at the corner of Ballinger Way and Bothell Way on the EAST side (lake side) of Bothell Way. Hosted by Save Darfur Washington State. Rummage Sale benefitting Darfur This event is taking place at Woodbidge High School in Irvine Ca. The event will take place on April 4th from 7am-1pmin the quad. This is the third year our high school has done this event and last year we raised 3,000. We are looking for people to bring in donations of things we could sell the day of the event. All donations can be brought to Woodbridge by April 3rd at 4pm to Mrs. Malkin's room,G101.We are looking for Clothing, lectronic, Artwork etc. We also would like people to attend our Rummage Sale. The Sale is a great way to bargain and get some amazing things at low prices. At the event we will also be hosting a Raffle tat has over $5,000 in prizes!!! Please come out and support this worthy event and show your support in helping the innocent men women and children of Darfur affected by the ongoing genocide in Darfur. Time: Saturday, April 4 from 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM Location: Woodbridge High School Quad - 2 Meadowbrook Irvine, CA 92604 Directions: 55 North to 405 South Exit Culver Left on Culver Right on Alton and Left on Lake Blythewood High School for Darfur For the week of March 30 - April 3, Blythewood High School's student body is sponsoring a Save Darfur Week that will culminate in Act Now For Darfur Day on Friday April 3. Each day of the week students will be engaged in learning more about the crisis in Darfur and the ways in which they can become advocates for those suffering from the genocide. Blythewood High School (Blythewood, SC)

Speak softly...

DaveYoung — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:02:22 +0000

The new special envoy for Sudan seems to have mastered the first part of Teddy Roosevelt’s famed diplomatic creed—“speak softly”. It remains to be seen whether he is carrying – and authorized to use – “a big stick.” Gen. Scott Gration (Ret.) began his weeklong visit to Sudan this week by sticking to President Obama’s pledge of “aggressive diplomacy.” Gration’s visit to Sudan comes almost exactly one month after the decision by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to expel 13 INGOs responsible for life-sustaining care to millions of civilians in Darfur. During the past month, the humanitarian situation on the ground in Darfur has steadily worsened—outright catastrophe is held at bay only by a patchwork of emergency stopgap measures taken by the UN and, ostensibly, Khartoum. These measures have not prevented a rise in violent acts against IDPs, aid workers, and peacekeepers in the Darfur region—attacks that have included robbery, arson, and murder. Of graver concern, more than one million civilians are currently projected to lose access to food, water, and medicine within the next month, with the potential of millions more following suit later this summer as the rainy season kicks into gear without the benefit of prepositioned supplies and services. The international response has been, at best, anemic. Bashir has once again embarked on a campaign designed specifically to strengthen his own political hand while simultaneously obliterating the people of Darfur, and the response from world leaders has run the gamut from outright adulation and support from his Arab League counterparts to milquetoast-like statements of disapprobation from western nations. This is why the statements from General Gration are potentially so disheartening – if they have not been complemented by a private explanation of “the big stick.” Gration rightly lays out that Sudan could move towards meaningful rapprochement with the U.S. and others – if the Sudanese government moves beyond Bashir’s policies which led Sudan to this point of confrontation with much of the international community. What Gration must also lay out is what will happen – both due to internal dynamics and external international pressure – if the Sudanese government chooses to continue down Bashir’s path. Without this critical second punch in this diplomatic one-two combination, the hope that the U.S. will effectively lead the way towards productive engagement with the Sudanese government—mindful of Bashir’s illegitimacy as an indicted war criminal—will evaporate in a puff of politically-correct doublespeak. Gen. Gration has left it “…up to the Sudanese government to determine how they want to continue with that relationship” – which hints that that relationship could go one of two ways without actually specifying the darker path. Bashir has proven time and again that, if left to his own devices, he will simply continue to do whatever he wants while lying to and stalling negotiating partners. It’s understandable to try to begin from a diplomatic position—you catch more flies with honey, as it’s said—but Bashir has proven time and again that he doesn’t respond to carrots absent the presence of corresponding sticks. The international community has negotiated with this man many times before—nearly all to his benefit. Bashir will play along, get as many concessions as he can for his superficial cooperation, and then simply renege on any commitments he has made if there are no consequences for doing so—it has been his modus operadi for over two decades. I have no doubt that, given his extensive military experience, General Gration is as adept with the stick as he seemingly is with the carrot, which will be critical to the success of any substantive effort to improve the situation. Bashir has proven himself an unreliable and dishonorable negotiating partner in the past—handling him with kid gloves is unlikely to spur any response from him other than contempt. If the Obama administration wants to get serious about Darfur, then they must be serious in their handling of Bashir.

Interfaith Seder in LA

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:48:42 +0000

On Sunday, over 200 people gathered at the Los Angeles Federal Building for an Interfaith Seder and rally for urgent action in Darfur hosted by Stop Genocide Now, HOPE and Jewish World Watch. A note from Naama Haviv of Jewish World Watch, one of the event organizers:

The rally itself was very powerful, with interfaith choirs, Darfuri refugees that drove all the way out from Arizona to be with us, and political leaders all joining us. We had tables set up about four Seder-based themes: Matzah, the Seder Plate, the Four Questions and "In Every Generation" - with actions matched to each of the themes.

Check out photos from the event, and watch LA's call to action below! Find an Act Now for Darfur Genocide Prevention Month event near you! And don't forget to film a video.

Act Now for Darfur - this week, in your community!

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:57:07 +0000

Oregon: Darfur, Sudan Awareness Event at Westminster Presbyterian Church This Esther Circle hosted event is to raise awareness of the situation in Darfur, to help end the genocide. A summary of region's history will be discussed, along a presentation of the video "Darfur: A Call to Action". Postcards will be available to add your voice for Darfur. At the end of the event, an optional viewing of the video "Violence Against Women" will be available for those interested. Childcare will be available, please RSVP. Time: Wednesday, April 8 from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Location: Westminster Presbyterian Church - 2000 Oakwood Drive, Medford, OR 97504 Utah: Westminster College Die-In for Darfur In Westminster College's student center, concerned individuals will "die" for an hour to raise awareness for the plight of the people of Darfur. Then they will tye-dye a t-shirt to continue to expose people to the cause. Time: Wednesday, April 8 from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Location: Westminster College - 1840 South 1300 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84105 Arizona: Coronal del Sol High School Strut4STAND Fashion Show On Thursday, April 9th, Corona Del Sol High School is hosting "Strut4STAND Fashion Show" at 7:00pm in the Coronal Del Sol Auditorium. Corona is located at 1001 East Knox Road, Tempe, Arizona 85284. The event is open to the public, with tickets being sold in advance at the school bookstore for $4, and at the door for $5 at the door. Proceeds will go to the Jewish World Watch Solar Cooker Project. The AZ Lost Boys will be featured guests, and will be selling their ceramic cows. Time: Thursday, April 9 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Corona del Sol High School - 1001E. Knox Road, Tempe, AZ 85284 Kentucky: Transylvania University Film Viewing/Discussion Night On Thursday April 9th Transylvania University will be hosting a film viewing of Darfur Now as well as the Save Darfur documentary. The film viewing will be held in the Cowgill building on campus in room 102 at 6 p.m. We are asking for anyone and everyone to join us as we try to spread awareness to our campus and our community. We will be setting up a table that people can write to President Obama on the issue with the postcards we will have available. We intend on the event lasting two or three hours. After the film viewing we will hold discussion. Time: Thursday, April 9 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Transylvania University - 300 N. Broadway, Lexington, KY 40508 Massachusetts: Emerson College Art Not War This event will be a performance/visual art fundraiser, where students can showcase their talents, while raising money for this great cause. There will be all different types of performances, as well as many photo and painting submissions done by students, that portray either a sense of oppression or hope. Time: Friday, April 10 from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Location: Emerson College - 80 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 Arizona: University of Arizona Darfur Now Screening Documentary film entitled Darfur Now will be screened for free in the Gallagher Theater at the University of Arizona on April 10th at 7pm. Time: Friday, April 10 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Gallagher Theater - Tucson, AZ 85721 Directions: Speedway and Mountain within the Student Union

Darfur Heroes draw on experience during Rwandan genocide to galvanize Darfur advocates

Ashley — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:01:26 +0000

The Darfur Heroes program, started in 2007 by the coalition, highlights individuals and groups who play a crucial role in helping end the violence in Darfur through awareness-raising and other efforts. This month, Save Darfur is honoring Carl and Teresa Wilkens for their unwavering commitment to fight genocide and to equip other activists with the tools and resources to build sustained political will to end genocide. Check out their story below: I remember first reading about Darfur from Nicholas Kristof. As he described a mom and her now fatherless children fleeing the killers it brought back all kinds of memories… no, no… not again… You see in 1994 my wife Teresa and I along with our 3 small children were living in Rwanda involved in development/relief work. As I write this it hits me that it was 15 years ago today, 15 years ago just a bit after 8 in the evening that we heard an explosion. We were settling in for the evening in our home in Kigali and were completely unaware that the president’s plane (a sweet little jet, courtesy of President Mitterand) had just circled over our house, landing gear down, when a couple of surface-to- air missiles streaked up from somewhere, fired by someone, as it approached the airport and killed the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi, along with everyone else on board. This was the detonator for the worst killing spree of the last century. Not a random killing spree, but a genocide that had been in the making for years with specific plans being meticulously put in place over the previous 2 years. The killing started that night. The lists of Tutsi and moderate Hutu had been prepared. The machetes, clubs, and guns were ready. And thousands of youth had been trained for this very moment. They quickly joined in the wave of soldiers, with orders to kill, kill, kill, till there were none left to tell. We all slept in the hallway that night and the next day, amid the cries and machine gun fire in our neighborhood, it became clear that this was like no other crisis we had ever faced. Three days later I closed the door of our homemade camper with Teresa, our children and my mom safely inside and waved goodbye to my dad who was behind the wheel of our Toyota pick-up (what a time for Mom and Dad to be visiting from the States). They followed a white UN tank down the street to the evacuation assembly point where they joined more than a hundred vehicles fleeing the country. After much prayer and discussion about the 2 Tutsi young workers trapped by the killing at our home, Teresa and I had both decided TOGETHER that I would stay and she and the kids would evacuate. These 2 young people very much put a face on the people targeted for extermination in Rwanda. We didn’t know that we were on the tip of a genocide! We didn’t know how long the separation would last. We didn’t know if we would see each other again… but what we knew was that we had a chance to make a difference. Perhaps a life and death difference, and we had to do something. So here we were again, after reading Nicholas Kristof’s article on Darfur, with the opportunity to do something… something with life or death consequences. What would we do? For 88 nights throughout the Rwanda genocide I had slept in the hallway of our home wondering if the rest of the world gave a rip… and now here I was the “rest of the world”. From 2004-08 I traveled for 3 or 4 days each month speaking on the Rwanda/Darfur genocides and finally in Jan 2008, with no end in sight for the Darfur genocide, Teresa and I again decided TOGETHER that I would quit my job and shift to full-time traveling/speaking against the Darfur genocide. That has since grown into the founding of a small educational non-profit, worldoutsidemyshoes.org. And so today, here in Kigali, Rwanda, at the invitation of the government of Rwanda, I’m contemplating what I will say at the 15-year commemoration ceremony tomorrow. What can I say to the people of Rwanda: survivors, perpetrators, bystanders, and those who have returned home to find so many family members taken from them…taken from us? I can share my experience and hopefully they will gain some hope and join me in my commitment to never give up, to never give in to cynicism and rationalization, to never stop believing in the power of other-focused-love – the selfless love I saw demonstrated by some Rwandans during the genocide and by my wife during and after this difficult time. I hope they will join me in my commitment to fight with everything I have against “US and THEM” thinking. To each of you taking the time to read this…. Thank you…thanks for what you are doing for the people of Darfur… thanks for your commitments… thanks for taking the time to think on who the “Other” might be in your neighborhood, in your country, in our planet. Thank You really…it means a lot to me, to Teresa and to so many others… You probably already know that this life of service with/for others is a wild ride… the best ride ever!

Physician, Heal Thyself

DaveYoung — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:59:30 +0000

Justice is finally coming to Darfur—the long-awaited punishment of the war criminals is now guaranteed.

“After the reconciliation we will investigate those who are criminals and those who committed crimes and those who were killed and those who were killers. This is all guaranteed. Compensation will be paid. Everyone will get their right. This is justice.”

Of course, since the guarantee is coming from the worst of all of the perpetrators, it must either be taken with a grain of salt or, worse yet, with growing apprehension about his definition of “justice.” Not to mention the fact that Khartoum insists that only 10,000 people have perished since the crisis began, completely ignoring the UN estimate of upwards of 300,000.

“We know about justice between us and we know how to solve our problems.”

Omar al-Bashir vowed yesterday that Sudanese officials would track down and punish those who were responsible for atrocities in Darfur—strangely ironic that the Sudanese officials who helped mastermind the atrocities are now, ostensibly, tasked with investigating them. It could be a great time-saver though; all of the officials in Khartoum could simply arrest each other and surrender themselves to the ICC.

Nobody actually believes that Bashir is interested in anything that civilized people would term as “justice.” The best-case scenario from this latest stunt is that it is just a stunt—Bashir is simply spouting empty promises of reconciliation and justice in order to try and appease those elements within Sudan that want someone to be held accountable for the crimes committed in Darfur.

The worst-case scenario would be that Bashir has decided to use this pursuit of “justice” as an excuse to conduct a witch hunt of anyone who opposes his rule or his decision to expel humanitarian agencies. It would not be out of character for Bashir to go after political enemies under the guise of pursuing “justice” for Darfur—a man who is willing to paint military aircraft with UN colors in order to simplify the task of bombing civilians would not be troubled by using the word justice to commit even more injustice.

Hopefully, Bashir is right—with the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Darfur, the only hope for safety and security may be justice. But not the perverse justice that Bashir hides behind—true justice demands peace and security in Darfur and that Bashir be called to account for his crimes.

Take Two of These...

DaveYoung — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:55:23 +0000

Following the expulsion of humanitarian aid groups from Darfur, President Bashir promised that any gaps in assistance would be filled by the Sudanese government—Bashir has even gone so far as to suggest that, within a year, all humanitarian aid in Darfur will be “Sudanized.”

In Abu Shouk camp, the idea of “Sudanized” medical care is not one that brings much comfort to those who are now left without the assistance of professional medical practitioners. Humanitarian assistance in the area has been crippled by the expulsions—leading to long lines, a shortage of supplies, and an overall decrease in security in an already-dangerous environment.

Hit particularly hard by the expulsions are clinics specializing in the treatment of women and children—as in most conflicts, women and children in Darfur have borne the lion’s share of suffering, degradation, and death. Accounting for upwards of 70% of the IDP population, women and children are now further endangered by the forced removal of professional medical service providers. With dwindling resources comes dwindling options—some of the options left to civilians in Darfur seem incomprehensible to anyone who has set foot in a modern medical care facility.

Mastoura Hussein, a 22-year-old woman living in Abu Shouk, was receiving treatment for an inflammation of the uterus—her treatment was being provided by doctors at a specialized woman’s health clinic. That treatment was abruptly ended when the organization operating the clinic was expelled from Darfur. So, Mastoura now stands for hours outside of a general medical clinic operated by the Egyptian military—a clinic that may not have the required medications or expertise to treat her condition. Should the Egyptian clinic be unable to treat her condition, Mastoura’s options may dwindle to the point that she is forced to seek help from a traditional healer.

Although many traditional healers have a variety of magical cures for everyday health woes, traditional medicine is a far cry from the modern medical care associated with a complicated affliction such as inflammation of the uterus. One healer near Abu Shouk suggested Mastoura use a remedy of holy water, charcoal, and glue poured over a board inscribed with verses from the Quran for relief. In Darfur today, Mastoura is running out of options.

Bashir is not a man known for his honesty, but in at least one respect, he is absolutely truthful—the aid gaps will be filled. If the gaps in medical care are not filled by professionals with medication, then they will be filled by charcoal and glue; if the gaps in water and food are not filled by healthy supplies of both, then they will be filled by the drinking of diseased water and the desperation of famine; if the gaps in security are not filled by trusted, trained professionals, then they will be filled with angry, hungry, armed militias.

If desperation is allowed to become the driving force in Darfur, then the outcome will be equally desperate. The people of Darfur don’t need magic and they don’t need empty rhetoric—they need doctors; they need food and water; they need to live free of the fear of bombing raids, arson attacks, and gang rapes conducted and condoned by their own government; they need help and they need it now.

Take a moment to Act Now for Darfur this weekend

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:34:46 +0000

There are hundreds of events happening around the country (and the world!) throughout April - Genocide Prevention Month. Take a moment this weekend to Honor the Past and Act Now for Darfur. Don't see an event near you? Check out our map of events to find one later in the month. It's also not too late to host a small event in your community! Idaho: Act Now for Darfur Global Day We will walk from the Boise Depot (please meet in the parking lot) to the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial with our signs. There will be musicians and several speakers, mainly Boise Darfuri residents. Fidel Nshombo (Congo) will also read his poetry. For those who do not wish to join us in our walk down the hill, please meet us at the Memorial at 11:30am. Time: Saturday, April 11 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Location: Boise Depot - Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial - 777 S. 8th Street, Boise, ID 83702 Kansas: Save Darfur Prayer Vigil A time to gather and be advocates for Darfur before the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man who suffered so that our suffering may be healed. Monetary funds will also be collected on a voluntary basis for the advocacy efforts of the Save Darfur Coalition. Time: Saturday, April 11 from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Location: Mid America College Church of the Nazarene - 2020 E. Sheridan, Olathe, KS 66062 Massachusetts: North Shore Freestyle Dance for Darfur Enjoy DJ Rav’s mixed genre music, dance, network, and learn about the latest actions to help bring peace, health and justice to Darfur. $5 to $15/person suggested donation at the door. April is Genocide Prevention Month, do what you can to prevent the genocide in Darfur. Time: Saturday, April 11 from 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM Location: Ipswich Moving Co., Dance Studio - 62 East Street on Cogswell St. Ipswich, MA 01938 Lot of events happening in California! Exhibit Darfur - San Francisco Exhibit Darfur is an artistic representation of the personal experiences of genocide and slavery in Sudan. This multi-media experience takes visitors on a photographic journey through the lens of six astonishing artists: Mia Farrow, Brian Steidle, Izabela Lundberg, Aaron Cohen, Heidi McGuiness, and Carol Rinehart. Exhibit Darfur will provide opportunities for participants to learn more about Sudan and how they can be involved in ending genocide and promoting peace through organizations working to improve conditions in Sudan. Exhibit Opens April 1 and runs through April 30. For more information, visit www.exhibitdarfur.com or www.darfursf.org. Time: M-F: 9am - 8pm, Sat: 9am-4pm, Sunday: Closed Location: San Francisco State University Downtown Campus - 835 Market St, 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103

Darfur Awareness Week A week focused on the plight of the individuals in the Darfur region of Sudan. Will be focused on awareness, cultivating knowledge, and encouraging students to become actively involved in promoting human rights. Time: Sunday, April 12 12:00 PM - April 19 12:00 PM Location: Occidental College - 1600 Campus Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90041 Compassion & Action: Teaching and Discussion Join us for a teaching and discussion with Gabriel Stauring and Khen Rinpoche on Compassion & Action. Light lunch will be served and there will be time for question and answers. There is no charge for the event; donations will be accepted if you feel moved to offer. This event is open the public so please feel free to invite your friends! Khen Rinpoche Geshe Kachen Lobzang Tsetan is a Tibetan Buddhist monk, from Ladakh, India. He began his monastic life at age seven in Stok, his family village. In 1952, when he was sixteen years old, he walked with his father from Ladakh to Shigatse, Tibet, to enter the famous Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. The 800-mile trek took them over two months to complete. His dream was to receive the Geshe degree in Buddhist philosophy, similar in level to that of the Western Ph.D. This dream was deferred for him when the Chinese government intensified their policy of cultural genocide on occupied Tibet in 1959. In July 2005 at the request of HH the 14th Dalai Lama, Geshe Tsetan was installed as Khenchen, or head Abbot, of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe, in southern India. This event is co-hosted by Stop Genocide Now and Tashi Lhunpo Monastery (in exile). Time: Saturday, April 11 from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Location: Community Church, Mertz Hall - 611 Heliotrope Avenue, Corona del Mar, CA 92625 And if you're in Canada... Shine a Light on Darfur Shine a Light on Darfur will be an evening rally and candlelight vigil on April 12th, 2009 to raise awareness about the current crisis in Darfur and encourage the Canadian federal government to take action to stop the genocide. The rally will feature speakers to educate attendees on all aspects of the crisis (perpetrators, relief & protection) as well as a performance by musician Dylan Murray. Time: Sunday, April 12 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Host: Toronto Darfur Coalition Location: Queen's Park - Toronto, m7a1a2

Act for Darfur at an event near you!

Ashley Spitz — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:32:41 +0000

There are now more than 400 communities participating in Genocide Prevention Month! This weekend alone there are nearly 100 events across the country, where Americans will be raising their voices for Darfur. In DC, the Save Darfur Coalition is hosting a memorial ceremony, featuring survivors of past genocides, followed by a short speaking program featuring "upstanders" who acted in the face of previous genocides, Darfuri activists and prominent leaders from the Darfur movement in America. Join us from 2:00-3:00 pm in Obama's front yard, Lafayette Square, for this exciting event. Throughout the country activists are hosting events ranging from rallies in Chicago, to Congregations of Conscience praying for the people of Darfur, to citizens uniting to lobby their representatives. Find more information about some of the events happening this weekend below.

Rallies and Ceremonies Youth United for Darfur Rally (Chicago, IL) 3rd Annual Rally for Darfur (Sarasota, FL) Holocaust Remembrance Day and Genocide Prevention Ceremony (Terre Haute, IN) Faith An Evening of Prayer for Africa (Imperial, PA) Temple Israel of Long Beach (Long Beach, CA) Honoring the Past with A Gathering of Hope (Raleigh, NC) Film screenings Chandler (Chandler, AZ) Irvine United Congregational Church - Plumer Hall (Irvine, CA) Saddleback College (Mission Viejo, CA) South Side Coffee Co. (Lompoc, CA) Concerts Dobson High School (Mesa, AZ) A Song for Darfur Benefit Concert (Manhasset, NY) Gatherings - education, awareness, action (and some fun) McGeorge School of Law (Sacramento, CA) BC Forum at Santa Barbara City College (Santa Barbara, CA) Rio Theatre (Santa Cruz, CA) Cropsey residence (Redding, CA) Reilly's apt: Shandoka G37 (Telluride, CO) Lobbying District Offices throughout Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks, CA) US Congressional District Offices (Decatur, GA) Week of awareness USC - McCarthy Quad, and other locations tba (Los Angeles, CA) There are dozens of events that I could not fit here, so if there is not one highlighted here, find an event near you! This post was drafted by Amanda Tyson

Haboob Mamdani

jerry — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:46:55 +0000

I’ve refrained from commenting on Mahmoud Mamdani's new book because – well, primarily because I’ve had more important things to do. But I wanted to take the opportunity to provide a few thoughts. People may know that it is part critique of the Darfur advocacy movement and part history of Darfur and Sudan. Actual scholars of Sudan – which Mamdani is not – have begun to eviscerate the historical section due to fundamental errors of fact and Mamdani’s almost exclusive (and selective) reliance on secondary sources. The book is not, in other words, a work of scholarship. Those familiar with the Darfur advocacy movement likewise have begun to eviscerate that part of the book – again for fundamental errors of fact and almost exclusive (and selective) reliance on secondary sources. In both cases, he started with his theory and then searched for bits of information that could be used – in some cases, twisted – to support that theory. I generally agree with my former colleague Bridget Conley-Zilkic on the need for a conversation about how the work of scholars and experts can better inform advocacy and activism: “The conversation we need today would involve activists and scholars speaking frankly about where the conflict stands, where the greatest threats to civilians are in Sudan (not just in Darfur), and what we need to know in order to intelligently engage on the issues.” Unfortunately, Mamdani’s slovenly polemic doesn’t do anything to promote that conversation and indeed -- by enveloping all of us in a haboob of distortion and misdirection -- impedes it.

Honoring the past, acting now for Darfur in Washington DC

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:17:03 +0000

On April 19th DC-area advocates for Darfur (and 3 buses of advocates from Pittsburgh!) joined over 450 communities across the United States to honor the past and act now for Darfur. The event began with a moving memorial ceremony honoring the victims of the genocides and mass atrocities commemorated in the month of April, Genocide Prevention Month. Armenia, the Holocaust, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, South Sudan and Darfur were all remembered through personal stories, prayers and the building of a memorial in front of the White House. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Archbishop Vicken Aykazian adds a copy of an Armenian passport to the memorial"][/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Joseph Sebarenzi says a prayer before adding a rose to the memorial"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Socheata, Houng and Nin Poeuv pray before adding a family photo to the memorial"][/caption]

Niemat Ahmadi adds a traditional Darfuri basket to the memorial

During the memorial ceremony, Joseph Seberenzi, a former member of the Rwandan Parliament, joined in not only honoring the memory of his loved ones murdered during the Rwandan genocide, but in calling for action to end genocide in Darfur.

Now, it is not the time to talk; it is not the time to stand by; it is the time to act.

Now it is the time to remember that the people of Darfur are fellow human beings; are God’s children.

Now is the time to remember that each of us owes the people of Darfur help in whatever ways possible.

[...]
I am here today to remind world leaders the ancient wisdom that to whom much is given, much is required; PLEASE use the power given to you to stop the genocide in Darfur!

I am here to day, to tell my fellow genocide survivors, to seek justice, and to never seek revenge;

I am here today to tell victims of violence, to overcome their sufferings, not with violence, but with peaceful means.

Photos of Dr. Jon Western and the Poeuv family by Pete Muller. All other photos by Mark Lotwis of Save Darfur.

"Our souls are rested"

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:49:22 +0000

Gloria White-Hammond from Genocide Prevention Month on Vimeo. One of the most rousing moments of Sunday's Honor the Past - Act Now for Darfur Genocide Prevention Month event was a short speech by Rev. Gloria White-Hammond, the chair of the board of Save Darfur. Rev. Gloria inspired the crowd to continue the long fight against genocide by recounting the story of Dr. Martin Luther King's encounter with a civil rights activist in the 1960’s.

“Dr. King told the story of Mother Pollard. Mother Pollard was a 70 year-old woman who lived in Montgomery during the bus boycott. And like many of the older women, Mother Pollard was offered a ride but Mother Pollard refused to take a ride. And when Martin King asked her why don’t you just get in the car so you can rest a little bit, she responded: ‘My feets are tired, but my soul is rested.’”

Rev. Gloria reminded us how, like Mother Pollard, we have to continue the struggle for peace, justice and equality. “300,000 have died and that’s the bad news, our feets are tired. But 5 million are still alive, and our souls are rested.” We have made a difference. And with continued advocacy, we can continue to do so. She reminded us of the terrible violence against women in Darfur and raised our spirits that something can be done to stop this violence. A cheer rose up among the women who had traveled hundreds of miles to raise their voices in front of the White House as they heard Rev. Gloria:

“We will not shut-up until the raping stops. We will stop the murder, yes we can! We will stop the burning, yes we can! And we won’t shut up until we stop the genocide once and for all, YES WE CAN!"

"There is a solution for Sudan"

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:43:52 +0000

John Prendergast from Genocide Prevention Month on Vimeo. During Sunday’s Honor the Past - Act Now for Darfur Genocide Prevention Month event leading advocates for Sudan spoke about the power of activism, and what needs to be done now for Darfur. Enough Project co-founder John Prendergast encouraged the crowd:

"There is a solution for Sudan and activism is essential for that solution," said Prendergast. He noted that activism had "elevated an obscure war in a desert far away to the Oval Office," saved thousands of lives by "preventing the Sudanese government from using starvation as a weapon of war," led to an investigation at the International Criminal Court, and secured the assistance of thousands of international troops on the ground in Sudan. Emphasizing the important "unfinished business as an anti-genocide movement," Prendergast urged the audience to write and call government officials, and to contact the media to remind President Obama that he has the unique opportunity to lead a global push for peace in Sudan.

Check out the post from our partners at Enough to get their take on the event!

Photos: Honor the Past, Act Now for Darfur

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:09:05 +0000

Two beautiful photo slide shows from Sunday's Honor the Past Act Now for Darfur Genocide Prevention Month event. Click on the images below to check them out! From DeftMag.com:

From Ryan Riley: If you took photos at this event, or any Act Now for Darfur event across the country, please add them to our Flickr group! And if you have video, please add it to our YouTube group.

“That is my commitment as President.”

sarah — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:21:44 +0000

Today, President Barack Obama spoke at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum among men and women who survived the Holocaust and heroes that saved lives from being lost. His words gave the highest emphasis to words we have heard echoing across the country this month:

“But we must also remember that bearing witness is not the end of our obligation – it is just the beginning. We know that evil has yet to run its course on earth. We have seen it in this century in mass graves and the ashes of villages burned to the ground; in children used as soldiers and rape as a weapon of war…

Today, and every day, we have an opportunity – and an obligation – to confront these scourges. To fight the impulse to turn the channel when we see images that disturb us, or wrap ourselves in the false comfort that others’ suffering is not our problem. And to instead make a habit of empathy; to recognize ourselves in each other; and to commit ourselves to resisting injustice, intolerance and indifference in whatever forms they may take – whether confronting those who tell lies about history, or doing everything we can to prevent and end atrocities like those that took place in Rwanda, and those taking place in Darfur. That is my commitment as President…

We find cause for hope as well in Protestant and Catholic children attending school together in Northern Ireland; in Hutus and Tutsis living side by side, forgiving neighbors who have done the unforgivable; in a movement to save Darfur that has 1,000 high school and college chapters in 25 countries, and brought 70,000 people to the Washington Mall – people of every age, faith, background and race united in common cause with their suffering brothers and sisters half a world away.

Those numbers can be our future – our fellow citizens of the world showing us how to make the journey from oppression to survival, from witness to resistance and reconciliation. That is what we mean when we say ‘never again.’”

Click here to find out how you can involve yourself in activities this month that turn memory into action.

Click here to see the full text of the speech.

Click here to see the video of the event.

Members of Congress, Darfur Activists Protest at Sudanese Embassy

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:35:26 +0000

This morning, Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA), John Lewis (D-GA), Donna Edwards (D-MD), Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and activists Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler, Enough Project co-founder John Prendergast and Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism were arrested for civil disobedience outside of the Sudanese Embassy while protesting the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Darfur. The AP quotes Representative Ellison:

Ellison says it is wrong to deny aid to what he calls "the most vulnerable people on our planet."

The Washington Post quotes Representative Edwards:

"I thought it was pretty important to join with my colleagues in saying this is not acceptable in a civil society," Edwards said in an interview following her release. "These are issues I've cared about for a long time, long before I came into Congress."

The Hill newspaper quotes Representative McGovern:

"President Bashir has a choice," McGovern said at the protest. "He can choose to let the humanitarian groups return; he can choose to end the violence and the killing; and he can choose serious negotiations for a just and lasting peace. Or he can continue to commit crimes against humanity — crimes with which he is already charged — and charges that will one day catch up with him and bring him down."

Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler said:

"We know President Obama and members of his administration care passionately about ending the Darfur crisis and promoting peace in Sudan," said coalition president Jerry Fowler. "As President Obama nears his 100th day in office this week, he can demonstrate that Sudan is a strategic priority for the United States by committing to build a multilateral coalition for peace and investing in the diplomacy necessary to achieve an equitable and lasting solution for Darfuris and all Sudanese."

Check out the blogs of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and the Enough Project for more photos and their take on the event. Photos by Mark Lotwis and Martha Heinemann Bixby for the Save Darfur Coalition.

A Call to the Conscience of Congress

nghent-rodriguez — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:23:14 +0000

The constituency of conscience isn't just me and you. It also includes our elected officials, who themselves can also be counted as activists. Over the past few days, Members of Congress have raised their voices for Darfur by standing up and taking action.

Senator Feingold delivered a powerful message last week at the Religious Action Center's Consultation on Conscience. His topic: Darfur.

Senator Feingold shared that his commitment to social justice begins with his Jewish roots. The Holocaust and his family history encouraged him not to stop simply at raising awareness but propelled him to activism. He counted everyone in the room (Jewish leaders from around the country) as a key factor for getting Darfur on the conscience of Congress.

Yet despite all the efforts he noted that the crisis still goes unresolved. Last month, the Sudanese government expelled 13 humanitarian NGOs that provide life saving food, water and medicine to the people of Sudan. He urged the activist community to sound the alarm again.

Feingold was "disappointed that many in the international community have carried on with business as usual.” He called for activists and colleagues to let the world know that it is unacceptable to remain on the sidelines with so many innocent lives at risk.

Feingold's call to not stand idly by must have been heard.

On Monday, 5 members of congress and 3 movement leaders took direct action in front of the Sudanese embassy. Civil Rights leader Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) decried that “We cannot stand by, watch and wait" for the looming humanitarian crisis to hit the fan, we must act now. And act they did. All 5 members were carted away for civil disobedience, but not before they delivered some powerful messages of their own.

The Embassy of Sudan cited the act as a ploy to capitalize off of the region's "human tragedies.” Monday's action will not single handedly be the act that ends the Darfur genocide, but it gave some much needed exposure to the situation.

“If we can help raise awareness and create a sense of urgency and get President Obama more involved, then I think it [arrests] was worth it,” McGovern said.

Moving from awareness to activism is the current task at hand for the constituency of conscience.

“Genocide and mass killings are among the greatest stains on our collective conscience” Feingold said. This week the call to the conscience of Congress was answered, let's hope it resonates and that others answer the call.

A 24 Hour Hunger Strike for Darfur

angeladarfur — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:22:46 +0000

By Ann Dahlkemper On April 27th twelve Duquesne University students in Pittsburgh, PA took part in a 24 hour water only hunger strike in solidarity with the people of Darfur. Our group was inspired by actress Mia Farrow who began a 21 day Hunger Strike on April 27th. Mia Farrow began this strike as a personal expression of outrage at a world that can stand by while innocent men, women, and children die in Darfur. We made tie dye tee shirts and painted the words “Hunger Strike” across them to bring attention to the genocide in Darfur. Throughout the day we asked fellow student to sign ‘A Million Voices for Darfur’ post cards and spread awareness around campus about Darfur. Through this experience we felt a small part of the pain that refugees in Darfur face every day. We hope that this made a difference for the people of Darfur and that our story can inspire others to do the same.

From Memory to Action Exhibit Highlights Darfur

atyson — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:23:40 +0000

This week I had the opportunity to visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s new exhibit—staged by their Committee on Conscience— which has just opened, and is definitely worth visiting when you are in DC. The Holocaust Museum's permanent exhibit documents the Holocaust through artifacts and multimedia displays. At the end of the permanent exhibit, be sure to continue across the hall to move “From Memory to Action” at the new exhibit.

“From Memory to Action” begins with the history of Raphael Lemkin who coined the word genocide and pushed for the adoption of the UN Convention on Genocide in 1948. Around three sides of the room you will find 3 tiered banners, artfully mounted on poles reminiscent of a refugee camp, giving facts about the genocides in Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur. I was pleased to see that this portion of the exhibit ends with a full tiered picture of one of the many Save Darfur rallies, highlighting how the Darfur movement has changed the way that the world responds to genocide.

Mounted on the ceiling are about a dozen TV screens with prominent genocide survivors, activists and scholars taking turns speaking about their experiences with genocide, the anti-genocide movement and why it is important to take action now. Our own Jerry Fowler, Mark Hanis of the Genocide Intervention Network and Omer Ismail of Enough are among the many Darfur activists featured on this display.

Below the TVs is a table with rotating quotes which you can touch to receive more information about the person quoted. This causes a box to pop up on the table with that person’s story, pictures (which can also be touched to reveal more information boxes) and an option to save the story. To save it you insert your pledge card (more on making pledges below) into a slot on the table under the story and you can revisit the story on the website once you go home. I found stories about my colleague at Save Darfur, Niemat Ahmadi, and activists Brian Steidle and Carl Wilkens to save, but there were many others you might find interesting.

Which brings us to one of the most exciting parts of the new exhibit: all of the content is available online! You don’t have to come to Washington to pledge your commitment to Darfur and the anti-genocide movement. You can do it from right here in front of your computer. Although I do recommend doing it in person, if you have the chance, because the technology involved is really the best I’ve seen at any of the exhibits I’ve visited in DC. If you sign the pledge card at the museum, you can see it pop up on the large screen which dominates the last wall of the exhibit in your own handwriting! Plus seeing the pledges popping up continuously and reading others’ commitments to stand up to genocide is great way to reenergize yourself through the realization that with so many people pledging to end genocide, our end goal of eradicating it forever will surely one day be achieved.

Mia Farrow's Fast for Life

jerry — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:52:07 +0000

On April 27, Mia Farrow began fasting on water only to show solidarity with the Darfuri people and as her personal expression of outrage at international inaction to resolve the crisis. Hundreds of people joined her for some period of time. Mia ended her fast on Friday at the urging of her physician and was replaced by Sir Richard Branson. He in turn was succeeded this morning by Congressman Donald Payne, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, and Jon Foreman of the band Switchfoot – who will both fast for three days. Mia has dedicated most of the last 5 years of her life to raising awareness about Darfur – she’s been to the region 12 times since 2004. Her commitment and courage inspire us all and shine a bright light on the peril to civilians in the region. Supporters can honor Mia and the other participants in this fast by signing the citizen letter to President Obama calling for bold agenda-setting leadership to end the genocide.

You can't do enough, but you've got to do something!

angeladarfur — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:06:39 +0000

By David Rosenberg

You can't do enough, but you've got to do something!

Can we stop genocide in Darfur from Pittsburgh? Certainly not singlehandedly. But if enough of us combine forces and keep at it, as the participants in the DC-Metro Event and in the more than 300 other events around the county are doing during "Genocide Prevention Month," we may be able to accomplish something! Leaders of the Darfuri diaspora, like Niemat Ahmadi and Mohamed Yahya, and national advocacy leaders like Jerry Fowler, the Rev. Gloria White Hammond, and John Prendergast assure with passion that we have already helped save lives in Darfur. We know we must continue. But, we know there is a lot more work to do before Darfur will be brought into the framework of a political settlement and a Sudan-wide peace and before 2.7 million IDP's and refugees can return home and rebuild.

Can we stop genocide merely by boarding a bus from Pittsburgh, even if we include a courageous 89 year old Holocaust survivor, a half dozen members of the Pittsburgh South Sudanese community and a half dozen Rwandan students, as well as college and high school groups and post-graduate "retirees?" No, surely not. This small army cannot achieve miracles by ourselves. But can we afford to do nothing?

Our three busloads of travelers visited the US Holocaust Museum on Sunday before the Testimony and Advocacy Event in Lafayette Park. Our visit to the Holocaust Museum won't immediately stop President Bashir in his tracks or drive recalcitrant rebel groups to the table. But the power of what we learned there and felt there will drive us, and the transmission belt of determination will reach President Obama and his administration and will by and by reach the Sudanese government. We placed objects on the remarkable memorial created for the Testimony and Advocacy event. And we held up signs of Darfur's destroyed villages against the backdrop of the White House and invited others to join with us. "Hey, folks, these are some of the more than 2,751 villages that have been identified as destroyed or damaged in Darfur since 2004, on ‘our watch.’" Add these to the funeral pyres of the genocides that are part of "history!"

When we took five buses to Washington D.C. from Pittsburgh in April 2006, we had an opportunity to draw strength from the huge throng on the Capitol Mall; when we traveled to NYC in September 2006, we had a chance to visit the British representative on the UN Security Council and draw inspiration from the crowd of blue bereted activists in Central Park demanding deployment of a robust peacekeeping force. When we bused the five hours to DC for the Torch Relay finale, we had a chance to hear Olympic athletes and send a message to the Chinese embassy. When we traveled to D.C. to see the hundreds or magnificently painted tents on the mall (12 of them from our city), we drew further inspiration. And when we sent three more buses to Washington for the Inauguration and gathered more than 4,700 signatures as part of the postcard campaign asking President Obama to prioritize peace, protection and accountability in Darfur, we were moved by our attendance at a historic moment and inspired to do still more.

Sunday's gathering in Lafayette Park was not a throng, but the words continue to burn in our hearts. In the face of crying evil, can one possibly do enough? Can one possibly do nothing?

Darfur on ESPN

angeladarfur — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:16:18 +0000

By Stella Kojo Kenyi of Enough Project ESPN recently featured the Darfur Dream Team’s Sister Schools Program in a special segment that aired on SportsCenter. Basketball star Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets and Enough’s Omer Ismail and John Prendergast were shown in footage from their trip together to eastern Chad. The Darfur Dream Team is a dynamic partnership of organizations and professional basketball players working together on the Sister Schools Program, an initiative to connect American middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities with sister schools in the 12 refugee camps in Chad. As part of the Sister Schools Program, U.S. sister schools are raising funds to improve the education of their Darfuri peers through the construction and rehabilitation of school buildings as well as by providing teacher training, sports equipment, and other school supplies. The program also aims to foster cross-cultural relationships and mutual understanding between American students and Darfuri refugee students through letter exchanges and video blogging. Visit darfurdreamteam.org today to sign up your school, become a sister school, or learn more about the Darfur Dream Team.

One Voice from Congress, Advocates: Stop Violence Against Women in Darfur

sarah — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:05:27 +0000

More than one thousand activists have taken part in One Night, One Voice advocacy events to stop violence against women in Darfur. We wanted you to know that there is important progress being made in our advocacy today. This afternoon, Senator Barbara Boxer is holding a congressional hearing on violence against women in Darfur and Congo. This hearing is in many ways attributable to the hard work you have done calling on our elected officials to respond to the critical outbreak of violence against women in Darfur. Ms. Niemat Ahmadi will be testifying in front the of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to express that the United States government must respond immediately to the outbreak of violence against women in Darfur. She will be speaking in front of the officials that are responsible for taking action under Secretary Clinton. Click here to watch the hearing live at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time today, Wednesday 13, 2009. Then click the large blue letters at the top, “Confronting Rape and Other Forms of Violence Against Women in Conflict Zones: DRC and Sudan”. Help us collect signatures on the petition to Secretary Clinton. If you have already signed the petition, then take it a second step and email your friends the petition today. Or bring the petition in to work and ask your colleagues to sign it. Together, through our advocacy and Niemat’s testimony in Congress, we are continuing to speak with one voice to stop the violence against women in Darfur. See Niemat's full testimony on the next page.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Subcommittee on African Affairs

Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues

Written Testimony – 13 May 2009

Niemat Ahmadi, Darfuri Liaison Officer

Save Darfur Coalition

I would like express my sincere appreciation to Senator Barbara Boxer and Senator Russell Feingold for their remarkable effort to bring the issue of sexual violence and gender-based violence against women to the attention of the United States government and to all those concerned about the tragic situation of women in Darfur, Congo and elsewhere in the world.

Today, the situation in Darfur is grave and the suffering of our people has gone on far too long. As a Darfuri woman who was forced to flee the current genocide in Darfur, I feel sometimes that I have left my people behind. I am often overwhelmed and ashamed. But on a daily basis, through my work and my ability to speak out publicly in the United States, I carry with me the plight of my mother, aunts, sisters, and countless other women in Darfur who face brutality and violence as part of their daily life. Beyond my own story, I know many others with similar experiences – we have been threatened and harassed to the point that we must leave our beloved homeland, our families and our friends. Still millions more have been forced to leave their homes to exist in unspeakable conditions in internally displaced persons camps as they continue to endure unimaginable pain.

Sadly, in recent history and in the current crisis in Darfur, war is too often fought with women’s bodies. In Darfur, where slaughter continues and insecurity has reigned supreme for over six years, women are the most common targets. Women and children make up the overwhelming majority of the camp population, estimated at eighty percent. Every week hundreds of innocent people in Darfur – especially children, women, and the elderly – lose their lives or are forcibly displaced from their villages. Countless women and girls continue to face brutal rape, humiliation, beating, starvation and disease on a daily basis. The United Nations’ Stop Rape Now campaign, a partnership of twelve U.N. agencies, reports that hundreds of women continue to be raped in Darfur every day.

In Darfur, rape is being used as weapon of war. It is a systematic tactic to destroy the very fabric of our community. Rape and sexual violence in Darfur is not the product of chaos or uncontrollable troops during the attacks. It is not an after-effect of war. It is well planned and orchestrated in a calculation to break apart families, tear down leadership structures, and leave long-term social, emotional, and physical scars on an entire community. Women are raped when their villages are attacked, when they flee their homes seeking safe refuge, and while they are living in camps for the internally displaced. Abduction and sexual slavery is a tactic used by the Sudanese government and its allied janjaweed militia. This terrorizing of women, families, and communities is not a nightmare – it is the reality of daily life in Darfur.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I will say again that today, the situation for my people is dire. Girls as young as eight years old are raped and have died as a result. Countless others have been ostracized because of the stigma, abandoned by their husbands and families because they are considered to be spoiled. Many of the children born as the result of rape are left without care to die.

Despite the alarming rate at which rape and other forms sexual violence are used in the genocide in Darfur – and elsewhere – little has been done to address this deadly phenomenon. Until today, there has been no study carried out to determine the actual impact of the sexual violence on women and girls, which is indeed beyond our imagination. There is a lack of trauma counseling and psychosocial support for women survivors. And there is a lack of projects designed to provide fuel alternatives that could keep women safe in the camps. Instead, women go in search of firewood and means of sustenance and risk facing this cruel act of violence.

The recent expulsion of NGOs has put women at risk more than ever before. Some of these NGOs were doing very important work specifically in addressing women’s health needs and some other protection projects. Even though the programs were not enough before, now it is crucial to work to keep them alive at all.

The government of Sudan continued to obstruct any effort to put and end to the tragic situation that has going on for years. The African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, or UNAMID, is failing to meaningfully impact security on the ground due to a lack of resources and slow troop deployment. All international instruments concerned with violence against women such as Resolution 1325 and Resolution 1820 have not been implemented.

Accordingly, I asked you to join me in calling upon the United States government to take the leading role in protecting the women of Darfur and bringing a lasting solution to the conflict in Darfur.

The following steps are crucial to ending the pandemic violence against women in Darfur:

First, women can only be safe if janjaweed are disarmed and Sudanese government forces are distant from the areas inhabitant by IDPs and innocent civilians.
Direct protection of women must become the first priority in response to the conflict in Darfur.
The U.S. must work to engender the make-up of the UNAMID force by providing the resources, training, and recruitment of more female police within the camps. We must strengthen the command structure to better protect women.
U.S. Department of State must create effective mechanisms and tools for addressing violence against women in conflict zones.
The U.S. Mission to the United Nations must ensure full implementation of UNSCR 1820, including a monitoring mechanism and enforcement.
There must be advancement in the human rights agenda through special attention to women’s human rights.
Studies must be conducted to assess the impact of violence on women in Darfur.
Support must continue for accountability for crimes committed against women and support must be provided for women to seek justice.
Projects must be designed to cover the gaps in the protection of women, such as fuel alternatives programs and other conflict sensitive programs to reduce the vulnerability of women to the sexual violence.
Emergency interventions must be designed to deal with trauma counseling, psychosocial support and empowerment for the survivors of sexual violence.
Special support must be provided for girls’ education, capacity building and promotion of women’s leadership capacity in Darfur.
Special funds must be allocated to support projects that support women in Darfur.

There is much work to be done to protect the women and girls of Darfur. I thank you for inviting me here today and look forward to working together to stop violence against women in Darfur, Congo, and everywhere in the world.

Sincerely,

Niemat Ahmadi

Holmes' humanitarian assessment

jerry — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:21:54 +0000

UN Humanitarian Chief John Holmes visited Darfur and reported back that he thinks gaps created by the expulsion of major aid groups in early March will be filled enough to avert a major catastrophe:

"We now have access [to warehouses where relief supplies are stored], we'll be working extremely hard to make up for lost time. But we're not in as good a position as we would have been otherwise," Holmes said. "The rainy season is always a period of increased risk, the risks are even greater than they would have been otherwise because of the expulsions. But I'm reasonably confident we'll get through it without a major crisis." Holmes said the most "critical life-saving gaps" in aid, particularly in food, water and emergency shelter, had been filled, albeit in an ad-hoc way. "So that there is not as far as I can tell a threat of an imminent humanitarian crisis at the moment in Darfur."

Let's hope his optimism is justified – though there are so many variables and uncertainties that it’s not certain. But even if a full blown catastrophe is averted, we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that this is just getting back to zero. It’s not progress. The increased risk to civilians was created by the government's callous cynicism, just as civilians need aid in the first place because of the government's campaign of destruction and displacement. Nobody should be satisfied if the situation merely returns to the status quo that prevailed before March 4, when the aid groups were kicked out. And even as Bashir took some steps to avert the crisis that he himself set in motion, he also scuttled a civil society conference that promised to advance the cause of peace and appointed indicted war criminal Ahmed Haroun to be governor of Southern Kordofan, a tense region that saw genocidal violence against the peoples of the Nuba Mountains in the 1990s and where new violence may be in the offing. This behavior underscores that a viable strategy for peace means presenting the Sudanese government with a choice. If the Sudanese government permits unimpeded humanitarian access, removes indictees and secures peace in Darfur and the South, a clear process toward normalization should be mapped out. If President Bashir and his party continue to undermine efforts at peace for the country - as they did last week - a series of escalating costs should ensue, including diplomatic isolation, targeted multi-lateral economic sanctions, and an effective multilateral arms embargo Now is the time for bold, agenda-setting leadership by President Obama to end the Sudan crises, instead of managing them from week to week and month to month.

A step toward justice

jerry — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:56:28 +0000

Rebel commander Bahr Idriss Abu Garda’s voluntary arrival at the International Criminal Court yesterday was a step toward justice and accountability for the gravest crimes in Darfur. The brutal September 2007 attack on an African Union peacekeeping base in Haskanita -- allegedly carried out by splinter forces of the Justice and Equality Movement under Abu Garda’s command in coordination with another armed group -- remains the deadliest attack on peacekeepers in Darfur’s history. The assault was followed by widespread destruction and looting of the peacekeepers’ base. Such attacks not only violate international law, but threaten the lives of Darfuri civilians whom peacekeepers are mandated to protect and create an environment of insecurity that leaves civilians and the humanitarian aid workers at near constant risk of violence. While yesterday was an important first step toward accountability for war crimes committed in Haskanita, the international community must continue to press all parties in Sudan to comply with their obligations to cooperate with the ICC. All parties responsible for crimes against civilians, humanitarian workers and peacekeepers in Darfur must be held accountable. Failing to combat the prevailing climate of impunity in Darfur will only embolden perpetrators, deny Darfuri victims of the justice they so broadly seek, and prolong the conflict.

The Congressional Black Caucus Joins Darfur Fast for Life

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:46:15 +0000

The Darfur Fast for Life began when Mia Farrow went on a 12 day water-only fast in solidarity with the people of Darfur. Richard Branson, Peter Gabriel and others picked up the fast from Mia, and today the Congressional Black Caucus announced that they would be joining the Darfur Fast for Life. Congressman Donald Payne (D-NJ) was the first member of Congress to fast. He was later joined by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) will begin the Congressional Black Caucus' rotating fast today. When announcing his fast, Representative Lewis said:

"We have to act. If we fail to act history will not be kind... It is our time to act, to speak up and speak out and get in the way."

Mia Farrow joined the members of the Caucus, and said:

"Among President Obama's priorities, Darfur has to take its place."

Representative Payne elaborated that the members hope to see continued and strengthened sanctions on the Government of Sudan, the return of the humanitarian aid groups, the U.S. to pay full dues to the United Nations and support the African Union's initiatives in Sudan and Somalia. After the press conference I spoke to Omer Ismail and Mohamed Yahya, two leaders in the Darfuri community in the United States. Omer said that the fast allows people to "walk a mile in the shoes" of the people of Darfur, and to say to the government: "enough is enough - this is not sustainable, there needs to be change." Mohamed said that the fast "means a lot to me as a Darfuri. We are passing through a difficult time - the fast comes at the perfect moment." Mohamed says that through the fast "we will remind President Obama to keep his promises, and we will remind him that the people of America are sick of the situation in Darfur."

Both Omer and Mohamed emphasized that actions like the fast are just one way to bring attention to the need for peace, protection and justice in Sudan. You can do your part by signing the citizen letter to President Obama, calling 1-800-GENOCIDE to speak to your elected officials and the White House, and spreading the word about these actions. Photos - Top: Mohamed Yahya with members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Bottom: Omer Ismail, Niemat Ahmadi, Representative Payne, Mia Farrow & Mohamed Yahya. Photo credit: Save Darfur Coalition.

Stand with the Sudanese Community

Niemat — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:11:31 +0000

As you know, the situation in Darfur today is gravely dangerous. On March 4 of this year, the Sudanese government expelled 13 international organizations and closed 3 national organizations that have been working to save the lives of Darfuris during this long crisis.

The expulsion of theses NGOs has left more than 1 million of the most helpless people at "high risk" according to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. In various camps and communities across Darfur, water is scarce, food supplies are low, and the potential spread of diseases puts the lives of many in peril. Meningitis has already spread throughout some of Darfur's largest camps for internally displaced persons, including Kalma and Kassab camps. With the expulsion of the NGOs, there is now a severely reduced chance for vaccination to prevent further spread of this deadly disease, or the administration of emergency antibiotics to treat it. Malnutrition, lack of clean water, and lack of medical care could devastate thousands of civilians in the near future, especially children dependent on nutrient-rich therapeutic and supplementary food previously provided by the expelled NGOs. The direct result of the Sudanese government's cruel measures could be a dramatic increase in the mortality and morbidity rates among the war-affected civilians in the coming weeks and months. As we enter the rainy season, the future for our people's lives is bleak. Even when these expelled NGOs were operating, the rainy season in Darfur was challenging. The humanitarian NGOs required at least two months of preparation - ideally starting in March of every year, which obviously now has already past. Today the situation in Darfur is dire and the danger of increased mortality rates is very real. That is why Darfuris and Sudanese from all over the United States are coming to Washington, DC to demonstrate the urgency of the situation by calling for the Obama administration to take more rapid steps to avert the forthcoming crisis in Darfur, and lead an international effort to find peace once and for all. Please join us in a call to save lives. Your voice is crucial to avert this coming catastrophe in Darfur. One voice can help save many lives and our voices together will definitely make a huge difference.

If you're in DC please come out for the events this afternoon (Friday, May 22nd).

Saving lives: march for Darfur The White House Sidewalk - Pennsylvania Avenue 1:00 p.m. Briefing on the urgency of the situation in Darfur Institute for Policy Studies, 1112 16th St NW 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Saving Lives - Sudanese demonstrate at the White House

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Tue, 26 May 2009 03:19:46 +0000

On Friday, Sudanese from across the US came together to demonstrate in front of the White House. Check out a slideshow of photos from the event. ABC news covered the event:

On Friday, a small group of Sudanese immigrants gathered in front of the White House to express their disappointment in Obama for not being active enough on Darfur from the outset of his presidency. "I voted for him," said protestor William Deng, of the Southern Sudan Project. "And I did it because I knew he was going to do something about Darfur. But now he's silent, he's never done anything. And I feel, I regret that he doesn't do anything about our issues."

At the event we delivered over 86,000 signatures to the citizen open letter to President Obama. A member of the Administration came out to accept the signatures and hear from the group.

The Sudan Tribune reported:

Dozens of US activists and members of the Sudanese diaspora marched in front of the White House on Friday just days before two members of the US Senate arrived in Khartoum to meet with top aides of President Omer Al-Bashir. Protestors held signs saying “Save Lives Now”, “El Bashir & NCP to ICC”, “Restore Aid Now,” and “End the Genocide.”

Check out coverage from Voice of America: And a post from our partners at Enough! Photo credit Natasha Ghent-Rodriguez.

An Interview with Former UN Special Representative Jan Pronk

mtcolbert — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:53:35 +0000

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Jan Pronk-United Nations"][/caption] In this exclusive interview blogger Bec Hamilton interviews former UN Special Representative, Jan Pronk, using questions that readers submitted about the situation in Darfur. Check it out! The questions included:

What do you see as the prospect for a united Sudan? You need to guarantee: 1. Peace in the South 2. Peace in Darfur 3. Development 4. Guarantees of fundamental rights (He commented: “In the period I was there, I really had the impression that they (the Government of South Sudan) were doing good things ... they really did a good job in the first two years. ”) “If these four conditions . . . would be met, there’s a chance for unity. If these conditions would not be met, I bet the people in the South would vote for independence. . . .”

This is an ongoing project, so consider submitting a question for one of Bec's upcoming interviewees!

Save Darfur by saving Sudan?

aburnette — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:19:25 +0000

Dr. Greg Austin has a new post titled "Obama and the new Commission: Save Darfur by saving Sudan?" He reminds his readers of President Obama's promise of "unstinting resolve" to solve the crisis in Darfur--something that we've consistently reminded our activists. He also points out, accurately, that the United States will need partners to help establish a peace process in Darfur and Sudan, protect civilians, and ensure that necessary aid gets to those who need it. Dr. Austin also makes a plea to the EU--that Europe needs to rise to the occasion and become the principle partner of the Obama Administration and Scott Gration to help end the conflict. With renewed fighting in Sudan, Darfur, and neighboring Chad, the time to act is now. Go ahead and check it out. Also, wander on over to EastWest Institute to see what they are up to. Dr. Greg Austin is VP of the EastWest Institute and Director of the Global Security Program and Policy Innovation.

Nowhere to Turn

sarah — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:24:49 +0000

Today’s report on violence against women and the Darfur conflict is a must read. Its title summarizes Physicians for Human Rights’ findings. For Darfuri refugees there is Nowhere to Turn. “Nowhere to Turn: Failure to Protect, Support and Assure Justice for Darfuri Women”. This paper is an opportunity for us to hear about the heavy burden that women carry, the depression and the anxiety that they face daily, and, the saddest part for me personally, the profound sense that no one seems to care. The report goes on, “The nightmare therefore continues in refugee camps in Chad through the constant threat of rape (when women forage for firewood to cook their food), chronic hunger, and a lack of essential needs to support their families”. Meanwhile, refugee women continue to respond to violence, oppression and stigma in the camp. The report highlights “a one-page document in Arabic, (written) in hopes of shedding light on the plight of women refugees and opening a dialogue with the world.” Check out the rest of the Marchana Manifesto at www.darfuriwomen.org. The report lays out the way forward, with recommendations for the international community, the government of Chad, the International Criminal Court, and others. When you are finished reading the report and recommendations, click here to take action to stop violence against women in the Darfur genocide.

Obama Should Have Said More About Darfur

aburnette — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:31:29 +0000

Yesterday, in his Cairo address to the Muslim world, President Obama called the slaughter of innocents in Darfur "a stain on our collective conscience." But his failure to call for a joint push for peace was a glaring omission from a speech intended to outline shared challenges that America and the Muslim world must confront together. In response to his speech, the Save Darfur Coalition, Enough Project, and Genocide Intervention Network have released this statement. As Jerry Fowler, President of the Save Darfur Coalition, points out, "President Obama missed an important opportunity in his Cairo speech to the Muslim world by not reiterating his commitment to lead for peace in Sudan, where 2.7 million Muslim civilians have been driven from their homes and hundreds of thousands have perished because of violence orchestrated by the government. President Obama could have asked all governments in the region to join him in offering a choice to Khartoum between concrete progress toward peace, which will result in improved relations, or continued obstructionism and use of violence, which will lead to increased isolation." Read or watch Obama's Cairo speech and tell us what you think. You can also take action by calling the White House at 1-800-GENOCIDE. Tell the person that answers the phone that you:

Are concerned the President did not address the plight of 2.7 million Muslim civilians driven from their homes in Darfur in his Cairo speech.
Want President Obama to be personally engaged in bringing peace to Darfur and all of Sudan.
Want President Obama to ask governments in the region and around the world to join him in offering Khartoum a choice: concrete progress towards peace resulting in improved relations, or continued obstructionism and use of violence leading to increased isolation.

President Obama should have said more and he should have demonstrated more leadership for peace in Sudan.

Darfur Heroes organize Collective Soul benefit concert

Ashley — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:00:46 +0000

The Darfur Heroes program, started in 2007 by the coalition, highlights individuals and groups who play a crucial role in helping end the violence in Darfur through awareness-raising and other efforts. This month, the coalition is honoring students at Atlanta's Galloway School who organized a Darfur benefit concert with Collective Soul, raising more than $40,000 for Darfur advocacy. Check out their story below: Our names are Katherine McKerrow and Megan Maziar and we are recent graduates of The Galloway School in Atlanta, Georgia. This year we had the pleasure of co-chairing the Collective Soul Benefit Concert for Darfur. Not only did our event bring over 2,300 people together to learn about the crisis in Darfur, but also, with the help of many, we were able to donate an incredible $40,000! Planning the concert was not always an easy or flawless process, but we truly enjoyed every moment of the journey. In 2006, our teacher Lexi Hunter Fields started a class called Facing History. A significant aspect of the curriculum is to raise awareness about issues that are not just affecting our small community, but also the world community. Throughout the year, we studied atrocious genocides such as The Holocaust, and the genocides that took place in Rwanda and Cambodia. We concluded the year by learning about the current conflict in Darfur, in which the government is murdering or displacing thousands of innocent civilians. As soon as our class began to understand exactly what was taking place in Darfur we knew that we had to take a stand. We decided that raising money for Darfur would go a long way, but raising awareness is what would truly make a difference. Then the idea of a benefit concert came up and it seemed like the perfect way to get both adults AND students involved in the Darfur cause. So…in the spring of 2007, the first concert kicked off. It was held at The Roxy, a small theater in Atlanta and we raised a few thousand dollars. Local Atlanta bands served as the entertainment and people were able to sign petitions and watch an informational slide show about Darfur. The next year we put together the same type of concert and once again raised a few thousand dollars. Although we were thrilled with the success of the first two concerts, we just knew that The Concert for Darfur had more potential and it being our senior year we really wanted to blow it out of the water! Luckily, Katherine and her family ran into Ed Roland, lead singer of Collective Soul, at a Darfur event. From there everything seemed to fall into place. Before we knew it we were sitting around a table with some of the most influential people in the Atlanta music scene talking about nothing other than DARFUR! Ed Roland agreed that he and Collective Soul would headline the event and that they would play a full ninety-minute set. Peter Conlan donated The Tabernacle, an amazing concert venue in downtown Atlanta, and Jeff Dauler, co-host and executive producer of Q-100’s “The Bert Show,” the hottest morning radio show in Atlanta, volunteered to be the evenings emcee. In addition to Collective Soul’s performance, we decided that the night would also feature three up-and-coming local bands, which would be judged and ultimately selected by Roland and Jeff Dauler. Of course, we very quickly realized that in order to sell out a huge venue like The Tabernacle, we needed some help! So, we created the Darfur Student Board that was comprised of 20 students from 16 different metro Atlanta-area high schools. These students helped to raise awareness about Darfur in their individual schools and encouraged the students in their school to attend the concert. Finally, at 7:00 pm on March 27, 2009, The Collective Soul Benefit Concert for Darfur kicked off! Over 2,300 attendees signed post cards for Obama and sported Darfur t-shirts and wristbands while rocking out to some amazing music! Jerry Fowler, president of The Save Darfur Coalition, even recorded a special informational video for us that we showed on the big screens before Collective Soul came on. The Galloway Save Darfur Corporation raised over $40,000 that night and educated hundreds of people in the Atlanta community. The Collective Soul Benefit Concert for Darfur was an experience that will not only endure in our hearts and minds, but also in those of the people who attended. Additionally, The Save Darfur Coalition awarded us with a trip to Washington, DC this week! We will have the opportunity to meet other students involved with Darfur advocacy and to lobby congress. What an incredible ride it has been!

Sadness and Sorrow at the Holocaust Museum

jerry — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:31:23 +0000

It’s difficult to find adequate words to express the sadness and sorrow I felt on hearing the news of yesterday’s shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The sadness and sorrow only deepened when I saw Stephen Johns’s picture flashed on the TV screen and learned that he had died from being shot by an anti-Semitic racist. I thought of the many times that he greeted me during my years at the Museum with a smile and twinkling eyes. I learned from a colleague at the Museum that he left behind an infant child. Even after nine years working at the Holocaust Museum and almost a year and a half working here at Save Darfur, I still can’t fathom the hatred and anger that motivated the killer. My heart goes out to Stephen’s family. It’s a touching tribute that the Museum closed today to mourn Stephen’s death and to honor his sacrifice. As important a tribute will be for the Museum to reopen tomorrow and continue its vital mission of alerting people to the perils of hatred and prejudice, whether those perils manifest themselves on the other side of the world in a place like Darfur or, heartbreakingly, within the Museum’s own walls.

The Global Peace Index: Measuring Peace for a Better Tomorrow

mtcolbert — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:40:28 +0000

On June 2nd I attended the release of the 2009 Global Peace Index at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The Global Peace Index is the worlds only measure of countries in their varying states of peace. The index was created in order to further the understanding of what nurtures and sustains peace and to measure the progress of a countries and the international system.

The state of the worlds peace is measured by a country to country basis and in various ways, including varying states of:

Social and Political Peace (i.e. degree of non-violent conflict, Militarization, Organized conflict, Number of displaced people, Number of external and internal conflicts, Respect for human rights, Social unrest (i.e. violent protest), Political instability, Number of deaths due to conflict, Potential for terrorist attacks.

The Global Peace Index (GPI) was started in 2007 by Clyde McConaghy and Steve Killelea. Each year since then they have gathered a panel of Peace and International Relations specialists together to study and speak about the state of the Global Peace Index (GPI) and what that means for the world. This year at the 2009 GPI the hot topic was the economy and how that has effected the state of the worlds peace. Below is the world chart for the 2009 GPI results:

There is also a detailed list of each countries rankings with a break down of how they achieved their standing here.

Something else that is very important when measuring peace is to examine each countries "drivers" of peace or important social and political matters that are being handled in a manner that keeps and sustains peace, these are:

1) Well functioning governments 2) Freedom of the press 3) Regional integration 4) Life expectancy 5) Participation in primary school 6) Women in parliament

Countries that have well sustained "drivers" have higher standing on the GPI scale.

The distinguished panel for the 2009 GPI made some very profound remarks about what needs to be done in terms of furthering a peaceful world such as, "All social issues can be solved with peaceful groundings, peace is quintessential to survival."

Darfur, Sudan and the Global Peace Index

Sudan's state of peace as measured by the GPI is at Very Low, reasons for this include their level of organized conflict, number of deaths and human rights violations. In order to become higher on the scale or to increase their standings of peace, Darfur as in all regions of the world that have conflict need to follow what the GPI scale describes as some of the best ways to keep and sustain peace which is having a strong economy, education and central government.

To learn more about the Global Peace Index visit their website.

The Fast for Darfur Continues (Updated)

aburnette — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:58:13 +0000

Rabbi David Saperstein, from the Religious Action Center, explains why he's fasting for Darfur a second time.

Today I find myself once again fasting for Darfur. My first fast for Darfur, which I did only a few days after being arrested with Representative John Lewis, four other members of Congress, and leaders of Darfur advocacy groups, was undertaken to underline the urgency of the suffering in the internally displaced persons camps in Darfur after President Bashir had expelled over a dozen aid groups from the region.

Rabbis from around the world will join him on his last day. Read the entire post over at the Religous Action Center Blog. Update: Rabbi Saperstein reports that over 70 Rabbis from around the world will be joining him tonight on his fast. He also just met with General Gration, Special Envoy to Sudan, who has stated that the efforts of outside groups, the U.S. and the International Community has helped restore aid to the levels that they were before the 13 aid groups were expelled. Rabbi Saperstein's blog can be read here.

World Refugee Day

sarah — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:56:03 +0000

Right now, I-ACT and UNHCR are teaming up to bring live feed from the camps in Chad onto our computer screens. Click through this link to hear from refugees in Chad and elsewhere around the world talk about their concerns and their hopes. www.refugeedaylive.org World Refugee Day is a time to honor the survivors who have been forced from their homes by violence. It is also a day to take action to support their wish for peace. Take action today for the people of Darfur!

UNHCR Annual Report: The Current State of the World's Refugees

mtcolbert — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:53:52 +0000

On June 16, 2009 I attended the 2009 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 2009 annual report. The UNHCR Annual report is a yearly update of refugee statistics and global trends. The forum, which was led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, reported that there are 42 million persons displaced worldwide. According to the UNHCR a "person of concern," or someone who falls into the refugee category are asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returned refugees, returned IDP's and stateless persons. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="371" caption="Sudanese Refugees"][/caption] (photo courtesy of Radu Sigheti) There are a reported 2 million internally displaced persons in Darfur, Sudan and thousands of people have found refuge in Chad and other neighboring African nations. During the forum the high commissioner also mentioned several other noticeable trends in refugee displacement including the significant decrease in refugees since 2007, however as conflicts develop and become more intense those numbers can rise.

HIAS Helps Reunite Darfuri Family; Combats Legal Limbo Confronting Children of Refugees

HIAS — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:30:41 +0000

[caption id="attachment_764" align="alignleft" width="470" caption="Wejdan Adam, left, and her husband Motasim Adam, with their daughter, Wesal, a four-year-old Darfuri girl who has lived most of her life without her parents in Sudan; she arrived in the U.S. last Monday, reunited through the help of HIAS, the international migration agency of the American Jewish community."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_765" align="alignleft" width="470" caption="Wejdan greets Wesal upon her arrival at John F. Kennedy Airport. All pictures by Josh Strauss."][/caption] The Talmud instructs us that To Save One Life is to Save the Entire World. At HIAS, the international migration agency of the American Jewish community, we witnessed a powerful example of this eternal Jewish teaching last week when a year-long HIAS advocacy campaign to reunite a four-year-old Darfuri girl with her parents came to a joyful conclusion. This young child, Wesal Adam, was separated from her mother and father for much of her life because of a tragic gap in U.S. law. A connection made through the HIAS Young Leaders educational activities on Darfuri refugees brought to light a profound miscarriage of justice in our current immigration law, and began HIAS' intense involvement with the family of Motasim, Wejdan, and Wesal Adam. This work, along with our trauma counseling and social service programs for Darfuri refugees in Chad, is part of HIAS' global effort to help repair the world and our contribution to the Jewish community's priority campaign to Save Darfur. Motasim Adam, a Darfuri political activist, was granted asylum in 2002 and later returned to Chad to visit his wife Wejdan who was living in a refugee camp. Arrangements to reunite the family faltered when the Department of Homeland Security ruled that Wejdan could join her husband but that Wesal, who had not been conceived at the time her father received asylum, was barred by law from accompanying her mother to the United States. Because of the grave dangers facing women in Darfur, where Wejdan ultimately had returned, the family made the gut-wrenching decision to proceed with her immigration and leave Wesal with family friends in a Darfuri Internally Displaced Persons Camp. They believed that this would only be a brief separation. A HIAS Young Leaders volunteer - who is an attorney at Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman - took on this case pro-bono with his firm, representing Motasim Adam in his quest to free his daughter. The attorney, who got to know Mr. Adam when seeking to do outreach to the local Darfuri community with the HIAS Young Leaders group, learned of the appeals, delays, and lack of movement from the Department of Homeland Security and began to assist the Adams. After researching the gap in the law, the attorneys determined that lobbying for the girl's entry would provide the most expedient solution and approached HIAS for assistance. Working together, HIAS and the Kasowitz, Benson attorneys advocated tirelessly to the government to grant humanitarian parole to Wesal and allow her to join her parents. Through this advocacy, HIAS learned that government officials shared our distress but believed that their hands were tied by the legal requirements. Notwithstanding this, on May 12th HIAS finally received word that DHS had agreed to grant humanitarian parole and that little Wesal would be allowed to come to the United States. Last Monday, HIAS joined in a tearful reunion at JFK Airport where Wesal was reunited with her mother after more than two years apart. For us, this happy occasion brought back memories of the countless reunions we had witnessed of Soviet Jews joining family in the United States after years in refusal. The following NY Times story, along with video footage of the reunion, depict some of the emotion of this event. While HIAS struggled to assist the Adam family, we also have highlighted Wesal Adam’s plight as exhibit number one on why the law must be changed. I’m pleased to report that a legislative fix recently passed the House of Representatives and HIAS is working with the Senate so that no more children are forced to suffer the separation from their parents that Wesal experienced.

Sudanese Family Reunites in Brooklyn (NY Times -- 6/16/09) -- Growing up among strangers in a refugee camp in the Darfur region of Sudan, 4-year-old Wesal Adam knew her parents mostly as faces in photographs and voices on the phone. She knew that her father, Motasim Adam, and her mother, Wejdan Adam, lived in Brooklyn and that Mr. Adam drove a cab. But she did not know what they felt like or smelled like or how much they loved her — if at all ... Read More

First Hand Account of Attack on Darfuri Women

sarah — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:07:24 +0000

The BBC’s Mike Thompson has interviewed a female student who suffered a violent attack at her university at the hands of the Sudanese government. This first hand account of the violent attack on female students at Khartoum University is an opportunity to hear about the violence facing Darfuris today in Sudan.

Click here to listen to her account of the attack.

She concludes, “We are hoping that the international community will help protect us by telling President al-Bashir that this violence against young women is wrong; it’s against both the law and our religion. He should stop this and allow us to continue our education.”

A faith lesson from Kofi Annan, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and 41 others

Dustyn — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:47:16 +0000

A faith lesson from Kofi Annan, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and 41 others

On June 25, forty-two of Africa’s most prominent civic leaders and justice experts (with a few Nobel laureates—Desmond Tutu, Wangari Maathai, and Wole Soyinka) signed a joint statement that calls on the International Criminal Court to fulfill its duty of bringing justice to Darfur. This comes shortly after the ICC allowed chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo to appeal the decision of dropping charges of genocide against Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir. It also comes shortly before the African Union’s summit in Libya on Wednesday.

In the letter, the signatories state that they are “concerned by the ongoing violence, displacement and repression in Sudan.” They viewed the need for adequate humanitarian assistance and for the ICC to bring Bashir to justice.

The emphasis for their support of the ICC is largely because several African nations are looking to put on the agenda an initiative to undermine the international court at this week’s summit, according to a New York Times op-ed piece by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Annan states in this article that some African leaders are troubled by the fact that the ICC has only charged Africans. However, he feels that a greater focus should be placed on the African victims, not the African leader whose presidency is in question. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="188" caption="Photo by World Economic Forum"]

[/caption]

So what does this mean for people of faith? The recently re-sparked question of whether the or not the atrocities in Darfur constitute genocide has put the spotlight on semantics. But what about the victims? What about justice?

Whether or not Bashir has committed “genocide” is irrelevant. He has been very much complicit in and behind the slaughter and displacement—along with a plethora of other horrors—of millions. Regardless if the “g” word is used to describe it, it is morally repugnant.

In this situation, what does God command of us? Micah 6:8 comes to mind. “Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God”. As Annan and the signatories of the joint statement mentioned above have indicated, the ICC’s role in bringing justice to Bashir is pivotal. By this act of justice, the man who expelled foreign aid agencies—the bringers of mercy to about 4.7 million Darfuris, inside and out of IDP camps—is out of power. It is only by doing the first of these two commandments that the third is achievable. By seeking to do justice and love mercy, we may walk humbly with our God.

Former "Survivors" Showing Solidarity with Darfur

mtcolbert — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:14:03 +0000

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="176" caption="Fast For Darfur, www.fastdarfur.org"][/caption] As efforts to end the conflict in Darfur continue, many celebrities, political figures and everyday people alike are showing their support by participating in the current much publicized Fast For Darfur. Mia Farrow began a fast for Darfur in April 2009 and although she had to stop after twelve days other celebrities and high profile political figures have continued the fast. Now joining the ranks are five former stars of the popular reality show "Survivor." Survivor is an endurance reality show in which participants live in difficult conditions to try and win a prize. The five are Toby Archa, Kimberly Mullen and Janu Tornell of "Survivor: Palau," Michael Skupin of "Survivor: Australian Outback" and Scout Cloud Lee of "Survivor: Vanuatu." They had this to say about their efforts:

"While we are known to the world as 'Survivors,' that concept pales in comparison to the survivors in Darfur."

The fasters also have a blog that they use to write about their experiences. Their efforts have been covered by the Detroit Free Press, Philadelphia Online, The Insider and Courant News, among other sources.

Why the U.S. Policy Review is Important

AlexMeixner — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:13:13 +0000

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="210" caption="Photo from Flickr user nathanf"][/caption] Early in his first term, then-President George W. Bush ordered his administration to initiate a full review of U.S. policy regarding Sudan. The review was launched against a backdrop of a decades old civil war between the ruling Sudanese regime in Khartoum and the rebellious Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in South Sudan. The goal of the policy was relatively simple: end the deadly war while maintaining U.S. national and economic security interests. The result of that policy review was a strategy that included the appointment of Sen. John Danforth as President Bush’s first Special Envoy to Sudan, the furthering of U.S. – Sudanese counterterrorism intelligence cooperation, and ultimately the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which ended the war. While it’s clear that the U.S. effort was a contributing – and not independently causal – factor in ending the conflict, and while it’s undeniable that the CPA and the peace it created are still tenuous, it is also clear that significant progress was made towards peace as a result of a coherent and sufficiently executed U.S. policy plan. Fast forward to today and we find ourselves at a similar point – with a new U.S. Administration and a seemingly intractable Sudanese conflict, this time in Darfur. President Barack Obama is well aware of the complexity of Sudanese politics and the volatility attached to efforts aimed at achieving political change there. He is also well aware – thanks to millions of his concerned constituents – of the need to do something about the effects of genocide in Darfur, the unraveling peace in South Sudan, and the potential for the anarchic dissolution of Africa’s geographically largest nation. So it was no surprise that upon his inauguration President Obama green-lit another full review of U.S. policy regarding Sudan. The goals of this review are a bit more complex than the last, which is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing insofar as it is incredibly important that U.S. policy be comprehensive and adopt an all-Sudan approach; a curse insofar as that approach is necessarily complex and must avoid competing strategies which would make progress on one issue while setting back another. In just about every way, the task of creating a coherent and comprehensive U.S. policy towards Sudan is tougher than it was eight years ago. It is therefore not surprising that the current review process has now stretched to nearly 6 months. That said, the fact that the already lengthy timeline of this review is understandable doesn’t make a never-ending review process acceptable. It is now time for the Obama Administration to finalize its comprehensive, coherent policy towards Sudan and to announce it to the world. In fact, the rollout of the plan could prove nearly as important as the plan itself, as it will go a long way towards answering the most important question it begs – will President Obama and his administration do what it takes to turn their long-awaited plan from words on paper to reality on the ground? It is the answer to this question of prioritization and presidential effort that will likely be the biggest controllable factor in determining the plan’s ultimate success or failure. Regardless of its details, any plan the Obama Administration unveils will require U.S. resources (which necessitates presidential leadership here in Washington, D.C.), and a full multilateral approach (which demands presidential leadership abroad). The details of the plan do matter, and we will certainly have a lot to say on the subject, but they only matter if President Obama truly makes the plan a priority and sees it through to completion. That effort must begin with President Obama finalizing his plan and personally unveiling it to the world. And doing it soon.

Save Darfur Coalition talks to Reporters Uncensored about the crisis in Darfur

Allen Combs — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:08:52 +0000

Yesterday, the Save Darfur Coalition's Sean Brooks was a guest on Reporters Uncensored, a Web TV series of independently produced news and interviews on a range of global issues. Sean and host Tala Dowlatshahi discussed the Coalition's mission and the crisis in Darfur as part of a larger conversation about the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. Sean's interview begins around the 14:00 minute mark:

Carrots and Sticks

AlexMeixner — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:22:32 +0000

Much of the debate surrounding the details of President Obama’s upcoming policy plan for Sudan has focused on ‘carrots’ (incentive diplomatic and/or economic actions) and ‘sticks’ (punitive diplomatic, economic, and/or military actions). There is general agreement that the plan should include some of each, so the real debate is about which carrots, which sticks, and in what order. [caption id="attachment_893" align="alignright" width="150" caption="US Special Envoy Scott Gration"][/caption] To understand the debate, it’s useful to first take a step back and briefly look at how all of this is supposed to work. Carrots and sticks are tactical means designed to achieve strategic ends through behavior modification. The theory goes like this: if the U.S. wants to change the behavior of County X, it can simultaneously offer incentives for good behavior and threaten punishments for bad behavior. If Country X wants the carrots and fears the sticks badly enough, they’ll decide to adjust their policies. If they don’t, they’ll choose to forego the carrots and endure the sticks in the interest of maintaining the status quo. If this happens, the U.S. has failed, and needs to come up with more attractive incentives and scarier punishments, and try again. Applying this theoretical model to Sudan on the issues of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) with South Sudan and the genocide in Darfur has been U.S. strategy for years. That strategy has met with some success in regard to the CPA (though that success and indeed the CPA are increasingly fragile), but has achieved little thus far in regard to Darfur. Clearly, this strategy needs some reinvigoration if President Obama hopes for better results than President Bush. If we look at why this is the case, it’s largely because the U.S. doesn’t have a lot of solid, credible carrots and sticks at its disposal.
As for carrots, the U.S. has plenty to work with (improving diplomatic relations, easing sanctions, taking Sudan off the list of state sponsors of terror, etc.), but they’re not viewed in Khartoum as particularly credible because the U.S. promised many of these carrots during the CPA negotiations and then failed to deliver them due to the Sudanese government-backed genocide in Darfur which was heating up as CPA negotiations concluded. As for sticks, the U.S. has already used most of the non-military unilateral sticks at its disposal (reduced diplomatic relations, a broad array of targeted economic sanctions, etc.), leaving only military action, inventing new non-military unilateral sticks, or the prospect of multilateralizing the U.S.’s existing unilateral sticks by convincing others in the international community to join in. The problem with military action is that it’s a big line to cross – it comes with a host of potential negative consequences, great political and economic costs, and no guarantee of success. The problem with inventing new significant unilateral diplomatic and economic sticks is obviously that they might not exist. The problem with enacting multilateral economic and diplomatic sanctions is that it’s incredibly hard to do – it requires convincing the countries with the deepest diplomatic and economic ties to Sudan to willingly fray those ties, which would probably come at diplomatic and/or economic costs to themselves. Not an easy ask to effectively make in these tough economic times. So as the Administration looks past the policy planning stage and towards implementation, it certainly has its work cut out for it. President Obama and his Special Envoy, Gen. Scott Gration, must simultaneously build Sudanese confidence in (and desire for) U.S. carrots, while also creating a genuine fear of new unilateral and multilateral sticks among Sudan’s ruling elite. In order to rehabilitate the credibility of U.S. carrots as potential incentives, President Obama and his Administration must convince Sudan that this time the U.S. would deliver on its promises on the non-negotiable condition that Sudan first earn them, while also convincing a skeptical Congress and activist community that carrots would only be provided in exchange for proven and sufficient action by the Sudanese government. Failure to convince Congress and their constituents that they won’t naively give away the store will deny the Administration access to any real carrots at all, as Congress must agree to any major U.S. concessions. In order to rearm himself with effective sticks, President Obama and his Administration must dig deep and come up with any viable untapped unilateral U.S. punitive measure, while also aggressively building the necessary international support for stronger multilateral sticks. It’s also worth noting that these processes are connected. A genuine U.S. attempt at engagement with Sudan would help Pres. Obama and Gen. Gration secure international support for subsequent multilateral sticks, which makes clear perhaps the likeliest scenario to come out of the policy review – an initial strategy focused on (readily available) carrots which, even if unsuccessful, would help build critical international support for a secondary strategy focused on (by then newly-available) sticks. Regardless of the mix of carrots and sticks that ends up making it into the Administration’s policy plan, it is exceedingly likely that many of the details (including just about all of the sticks) will be classified, so we may not know which ones are in play until we see them used. That rule of the road will once again demonstrate Congress’s importance, as the relevant oversight committees examine the policy plan in public hearings and private classified briefings. None of this will be easy, but all of it will be necessary if President Obama and his Administration want to accomplish what near-constant international efforts have thus far failed to achieve – a real and lasting peace in Sudan.

Darfur activists to rally at White House

Dustyn — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:16:41 +0000

Tomorrow, July 22, the Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy is coordinating a rally to demand international cooperation with the International Criminal Court. Activists will gather at the White House to deliver a letter to President Obama and then walk to the State Department with a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In the area? Then come join Damanga at the White House at 1:00 tomorrow afternoon! If you are unable to make it, fret not. Tomorrow is also a National Call-in Day; you can lend your voice for the people of Darfur by contacting the White House in any of the following ways:

Call 202-456-1111
Fax 202-456-2461
Email the White House
Become a Fan and Post to the White House's official Facebook page
If you have a Twitter account, post: "@WhiteHouse Support Bashir's arrest warrant and the immediate deployment of UNAMID Peace Forces to Darfur #obama #darfur"

Darfuris Make Their Voices Heard: Justice Brings Peace to Darfur

Mohamed Yahya — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:25:25 +0000

Yesterday, July 22, marked a great day for the Darfuri and Sudanese community in the United States of America. The Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy led a rally in front of the White House, asking President Obama to end his silence on Darfur. In attendance were Darfuris from the greater D.C. area, Virginia, Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey and North Carolina. US Representative Lynn Woolsey of California’s 6th district greeted the assembly and shared her desire for the Administration to move quickly to lead the international community for peace in Sudan. Activists and concerned citizens congregated at Lafayette Park in front of the White House in support of justice and peace. Representatives from Darfur Human Rights of Philadelphia, Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom, the Nubia Project, Nuba Mountain, the Darfur Rehabilitation Project and other activists from the Sudanese community were joined by organizations such as Enough, Save Darfur, American Jewish World Service, Africa Action, and the Armenian Assembly of America, amongst others. . The peaceful rally began with several notable speakers including Dr. Abdul-Gabar Adam of Darfur Human Rights, Jimmy Mulla of Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom and Daowd Salih of the Damanga Coalition. Though we had a diverse group, the message was clear and unanimous: we need justice and peace in Darfur. Now. From there we turned our attention to the White House - as the President was leaving in his motorcade, no less. The demonstrators expressed feelings of sorrow for the plight of those residing in refugee camps, desperation for America to act in Sudan, and frustration at the African Union and the Arab League for granting impunity to Omar Hassan al-Bashir. [caption id="attachment_885" align="alignnone" width="453" caption="Activists march from the White House to the State Department"][/caption] After gathering signatures and making our presence known in front of the White House, we marched to the Department of State to raise awareness about the plight of the people of Darfur. We received a great deal of attention. We finally arrived at the State Department and pleaded that Secretary Clinton do her part to help bring justice to Sudan. Our voice was loud and the Obama Administration understands the importance of this issue to his constituency. With continued pressure, such as was demonstrated yesterday, we hope that President Obama will take further action to end the genocide in Darfur. Mohamed Yahya is the Executive Director of Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy

South Sudan: An Enduring Struggle

Allen Combs — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:23:23 +0000

Coalition member Refugees International recently produced a short video about the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan. Actor Matt Dillon - a member of Refugees International's Board of Directors - traveled to Abyei, Agok and Jonglei to create South Sudan: An Enduring Struggle. After you've watched the video, please take a moment to send a message urging President Obama to "support Sudan’s north-south peace agreement, encourage a peaceful solution for Darfur, and develop a broader regional strategy that resolves the root causes of conflict throughout ALL of Sudan and neighboring Chad." On the web: Refugees International

In Search of Peace

jerry — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:04:34 +0000

This week begins a crucial chapter in furthering a necessary response to the genocide in Darfur. The U.S. House and Senate will hold four hearings on Wednesday and Thursday of this week--- undoubtedly, the most consequential in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, where U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan General Scott Gration will testify on a comprehensive strategy for Sudan. We are hopeful that General Gration will demonstrate that the Obama administration is serious about completing its long running policy review and soon announce its strategy for promoting peace.

[caption id="attachment_924" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator John Kerry talks with Ranking Member Senator Richard Lugar"][/caption] In thinking about what that strategy should look like, it’s useful to recall what led to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended decades of conflict between Khartoum and south Sudan in 2005: a sustained investment in diplomacy, led in part by the United States, supported by relevant regional and international powers, and backed by significant incentives and pressures. The United States has another opportunity to provide strategic leadership to help create a space for the Sudanese themselves to resolve the country’s interlocking crises. To be effective, there are four key components for U.S. Sudan policy, explained at greater length in the Blueprint for Peace that we published with our partners at the Enough Project and Genocide Intervention Network: Comprehensive Strategy The administration’s strategy for peace in Sudan must work for an inclusive Darfur peace process that includes an opportunity for civil society voices to be heard. It must revitalize implementation of the CPA and the dangerously neglected Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement. And it must end Sudan's proxy war with Chad. A strategy that fails to address all of these issues is unlikely to succeed in contributing to a sustainable peace for all Sudan. But the strategy also has to recognize that these issues are interconnected – and are rooted in the vast disparity in power and wealth between the center and the periphery. Multilateral Strategy The United States cannot succeed alone. It’s vital that the administration work closely with other governments in dealing with Sudan; a reliance on bilateral diplomacy will provide Khartoum the opportunity to play one party off the other, as it has historically done with great success. Among the key actors are China, Egypt, the United Kingdom, and France as well as the African Union and the Arab League. The United States can play a strategic leadership role in building a multilateral coalition of countries with the needed leverage. Balance of Incentives and Consequences If the benefits and consequences for warring parties in Sudan are meaningful, the chance for peace increases dramatically. Without real sticks and carrots, the parties in Sudan will remain focused on military confrontation. The United States should work multilaterally to change the incentive structure in Sudan from war to peace. The basic structure should be to offer a choice: Behind Door One/Carrots: If Sudan permits unrestricted humanitarian access, secures peace in Darfur, fully implements the Comprehensive Peace Agreement for South Sudan, ensures free and fair elections in Sudan, and removes the indicted President, a clear process toward normalization of relations with the U.S. will be mapped out. Behind Door Two/Sticks: If President Bashir and his party fail to meet humanitarian commitments and continue to undermine efforts at peace, they will face diplomatic isolation, targeted multilateral economic sanctions and an effective multilateral arms embargo. Presidential Leadership Finally, even if a comprehensive peace strategy contains the first three components, the implementation of the plan depends on personal leadership from President Obama. He must make this a priority for his administration and lend his personal engagement in building the multilateral coalition needed to achieve peace. As a candidate, President Obama promised to work with unstinting resolve to bring peace to Sudan, and a large constituency is calling on him to fulfill that promise. More than 110,000 Americans signed a petition asking him to roll out a strategy along the lines described above, and it’s time for him to seize the opportunity.

Rice To Testify Before House Foreign Affairs Committee

sarah — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:12:25 +0000

[caption id="attachment_926" align="alignright" width="229" caption="Ambassador Susan Rice (UN Photo/Devra Berkowitz)"][/caption] This morning, Susan Rice will testify before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs. At this hearing, we will be listening for her answer to one question: How is she working to make the peacekeeping operation in Darfur more effective at preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence against women? Is she making sure that U.S. is taking the lead in making sure that the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur is well trained and properly resourced? That the force can effectively prevent and respond to attacks? What is the U.S. doing to push for the recruitment of female troops, police, and personnel such as translators, investigators and observers for the force? Today is an opportunity for Ambassador Rice to explain how the United States and the international community can build up UNAMID to be an effective protection force. Update: You can watch the hearing live using RealPlayer.

The Protection Challenge

sarah — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:32:43 +0000

One of the challenges facing peacekeeping today is assignment to harder and riskier operations with ambitious mandates to protect people from violence, including sexual violence. Today, during a Congressional hearing, Ambassador Rice discussed the challenges facing UNAMID in Darfur.

She explained that Darfur is roughly the size of California, home to 6.5 million people. At full capacity there will be only 20,000 peacekeepers to secure all of Darfur. Today, the force is only 69% deployed.

The force has the mandate to protect civilians in Darfur, using force if necessary. This mandate is no easy task.

And the Sudanese government is not a welcoming host for the force. The Sudanese government has denied humanitarian access, refused visas, blocked the transfer of resources for the force and actively worked to slow its deployment.

Yet, this morning Ambassador Rice reiterated the administration has two priorities in Sudan:

1) Effective Implementation of the CPA, and

2) Saving lives in Darfur.

To save lives in Darfur, the administration must continue to dedicate itself to making UNAMID an effective civilian protection force.

Effectiveness will be measured by UNAMID’s ability to prevent and respond to attacks on civilians, including the rape of women. Beginning with Chairman Berman’s opening remarks on the importance of international peacekeeping’s role in stopping rape as a weapon of war and genocide, and continuing throughout the hearing, the Congressional members pressed Ambassador Rice for answers on incidents of sexual abuse by peacekeepers. Ambassador Rice firmly expressed that the zero tolerance policy for sexual abuse set out by the United Nations must be enforced. She also firmly expressed that peacekeepers must be able to prevent and respond to rape attacks by combatants, offering the example of improvements that have been made in the peacekeeping force in Congo to respond to these attacks on civilians.

As Ambassador Rice continues to confront the new challenges that face peacekeeping operations, it will be important for Congress to continue to press her on how UNAMID can become more effective at protecting civilians. And it will be as important as ever for activists to call on their elected officials to protect the people of Darfur.

That constant pressure is necessary to keep our elected officials focused on overcoming the challenges to protect men, women, and children from violence.

Twittering From Congress

Allen Combs — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:49:31 +0000

Tomorrow, the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, Major General Scott Gration will testify before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to discuss the administration’s strategy for peace in Sudan. The General’s testimony comes at a critical time as concerned citizens and the international community anxiously wait for the administration to release its Sudan Policy Review. We'll be live-tweeting the hearing so if you're interested please follow us on twitter.

Special Envoy Scott Gration Testifying Before Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Allen Combs — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:55:30 +0000

You can follow today's hearing, "Toward A Comprehensive Strategy For Sudan" by: Watching the hearing live (requires flashplayer) OR Following Save Darfur on Twitter Update: Special Envoy Scott Gration's opening statement has been posted on the committee's website Update II: The hearing has concluded. You can see all our tweets from the first panel after the jump. Live-tweets from the hearing (most recent to oldest):

The first half of the hearing is over. Gen. Gration and Earl Gast (USAID) have been replaced by the second panel.
Gen. Gration: we cannot fail. We cannot sit back and do nothing in #darfur.
Gen. Gration said that he thinks there is still genocide in #darfur but that people are dying and it doesn't matter what you call it.
Sen. Isakson warns that if we don't respond in #darfur, we will have another rwanda.
Sen. Gration: we need to restore the women's safety and dignity in #darfur.
Sen. Corker: the UNAMID mandate needs to be stronger so they can respond quickly.
Sen. Corker is concerned about the security and violence against women in the IDP camps. Gen. Gration agrees that the violence needs to stop.
Sen. Feingold wants gen. Gration to brief him on the punative steps the u.s. is taking with khartoum and their actions in #darfur.
Gen. Gration: we are building a relationship with khartoum to try to save lives. We have a balanced approach that has sticks and carrots.
Gen. Gration: oil is significant to sudan and china gets 6% of its oil from sudan.
Gen. Gration: we need to have unity in the intl. Community in working with #darfur and sudan.
... And the millions of people in the idp camps in #darfur are under attack from so many weapons!
gen. Gration: the violence is not as great in #darfur as it was in 2003. But sds coalition knows that genocide does not just have 1 weapon
Gen. Gration: it is clear that at the beginning the janjaweed was a gov. run militia.
Sen. Kerry: what are you seeing on the ground in #darfur? Gen. Gration: help unamid, cross-border problems.
Testimonies completed. Questions; first from sen. Kerry, and it is to gen. Gration on #darfur.
Testimony on behalf of usaid: if we don't work on sudan and #darfur, it could be a failed state.
Gen. Gration: obama adm. Needs to focus on sudan re: counter-terrorism.
Gen. Gration: the obama's adm. Strategic approach first focuses on #darfur and having a sustainable peace.
Gen. Gration's testimony: we want an endurable peace in #darfur.
Sen. Lugar: wants to know about the obama administration's plan for sudan and #darfur. We do too! As he said, time is not on our side.
Sen. Lugar: re: #darfur- time is not on our side. Millions of refugees are at risk. The rainy season is straining aid workers' capacity.
Kerry: in 2005 colin powell testified about the need for troops in #darfur--- the needed troops are still not fully deployed.
Sen kerry: I called the situation in #darfur a genocide back in 2004.
Hearing has started. Chairman john kerry is introducing the situation and cited our ststement for the record on #darfur.
1 hour before the general's testimony, and the hallway to the hearing room is packed!
Reminder: gen. Gration will be testifying at 10am EST at the senate foreign relations cmt. He will hopefully talk about strat for #darfur

Don't forget to follow us on twitter!

Save Darfur Coalition's Amir Osman Testifies on Capitol Hill

Allen Combs — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:14:04 +0000

[caption id="attachment_974" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Amir Osman testifying before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission"][/caption] Updated: Earlier today, the Save Darfur Coalition's Co-Senior Director of Policy and Government Relations, Amir Osman, testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission at the U.S. House of Representatives. Amir joined the Save Darfur Coalition in July of 2006 and is responsible for designing and implementing the Coalition's international policy, advocacy and outreach to foreign governments, regional and international institutes, media and non-governmental organizations. You can read his opening statement after the jump. Testimony of Amir Osman Before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission U.S. House of Representatives July 30, 2009 Download Statment in MS Word Format Good afternoon. Chairman McGovern, Chairman Wolf, thank you very much for inviting me to testify today on this very important issue before this very important commission. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about the critical issues currently facing my home country of Sudan. It was a difficult decision for me to flee Sudan in 2003. I left because my work on human rights had put my life at risk. As a refugee living in Egypt, I continued to advocate for peace, justice, and democracy in Sudan at the American University in Cairo and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. I specifically focused on the genocide in Darfur during those years. After being resettled to the United States in 2006 through the UNHCR, I moved here to Washington and joined the Save Darfur Coalition to aid its international advocacy efforts. As co-senior director of policy and government relations, I help design and implement the coalition’s international policy, advocacy and outreach to foreign governments, and international partner organizations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. I also focus on the human rights situation in Sudan and the peace processes in Darfur and South Sudan. During the past decade, President Omar al-Bashir and his inner circle have transitioned from an ideologically driven regime to one whose primary aim is self-preservation. The regime now makes human rights compromises when it feels compelled to do so. The regime’s continued abuses have been well-documented by human rights organizations. Regular warnings have been issued about illegal detentions, unfair trials, press censorship, and the routine harassment of journalists. In addition, current laws do little to protect victims of gender-based crimes. The most urgent human rights challenge in Sudan today, however, continues to be the crisis in Darfur. Three million displaced civilians continue to suffer as a result of the genocide that began in 2003. While the systematic destruction of villages has largely ended, the people of Darfur continue to live in a lawless, dangerous environment, where rape continues to be a daily terror. On March 4th, the Sudanese government demonstrated its ability to cut off humanitarian aid at any moment from the 4.7 million Darfuris who depend on it. The mass violence committed by the Sudanese government several years ago has been replaced with the harassment, detention, torture, and murder of Sudanese civil society leaders. This violence led a significant number of the Sudanese human rights defenders to flee the country shortly after March 4th. Such abuses must be stopped. The suffering in Darfur resembles in many ways the war in Southern Sudan. Both Darfuris and Southern Sudanese have experienced the bombing of villages and mass civilian displacement. The Sudanese government’s use of humanitarian aid as a weapon of war and its divide and rule tactics amongst Southern rebels have also been repeated in Darfur. At the same time the Sudanese government was launching its genocidal campaign in Darfur, it was negotiating with the SPLM an end to the conflict in the south. Bashir made the calculation that the international community would turn a blind eye to Darfur in the effort to get the CPA signed. His calculation turned out to be largely correct. Bashir’s favorite tactic is to delay true reforms by creating crises that distract the international community, allowing Bashir to never actually fulfill any of his promises. The international community enables Bashir by focusing on the crisis of the moment rather than a comprehensive solution. . The NCP is using cooperation on the implementation of the CPA as leverage to resist international pressure on Darfur. And it is working. The United States and the international community have failed to develop policies suited for dealing with a regime which lacks a fundamental willingness to transform into the democratic state envisioned by the CPA. Sudan issues will not be resolved satisfactorily between just the NCP and SPLM or the NCP and the Darfuri rebels. All of Sudanese civil society must be empowered to participate in these processes. The United States must understand that Sudan’s crises cannot be managed forever or resolved individually. Only when the international community demands serious judicial and democratic reforms will there ever be a chance to resolve South Sudan and Darfur and move towards lasting peace. Policymakers have too often focused on the South to the detriment of Darfur, or Darfur to the detriment of the South. But Darfur and South Sudan are not separate problems; they are the result of a single problem: the undemocratic, centralized, and abusive nature of the ruling regime. Only when this problem is addressed will peace be forthcoming. There is an urgent need for a coherent and comprehensive strategy to guide Sudan to a more democratic and peaceful future. Such a strategy requires that important and difficult choices be presented to the NCP. The Sudanese government must be forced to choose between cooperation and confrontation. If they cooperate by ending the violence in Darfur, ensuring accountability through cooperation with the ICC, and fully implement the CPA, they may be allowed to reap the benefits of becoming a responsible member of the international community. If they continue to delay implementation of the CPA and continue to attempt to divert and distract the international community by using one conflict as leverage against the other, they must face real consequences. While we here in Washington sit and debate policy, the people of Sudan continue to suffer. This policy debate should not be complicated. The United States and its allies must force Sudan’s hand and then commit to seeing this through. We have played Bashir’s game too long to be fooled any longer. Thank you.

All Things Considered On U.S. Approach To Sudan

Allen Combs — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 15:00:51 +0000

On Saturday, NPR's news program All Things Considered discussed U.S. Special Envoy Scott Gration's testimony before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the reaction of the activist community.

From President Obama on down, the administration is stacked with officials who have talked tough about ending what they have termed "genocide" in the Darfur region of Sudan. That made it all the more surprising this week when the administration's special envoy suggested holding out new carrots for Khartoum.

At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing Thursday, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration suggested it was time to take Sudan off the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation that has led to a whole series of sanctions.

However, Jerry Fowler, president of the Save Darfur Coalition, urged caution in dealing with the government in Khartoum:

"[The Sudanese] took this incredibly cruel and callous step of expelling humanitarian organizations in March and the process that we've mostly seen since then is them gradually easing up on that," he says. "But it was a crisis they created themselves, and all we are doing is expending a lot of effort to get back to a status quo that was unacceptable and unsustainable in the first place."

Listen to the full segment:

A Sudan Policy Review With Life Or Death Implications

John Prendergast — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:30:56 +0000

[caption id="attachment_996" align="alignright" width="200" caption="John Prendergrast
(Photo: Center for American Progress)"][/caption] Cross posted from Enough Said blog. The Obama administration is in the midst of a contentious review of its Sudan policy, which was the subject of three hearings on July 29 and 30 on Capitol Hill. The outcome of the debate will help determine the future of millions of people from Sudan and the surrounding region. At the July 29 Africa Subcommittee hearing, members heard a bipartisan critique of the current direction of U.S. policy towards Sudan. Rich Williamson, Roger Winter and I all have negotiated extensively with the regime in Sudan, have roughly a combined six decades in working on or in Sudan, and have a very clear idea of what is required for lasting peace to have a chance in that embattled country. This hearing comes at a moment in Sudan’s history fraught with danger and potential. There is no effective peace process for Darfur, but one could be built with U.S. leadership. The CPA is on the brink, but could be salvaged if U.S. engagement deepens. Next year’s elections are at risk, but could become an important opportunity to strengthen opposition parties and democratic structures crucial for the referendum and for Sudan’s political future. The referendum itself is doubtful, but its prospects could be enhanced with a credible international roadmap. The major unknown variable that will help determine whether the dangers or the opportunities get maximized is the unresolved internal debate over the direction of U.S. policy towards Sudan. In the absence of any agreement on the policy, U.S. diplomatic engagement has been energetic, for which Special Envoy Scott Gration should be credited. But the substance of this robust engagement has been fraught with missteps, lack of internal coordination, and an overall aversion to pressuring the ruling National Congress Party (NCP). Sustained pressure leveraged by meaningful and focused sticks is the principal tool that has moved the NCP to change its behavior during the twenty years of its authoritarian rule. This substantial track record of empirical evidence of the value of pressure makes the direction of U.S. diplomacy all the more questionable. In fact, Special Envoy Gration has stated that “right now we are looking at carrots and looking proactively.” That is the wrong message to be sending the NCP. They will eat those carrots and continue with the deadly status quo in Darfur and the South. There is also a broader inconsistency in U.S. foreign policy when it comes to Sudan. The Obama administration has resolutely worked to craft more formidable international coalitions to isolate North Korea and Iran for important U.S. policy objectives. However, the U.S. is not doing the same for Sudan, despite the existence of a regime there that is responsible directly or indirectly for the loss of two and a half million lives in the South and Darfur. A Better Way Forward for U.S. Policy In the context of its policy review, President Obama should spell out a clear path forward for U.S. policy, consistent with the positions that he has taken previously as a senator and presidential candidate, and also consistent with positions taken in their previous incarnations by Vice President Biden, Secretary Clinton, and Ambassador Rice. 1. U.S. leadership in constructing a more effective Darfur peace process, using as a model the process that led to the CPA involving a lead role for the U.S. and a multilateral support structure that provided international leverage, expertise, and support; 2. U.S. leadership in supporting the implementation of the CPA, continuing the trend of deeper engagement over the last few months but structuring clear penalties for non-implementation of any of the key provisions; 3. U.S. leadership in supporting the democratic transformation of Sudan by supporting the electoral process, providing institutional support to opposition parties and civil society organizations, and building the capacity of the Government of Southern Sudan; 4. U.S. leadership in preparations for the South’s referendum in 2011, which will be a make-or-break process for the future of both North and South. 5. U.S. leadership in support of accountability. The ICC indictment of President Bashir is a crucial opportunity to address the cycle of impunity that has fueled some of the worst war crimes in the world. Sweeping violent history under the rug ensures its continuation. The essential word that repeats throughout all these goals is “leadership.” U.S. leadership – multilaterally and when necessary unilaterally – will be an enormously influential ingredient in a successful transition to peace and democracy in Sudan. But success will require greater leverage than that which presently exists. The debate internally within the U.S. government in part rests on the degree to which incentives or pressures ought to be favored instruments for changing the behavior of the Sudanese regime, the Darfur rebels, and the GOSS. It is the view of this panel and the activist organizations that comprise the Darfur movement that the way forward should involve deeper diplomatic engagement that is rooted in multilateral pressures and the credible threat of significant consequences for policies or actions by Sudanese parties that undermine peace efforts and lead to worsening humanitarian conditions. In the absence of these pressures, and if incentives are all that are put forward, then failure is guaranteed. For example, the U.S. appears more interested in negotiating the implementation of the provisions of the CPA that have already been painfully negotiated, rather than marshalling the international coalition necessary to pressure the parties to implement what they have already agreed. Success will also require the construction of credible and effective processes that allow for the achievement of U.S. policy goals. First and foremost, the glaring lack of an effective peace process for Darfur calls out for greater U.S. leadership in constructing from the existing elements a revitalized process that has the chance of ending Darfur’s war. Secondly, the U.S. should intensify its early efforts to revive the CPA and back these efforts with the construction of clear multilateral consequences for violations or non-implementation of key elements of the deal. The bottom line is that there must be consequences for committing atrocities and for undermining peace. An incentives only strategy will guarantee failure. John Prendergast is Co-founder of the Enough Project, an initiative to end genocide and crimes against humanity.

Secretary Clinton In Africa

Allen Combs — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:18:15 +0000

[caption id="attachment_1052" align="alignright" width="150" caption="U.S. Secretary Of State
Hillary Clinton"][/caption] U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in South Africa on the second leg of a 10 day tour across Africa. She began her trip in Kenya and is scheduled to stop in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Liberia, and Cape Verde before returning to the United States next week. Unfortunately, Secretary Clinton is not visiting Sudan or Chad on this trip, but there is still an important opportunity for her to discuss peace in Darfur and all of Sudan with the African leaders she meets. Secretary Clinton should make the conflict in Darfur a priority. You can help by submitting a question to the Secretary by visiting the State Department's website or by texting her at 90822 (inside U.S.) or 202-255-6299 (outside U.S.). This is a great opportunity to remind the Secretary that there is a committed constituency who want the United States to promote peace in Sudan. Update: Secretary Clinton has already discussed the indictment of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC) twice on this trip. On Wednesday, she held a joint press conference in Nairobi with Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula. Almost immediately, the Secretary was asked about al-Bashir's indictment.

"I think that it is very significant that a criminal indictment was returned by the International Criminal Court against President Bashir. And that was a very significant step by the international community. The actions by the ICC sent a clear message that the behavior of Bashir and his government were outside the bounds of accepted standards and that there would no longer be impunity. Now, just as in a criminal process, the indictment has been laid down. The United States and others have continued to support the need to eventually bring President Bashir to justice, but he’s found a lot of protectors, and mostly in this continent, where people have allowed him to travel and have not used the forces of their own judicial and law enforcement institutions to arrest him, to turn him over the ICC. We know this sometimes takes time. If you look at some of the international tribunals, there are periods of time during which the investigation takes place, if it does get started – in this case, it did – then if an indictment is returned, there is often time before the person indicted is brought to justice."

At a public meeting the next day Secretary Clinton went even further, expressing disappointment that the United State was not a member of the ICC. Said Clinton: "This is a great regret that we are not a signatory. I think we could have worked out some of the challenges that are raised concerning our membership. But that has not yet come to pass."

Rep. Keith Ellison In Sudan To Discuss The Situation In Darfur

Allen Combs — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:13:19 +0000

[caption id="attachment_1015" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Rep. Keith Ellison"][/caption] Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-5) is currently on a trip to Sudan to "discuss the humanitarian situation in Darfur in the aftermath of the Khartoum government’s decision to expel thirteen aid agencies in the war torn area." Other items on Rep. Ellison's docket include implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the progress being made towards national elections, and the return of refugees and IDPs to their homes. Said U.S. Special Envoy Scott Gration: “The Congressman’s trip comes at a critical time when we are working to unify rebel groups in Darfur and preparing parties to return to the negotiating table. We are pleased that he and other Members of Congress are willing to travel to the Sudan to see the conditions on the ground first hand.” For more information you can read the press release for the Congressman's trip or follow Rep. Ellison on twitter.

Jerry Fowler On Air America Tonight

Allen Combs — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:45:42 +0000

Jerry Fowler, President of the Save Darfur Coalition, will be a guest on the Ron Reagan Show tonight to discuss the situation in Sudan and the importance of ending the genocide in Darfur. Jerry's segment is scheduled to begin around 7 P.M. (the Ron Reagan Show runs from 6 to 9 P.M.) and you can listen live using Air America's online stream.

My Meeting With The Special Envoy

jerry — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:31:18 +0000

On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to meet with U.S. Special Envoy Scott Gration. We discussed his recent testimony before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the United States' role in promoting peace in Sudan. Here is a quick video about the meeting:

Jerry Fowler On The Ron Reagan Show

Allen Combs — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:41:56 +0000

Last week, Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler was a guest on Air America's Ron Reagan Show. Jerry and host Ron Reagan, son of former President Ronald Reagan, discussed the current situation in Darfur, Secretary Clinton's trip to Africa and the International Criminal Court's indictment of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. Take a listen: Play clip in external media player Visit the Ron Reagan Show's website

Statement From The Special Envoy

Allen Combs — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:41:29 +0000

Earlier today, U.S. Special Envoy Scott Gration released the following statement:

In the 1950s, journalist Edward R. Murrow hosted a radio show titled “This I Believe” that invited Americans to record essays that shared their core beliefs with listeners across the country. The essayists, ranging from heads of state to cab drivers, used the opportunity to tackle difficult topics and to offer “the guiding principles by which they lived.” As the President’s Special Envoy to Sudan, I have been charged with the awesome responsibility of working to improve the political, humanitarian, and economic challenges confronting the people of Sudan. For the past six months, I have been working incredibly hard and logging a lot of miles to understand this dire and desperate situation better and to chart a course for moving forward. I understand that for the community of people who care deeply about this issue time is of the essence and much is at stake. I want to give you the clearest sense of where I am coming from and what my core beliefs are on the best approach to untangle the complex, varied, and nuanced set of issues facing Sudan. I learned to walk and talk in Africa; my first words were in Swahili not English. A passion for Africa and African people runs through my veins. I also know firsthand the personal toll of war and what it means to be displaced. Growing up, my family was evacuated three times from our home in the Congo, and we became refugees. I embrace those experiences and they inform my current efforts. I believe that the road to peace in Sudan runs through Darfur. The atrocities that have taken place in Darfur are a crime against the world that must be resolved. We are working aggressively to reverse the ongoing consequences of genocide in Darfur. Though the incidence of violent deaths has improved dramatically since 2005, the situation remains dangerous and dire. Civilians remain vulnerable, living conditions are unacceptable, and the displaced remain unable to return home in security. For those who are concerned that we are seeking the untimely return of IDPs, I assure you that that is not the case. I share the same concerns about the idea of having the more than 2.5 million people living in IDP camps attempt returns in an insecure and uncoordinated fashion. We will never abandon or seek to endanger IDPs. Our task for now is to begin the work to create conditions that are conducive for their eventual safe return, including access to food and safe water, addressing land rights, protection of human rights, and freedom from gender-based violence. We are working closely with the African Union/United Nations joint chief mediator, Djibril Bassolé to unify the disparate rebel groups in Darfur so that they can speak with one voice to participate in the peace process. I also believe that IDPs must have a clear voice as their perspectives and solutions become part of this process. As important as it is to address the issue of Darfur, I believe that we equally dedicate all available resources to achieving full implementation of the CPA. In the next two years, Sudan will face both national elections and two referenda. An unsuccessful and marred election could contribute to significant unrest and instability in a state bordering nine other countries and even incite renewed conflict. In the last few months, we have initiated trilateral talks with the parties to the CPA and have developed an implementation strategy. These talks are ongoing and we are holding all parties accountable for their commitments. We are determined to create the conditions for a peaceful process and post-referendum period whether the result is a single, stable, and unified Sudan or a Sudan that divides into two separate states. Our work on implementing the CPA is complemented by our efforts to address the pressing needs of Southern Sudan. The South needs urgent attention and assistance in building its infrastructure and promoting development before the referendum in 2011. While the current US sanctions against the government in Khartoum explicitly exclude Southern Sudan, in practical terms they do not. Large equipment needed for infrastructure or economic development in the South must go through Port Sudan and/or Khartoum in the North, which makes these necessary investments for the South subject to our sanctions. “Smart,” targeted sanctions are absolutely necessary and desirable against key components of the government in Khartoum. I want to be clear. These sanctions should not be lifted. However, I believe that we must consider specific exceptions or selective rollbacks to facilitate development in the South and fully implement the CPA. We need more flexibility to achieve our desired results, which are: pressuring the North, developing the South, and incentivizing good behavior on all sides. I believe that we cannot hope to achieve these results and a lasting peace if we only engage with those we already agree with. We must work to mediate and work with all stakeholders—Khartoum, Juba, rebel groups, Chad, civil society, and the international community. It is important to recognize the stated position of the US government on President Al-Bashir. We hold him responsible for the actions of his government and recognize that the justice process is moving forward. I have not met and have no plans to meet with President Al-Bashir. As we continue moving forward, I will need the support and engagement of the entire community that is dedicated to addressing the challenges facing Sudan. We all have to work together and to be on the same team. Let us continue to exchange our best ideas in support of our important mission. Thank you for your continued interest and dedication, Scott.

Secretary Clinton On Gender-Based Violence

sarah — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:51:52 +0000

Today Secretary Clinton is in Congo taking action to stop violence against women. In her own words, she said:

“Well, there is no doubt that the ongoing conflict makes the problem worse. Unfortunately, we have seen in the late 20th century and now in this century a terrible trend of using sexual and gender-based violence as a tool of war to intimidate and demoralize populations and to force them to flee their homes. And I think this is going to take a concerted effort from the Congolese Government as well as other governments in the region who have interests in the DRC. It’s going to take NGOs and civil society. It has to start with making sure that the military of the DRC does not engage in any sexual and gender-based violence, and there has to be no impunity for anyone who does, and there has to be an effort to cut off the funding for the militias and resolve the underlying political tensions in the east. But sexual violence is a problem across the country, as it is in many countries, and there have to be stronger laws against domestic violence, against criminal rape that happens on the street of Kinshasa or any other city. There has to be strong prosecution and law enforcement and judiciary actions to make it clear that this is unacceptable, that there is no excuse for it. And that’s what I hope we will see.”

Yesterday, in an interview, she said:

“I will be pressing very hard for not just assistance to help those who are being abused and mistreated, and particularly the women who are turned into weapons of war through the rape that they experience, but also looking for ways to try to end this conflict.”

And earlier this week, we saw Ambassador Susan Rice give remarks to the United Nations Security Council on the Democratic Republic of Congo and the implementation of a Security Council Resolution that condemned the crime of rape and called on all parties to immediately end acts or rape and sexual violence during armed conflicts. In Darfur and in Congo, this resolution has yet to be implemented. Women continue to be targets, which means our work is not yet finished.

Help Us Kick Off A New Campaign

Mark Lotwis — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:23:01 +0000

In September, the world's leaders will come together at the U.N. General Assembly session in New York City and the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh to discuss humanity's most pressing issues: but will peace in Sudan be on the agenda?

These gatherings offer two excellent opportunities to show that the world cares about the people of Darfur, but we need to make sure that peace in Sudan is a priority for the leaders in attendance. That's why we're kicking off a new campaign - starting with a petition to President Obama - but our success depends on the participation of activists like you.

We're asking all our supporters to sign the petition to President Obama and vote to decide the campaign's name.

September will be our best chance this year to impact so many key world leaders. Our ability to leverage this critical opportunity depends on what you do today.

Please vote by Monday August 17th and add your name to our new petition to President Obama.

We'll report the results early next week.

Jerry Fowler Rebuts al-Bashir on PBS's NewsHour

Allen Combs — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:50:44 +0000

Earlier this month, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir spoke with Time magazine's Sam Dealey about the International Criminal Court's warrant for his arrest, the fighting in his country and relations with the United States. You can watch a full report from PBS's NewsHour:

Yesterday, Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler responded to al-Bashir's comments in an interview with NewsHour Foreign Affairs reporter Robert Zeliger. Listen to the segment here:
On the Web
Time Magazine's Piece on President Omar al-Bashir
Jerry Fowler's Interview with the NewsHour
NewsHour Segement on President Omar al-Bashir

Bashir Replaces Intelligence Chief

seanbrooks — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:51:49 +0000

Yesterday, Sudan's official news agency reported that President Omar al-Bashir had dismissed Salah Ghosh, head of the country's National Intelligence and Security Services. Here is a little background: WHO IS GHOSH Major General Salah Abdallah Ghosh was the director of the Sudanese government’s National Security and Intelligence Services and is a senior figure in the National Congress Party (NCP). He has been part of the NCP’s inner circle since President Omar al-Bashir engineered their rise to power via a coup d’etat in 1989 (the NCP was then known as the National Islamist Front, but later changed its name). INSIDE POLITICS Since the International Criminal Court’s indictment of Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur there has been much speculation about internal divisions within Bashir’s own ruling party, the NCP. The ouster of Ghosh may be an outcome of these internal divisions between the moderate and hard-line wings of the ruling regime as they continue to debate how to confront the international community regarding the ongoing crisis in Darfur and its obstructions to the full implementation of the fraying Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed with the Southern People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). ROLE IN DARFUR A regime hardliner, Ghosh has been accused of playing a significant role in perpetrating the genocide in Darfur since 2003. In January 2006, the United Nations Panel of Experts included him on an initial list of 17 individuals who committed violations of international and human rights law in Darfur and were responsible for impeding the peace process. RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CIA Despite these accusations, Ghosh has recently had a close relationship with the American intelligence community. In 2005, it was reported that the Central Intelligence Agency flew Ghosh to Langley, Virginia to discuss the Sudanese government’s support in the US “war on terror.” Ghosh’s role as Osama bin Laden’s “minder” during the al-Qaeda’s leader’s stay in Sudan during the mid-1990s was no doubt an important topic of discussion.

A Great Loss

jerry — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:31:29 +0000

Our community lost a great friend and leader over the weekend when Ken Bacon died after a courageous battle with melanoma. As president of Refugees International, Ken was one of the first advocates to bring attention to the crisis in Darfur. More than that, he was a tremendous role model for anyone seeking to promote the public good. His was a gentle soul, and he combined a deep passion for service with compassion for those who are vulnerable and a pragmatic sense of the possible. I’ll miss him fiercely.

Rally At The United Nations

Melissa Warnke — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:09:35 +0000

On Thursday, I traveled to New York City with Niemat Ahmadi, Save Darfur Coalition’s Darfuri Liaison Officer, for a rally organized by the Darfur Rehabilitation Project, Inc. and thirteen other organizations. Despite the threat (and occasional spurt) of rain, a hearty crowd gathered in high spirits and marched with signs and petitions in hand. For several hours, we rallied in Daj Hammarskjöld Plaza, in front of the U.N. – listening to impassioned speeches by Darfuri leaders who called for the United Nations’ continued and enhanced protection of Darfurians in Sudan and in refugee camps beyond. From there, our group marched through the center of New York City to the U.S. Mission to the U.N., where we presented a petition to Peggy Kerry, the NGO Liaison. The day concluded with a panel discussion and dialogue about the Darfur movement, and focused on future paths for growth. We are hopeful that the United Nations will respond to our requests and will move rapidly towards full deployment of UNAMID forces, the provision of sufficient humanitarian aid to those who so desperately need it and enhanced protections for women and children in the IDP camps.

World Humanitarian Day

seanbrooks — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:28:19 +0000

Laurent Vieira de Mello has a stirring op-ed in the Washington Post this morning on the occasion of the first ever World Humanitarian Day. In honor of his father, Sergio Vieira de Mello, his family successfully pushed the United Nations General Assembly to designate August 19 as a day to “reflect on the situation for humanitarians deployed in the field.” As many will recall, the life of his father was cut short by a targeted suicide bombing of the UN compound in Baghdad in 2003. In his piece, Laurent highlights that in many parts of the world – including Darfur – humanitarian workers continue to face daily personal threats as they go about providing relief to victims of violence and warfare. He writes movingly:

We're talking about the people who are serving on the front line for those of us who weep when we see children on TV crying beside mothers who have been killed by mortar fire -- and believe that something must be done to help these victims and others like them…Humanitarian workers are the unsung heroes of our time. They are not recognized as such. Yet consider their efforts, seeking to persuade warlords to let them help innocent civilians who are facing heat, cold, disease and other threats.

The security situation for humanitarian workers is particularly perilous in Darfur. Aid groups are providing relief to Darfuris who are fleeing periodic clashes between the Sudanese army and rebel groups. As such, they must negotiate their services with these actors and the continuing presence of armed janjaweed fighters. Different opportunistic elements from these various groups, furthermore, directly prey upon the humanitarian workers as hijacking vehicles and extortion have become normal products of the conflict economy of Darfur. Since March three foreign humanitarian workers have been kidnapped, as well as one worker in eastern Chad near the border with Sudan. In response, relief organizations like France’s Aide Medicale Internationale (AMI) are shutting down their operations, while others are restricting their operations to only the more secure parts of Darfur. The expulsion by the Sudanese government of 13 humanitarian organizations in March only makes the situation even more complicated. Filling the resulting aid gap for the over 4 million Darfuris dependent on some form of relief has only intensified the daily pressures and threats that humanitarian workers face. Looking to relief efforts in South Sudan and the Three Areas, there are growing concerns about the adequate provision of humanitarian relief. The expulsion of the 13 organizations and rising insecurity have affected the delivery of services and could threaten overall relief operations. In his piece though, Laurent does not simply call for us to recognize the selfless contributions of foreign and national humanitarians striving to help the most vulnerable. He also calls for direct action from the international community:

It is high time for the international community to face its responsibilities and stop hiding behind humanitarian action. The world must stop using humanitarian efforts as a fig leaf. It can no longer avoid action while putting its conscience at rest by sending humanitarian actors into the killing fields. There are lives at risk.

This call goes to the heart of advocacy on Darfur and Sudan. President Obama and other world leaders must work together to press Sudanese leaders and all those who continue to fight militarily in Sudan to take immediate steps to protect their fellow citizens in the short-run and commit to building domestic political processes and institutions that will form the basis for long-term security and peace for all Sudanese in the long-run. We must continue to declare that the status quo is not acceptable. World Humanitarian Day should not come again without there being increased security for humanitarian aid workers in Darfur through the full deployment of UNAMID and, equally important, a revitalized peace process between the Darfuri rebels and Sudanese government that puts the protection and livelihoods of the Darfuri people first. Update: Here is a quick video From the United Nations marking World Humanitarian Day:

Potential Progress in South Sudan

jerry — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:01:03 +0000

[caption id="attachment_1209" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="US Special Envoy Scott Gration (center) looks on as the SPLM\'s Malik Agar (left)
and the NCP\'s Ghazi Salahuddin (right) shake hands"][/caption]News out of Juba (the capital of South Sudan) yesterday: The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (former southern rebels) and the ruling National Congress Party reached an accord to advance implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). The CPA ended the long-running war in southern Sudan in 2005, but implementation has been faltering badly. We need to learn more details to really assess the impact this will have in advancing peace in Sudan. And of course follow through, especially by Khartoum, is always an open question. But this could end up being an important step toward heading off renewed war in southern Sudan. Special Envoy Scott Gration deserves props for his facilitation efforts. Now he has the tough job of keeping the parties to the timeline they agreed to. Two vital issues, though, were not addressed: how to deal with the flawed 2008 census and arrangements for the 2011 referendum. The debate over these is fueling distrust between the parties, and an early agreement on them is necessary in order for preparations for the 2010 elections and referendum to proceed. My colleague at Enough, Maggie Fick, has a good post on the key referendum issues. Other reports have it that both the NCP and SPLM pledged to resolve the political and humanitarian crisis in Darfur before the scheduled national elections set for April 2010. This is vital recognition that Sudan’s interlocking crises cannot be addressed in isolation. U.S. leadership, including personally from President Obama, is more needed than ever.

Valerie Jarrett at Netroots Nation

Edrie Irvine — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:37:53 +0000

On Saturday, Aug. 15th, President Obama’s most trusted advisor Valier Jarrett sat down with Baratunde Thurston of Jack & Jill Politics and The Onion in Pittsburgh at the annual gathering of progressive activists and bloggers Netroots Nation 2009 (NN09), for a broad-ranging conversation on policy, politics, and life in the fishbowl of Washington, DC. Like hundreds of thousands of others working to save Darfur, I wrote letters, made phone calls, was even arrested outside of the White House, all trying to make former President Bush live up to his words, “Not on my watch” (referring to the Rwandan genocide). Since January of this year, I have been waiting for our new President to take the bold actions he promised on the campaign trail regarding Darfur. When I learned that Ms. Jarrett would be at NN09, my first thought was of Darfur but wondered if the topic would be too far afield from what most others in the audience would ask or want to hear about. So I was pleasantly surprised to hear Baratunde ask the question about Darfur I had submitted:

In 2004, Senator Obama said, "Genocide is underway in Darfur, Sudan. ...We cannot in good conscience stand by and let this genocide continue." To date, the only concrete action appears to be the appointment of Major General Scott Gration as Special Envoy to Sudan. What specific bold steps has President Obama taken, or does he intend to take, to end the long-running genocide and war by displacement and starvation in Darfur?

I tried to word the question to give Ms. Jarrett a sense of the frustration I feel as time continues to march past the people of Darfur. I hoped to learn more about President Obama’s vision for addressing the many issues surrounding US-Sudan relations and Khartoum’s continued intransigence. I didn’t get a clear answer, but what I did hear in her reply was a passion that wasn’t there in many of her other statements. Her last words on Darfur are ones I intend to use as I wait and watch for action by President Obama: “And it’s absolutely a priority of this President.” For the sake of the millions of terrified, displaced, ill and ravaged people of Darfur, for the sake of the children of that vast land, I truly hope this President means what he says.

The answer from “A Conversation with Valerie Jarrett” on C-SPAN:

The President has spoken up very clear about what’s going on in Darfur, that it’s atrocious. And you mention General Gration in whom the President has a great deal of confidence and he’s on the ground. And the whole purpose of being there is to come back to the President with some concrete steps that we can take. And it shouldn’t just be the United States; this should be an international effort. We need to have everybody focused on the atrocities of what’s going on in Darfur. And it’s absolutely a priority of this President.

Watch the video on C-SPAN (the question about Darfur is around 53:39). Edrie Irvine blogs under the handel edgery at ProgressiveBlue.com.

CNN's Inside Africa

Allen Combs — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:10:26 +0000

Earlier this week Jerry Fowler, President of the Save Darfur Coalition, appeared on CNN's Inside Africa to discuss the Obama Administration's Sudan Policy Review and the situation on the ground in Darfur: You can watch all 4 parts of this series - including interviews with General Martin Agwai, commander of the combined United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, and the Enough Project's John Prendergast - by visiting the Inside Africa's homepage.

NCP Propaganda All Dolled Up in WashTimes

nghent-rodriguez — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:54:26 +0000

Cross posted from Enough Said blog. On August 13th, a misleading full page "article," sponsored by the Government of Sudan, or GoS, was published in the Washington Times. The piece proclaimed the Sudanese government’s willingness to “constructively” engage with the United States. The misinformation featured an interview with Dr. Ghazi Salah Eddin Al Atabani, an advisor to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, which cited GoS positions and out-of-context quotes from U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration. The picture painted in the Times is one of a cooperative GoS, ready to engage in all peace talks and advocating for the lifting of sanctions. Here are two gems, attributed to Dr. Ghazi:

“The Sudanese government is fully committed to talks to end the war once and for all, anytime and anywhere.” “Sudan’s removal from the (state sponsors of terrorism) list would thus reflect reality, honor previous commitments and would help reinforce our hope that U.S.-Sudanese relations had moved on.”

Clearly, after years of broken promises that have left over 300,000 Darfuris dead and more than 2.7 million displaced, the United States must see actions rather than just hear more empty pledges from the Government of Sudan before moving ahead to forge strong relations. The article was paid for by the Government of Sudan, as noted in a disclaimer from the Times. The full page "sponsored report" grossly misrepresents the situation in Sudan and should be viewed as nothing more than unfettered GoS propaganda. We really must not allow a report like this to be left unchecked as it undermines the work of journalists and responsible media covering the Sudan crisis. The Washington Times should not be engaged in publishing misinformation on an issue as serious as Darfur and Sudan, or dressing up any propaganda deceptively as an article. Save Darfur has submitted a letter to the editor voicing concern over this published piece. Let’s hope that the Washington Times and other media outlets report objectively on the issue and do not allow the Government of Sudan to cover its bad deeds with more “sponsored reports.”

Overcoming Fragmentation and Intransigence

seanbrooks — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:36:53 +0000

Darfuri rebel politics since the signing of the failed Darfur Peace Agreement in 2006 has been confusing and difficult for outsiders to monitor. Estimates over the last three years about the fragmentation of the two Sudan Liberation Army factions (SLA/Abdel Wahid and SLA/Minawi) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) have ranged from as little as five significant groups to as many as twenty-eight splinter factions. Tracking the constantly fluid relationships among these different Darfuri factions and their leaders has been next to impossible for analysts and advocates. All agree though that this fragmentation has made obtaining peace in Darfur more painfully elusive for the conflict-afflicted Darfuris and more challenging for regional and international mediators. [caption id="attachment_893" align="alignright" width="150" caption="US Special Envoy Scott Gration"][/caption] It is good news, therefore, to see U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Gration on his way to Addis Ababa to participate in unity talks among the rebels. He recognizes that they must have a common negotiating position if any negotiations with the Sudanese government are going to be successful. These are the correct lessons to draw from the peace talks in Abuja that secured the signature of only one major rebel faction led by Minni Minawi for the Darfur Peace Agreement – yet amplified the infighting and mistrust among the rebels which has contributed to the last three years of internal conflict and fragmentation. It is also good news to hear Gration promoting the role of Darfuri civil society leaders in the peace talks. He told reports today, “Civil society must also speak up so that their voices are heard on issues related to land reform, elections and human rights.” Only three months ago, the Sudanese government scuttled the most promising initiative on this front – Mandate Darfur – by obstructing the safe passage of Darfuri delegates to a large-scale gathering in Addis Ababa. Save Darfur and our partners have urged the international community through their support of negotiations to make the participation of these community leaders a priority. These representatives of IDP camps, women’s and professional groups, and other community-based organizations can help ensure that the true concerns and demands of the Darfuri people are clearly articulated and addressed by all sides during the negotiations. [caption id="attachment_1254" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Abdel Wahid al-Nur"][/caption] Despite these positive signs of U.S. leadership in the Darfur peace process, the statements and actions of some rebel leaders remain troubling. The Sudan Tribune today reports that Abdel Wahid al-Nur will not attend or send representatives to the unity talks in Ethiopia. This decision continues Nur’s irresponsible negotiating strategy since his refusal to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement in 2006. After leaving Abuja at the end of the talks, Nur has spent the majority of his time in Paris where he has refused to commit to new talks with the Sudanese government. Instead, he demands that a long-list of his demands must be fully met and implemented before any negotiations can begin, including the imposition of a no-fly zone in Darfur and the complete disarmament of the janjaweed. While Nur has reportedly not visited Darfur since 2004 and lost the allegiance of many commanders on the ground, he retains key support in many of the IDP camps. Therefore, his dismissal of unity talks is significant. Can Special Envoy Gration and those Darfuris committed to re-launching peace talks ignore Abdel Wahid’s absence? For now, they have no choice. They must begin the tough work of building a common negotiating platform for the Darfuri people and tearing down the walls of enmity between rebel leaders that have helped prolong the conflict in Darfur. At the same time, Gration and others must continue to think of how to devise an appropriate way in for Abdel Wahid and other hardliners. If Nur shows signs of changing his intransigent negotiating stance, the international community should develop a face-saving path for him to climb down from his past rhetoric and enter into a new process of substantive negotiations with the Sudanese government to bring peace to Darfur.

Moved by Faith

Dustyn — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:20:24 +0000

Moved by Faith is a new initiative launched by the Sudan Interfaith Working Group, a coalition of several prominent faith-based organizations. Furthermore, it’s a deep and multifaceted commitment by people of all faiths to work to bring peace to Darfur and Sudan. Faith-based organizations are integral to the movement and make up a large portion of Save Darfur’s coalition members. Coalition members and partners are not only engaged in domestic and international advocacy work, but also help to save lives on the ground. Since the Darfur genocide began in 2003, multiple faith-based organizations, such as American Jewish World Service and Catholic Relief Services, have supported relief and humanitarian projects in Darfur and Sudan. The movement for peace has, of course, also come from faith communities within Sudan: Muslim Darfuris have been heavily involved in advocacy efforts, and the Sudan Council of Churches recently appealed to the governments of Sudan and South Sudan to resolve their differences in opinion over the referendum law. This kind of critical engagement by the faith community has borne real results and has helped to relieve suffering across Sudan. In recognition of the importance of people of faith to the movement for peace, the Sudan Interfaith Working Group is asking that faith leaders across the nation sign onto a letter addressed to President Obama, outlining concerns and a path for future action. Congregations can take part in the weekend of prayer and action August 28-30, as well as becoming a Congregation of Conscience. While the backgrounds of the organizations comprising the Sudan Interfaith Working Group are varied, they are all moved by faith – to act, to help and to lead for peace. We encourage all members of the faith community to join us in bringing attention to the conflict in Sudan and speaking out against the injustices that its people have had to suffer.

Darfur Daily News - 8/24/09

Allen Combs — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:20:10 +0000

Reuters: Sudan mulls immunity for aid workers' kidnappers. Sudan is considering offering legal immunity to the kidnappers of two aid workers in Darfur as part of a new push to free the women during the holy month of Ramadan, a minister said on Monday.

AFP: US envoy praises Libya for Darfur crisis mediation. US envoy Scott Gration praised Libya's role in resolving the conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan at a meeting with Egyptian, Libyan and Sudanese officials in Cairo Sunday. "I'm very impressed and very grateful to the role that the Libyans are playing not only in rebel unification but in bringing peace between Chad and Sudan," he said.

VOA: Four Darfur Rebel Groups Reach Unity Deal. Four prominent Darfur rebel groups are forming a unified front to engage in future peace talks with Sudan's government, and urging other factions to join them. The front still faces big obstacles as members try to patch up differences that doomed previous unity efforts.

Fighting for the World’s Women

Melissa Warnke — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:08:18 +0000

Last week’s issue of the New York Times Magazine brought a huge topic of conversation in the policy world to the kitchen table – namely that advancing women’s rights worldwide can lead to a steep decline in poverty, terrorism, child mortality and an increase in economic productivity, social equality and educational enrollment. The cover article, “The Women Crusade,” is adapted from Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s new book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, which comes out next month. Considering that this pair has shared a Pulitzer and the 2009 Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and have individually collected innumerable accolades, the book is likely to get some attention. Why did such a powerful pair, who typically join forces to write about Asia, switch gears to focus on the world’s women? Kristof admits:

Traditionally, the status of women was seen as a “soft” issue — worthy but marginal. We initially reflected that view ourselves in our work as journalists. We preferred to focus instead on the “serious” international issues, like trade disputes or arms proliferation.

Yet examples of the ways in which undervaluing women tears at the fabric of societies – from the spread of HIV/AIDs caused by sex trafficking and sexual enslavement to maternal mortality and disability – abound. In the past decade, myriad sociological studies have suggested that there is a positive counterpart to this saddening fact: it turns out that genuinely engaging women in financial and political systems results in significant and tangible societal gains. (Google this if you’re skeptical. See the impact that women in government have had in a post-genocide Rwanda. Email me if you’re still not a believer, and we’ll talk). Microfinance is the oft-used example of an arena in which women, who had never before been entrusted with economic or social capital, have been able to empower themselves and provide opportunities for their children that were previously unimaginable. I am hopeful that Kristof’s Midas touch will get people talking, thinking and perhaps even scheming about how to turn the tables for women worldwide. The Times Magazine also includes an interview with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in which she speaks about her wide-ranging work as a dedicated advocate for women’s issues, including her development of an Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues under the State Department. It provides numerous profiles of women across the world, from struggling truck stop sex workers in Swaziland to women innovatively using their wealth to assist other women. The result of this increased attention to women’s rights can also be seen on the ground in Sudan. Last week, UNAMID announced the establishment of a seven-member special investigations unit which will investigate crimes involving sexual and gender-based violence, in addition to assisting survivors with the legal process of reportation and the emotional process of rehabilitation. Such violence is widespread and endemic in Sudan, where women and girls are serially vulnerable to attacks due to a lack of protection, security and justice in the region. While it will certainly take more than seven people to address widespread sexual and gender based violence, as well as the stigma surrounding it, this is a step in the right direction. UNAMID’s formalized commitment to combating violence against women is part of a larger picture in Sudan, where many NGOs have been hard at work on this issue for some time. Mercy Corps and Women for Women International, for instance, have for years now been consistently connecting peace, economic development and women’s rights by engaging local groups and with them implementing community based, capacity-building programs in South Sudan. However, with the expulsion of aid groups in early March, many NGOs are struggling to continue their work and programming with Sudanese women. At Save Darfur, we believe that women and girls should never have to fear for their safety because of their gender – that they should be able to live free, creative and meaningful lives. We are committed to using our position, our skills and our knowledge to raise awareness about the brutality they face every single day and pushing for policies to end such horrific abuses. Together, we can raise the profile of this issue. We must stand up to ensure that :

Women and girls are provided protection from gender-based violence inside and outside camps and villages through the full and effective deployment of the UNAMID civilian protection force;
Humanitarian aid is facilitated, including unhindered access to healthcare, psychosocial services, and rape counseling for victims and their families;
Women’s vital role in community leadership, the peace process, and long-term development is effectively promoted; and
Survivors of sexual violence have access to justice and the perpetrators are held accountable.

This year, Save Darfur is supporting the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign, which is run out of the Center for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University. We would love your participation and ideas – please email melissa@savedarfur.org to be involved. This event began in 1991 with a handful of women thinking about how to make a more just and kind world, and has grown to engage over 2,000 organizations in 158 countries. You don’t need millions of dollars or hundreds of people to campaign for an end to violence against women in Sudan and beyond – but you do need a vision. So, what’s yours?

Misinterpreting the Genocide in Darfur

AlexMeixner — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:02:55 +0000

Lately, an academic cottage industry has arisen of folks trying to argue that the existence a grassroots movement concerned about the targeting of civilians for genocide and crimes against humanity is a bad thing. A recent entrant in this industry is Marc Gustafson, a doctoral candidate and Marshall Scholar at the University of Oxford, whose misleading August 19th Christian Science Monitor op-ed is chock full of skewed figures and false premises. While there is a lot that Gustafson doesn’t get, perhaps his most distorted claim asserts that activist pressure somehow cost lives in Darfur by diverting U.S. government funding away from humanitarian assistance for displaced Darfuris and towards civilian protection. First, even his own numbers show that U.S. appropriations for humanitarian assistance in Darfur increased by more than 20 percent in the time period he references. Indeed, the U.S. government’s annual financial assistance for humanitarian aid in Darfur has been one of the only things that has consistently gone right in the world’s reaction to this ongoing crisis, providing funding at or near the targets set by relief organizations. More to the point, he betrays an ignorance of how money is appropriated within the U.S. government’s budget. There is not a set “Darfur account” full of money that is then split between humanitarian assistance, civilian protection, diplomacy, sanctions enforcement, and other activities. Rather, there are separate accounts for different worldwide functions, such as food aid, non-food humanitarian assistance, multilateral peacekeeping support, bilateral peacekeeping support, etc., some of which are broken down by country, and some of which are not. Money is appropriated for – and then allocated from – these global accounts based on specific needs in Darfur, in South Sudan, and in and other places around the world. Save Darfur’s efforts to shine a spotlight on what was clearly an unmet need for more robust peacekeeping and civilian protection in Darfur did not diminish the allocation for humanitarian aid, both because that’s not the way the system works and because that was never the intent. Quite the opposite, the intent was to push for the creation of a stronger and fully funded peacekeeping force to complement the humanitarian life line already in place. And that’s exactly what happened – the U.S. provided additional funds for the struggling undersized African Union peacekeeping force, pushed for the creation of the hybrid UN-AU force, and then provided additional funding to help field that larger force and give it a chance to succeed. All of these funds were additional to the U.S.’s already strong financial commitment to funding humanitarian aid in Darfur, not in conflict with that commitment. Put simply, there is no basis for arguing that money appropriated for civilian protection in Darfur decreased the amount appropriated for humanitarian assistance. If anything, the creation of a political constituency interested in Darfur served to bolster support for humanitarian programs there. Moreover, Gustafson is very ill-informed indeed if he believes that spending on civilian protection, which did increase in part because of our advocacy, was (or is) unnecessary. The UN Security Council authorized the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) in July 2007, because an under-resourced, outgunned African Union protection force was on the verge of collapse. In fact, the AU had threatened to pull out of Darfur entirely if the international community failed to provide a light at the end of the tunnel by agreeing to have the UN eventually take over the mission. Why was the AU mission on the verge of collapse? Because the AU force had neither the experience, the infrastructure, nor the stable funding support mechanism necessary to run a mission in such a large and dangerous place as Darfur. It is simply an enormous logistical undertaking in incredibly challenging and dangerous circumstances. That such a mission was undertaken at all is a testament to just how violent a place Darfur remains, and just how critical civilian protection is to stability in Darfur and the survival of Darfuris. The nature of the violence in Darfur has certainly changed over the years, though Gustafson’s assertion that violence significantly diminished immediately after an April 2004 ceasefire agreement is again remarkably ill-informed. Darfur’s recent history is littered with failed ceasefires, and the April 2004 N’Djamena ceasefire agreement is sadly just another example. Were it in fact as successful as Gustafson claims, one wonders why new ceasefires were deemed necessary in subsequent years. The hard reality is that civilians are not safe; in particular, rape remains endemic. And that lack of security is also a major problem for the humanitarian operations on which 2.7 million displaced Darfuris and another 1.3 million “conflict affected” civilians depend in order to survive. The Government of Sudan, which bears overwhelming (though not sole) responsibility for creating this state of affairs, is certainly unwilling (and at this point probably unable) to provide the necessary security. That leaves it up to the international community, which means that the United States needs to play a leading role. Needless to say, neither Save Darfur nor the U.S. Government established the size of UNAMID or drew up its budget; the UN did. Though it is worth saying that Save Darfur’s advocacy efforts have helped convince the U.S. to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in additional bilateral peacekeeping funds over and above the standard U.S. share of the UN peacekeeping budget to help develop and deploy the force. Gustafson also wades into the unnecessary debate over casualty rates in Darfur. Mortality studies sponsored by the UN, the U.S. government and independent experts over the years have produced different findings. Certainty is impossible, in large part because the Government of Sudan has barred the type of region-wide epidemiological survey that could provide authoritative information. Present estimates have been made by applying different methodologies to the limited supply of incomplete data. Save Darfur uses the most recent UN estimate that as many as 300,000 men, women and children have died as a result of the conflict in Darfur. And let’s be clear: the causes of death are both direct violence and the conditions of life (such as lack of food, water and shelter) deliberately inflicted upon civilians largely by the government and its proxies. (Shall we really spend valuable time on an extended debate about whether someone who died from the effects of malnutrition because government soldiers destroyed her food stocks was “killed” by the government?) It is interesting to note that new satellite data available on Google Earth and through the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum reveal that there were actually twice as many villages destroyed as previously reported, a great many of them well after the April 2004 ceasefire. Finally, Gustafson claims that activists exaggerated the situation in Darfur by calling it a genocide in order to expand the movement. This could not be further from the truth. Save Darfur as an organization views what has happened in Darfur as a genocide, and we’re hardly alone in that view. Indeed, the fact that the U.S. government itself determined Darfur to be a genocide and then failed to back up that determination with sufficient actions to end the crisis helped give rise to the Save Darfur movement. While others of good will have not reached the same conclusion regarding the “genocide” label, there is a broad consensus that the government of Sudan is responsible for crimes against humanity in Darfur. As the UN Commission of Inquiry emphasized, those crimes – a widespread and systematic attack on a civilian population – are no less heinous than genocide. Differing definitional views on genocide have never stopped Save Darfur from working with other organizations and activists to advocate for peace, protection, and justice for the people of Darfur. Focusing on debate simply for its own sake is at best a distraction from efforts to change the situation on the ground in Darfur. And premising a distracting debate on distorted facts and ill-informed suppositions is certainly not debate at its best.

Partners for Peace

jerry — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:04:21 +0000

Our friends at Humanity United and several other groups have launched a new initiative called Sudan Now. We joined with them in a series of print and online ads this week as the Administration’s long-running Sudan policy review appears to be entering its final stages. It’s vital that the Administration get the policy right. Key elements in a strong policy will be that it is:

comprehensive (addressing Sudan’s interlocking crises, including Darfur, implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the war in southern Sudan and the proxy war with Chad);
multilateral (the U.S. must work with other countries that have leverage on the various actors to address these crises);and
based on a balance of incentives and pressures.

Above all, effective implementation of the policy will require the personal and direct engagement of President Obama. More details on what we’re looking for can be found in the letter to President Obama signed by more than 113,000 citizens that I delivered to Special Envoy Scott Gration on August 5. Meanwhile, we also have partnered with the Sudan Inter-Faith Working Group, a broad array of faith-based organizations, in the Moved by Faith initiative. Together, we are seeking clergy of all faiths to sign on to a letter that tells President Obama that his “strong leadership is critical in realizing peace and justice in Sudan.” The complementary efforts of Sudan Now, Moved by Faith and the citizen sign-on letter show the breadth and passion of the movement calling for President Obama to lead for peace in Darfur and all of Sudan.

Darfur Daily News - 8/25/09

Allen Combs — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:00:54 +0000

AP: In ads, Darfur activists urge Obama to get tougher. Darfur activists upset about President Barack Obama's Sudan policy are launching a critical advertising campaign that urges him to step up pressure on Khartoum. The move comes as the Obama administration is preparing to release a delayed review of U.S. policy on Sudan. Activists, who had hoped Obama would focus more than the Bush administration did on Darfur and take a tougher line, say they fear disappointment. Reuters: Q+A: How kidnappers have hit Darfur's aid effort. A wave of kidnappings in Sudan's Darfur region has increased fears for the safety of aid workers running the world's largest humanitarian operation in the western territory. U.S. Sudan envoy Scott Gration and joint U.N./African Union mediators have said a safe environment for aid workers is crucial to any resolution to the festering Darfur conflict, which has destabilised the whole region. Reuters: South Sudan says Khartoum is reneging on CPA deal. A southern Sudanese government official accused the Khartoum government Tuesday of trying to sabotage the right of south Sudan's people to self-determination through a referendum. Deng Ajack, the south's minister for cooperation, said the north's National Congress Party (NCP) was trying to undermine the terms of the 2005 peace deal that ended a 22-year war between Sudan's Muslim north and mostly Christian south.

Darfur Daily News - 8/26/09

Allen Combs — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:36:33 +0000

VOA: Sudan's National Congress Party Denies Undermining CPA. Sudan's National Congress Party (NCP) has sharply denied it is undermining the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the war between the country's North and South. The NCP affirmed its commitment towards the full implementation of the CPA. But an official of the Southern Sudanese government dismissed Khartoum's assurances as a farce. Reuters: Leader of Darfur Peacekeeping Mission Resigns. The head of the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Sudan's Darfur region, who some diplomats say has been ineffective, is stepping down, United Nations officials said Tuesday. Officials from the United Nations are working closely with the African Union to find a replacement for the head of the peacekeeping mission, Rodolphe Adada, who is a former foreign minister of Congo, said Marie Okabe, a United Nations spokeswoman. Reuters: Medical Teams International Awarded Grant to Help Darfur Families in Sudan. Medical Teams International, along with its Global Relief Alliance partners, is the recipient of a $1.92 million grant to provide primary health care to 105,000 people in West Darfur. The Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is providing the grant to Medical Teams International and its Christian partners on the scene to supply health, nutrition and water aid until July 2010.

With Or Without War

seanbrooks — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:48:28 +0000

The outgoing commander of the joint UN-African Union (UNAMID) peacekeeping force, Martin Luther Agwai, made news earlier today when he told reporters that, “As of today, I would not say there is a war going on in Darfur.” He added that the conflict has now devolved into banditry and “very low intensity” engagements between belligerents:

Militarily there is not much. What you have is security issues more now. Banditry, localized issues, people trying to resolve issues over water and land at a local level. But real war as such, I think we are over that.

This description aligns closely with some other reports about the state of armed conflict in Darfur. It does not mean, however, that the political and humanitarian crisis in Darfur is over. Nor does it even mean that full-scale fighting is over. Asked about the possibility of renewed fighting, Agwai replied: “I would never say never.” With or without active warfare in Darfur, the situation remains dangerous and bleak for millions of Darfuris. Peace does not appear around the corner and, as we all know by now, over 2.7 million live in IDP camps and roughly 4.7 million are dependent in some way on humanitarian assistance. When 13 humanitarian organizations were expelled in March, furthermore, we learned how vulnerable this humanitarian operation – the world’s largest – is to the political machinations of President Bashir and the National Congress Party (NCP). Agwai’s remarks also must be taken in context of his other recent statements assessing security and civilian protection in Darfur. The Force Commander has been vocal throughout his tenure in calling for greater UNAMID support, and earlier this week cautioned that while progress has been made, much more still needs to be done. Last month’s report of the UN Secretary-General on UNAMID deployment urges the international community to “Adapt and respond to evolving security realities in Darfur,” warning that “While large-scale conflict has decreased…the security situation in Darfur has been volatile,” presenting “an ongoing threat to civilians and placing enormous stress on the mission.” However, in extending the mission’s mandate, the UN Security Council stressed that no military solution can resolve Darfur alone, and that both “an inclusive political settlement and the successful deployment of UNAMID are essential to re-establishing peace.” Consistent with both Agwai and the UN Security Council’s remarks, a return to full-scale fighting is still a distinct possibility because securing a peace agreement for the people of Darfur remains elusive. Agwai confirmed assessments from other analysts that a peace agreement in the short-term is remote “[b]ecause of the fragmentation of the rebel groups.” Over the last month, we have seen a multitude of efforts to unify the movements’ negotiating positions so that the next round of negotiations in Doha can begin. US Special Envoy Scott Gration released this statement yesterday about his contributions to this effort in Addis Ababa and Cairo last week. Another challenge is continuing border tensions between Chad and Sudan; these tensions – according to UNAMID Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada – represent “one of the major obstacles to the peace and security of Darfur,” and “could exacerbate conditions for Darfur’s civilians.” As the rebels squabble among themselves and complex regional threats simmer, the leaders of Bashir’s NCP continue their current strategy of playing nice and pledging their willingness to negotiate with the Darfuri factions and quickly resolve the Darfur crisis. Their actions, though, belie this charm offensive. For instance, many NCP leaders are now calling for Darfur civil society leaders and other unarmed parties to take the initiative on the peace process. We must not forget, however, that the Sudanese government blocked the safe passage of these leaders to a gathering in Addis Ababa three months ago as part of an initiative known as Mandate Darfur. Just today, the Sudan Tribune ran a story about how Darfuris in the IDP camps feel that the government has not adequately addressed their needs and concerns:

Hussein Abu Saharti the spokesperson of Darfur IDPs, told Sudan Tribune by telephone they welcome these efforts but are following with concern this process because it does not take in consideration their demand for protection of civilians and evacuation of new settlers who occupy IDP lands. “The government must freeze settlement programme and remove new settlers from our lands before to engage the peace process,” he said.

Until Darfuris are allowed the political space to convene and prepare for negotiations, the NCP’s statements regarding Darfuri political empowerment and respect for human rights should be viewed with profound suspicion. Take for instance the disingenuous comments from Sudanese Presidential advisor Abdallah Masar in today’s Al-Sahafa (a Sudanese newspaper published in Arabic). He said, “[T]he real solution of the issue [Darfur] is to give rights to the citizens of the region.” Of course, a root cause of Sudan’s interlocking crises is the lack of fundamental human rights for the country’s citizens. In Darfur, UNAMID human rights monitoring missions documented in recent months 13 cases of “arbitrary and illegal arrest and detention by Government security forces,” adding that in some cases the detainees were “subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or torture.” Although Bashir has rearranged the leadership of his security forces and has adjusted his rhetoric, positive, concrete changes have yet to be seen. The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Sudan, Dr. Sima Samar, released a report in June to the UN Human Rights Council that covers the period of August 2008 to May 2009. In regards to the situation in Darfur, she gave a disturbing assessment that highlighted the “unabated” violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. She suggests in this report that the same fractionalization and decentralization of armed groups described today by outgoing UNAMID Commander Agwai has resulted in “increased abuses against the civilian population.” Samar specifically identifies sexual and gender-based violence as well as the crackdown on NGOs as weakening human rights protection in Darfur. Since the release of her report, neither has improved. If anything, the humanitarian situation has become more dire. Since the expulsion of NGOs, attacks on aid workers – once “unheard of in Darfur” – are on the rise. These workers provide roughly 4.7 million Darfuris with some form of humanitarian assistance. It is also important to mention that this month, UNAMID established a special unit for Gender Crimes, acknowledging the ongoing and very serious need to investigate “crimes committed against women and children” and provide justice to the victims. Other human rights abuses are pervasive as well in Darfur. In a July report to the UN Human Rights Council, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, reported that the high incidence of rape and sexual violence against children in Sudan remains of particular concern. She also included Sudan as part of a group of countries where “children who are internally displaced…are vulnerable to a host of other threats, including separation from family, trafficking, abduction by armed groups, lack of food and basic services, detention against their will and exploitation and abuse.” In this report, she identified thirteen parties in Darfur that recruit or use children in situations of armed conflict, including the Sudanese Armed Forces, government police forces, and government supported militias; six rebel groups that signed the Darfur Peace Agreement of 2006; and three leading rebel groups that rejected the Darfur Peace Agreement: the Justice and Equality Movement, Sudan Liberation Army – Abdel Wahid, and Sudan Liberation Army – Unity. And what is the Sudanese government doing about these human rights abuses? Absolutely nothing concludes the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) per an August report on human rights and transitional justice by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The reports states that UNMIS expresses concern that a Sudanese special court set up to investigate “events” in Darfur has failed “to deal with major violations of human rights and international humanitarian law which were committed during the conflict in Darfur.” While the nature of the violence in Darfur has certainly changed, it remains a human rights and humanitarian crisis of the first order. Agwai’s comments may get headlines, but these reports reveal without doubt that Darfuri civilians lack even the most basic human rights. Despite their hopes and prayers for peace and protection, the nightmare that began over six years ago continues.

Darfur Daily News - 8/27/09

Allen Combs — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:04:15 +0000

AFP: Darfur peacekeepers have ended massacres: chief. The outgoing head of the UN-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur defended his soldiers against persistent criticism of their effectiveness, insisting they have ended the massacres that long plagued the Sudanese region. "I have achieved results," Rodolphe Adada told AFP in an interview, hitting back at the criticism. "The main result is the end of massacres in Darfur," he said, as he prepared to step down as head of the world's biggest peacekeeping operation. The Atlantic: Obama's Envoy Agrees: Sudan Is Urgent. Though he doesn't agree with the calling out of his bosses, President Obama's special envoy to Sudan does share the sentiment of a coalition of U.S.-based Darfur peace groups that Sudan demands immediate action--action that, from his point of view, is already being taken--a State Department spokesman for Maj. Gen. Scott Gration says.

Darfur Daily News - 8/28/09

Allen Combs — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:00:32 +0000

Voice of America: Activists Say General Agwai's Comments on Darfur Miss the Bigger Picture. A coalition of anti-genocide advocacy organizations has called on the Obama administration to team up with concerned nations and draft a proposal that would bring lasting peace to Sudan. The position came as the commander of the UN-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur says the region was no longer in a state of war. "The fact that open hostilities between rebel groups and the government militias have dwindled is certainly a good sign that we are one step closer to what would hopefully be an eventual peace. But unfortunately it does not mean the situation is getting that much better for the millions of affected civilians who remain in Darfur," said Alex Meixner, director of policy and government relations for Save Darfur Coalition. MinnPost.com: War in Darfur over? Not quite. The war in Darfur is over? That's what the outgoing general of the United Nations forces in that troubled African region says. "The political and humanitarian crisis in Darfur is not over. Nor is the threat of full-scale fighting over, said Sean Brooks, policy associate of Save Darfur Coalition. "We find Gen. Agwai's statement surprising, considering that just a few weeks ago he said that the U.N. forces are only at 70 percent deployment and need to be fully deployed to protect the people of Darfur. The New York Times: As Darfur Fighting Diminishes, U.N. Officials Focus on the South of Sudan. As the fighting in Darfur diminishes after years of conflict, senior United Nations officials say they are focused increasingly on the deteriorating situation in another part of Sudan: the south. The shift in alarm has been building for months, but was reinforced late Wednesday when Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, the departing commander of the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, told reporters that the war in Darfur was essentially over. Senior United Nations officials said that while General Agwai was basically correct, they did not want to play down the dire consequences some three million displaced people face in Darfur. Still, they noted, the escalating skirmishes in the south could reignite the civil war there, which in years past proved far more deadly than the conflict in Darfur.

LA Times: Darfur Has Become Even More Of A Problem

Allen Combs — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:55:07 +0000

The Los Angeles Times has an editorial in today's paper responding to Gen. Martin Agwai's comments from last week:

According to the United Nations' military commander in Darfur, the war in Sudan's genocide-ravaged province is over. It would be nice if that meant the humanitarian crisis were finished, the U.N. peacekeepers could go home and President Obama could cross one big foreign policy headache off his list. But it really just means that an already complex problem has become even tougher to solve. Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, ending his tour of duty as head of the joint U.N./African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur last week, said that instead of open war between rebels and government troops, there is now mostly low-level banditry by assorted armed groups. Yet if the fighting that broke out in 2003 is effectively over, the conflicts underlying it are still there. And it is still far too dangerous for the more than 2.5 million people chased from their homes by soldiers and government-armed Arab militias -- part of a calculated strategy to crush Darfur's rebellion via ethnic cleansing -- to leave the refugee camps. The biggest change is that it will now be even harder to reach a peace agreement between the government in Khartoum and the rebels, because the latter have fractured into multiple rival camps and don't speak with a unified voice. It's understandable if the tragedy in Darfur has been low on Obama's priority list -- he has been a bit busy trying to head off a deep U.S. recession, overhaul the nation's healthcare system and reinvent its energy infrastructure -- but the millions suffering in Darfur need his attention to shift in their direction. His administration has been dismayingly late in developing its Sudan strategy, possibly reflecting a split within the State Department between those who favor even tougher sanctions against Khartoum and those who want to ease them. Obama's special envoy on Sudan, Scott Gration, falls in the latter group. He has called for ending some of the trade restrictions placed on Khartoum by the Clinton administration 12 years ago because they're stalling important infrastructure projects in the country's southern region. Gration might be right about the importance of developing the south, which faces a crucial vote on independence in 2011 and hasn't yet built the institutions a separate state needs. But we hope that when the administration finally reveals its Darfur plan in the coming days or weeks, it will focus on ways to tighten the screws on Khartoum -- in particular by twisting arms at the Security Council to toughen international sanctions. If the killers who control Sudan have demonstrated anything in 20 years of bloodshed, it's that they respond more reliably to sticks than carrots.

Were Darfur Promises For Real?

John Prendergast — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:51:44 +0000

This post by award-winning author Dave Eggers and Enough Co-founder John Prendergast originally appeared on CNN.com and is cross posted from Enough Said. We have been part of an extraordinary social phenomenon over the past four years surrounding Darfur: the development of a genuine anti-genocide people's movement. It's succeeded in cultivating a number of true champions in the political sphere, led by three former senators: Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Barack Obama. Now that Obama, Biden and Clinton are in office, and another fierce anti-genocide advocate, Susan Rice, is in as ambassador to the United Nations, we felt there finally would be a consequence for the perpetrators of the genocide, the regime officials in Khartoum, Sudan. But rather than the kind of tough actions the these top officials had all advocated in their previous jobs and on the campaign trail, President Obama's Sudan envoy instead began to articulate a friendly, incentives-first message that even Sudan's president, an indicted war criminal, publicly welcomed. Our chins hit the floor in disbelief, because our chins had nowhere else to go. The administration is preparing to announce the results of its Sudan policy review soon, but the policy direction has already been set, and it is of urgent concern. There is no clear decision for the U.S. to take the lead in revitalizing a peace process for Darfur, or to create real costs for non-implementation of the existing North-South peace deal. But this isn't just a debate about policy towards one country. President Obama, like President Bush before him, has called Darfur an ongoing genocide. So the policy that will be unveiled soon on Sudan will have global ramifications, because it will be the president's first chance to articulate his policy on responding to genocide. For the rest of this commentary please visit CNN.com.

Human Rights and Engagement

seanbrooks — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:22:09 +0000

On Tuesday, I attended a talk in Washington on “Engaging on Human Rights in the Middle East: Multilateral Frameworks and the Role of the U.S.” organized by the Project on Middle East Democracy and the Heinrich Boll Foundation. The event focused on the ways in which multilateral frameworks work to promote or to inhibit human rights reforms in the Middle East, including the techniques authoritarian regimes employ to undermine the effectiveness of multilateral organizations. Moataz El Fegiery, Executive Director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, spoke about the Arab League’s strategies and tactics to protect the violations of its members before the UNHRC, as well as other human rights bodies. On Sudan, he discussed how the Arab and African blocs and other countries have consistently sought to restrict the mandate and block reports from UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Sudan. Fortunately these countries lost a major battle in June when the UNHRC members – over the objections of the many African and Arab countries – voted to appoint an independent expert on the situation in Sudan. In his comments, Joe Stork, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division of Human Rights Watch, attempted to assess the Obama Administration’s record on human rights in its first eight months in office. He noted that those driving American foreign policy have said the right things in regards to the importance of promoting human rights. Specifically, he referenced Obama’s speech in Cairo and UN Ambassador Susan Rice’s recent speech at New York University. Overall though, he said that “It’s too soon to tell” whether this rhetoric will actually translate into actual policies. To follow up on this early assessment, I asked Stork during the question and answer period how advocates should evaluate success on the human rights front in the context of the Obama Administration’s engagement-first approach to foreign policy. As we have seen, engaging with a regime like Sudan’s may mean pushing for gradual change over time despite the existence of grave human rights abuses today in places like Darfur. Stork responded by saying that in his opinion engagement should always be the default position. Therefore, he supports Obama’s preference for dialogue before confrontation. At the same time, he acknowledged that the U.S. bilateral relations with any country will involve a complicated and competing set of interests and priorities – and human rights usually is not a first order concern. His general advice, therefore, for American foreign policymakers is to choose the one or two most important human rights issues to push aggressively on in their negotiations with odious regimes. Should we apply Stork’s advice to Sudan? Whereas human rights have seemed so far to be one cornerstone of the Obama Administration’s engagement on Sudan, there is no doubt that many issues (such as regional stability and combating terrorism to name only two) factor into Sudanese-American relations as well. From experience though, we also know that pushing for policies to change the behavior of the Bashir regime falls low on the U.S. priority list in its bilateral relations with other countries who possess significant leverage (see, for example, where Sudan fell on the agenda for the meeting between Mubarak and Obama two weeks ago, or the U.S.-China Summit in July). As advocates for peace and human rights in Sudan, we must continue to demand that human rights issues in Darfur and throughout Sudan take center stage in America’s engagement of Sudanese leaders. For guidance on the key issues in Darfur today, Bec Hamilton has written a good piece after just returning from Sudan. We must also keep demanding that the U.S. make human rights a higher priority in its relations with regional powerhouses like Egypt and South Africa, as well as global powers like China. The U.S. should also ensure that non-strategic partners have support in their efforts to promote and protect human rights at home and abroad. Countries like Zambia and Botswana have played an important role in advocating for justice in Darfur, with the former voting for the UNHRC independent expert in June and the latter objecting publicly in July to the African Union’s opposition to the ICC proceedings on Darfur. With several other African cases at the ICC and ongoing efforts to promote justice across Africa and the Middle East, Obama’s approach to Sudan serves furthermore as both signal and strategy for dealing with other complex cases in an increasingly multi-polar world that still often looks to the U.S. for leadership. It’s my belief that the Obama Administration can amplify its engagement efforts with Khartoum by putting peace, protection and human rights not only at the centerpiece of its relations with Sudan, but also making some of its specific concerns about the Sudanese regime’s egregious behavior a higher priority with others. This does not mean that Darfur or Sudan should be the first priority when speaking to the Egyptians or Chinese, but even raising it to the top five or top ten could go a long way in building a coherent multilateral approach to ensure Sudanese leaders feel the necessary pressure to take the critical steps to end human rights abuses and resolve the country’s interlocking crises.

Don't Forget Darfur Photo Petition

Allen Combs — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:56:56 +0000

The upcoming United Nation's General Assembly session in New York City and G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh offer two excellent opportunities to focus attention on the situation in Sudan. We're creating this photo petition to make sure that the world leaders in attendance can't ignore the people of Darfur. Can you help? Add your photo to the petition now!

Justice in the Spotlight

seanbrooks — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:53:28 +0000

[caption id="attachment_1389" align="alignright" width="186" caption="Lubna Hussein"][/caption] Ms. Lubna Hussein courageously stood trial yesterday in Khartoum for violating Sudan’s indecency laws by wearing trousers in public. Bec Hamilton, who met Ms. Hussein on her trip to Sudan last month, reported the following from a conversation with her after the trial:

As was entirely predictable, today a Sudanese court tried to save face - saying it would not flog Lubna Hussein for wearing trousers (something it didn’t want to do given the global attention on her case) but trying to maintain that she was still “guilty” by fining her 500 Sudanese pounds. No doubt they hoped she would be happy to be spared a flogging, would pay the fine and that would be that. Alas, they don’t know Lubna. I just spoke to her by phone. She wants to refuse to pay the fine. This makes perfect sense since it is the law in its entirety, not just the aspect of its punishment, that she is challenging. Under Sudanese law failure to pay the fine will land Lubna in prison. But it seems she is willing to test if the government will really do this to a world-famous “trouser lady” . . . Stay tuned.

Later in the day, the BBC reported that Ms. Hussein had been jailed for refusing to pay the fine. Hamilton tried to reach her again, but wrote: “The phone number I spoke to her on earlier in the day seems to have been disconnected. Now is the time, more than ever before, to ensure the spotlight doesn’t fade.” Indeed, now that she has been arrested, it is important to return to Ms. Hussein’s bold words published last Friday in The Guardian:

My trial next week may put Sudanese justice in the spotlight for a moment. But I hope that people will not look away once my verdict is announced, because there are many greater challenges that await us. When North and South Sudan signed a peace agreement after 20 years of brutal civil war, both promised to respect international human rights, to overturn repressive laws and prevent the atrocities of the past being repeated. But the censorship, harassment and detention of journalists and human rights defenders continues. Next spring our country will face elections. Opposition parties will not be able to fight these elections unless the laws are changed to be compatible with our new constitution. The elections are one step towards a referendum in which our brothers and sisters from the South will decide whether they want to remain in a united Sudan or to create a country of their own. These are painful and difficult choices that will decide the future for generations to come. I feel anger and frustration that our government will not allow people to freely discuss our future. Sudan is a great country and one rich in diversity of faith, beliefs and ways of being. It has enough resources to provide for all its people. But it will never fulfill its great potential unless we are able to contribute to our future without pressure or fear. When I think of my trial, I pray that my daughters will never live in fear of these “police of security of society”. We will only be secure once the police protect us and these laws are repealed. I also pray that the next generation will see we had the courage to fight for their future before it was too late. We need Arab, African, American and European leaders to stand with us and help us make sure that the next chapter of our history is less bloody and brutal than the last. This will require conviction and boldness from their side. I hope they will display the qualities of those Sudanese men and women I most admire.

The Arab Program for Human Rights Activists (APHRA) immediately took up Ms. Hussein’s challenge to stand with the Sudanese people. It expressed its deep concern about her arrest as well as the detention of those who came out to show solidarity with her:

The Arab Program condemns the mass unjustified arrests done by the security forces this morning, which represents a violation to article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights…[which relates] to the prohibition of arbitrary arrest. Moreover, the Arab Program affirms that the trial of Lubna Hussien is a violation to Article 19 of the same Covenant related to the freedom of opinion and expression. The Arab Program for Human Rights Activists…demands the Sudanese government…respect its international obligations incumbent upon it under the ratification of the large amount of international covenants and conventions…[The Arab Program]…also demands the Sudanese government…halt the trial of Lubna Hussien as well as release[e]…all detainees who have been arrested today during the trial.

As she wrote, Ms. Hussein’s trial demonstrates “to the world” what the Sudanese government in Khartoum considers “justice to be.” This incident and the responses from Hamilton, APHRA and others also reveal one of the existential purposes of advocacy – to amplify the voices of those who are everyday courageously striving against a multitude of internal obstacles to improve the conditions and institutions in their own countries. After highlighting these concerns, we in the advocacy community must then demand that our governments and the international community put human rights and justice issues at the center of their relations with regimes like the one in Sudan.

Update on Lubna Hussein

seanbrooks — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:18:32 +0000

[caption id="attachment_1407" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Lubna Hussein"][/caption] After being sentenced to jail on Monday for refusing to pay her $200 fine for violating Sudan’s indecency laws by wearing trousers in public, Lubna Hussein has now been freed. Bec Hamilton in a piece at Foreign Policy explains that the head of the Sudanese Journalists’ Association (SJA) paid Lubna’s fine, but…

If anyone thinks this was an act of solidarity by one journalist toward another, think again. Independent journalists in Khartoum refer to the SJA in the same scathing tone as they do the “Gongos,” the governmental “nongovernmental organizations” that Khartoum runs to demonstrate to the West its robust civil society. Indeed, the links between the government and the SJA are too tight to claim anything approaching independent status. The truly independent association of journalists in Sudan is called the Sudanese Journalists’ Network — but you’ll be hard-pressed to hear anything about it because any statements it issues are censored from Sudanese papers.

So, for today it looks as though the government has won. In effect, it paid the fine to shut down both Lubna’s challenge to Article 152 and the unwelcome media attention that her act of civil disobedience spurred.

Meanwhile, more Sudanese and Arab human rights organizations have issued their condemnation of the Sudanese government for its handling of the entire ordeal. In its statement, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) focused on the arrest of 48 women protesting in Khartoum in support of Lubna’s case:

Police and security forces used excessive force during the arrest and eyewitnesses confirm that women were severely beaten and dragged into to a police pick-up. Three of the women were seriously injured… These three women were transferred to the hospital.

Among the women who were arrested are lawyers, journalists, women rights’ activists and members of opposition political parties, all members of a newly formed initiative known as No to Women’s Oppression. The objective of the initiative is to educate the public Sudan’s public orders laws and the ways in which they are oppressively targeting women. The initiative is calling for the complete annulment of the public order legislation.

The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) declared that Lubna’s case “was a trial of the Sudanese regime not of Lubna.”

This trial necessitates canceling the article #152 from the general discipline law which violates all international legislations and human rights accords and provides all means of oppressing and humiliating the Sudanese women.

ANHRI requests the Sudanese government to respect the right to demonstrate and not to stop demonstrations using violence.

A spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also issued a statement:

Lubna Hussein's case is emblematic of a wider pattern of discrimination and application of discriminatory laws against women. Ms Hussein was arrested along with 13 other women. The arrests of all, and not only Lubna Hussein, were arbitrary and left to the discretion of police officers.

What will happen now? Hamilton – currently on her way back to Sudan, this time with U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Scott Gration – argues that Lubna’s case “is now part of a larger campaign by a group of similarly brave Sudanese women, working for women's rights from inside a repressive system.” Indeed, this campaign will likely integrate itself within the greater work of Sudanese human rights activists who have been striving for years to protect those specifically and brutally targeted by the Sudanese government (such as those in Darfur). Many of these same groups have also worked hard – and usually without much international attention – to push for the rights to freedom from arbitrary arrest and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, as well as rights to free association and to due process of law. These rights are expressly protected in the Bill of Rights contained in Sudan’s Interim National Constitution. However, as the U.N. spokesperson stated, while the Sudanese government has already committed itself to these reforms in multiple agreements:

Under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, national laws, such as the Criminal Act, require a comprehensive review in order to bring them into line with the Interim Constitution and Sudan’s international human rights obligations. This review has yet to be completed.

So, with Lubna perhaps now a new courageous symbol of their cause, these Sudanese activists will continue their long, uphill climb against the regime in Khartoum to change the repressive system from within…

Pittsburgh Rallies for Darfur

nghent-rodriguez — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:38:01 +0000

The Pittsburgh Darfur activist community led by David Rosenberg gathered on the steps of city hall to again call for peace in Sudan and hold accountable perpetuators of injustice. City, county, state, and national leaders came with open arms to receive the over 15,000 postcard petitions signed by local concerned citizens pulled from a variety of places including schools, churches, synagogues, and coalition partners. Political leaders conveyed their shared sentiments about the ongoing crisis in Darfur and Southern Sudan. City Councilman William Peduto announced the City of Pittsburgh’s proclamation honoring the newly resettled Darfuris and “encouraged President Barack Obama to use his influence and that of the United States as head of the UN Security Council to work to finally achieve a solution to the problems of both Darfur and south Sudan.” More importantly taking the stage were Darfuri refugees from across the nation. In solidarity, Southern Sudanese joined Darfuris in their call for an end to the crisis and issued a joint statement asking world leaders to hold Bashir and the NCP accountable, which have inflicted countless acts of unspeakable horror against their friends and families. Due to the Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition's advocacy efforts local leaders decried the ongoing atrocities and added their voices to the coalition's call to action for world leaders convening for the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh next week. Today was a celebration of something not cited in fact sheets or published in research reports. Today was a community being just that – a community; the only commonality shared today was a unanimous call for peace. The movement found new allies in the city of Pittsburgh with the engagement of new activists pulled from the Pittsburgh government, the faith community, and local students just finding their own voices in change. by Natasha Ghent-Rodriguez and Will Fischer

Bearing Witness to the “Quotidian Cruelties”…and Seeking a Path Forward

Melissa Warnke — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:39:47 +0000

[caption id="attachment_1551" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Nicholas Kristof, Tamara Kreinin, Executive Director of Women and Population at the United Nations Foundation, Adrienne Germain, President of the International Women's Health Coalition, and Sheryl WuDunn."][/caption] Yesterday afternoon, I had the pleasure of attending a lunch co-hosted by the UN Foundation and the International Women’s Health Coalition. Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn were speaking on their new book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, which I blogged enthusiastically about several weeks ago. The audience was an interesting and impassioned group of women and men from different walks of life and diverse backgrounds; some were donors, some had decades of experience in NGOs devoted to women’s empowerment and others, like myself, were getting our feet wet, there to listen and learn. If you pay attention to the coverage of Darfur and Sudan, you may be wondering: what happened to it? If you’re a follower of the adage “no news is good news,” it would seem that the millions of women stuck in Internally-Displaced Persons (IDP) camps have begun to return home and rebuild their lives, or that they no longer suffer from eminent threat of rape and gender-based violence. This could not be further from the truth, and the risk of sexual violence may grow as international attention wanes. In Half the Sky, Kristof and WuDunn address this tendency to cover the “splash” rather than a more sustained kind of suffering:

When a prominent dissident was arrested in China, we would write a front-page article; when 100,000 girls were routinely kidnapped and trafficked into brothels, we didn’t even consider it news. Partly that is because we journalists tend to be good at covering events that happen on a particular day, but we slip at covering events that happen every day – such as the quotidian cruelties inflicted on women and girls. (xiv)

Due in large part to the shame and stigma attached to sexual assault, we do not have clear numbers regarding how many women and girls have been victims of gender-based violence in the IDP camps which litter the landscape of Sudan and even beyond its borders. But we do have thousands of stories. Kristof, who has visited Sudan at least ten times, is the most followed of the handful of American journalists who continue to cover the crisis in Darfur and, increasingly, Southern Sudan. Though little of Half the Sky discusses the situation in Sudan explicitly, much of the book is devoted to the overlap between national or regional conflict and women’s insecurity. Clearly, while our focus at Save Darfur is centered around the conflict in Sudan, the instability and pervasive campaigns of sexual violence in neighboring Chad and Congo have a tremendous effect on the area’s prospects for enduring peace. One of the highlights of Half the Sky, particularly for Darfur activists, is WuDunn and Kristof’s detailed attention to rape as a tool of genocide:

In short, rape becomes a tool of war in conservative societies precisely because female sexuality is so sacred…in Darfur, it gradually became clear that the Sudanese-sponsored Janjaweed militias were seeking out and gang-raping women of three African tribes, then cutting off their ears or otherwise mutilating them to mark them forever as rape victims. To prevent the outside world from knowing, the Sudanese government punished women who reported rapes or sought medical treatment. When one student, Hawa, was gang-raped and beaten by the Janjaweed outside Kalma camp, her friends carried her to a clinic run by Doctors of the World, an aid group. Two French nurses immediately began caring for her injuries, but several truckloads of police stormed the clinic, pushed aside the French nurses who tried valiantly to resist, and burst in on Hawa. They dragged her out of the clinic and carried her off to prison, where she was chained to a cot by an arm and a leg. The crime? Fornication, for by seeking treatment, she was acknowledging that she had engaged in sex before marriage, and she did not provide the mandatory four adult male Muslim eyewitnesses to prove that it was rape. Sudan also blocked aid groups from bringing into Darfur postexposure prophylaxis kits, which can greatly reduce the risk that a rape victim will be infected with HIV. (83)

For the estimated one in four women worldwide who experience rape in their lives, the assault itself can be beyond painful, emotionally and physically. The added insult of disbelief, harassment and imprisonment that is common in Sudan and IDP camps beyond is nearly too much to believe and certainly too much to stand for. Kristof and WuDunn both suggested during the discussion at lunch that, while NGOs had been talking to each other about these issues for some time, they wrote Half the Sky because they deeply wanted the issue of protecting and empowering women worldwide to reach beyond the choir. WuDunn emphasized that the tipping point cannot be reached until there is a broad coalition of ordinary people who are willing to fight against “sex trafficking and forced prostitution; gender-based violence, including honor killings and mass rape; and maternal mortality, which still needlessly claims one woman a minute” (xxi). Women in Sudan are vulnerable to each of these threats, due to a combination of widespread poverty and lack of education, an absence of justice and punishment, and strong delays in the development of the country owing to decades of war. Perhaps one of the things I respect most about Kristof and WuDunn is that they are practical journalists, with their heads in the sky and their feet on the ground. Studying political theory in university, the take-home point of most of the books I read could be summarized as follows: “There are so many deeply-entrenched, horrible and complex problems in the world, as I have done the easy work of outlining in the past 700 pages. Hopefully someday these things will change.” What? I was pleased that Kristof and WuDunn resisted such an urge to dip out at the end of their discussion, instead devoting the last twenty pages of their book to what you, as an individual engaged in a broader social movement, can do – as well as a section on organizations that do great women-centered work and “Four Steps You Can Take in the Next Ten Minutes.” At Save Darfur, we use our voices to advocate for better policies, legislation and plans for peace on the ground in Sudan, many of which support women and emphasize that women’s security is an integral part of any salient solution. Our partners at Jewish World Watch have established solar-cooker programs, which help women to cook without firewood (many are raped when searching for firewood to cook with outside the camps). We have friends who sell baskets from Darfur, which provide employment, income and power to women on the ground. The UN Foundation Women & Population Program invests in adolescent girls in ways that have lifelong effects. Now is the time to act, and the opportunities for innovation and advocacy are endless. I recommend Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide to all who are concerned about violence against women and believe that a respect for women’s rights and equality can lead to lower levels of conflict throughout the world. When Save Darfur participates in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence Campaign (which I blogged briefly about earlier), we will post a list of 16 Ways to Fight For the World’s Women on our revamped Violence Against Women website. In the meantime, stay tuned….and pick up a copy of this book.

Marking the 15th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act

Melissa Warnke — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:03:10 +0000

Today, President Obama issued a press release marking the 15th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, writing that

This bipartisan accomplishment has ushered in a new era of responsibility in the fight to end violence against women. In the 15 years since VAWA became law, our Nation's response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking has strengthened. Communities recognize the special needs of victims and appreciate the benefits of collaboration among professionals in the civil and criminal justice system, victim advocates, and other service providers. With the support of VAWA funds, dedicated units of law enforcement officers and specialized prosecutors have grown more numerous than ever before. Most importantly, victims are more likely to have a place to turn for help -- for emergency shelter and crisis services, and also for legal assistance, transitional housing, and services for their children.

This legislation was a landmark achievement in 1994 and remains significant today. This afternoon, Speaker Pelosi suggested that the "Violence Against Women Act is an example of the power of a bipartisan group of legislators determined to make progress. Today we recommit to the goal of ending the scourge of violence against women once and all." While this legislation is domestic in effect, the need for a commitment to ending such a scourge is both global and immediate, particularly in instable and crisis-ridden areas like Darfur and Southern Sudan.

Troubling Violence and Looming Threats

seanbrooks — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:17:07 +0000

Five news items in the last week and today highlight the precarious security condition for Sudanese living in Darfur and South Sudan. In the first, Frank Nyakairu at Reuters explores whether the resurgent Lord's Resistance Army is now receiving financial or military support from elements in Khartoum. Last week, the UN Deputy Special Representative and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Ms. Ameerah Haq, expressed grave concern about the increasing number of deaths due to the escalating attacks by rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) against civilians - mostly women and children - in Southern Sudan's Western and Central Equatoria States. Suspicions abound that an old relationship has now been reborn. A Ugandan intelligence official, for instance, notes: "They are estimated to be about 2,500 (strong) and operating in two languages, Acholi and Arabic." The use of Arabic points to possible renewed cooperation between the LRA and Sudanese intelligence (however, since the LRA recruits Sudanese – usually by abduction – this could also be a less troubling explanation). With all this in mind, there is still no smoking gun and therefore an International Crisis Group expert concludes:

"We have heard the LRA appears to be better armed than it has been in the recent past...but we have no evidence to substantiate those allegations that Sudan is supporting the LRA."

Another article this week explores the root causes for recent tribal violence in South Sudan. This year has been the bloodiest since the end of the civil war. More than 1,200 people have been killed "in a wave of violence that has targeted villagers as often as cattle herders and women and children as often as men." Skye Wheeler at Reuters investigates the causes for the violent clashes, pointing out that many southerners see scary resemblances to the inter-ethnic violence of the early 1990s that was often encouraged and instigated by Khartoum. He writes:

Senior officials from the south's dominant Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) have openly accused northern politicians of once again arming tribes and militias to destabilise the south ahead of the referendum. Khartoum denies the accusations.

Again, these claims still remain only suspicious rumors as there is yet no hard evidence to connect Khartoum to the recent wave of violence. The situation certainly though cries out for greater vigilance and further investigation. Similarly, the drivers of continuing conflict and even the existence of continuing conflict in Darfur have been hotly debated over the last month. As I wrote in an early posting, with or without active war, Darfur remains a dangerous and unpredictable place. And recent figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirm this . In 2009 alone:

Seven national humanitarian staff and three UNAMID staff have been killed.

12 humanitarian staff and 10 UNAMID staff have been wounded or injured.

11 humanitarians (seven international) have been kidnapped.

26 humanitarians and three UNAMID staff have been physically or sexually assaulted and 10 UNAMID staff have been wounded or injured.

11 humanitarians (seven international) have been kidnapped.

26 humanitarians and three UNAMID staff have been physically or sexually assaulted.

18 humanitarians and 11 UNAMID staff have been abducted during carjackings.

44 humanitarians and 12 UNAMID staff have been arrested or temporarily detained by the Government of Sudan.

64 humanitarian vehicles and 31 UNAMID vehicles have been hijacked or stolen.

There have been 103 assaults or break-ins on humanitarian agency premises, and 22 on UNAMID premises.

Given these statistics, it comes as no surprise that UNAMID announced this morning that it will increase patrols. And finally this morning we are receiving fresh reports about a Darfuri rebel splinter group attacking three Sudanese policemen which then resulted in Sudanese police and army activity around and inside three IDP camps. As we continue to state, a peace process in Darfur and the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement are the only routes to long-term peace and security for conflict-weary Sudanese. At the same time though, these stories and reports reveal that all of these negotiations are taking place in an environment of troubling violence and looming threats. Since feelings of insecurity usually preclude comprise, the international community must ensure that investigating attacks and providing protection to civilians remains a constant priority.

Pledge2Protect Conference, November 6-9

cwagner — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:27:06 +0000

Registration Is Now Open! Join us in Washington, D.C. November 6-9th for Pledge2Protect, the first-ever movement-wide activist conference! Click here to learn more and register. That weekend over one-thousand students and adults from across the country will come together to build relationships, learn about conflict areas worldwide, and develop advocacy skills. After two days of training, we’ll take our position to Capitol Hill and lobby our elected officials. Pledge2Protect is presented in partnership by the Genocide Intervention Network, the Save Darfur Coalition, and the Enough Project. Register now so you don’t miss out on:

Workshops and discussions on genocide prevention, activism, Sudan, Burma and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Workshops and discussions on genocide prevention, activism, Sudan, Burma and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Training sessions on grassroots organizing, media outreach, social media techniques, advocacy, and other skills
Panel discussions featuring experts and policy makers
Networking events where participants can share best practices and exchange ideas
And more!

This time a natural disaster

seanbrooks — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:41:49 +0000

We at Save Darfur are concerned about the current suffering of thousands of Sudanese in Khartoum and others states in north Sudan due to recent flooding. The Red Cross just released this statement:

More than 50,000 people whose livelihoods were shattered by floods that have swept across six states in Sudan need urgent assistance now, says the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Socieites (IFRC) as it launches an emergency appeal seeking...$1,893,000.

Entire communities in Khartoum were left without shelter when 20,000 homes from informal settlements were unable to hold out to the force of rushing waters after it rained incessantly for six hours on the 26th of August.

The heavy showers that have pounded the region for the last three weeks have also left a death toll of 20 people and injured 30 others due to collapsed buildings, electric shocks and drowning...

"The risk of an outbreak of water borne diseases emanating from pools of stagnant water and collapsed latrines is imminent for thousands of people living in the capital if more aid is not forthcoming," says Dr. Dietrich Ficher, head of IFRC's delegation in Khartoum. Continued rainfall has been predicted in Khartoum and other parts of the Sudan indicating that the emergency is far from over.

We should keep these Sudanese - victims of a natural disaster - in our thoughts and prayers.

Is the war in Darfur over?

Niemat — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:26:12 +0000

We should ask the people of Darfur whether its over or not? Darfuris are still not safe – whether in the major cities, the internally displace camps or even in the capital, Khartoum. The government of Sudan is changing its tactics as recently seen in the abductions of IDP camps leaders and the arbitrary arrests of many human rights activists. This new tactic by the Sudanese government attempts to terrorize and silence the voices that speak the truth and defend the vulnerable. Our people are currently oppressed as they suffer in silence while the world watches. On August 27th a young Darfuri human rights and peace activist, Abdelmageed Salih, was abducted with a colleague. For several days no one was aware of their whereabouts until his colleague was released. Abdelmageed is well-known among Darfuri civil society leaders. He worked on providing emergency humanitarian relief in West Darfur state, following the expulsion of 13 international NGOs in March 2009, n. Despite the frustration, he didn’t gave up helping his own people. He went to Khartoum where he used his experience to help his peers, Darfuri youth, to be messengers for peace. For that purpose, he co-founded the Darfur Democratic Forum and Darfur Youth Organization to advocate for peace and build the capacity for Darfuri students in Khartoum in their struggle to continue their education, with hopes that one day peace will come and they could be active participants in the rebuilding and reconstructing of their communities. Today is the 20th day since Abdelmageed’s abduction and no one knows about his whereabouts. The dream of peace is dying in its bed. His family is extremely worried about him; their fear is that he may be subjected to torture or even killed. We are all worried about his safety. Many of our people have disappeared until today and no one knows where they are and what has happened to them. The world should not stay silent while the indicted president is still active and capable of imposing all kinds of suffering and hardship on his victims – the Darfuri people. We should speak loudly and call for the urgent attention of the international community. The suffering of Darfuris continues and our country remains a dangerous place for many of us. I appeal to all human rights organizations and to those who believe in humanity and justice to use their voice in support of Abdelmageed’s release, and to call for protection of all Darfuris who are held hostage to the genocidal criminal in Khartoum who continues to rule their fates.

Colonel Qaddafi and Sudan: What he won’t say at UNGA

seanbrooks — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:32:18 +0000

[caption id="attachment_1467" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Muammar Qaddafi"][/caption] Colonel Muammar Qaddafi will trek to New York City this week to participate in the opening of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) – his first appearance at UNGA in his forty year rule of Libya. Columnists have been speculating for weeks, especially after the return of the Lockerbie bomber, on what the ever-enigmatic Qaddafi will say during his address and whose hands he will (be allowed to) shake. Despite causing a controversy almost every time he speaks about African or Middle East politics, his about-face in 2003 on weapons of mass destruction restored his good graces in Washington and the allure of Libyan oil contracts assures his amenability to most European leaders. Libya’s involvement in Sudanese affairs, and the Darfur crisis particularly, rarely make much news in the American press. There is a possibility of course that Qaddafi will say something truly outrageous about Sudan during his UN address that will make headlines. Speaking on the same day as President Obama and Iranian President Ahmadinejad, the threshold though for significant news coverage will be high. Then again, claiming as he did last month that Israel is behind all of Africa’s conflicts – including Darfur – may grab him some serious ink. While many see such a ludicrous statement as Qaddafi just being his regular abhorrent anti-Semite self, other previous comments by the Libyan leader on Darfur begin to reveal a much more sinister role for the Libyan leader. Two years ago, for instance, speaking at the opening of a short-lived round of negotiations in Tripoli between the Sudanese government and the Darfuri rebels, Qaddafi said:

"You might laugh if I say that the main reason of this issue [Darfur] is a camel…Africa has thousands of issues – they are about water, about grass – and Africa is divided into 50 countries, and the tribes are divided amongst so many countries, although they belong to each other. The problem we are having now is that we politicize such problems between tribes."

His seemingly innocent remarks actually affirm President Omar al-Bashir’s standard excuse that the Darfur crisis is merely a tribal conflict that escalated because of foreign intervention. Perhaps we should expect this message-consistency from two authoritarian leaders (and neighbors) who collectively have tightly held their grips on power for sixty years as of this summer. But there is more that Qaddafi hides from these remarks and his other comments on Darfur and the politics of Sudan. To start, Qaddafi serves as an originator of the guns and ideology of the janjaweed. As Alex de Waal has written:

In the 1980s, Colonel Qaddafi dreamed of an ‘Arab belt’ across Sahelian Africa. The keystone was to gain control of Chad, starting with the Aouzou strip in the north of the country. He mounted a succession of military adventures in Chad, and from 1987 to 1989, Chadian factions backed by Libya used Darfur as a rear base, provisioning themselves freely from the crops and cattle of local villagers….Many of the guns in Darfur came from those factions. Qaddafi’s formula for war was expansive: he collected discontented Sahelian Arabs and Tuaregs, armed them, and formed them into an Islamic Legion that served as the spearhead of his offensives. Among the legionnaires were Arabs from western Sudan, many of them followers of the Mahdist Ansar sect, who had been forced into exile in 1970 by President Nimeiri. The Libyans were defeated by a nimble Chadian force at Ouadi Doum in 1988, and Qaddafi abandoned his irredentist dreams. He began dismantling the Islamic Legion, but its members, armed, trained and – most significant of all – possessed of a virulent Arab supremacism, did not vanish. The legacy of the Islamic Legion lives on in Darfur: Janjawiid leaders are among those said to have been trained in Libya.

…In 1987, returnees from Libya took the lead in forming a political bloc known as the Arab Alliance. At one level, the Alliance was simply a political coalition that aimed to protect the interests of a disadvantaged group in western Sudan, but it also became a vehicle for a new racist ideology. The politically insignificant racist epithets of earlier times began to take on an alarming tinge in Darfur. The Alliance also latched onto the dominant ideology of the Sudanese state, the very different Arabism of Nile Valley. The war in Darfur at the end of the 1980s was more than a conflict over land: it was the first step in constructing a new Arab ideology in Sudan.

While Qaddafi introduced weaponry and ideology to Darfur in the 1980s, President Bashir and his National Congress Party were the ones to seize upon these assets and set Darfur ablaze in 2003. One might, given his history in Darfur, expect that Qaddafi subsequently supported the genocidal counterinsurgency coordinated by Khartoum. But the motives and objectives behind Libya’s policies towards Sudan since 2003 have been much more difficult to interpret and understand. On the face of it, Qaddafi has presented himself as a peacemaker. As the International Crisis Group writes, “While consistently opposing an international force in Darfur, it has hosted at times Darfur rebel and tribal leaders as well as government delegations.” Rumors also abound that Qaddafi has provided Darfuri rebels with critical supplies of arms and financing. Another ICG report concludes:

Libya has played a highly significant, albeit inconsistent, role in Darfur since the conflict began, culminating in its function as host of the peace talks. At various times it has shown a significant ability to influence all rebel groups and push them toward participation in a broader political process. Simultaneously it has given the NCP diplomatic cover to resist international pressure and efforts to strengthen the peacekeeping operation. As elsewhere in Africa, Libyan actions have been motivated in part by Qaddafi’s desire to be a powerful regional player and mediator but the proximity of the conflicts in Chad and Darfur and their domestic impact have triggered a more sustained effort than elsewhere.

And with the reunification of six Darfuri rebel groups in Tripoloi last month, Qaddafi is once again deeply involved in the currently stalled peace process. For these efforts, U.S. Special Envoy Scott Gration even publicly praised Libya’s contributions to the peace process recently. Given this history, if Qaddafi does mention Darfur or Sudan in his address to UNGA, be sure to consider the historical context. The U.S. has no choice but to engage Libyan officials as it pushes for the resumption of peace talks in Doha. As a neighbor to Sudan and with significant clout over certain rebel leaders, Libya will be involved one way or another. At the same time, the international community should not count on the mercurial Qaddafi to support unwaveringly a push for peace. The AU/UN Chief mediator Djibril Bassolé, supported by the U.S. and other key countries, should claim this responsibility. And if Qaddafi – with his trademark, megalomaniacal righteousness – does choose again to place all the blame for Darfur on external forces, someone should ask him:

The answer, of course, to these stories for another day is the one and only Colonel Qaddafi.

A New Year: Is there hope for the Darfuri people, for us?

lbycel — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:03:44 +0000

No one says it…but the uneasy feeling was palpable. I could see the questions in their eyes: Why are you going to spend Rosh Hashanah in Darfuri refugee camps in Eastern Chad? Why would a rabbi welcome the Jewish New Year in a place where there are no Jews? Do you really think going will make a difference? I understand these questions. I only regret that they are rarely asked aloud. I have had lots of time to reflect on these questions on this three day journey to a place that is far more distant from San Francisco than the days of travel to get here. I am here in Eastern Chad, this epicenter of human suffering. I am here with fellow human beings, reminding them that we do care and we have not forgotten. I am here listening to their stories and letting them know that I will bring their stories home. I am here because our worlds are inextricably linked. I first visited here in 2004 and since then I have returned several times. The Chadian people are some of the poorest people on the planet. Here, 275,000 Darfuri refugees have found a fragile safe haven in UN tents. These shelters provide minimal protection from the harsh conditions of sub-Saharan Africa and not much more from the storms of conflict. The plight of the Darfuri people – the nearly three million displaced from their homes and the four hundred thousand dead – has been well documented. Our advocacy and diplomacy has had some impact on decelerating this genocide, now in its seventh year. Our humanitarian aid has saved lives. Still, the situation on the ground remains dismal. Rosh Hashanah is a holiday that celebrates renewal and creation. It implores us to care for each other and to care for this planet. It reminds us that as long as there is life there is hope. What better place to welcome in the New Year than with the victims of man’s brutality to man. Although we have yet to turn our powerful prayers into a world that is just and humane, I have hope—and hope is all these refugees have. It is their lifeblood. As I sit here with new friends and refugees whom I have known for years, I marvel at their ability to survive. The soul of a refugee camp resides in the courageous people who dwell within it. The silent screams that echo through the camp are those of a people who are asking if the world still cares. My presence, it could be any of us, conveys that we do care and we are doing our best to restore their lives. These refugees are the victims of horrific events: genocide, climate change, lack of resources and a world that is confused about its humanitarian priorities. It is no longer possible to separate these problems; real solutions will only come when we think and act in integrated ways. Ways which allow people to live with inalienable rights – to food, shelter, potable water and the absence of violence in their day to day lives. There is currently much discussion about the role of the US and what international pressure should be applied to change the situation. This work is essential and provides hope for long term solutions. Immediate humanitarian needs, however, cannot be overlooked. My friend Adam cannot wait another year for drinkable water; his daughters cannot wait another day for a life without the constant threat of rape; the elderly and the infants cannot survive another winter without shelter from the torrential desert rain. Where will the aid come from unless we help to provide it? Is my trip making a difference? I see a difference in the smiles of the children. I feel it when I hold a refugees hand. I witness it when I visit the aid clinics. Perhaps the difference isn’t quantifiable, but it is profoundly apparent to me. Soon I will be returning home renewed and filled with hope for the New Year, thanks to the brave spirit of the Darfuri people. Experiencing the horrific conditions of their day to day lives brings an indescribable perspective to my own challenges and reminds me that my life will never be full until their suffering is over. Our humanity is defined by our actions—our ability to show compassion, to empathize with others, and to do something constructive—and opportunities to help others are present each and every day. For us, remembering the Darfuri people is a measure of our conscience and humanity. For them, it is their hope for survival. That is why I have returned to Chad. Lee Bycel is Executive Director of the Redford Center which is based in Berkeley. The Redford Center inspires positive social and environmental change through the arts, education and civil discourse. For suggestions on actions you can take regarding Darfur please go to the website of the Save Darfur Coalition.

A letter to President Obama from the Darfuri refugees

lbycel — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:00:05 +0000

As a rabbi I sit here welcoming in the new year with Darfuri refugees, people of great courage, strength and determination. I am here to celebrate the opportunity of a new year, with people who need not just our prayers but also our actions. I have spent the day at the Mille camp, home to 17,000 Darfuri refugees. I first came here in 2004, soon after their arrival. A few remember my visit. They all remember your visit to Mille, also in 2004. Several people showed me their picture with you and told me how happy they are that you are now president. Mr. President, the years since your visit have taken a great toll on the people. Some of the 13 year old girls you met are now mothers. Many of the boys are now soldiers. Many refugees have died and many new ones have arrived. The UN tents which are now severely torn and ravaged reflect the lives of the refugees. Fifty babies a month are born in the Mille camp. Six hundred a year; about three thousand since your visit. Children like Sulaman, Hassan, Sumayah and Kadidya. They have wonderful smiles and beautiful eyes. Like our children, they want security, food, water and shelter. Thanks to the US, other countries and the humanitarian community; they have the minimal amount of each in order to survive. For them, for their parents, their daily prayer is to return to Darfur. They are innocent, good people, as you have said "victims of genocide." Enough is not being done. They are waiting...waiting very patiently for their nightmare to end. I have synthesized their message for you. Remember us. Remember your time here at Mille. Remember our situation. Remember our faces. We want to go home to Darfur and live in peace. We want to rebuild our lives. Please, please Mr. President do everything in your power to help us. Too many years have gone by. We need you. We do not know what to do but have great confidence in you. Our prayers are with you and your family. Thank you, The Darfuri refugees in Mille, as communicated to Rabbi Lee Bycel on September 18, 2009.

DARFUR/DARFUR comes to New York City - tonight!

Melissa Warnke — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:14:20 +0000

This evening, Tuesday, September 22, the Save Darfur Coalition will present DARFUR/DARFUR, a traveling exhibit of digitally-projected changing images that provide visual education about the richly multi-cultural region while exposing the horrors of the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The images will be projected at large-scale in Grace Plaza in New York City, timed to coincide with the UN General Assembly, and preceded by a brief program. Speakers include U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Major General Scott Gration, Save Darfur Coalition president Jerry Fowler, Darfur/Darfur curator Leslie Thomas and photo journalist Ron Haviv. Please join us and spread the word! It will be at 1133 Avenue of the Americas (6^th Ave) and 43^rd Street, with remarks beginning at 7 pm and projections at 7:30. RSVP here: http://www.savedarfur.org/page/event/detail/other/4vxh3.

Darfur/Darfur Tonight In NYC

Allen Combs — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:44:42 +0000

If you're in the New York City area tonight please come by Grace Plaza (W 43rd St & 6th Ave) at 7 p.m. for a special screening of the Darfur/Darfur photo exhibit. The images will be projected at large-scale on the Grace Building and preceded by a brief program. U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Major General Scott Gration, Save Darfur Coalition president Jerry Fowler, Darfur/Darfur curator Leslie Thomas and photo journalist Ron Haviv will all be in attendance. Right now, Save Darfur street teams are fanned out across midtown Manhattan promoting the exhibit and talking with people about the situation in Sudan. If you want to help out you can come by the Starbucks on Park Avenue near 42nd Street.

Darfur/Darfur at the 2009 U.N. General Assembly Session

Allen Combs — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:25:24 +0000

We wrapped up the presentation of Darfur/Darfur a little after 10:00 p.m., but if you were not able to attend tonight you'll have a second opportunity to see the exhibit tomorrow. Save Darfur is doing an encore showing tomorrow night starting at 7 p.m. in Grace Plaza (W 43rd St & 6th Ave). We'll have a full write-up of the event tomorrow, but we wanted to make sure we got a few shots up ASAP:

President Obama Addresses The United Nations General Assembly

Allen Combs — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:02:18 +0000

Yesterday, President Barack Obama made his first address to the United Nations General Assembly declaring a new era of American engagement. He called on all nations to work together to solve the world's problems and spoke specifically about the need to pursue peace in Sudan.

Our efforts to promote peace, however, cannot be limited to defeating violent extremists for the most powerful weapon in our arsenal is the hope of human beings, the belief that the future belongs to those who would build and not destroy, the confidence that conflicts can end and a new day can begin.

And that is why we will support -- we will strengthen our support for effective peacekeeping while energizing our efforts to prevent conflicts before they take hold. We will pursue a lasting peace in Sudan through support for the people of Darfur and the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement so that we secure the peace that the Sudanese people deserve.

Save Darfur Coalition president Jerry Fowler said he was encouraged by President Obama's words, but that concrete actions were necessary to end the crisis in Sudan:

Save Darfur is pleased that President Obama used his UN speech to reiterate his determination to pursue a lasting peace in Sudan. But, now he must turn these words into action by building an international coalition to apply incentives and pressures to push Khartoum to end the conflict in Darfur and fully implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The President should use the opportunity presented by the G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh to encourage the world’s richest countries to leverage their economic influence to ensure that Khartoum’s debt is not forgiven until it makes concrete and lasting progress toward ending insecurity and instability in Darfur and throughout Sudan. The Save Darfur Coalition looks forward to the release of the administration’s long-overdue Sudan policy review, which we hope will outline the administration’s specific plan for achieving lasting peace in Sudan.

Secretary Clinton Speaks on Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict During UNGA

Melissa Warnke — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:22:18 +0000

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave the following remarks at the Female Heads of State and Foreign Ministers Luncheon this afternoon:

...Next week at the Security Council, we’re going to be taking steps to improve the United Nations’ response to sexual violence committed during armed conflict. I will be speaking next Wednesday on behalf of a U.S.-sponsored resolution to better implement the commitment that we should have to the role that women and girls should play in their lives, in their communities, and their countries, and in particular, to appoint a special representative of the Secretary General to lead, coordinate, and advocate for efforts to end sexual violence in armed conflict. I think we have to elevate that no matter what country we’re from. Those of us who have traveled, as I think all of us here have done, have seen the consequences, and some of you have lived the consequences and your families have suffered the consequences as well. So we intend to make this a centerpiece of my term as Secretary of State. There are people who say, well, women’s issues is an important issue, but it doesn’t rank up there with the Middle East or Iran’s nuclear threat or Afghanistan and Pakistan. I could not disagree more. I think women are key to our being able to resolve all of those difficult conflicts, as well as provide for a better future.

This resolution and appointment have real potential to both increase education about the pervasive role of sexual violence in armed conflict, and to provide much needed support and services to women living in conflict zones like Darfur and South Sudan. Secretary Clinton's leadership in working to ending the scourge of sexual violence in armed conflict and increase opportunities for women and girls is, and has been throughout the course of her tenure, extraordinarily impressive. Her strong rhetoric on this issue has been matched by decisive action, both on a legislative and diplomatic level. I look forward to following this resolution as it comes before the Security Council.

Save Darfur Coalition at the G-20 Summit

Allen Combs — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:42:40 +0000

Pittsburgh and the G20: Sudan

David Rosenberg — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:13:47 +0000

Mohamed Mohamed Yahya, one of eight refugees from Darfur recently settled in Pittsburgh by Catholic Charities, came to my house with several other volunteers to construct the Darfur Destroyed villages exhibit. The exhibit includes signs of over 610 destroyed villages and is a project of the Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition (PDEC). Each sign has the name of a village in Darfur that was destroyed, mostly by the government of Sudan and janjaweed, between 2004-2009. The U.S. State Department now has documented 3,300 destroyed or damaged villages. As Mr. Yahya worked away putting the village signs on the lawn sign holders, he stopped from time to time to tell us something about the destroyed villages he recognized. "This one means 'village where you can get almost anything you want.'" Mohamed said. "This one is a girl's name." "This one," he explained "means 'God.'" He knew the villages because he and his father had traveled all over Darfur to buy camels and cattle ... He was thirty years old in 1999 when he fled Darfur and went to Iraq. A month after he left home, janjaweed killed his father. His mother and ten brothers and sisters are alive, he said, all in an IDP camp in north Darfur. They are one handful of the 2.7 million IDPs and refugees from Darfur's destroyed villages. It is clear that the arrival of a group of Darfuris to settle in Pittsburgh, the first group we have had here, will continue to present opportunities for our Coalition to deepen our understanding of the Darfur genocide and will put faces and voices to what for many of our fellow citizens remains a remote and almost abstract crisis.
To bring the Darfur issue to the attention of world leaders, we brought to the fore a series of advocacy events during the days before and during the G20. The first came on September 8 when our friends and allies on the Pittsburgh City Council offered a proclamation to the newly settled Darfuri refugees, and passed a resolution in support of our demand that the G-20 countries defer debt relief to the government of Sudan. Mohamed Mohamed Yahya was among those present to receive the City Council's official welcome as were Ismail Omar Ismail, Mohamed Ismail, Abdallah Suleiman, Tayb Hamdan, Siddig Nour Ahmed, Alli Abbo, Abdul Mohammed, Mesetwet Gebra Gzabhar from Eritrea, and James Lomilo from South Sudan. This in itself was moving and powerful. Also moving was the participation of the South Sudanese community in the advocacy work of PDEC and Save Darfur, and the great hospitality they showed to their Darfuri brothers and sisters. The South Sudanese community in Pittsburgh led by Benedict Killang, Isaac Leju-Loding and Kothar Albe, helped prepare food for the break fast (iftar) on the evening of Sunday, September 13, and hosted Darfuri visitors from the Darfur Alert Coalition in Philaldelpha who had generously traveled six hours across state to be with us for these activities. Our next big event was on Monday, September 14. It was a "Pre G-20 Press Conference and Solemn Walk for Darfur and South Sudan." On the steps of the City County Building, we handed over 15,635 postcards to representatives of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation. These cards had been collected during the past year by activists from Western Pennsylvania and Ohio as part of the most recent campaign of the Save Darfur Coalition. A joint statement on the G-20 was issued by national Darfuri and South Sudanese diaspora leaders. They requested that the G-20 countries not grant Sudan debt relief until they behaved properly toward their citizens in South Sudan and Darfur. We also had a news making announcement: we received a permit from the city of Pittsburgh to construct a display of the destroyed village signs on Flagstaff Hill during the G-20. This was a major advocacy coup, as permitting of protests activities was generally snarled in red tape, and the site we were allocated was as prominent a location as one could hope for. It was just opposite the Phipps Conservatory where the G-20 delegates held a reception and a working dinner on Thursday, September 24. Following the Press Conference, we marched silently, to the beat of drums through the downtown streets of Pittsburgh at lunch time. In the march we carried some of the destroyed village signs. Eight days later, we took all 610 destroyed village signs to Flagstaff Hill, where we the only group to secure a permit for a 10,000 square foot area to display the destroyed villages. Before, during and after the installation, the display attracted tremendous media interest, and caused cars to stop, and passersby to approach. Associated Press photos went worldwide. Access to the area was restricted on the afternoon of Thursday September 24 when President Obama and other world leaders arrived at the Phipps, but we know for a fact that the delegates' motorcades passed right by and within clear view of the display! Darfur was seen and heard at the G20 by the Pittsburgh community, let's hope that the world's leaders heard us too. David Rosenberg is Coordinator of the Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition.

Gold Stars, Smiley Faces and Engagement with Sudan

Allen Combs — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:08:04 +0000

Yesterday, the Washington Post profiled U.S. Special Envoy Scott Gration and his attempts to engage the Government of Sudan. The article, "Obama Administration Engages Sudanese Regime It Blasted" by Stephanie McCrummen (who accompanied Gration on his most recent trip to the region), outlines critiques of the Special Envoy's approach:

Although Gration describes the approach as pragmatic and driven by a sense of urgency, his critics here and in the United States say it is dangerously, perhaps willfully, naive. During a recent five-day trip to Sudan, Gration heard from southern officials, displaced Darfurians, rebels and others who complained uniformly that he is being manipulated by government officials who talk peace even as they undermine it. Still, at the end of the visit, Gration maintained a strikingly different perspective. He had seen signs of goodwill from the government of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, he said, and viewed many of the complaints as understandable yet knee-jerk reactions to a government he trusts is ready to change. "We've got to think about giving out cookies," said Gration, who was appointed in March. "Kids, countries -- they react to gold stars, smiley faces, handshakes, agreements, talk, engagement."

As you might imagine, reaction to Gration's comments have been less than positive. The Save Darfur Coalition, Enough Project and Genocide Intervention Network released a joint statement expressing concern the Administration's strategy for promoting peace in Sudan:

The quotes from Special Envoy Gration are deeply troubling. The time is well past for the President, Vice President and Secretary of State to exert much-needed leadership over U.S. diplomatic efforts with Sudan or face the prospect that Sudan will descend into much broader violence. ... Jerry Fowler of the Save Darfur Coalition added, “It’s jarring to hear talk of ‘gold stars’ and ‘smiley faces’ for a regime headed by an indicted war criminal. We have always insisted that the best way to deal with Khartoum is a sensible balance of pressures and incentives. The pressures part of that calculation seems to be missing in General Gration’s comments. The Sudanese government is primarily responsible for creating the political instability in Sudan and bears the brunt of the responsibility for ending it. And blaming the victims for not being more open minded towards their oppressors defies logic."

We can only hope that as Administration's national security team meets to discuss the its long overdue Sudan Policy Review the discussion is about a balanced set of incentives and disincentives (or "smiley faces" and "frowney faces"?). We'll have more on this after the principles meeting later today. Update: Bec Hamilton and ABC's Jake Tapper have the White House's response to yesterday's article.

Maria Bello Honored For Her Advocacy

Allen Combs — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:00:15 +0000

Actress Maria Bellow was honored for her work with the Save Darfur Coalition at yesterday's Power of Women Lifetime Impact luncheon. Bello has been a tireless advocate on behalf of the people of Darfur and a leader in the fight against gender-based violence. As she told Variety:

"In 2003, when the genocide started happening, I thought it was my duty and my right and my privilege as a human being, as a woman living in a democracy, and as a public figure to speak out and use my voice to talk about the injustice," Bello says. She adds that while the Obama administration "has done so much to further the cause of the Darfuri people," there is still work to be done. "And women are the key," Bello adds.

Check out some photos from yesterday's event:

Ambassador Rice to appear on Meet the Press

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:53:06 +0000

[caption id="attachment_926" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Ambassador Susan Rice"][/caption] This Sunday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice is doing an interview on Meet the Press. This is a great opportunity to ask one of the President's top advisers about important issues relating to Sudan. You can suggest questions for Ambassador Rice by emailing MTP or via twitter to @meetthepress or to host @davidgregory. It is best if the questions are in your own words, but feel free to use or adapt these suggested questions: 1) Dr. Rice, this week the Washington Post published two articles that were of grave concern to the Darfur advocacy community. The first article implied that the President’s Special Envoy favors normalization talks with the Government of Sudan and is not recognizing Khartoum’s past bad behavior. How do you explain Special Envoy Gration’s remarks? What is the administration’s policy on Sudan? 2) The second article indicated that former Reagan administration staffer Bud McFarlane may be working to lobby government officials on behalf of the Sudanese government. The White House acknowledged that both General Jones and Special Envoy Gration had spoken to Mr. McFarlane about Sudan. Can you tell us what kind of relationship the administration has with Mr. McFarlane and whether it is now reevaluating that relationship in light of the revelation that he may be receiving funds from the Sudanese government?

Students Deliever Gold Stars To Sudan

wcfischer — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:21:27 +0000

Not wanting to take any time away from the busy schedule of Special Envoy Major General Scott Gration, members of STAND, the student-led division of Genocide Intervention Network, heeded his call for ending genocide by presenting the Sudanese Embassy with a giant smiley face and gold star yesterday afternoon. According to General Gration, the best way to get the Bashir Regime to end genocide, not use rape as a weapon, and not force millions of people to live in overflowing camps, is to present them with kindergarten-like rewards. Mickey Jackson, National High School Outreach Coordinator for STAND and freshman at American University, had this say about the event:

I have to admit that until this week, I never dreamed that anything could possess me to trudge through the rain with a bunch of other DC-area students and lay a hastily-made cardboard-and-paper gold star against the door of the Sudanese embassy. But then again, I never dreamed that Scott Gration, the Obama Administration's special envoy to Sudan, would tell the Washington Post that we should try to end a genocide by "giving out cookies...gold stars, [and] smiley faces" to an indicted war criminal.

Daniel Teweles, STAND’s National Student Coordinator, said STAND felt impelled to highlight General Gration’s comments because he is reportedly leading the White House’s approach to Sudan. Teweles said:

Stunts aren’t going to stop the genocide, and Gration’s ‘gold stars’ approach won’t either. We want the president himself to step in here and make sure his administration’s approach is up to snuff.

Check out the Save Darfur Coalition's checklist for the Sudan policy review laying out a balanced list of approaches for Sudan.

Sudan Special Envoy Scott Gration: Naive or Not?

David Goodman — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:35:32 +0000

Cross posted from RACBlog Frustration is mounting as atrocities continue in Darfur despite years of efforts from international activists. President Obama's special envoy to Darfur, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration, who has signaled support for easing sanctions against the Khartoum regime, recently returned from a five-day trip to the country. As the Washington Post reported, he met with "southern officials, displaced Darfurians, rebels and others who complained uniformly that he is being manipulated by government officials who talk peace even as they undermine it," in what has become a trademark tactic of the Sudanese government. Sam Bell, Executive Director of Genocide Intervention Network, has reminded the Administration that as Senators "Obama, Biden and Clinton all spoke compellingly about the need to take a tough and principled stand with Khartoum. If Washington is going to start taking war criminals at their word, despite the long list of Khartoum's broken commitments, an even larger tragedy will soon unfold." Despite warnings from the people most affected by the situation, news reports quoted General Gration commenting upon his return from the region: "We've got to think about giving out cookies. Kids, countries -- they react to gold stars, smiley faces, handshakes, agreements, talk, engagement." White House spokesman Tommy Vietor has maintained that the "article wildly misrepresents the policy discussions that have occurred in the White House, with quotes that have been cobbled together out of context." Nonetheless, responses to Gen. Gration's comment from many in the Darfur advocacy community were negative. Jerry Fowler of the Save Darfur coalition writes, "It's jarring to hear talk of 'gold stars' and 'smiley faces' for a regime headed by an indicted war criminal." Adam Mudawi, a Sudanese human rights activist, noted, "In six months, he'll find out. They are liars." The Administration's policy plans were the subject of a Tuesday conversation between President Obama, Vice President Biden and other top officials. The details of the meeting are confidential thus far. But with this as background, a letter signed by over 1800 faith leaders from around the country will be delivered to the Director of the Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships , Joshua DuBois, on Friday, calling for the Administration to "continue working with the international community and key actors, including civil society, to help bring a sustainable peace agreement that will restore security and allow the Darfuri people to freely return to their homes and rebuild their lives." David Goodman is an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. He is a graduate of Trinity College.

Faith Leaders Deliver Message to White House

nghent-rodriguez — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:51:00 +0000

Today, representatives from faith communities nationwide met with Reverend Joshua DuBois, Director of the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, to discuss the ongoing violence in Sudan. At the meeting, a letter from over 1,410 Christian, Jewish and Muslim Clergy was delivered to Dubois as a part of the Moved by Faith Initiative. Coalition Board Members, Ruth Messinger and Gloria White-Hammond along with other faith leaders recognized the fact that President Obama has a lot on his plate, but stressed to Rev. DuBois the importance of Sudan with the elections and the referendum both within the next 18 months. The faith leaders further emphasized that Sudan is at a critical crossroads where sustainable peace can be achieved or the country could plunge back into civil war. While this meeting did not mark a huge movement in terms of Sudan policy, it was a unique channel to raise our voice for peace in Sudan within the administration. Bishop David Jones from the Episcopal Church eloquently called for leadership by stating “When the U.S. pays attention, the government of Sudan responds. We need the U.S. to take an interest.” Reverend Gloria White-Hammond articulated that “the impact of gender-based violence lasts long after the assault and effects the entire fabric of the society.” Archbishop Vicken Aykazian for the Armenian Church of America conveyed a broader message regarding genocide prevention and history. “If justice is not found in Sudan, there will be more genocide. We would like to find ways to end genocide in the 21st century.” David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center, who was not able to attend the meeting said, "Activists around the world, including many within the North American Jewish community, have committed to continuously raising awareness of and being a voice for Darfur. But this critical issue is not just a call to the Jewish conscience - rather, it is a call to the conscience of all humanity, as genocide knows no religious or ethnic borders. For this reason, we are pleased that a number of prominent faith leaders across the religious spectrum met today with Joshua DuBois to underscore the importance of an interfaith alliance advocating for peace and security in Darfur and Sudan." Check out our photos from today. Faith Leaders attending the meeting: • Ruth Messinger: President, American Jewish World Service • Galen Carey: Director of Government Affairs, National Association of Evangelicals • Reverend Gloria White-Hammond: AME Pastor; Co-Founder, My Sister’s Keeper • Alissa Karg: Deputy Regional Director for Africa, Lutheran World Relief • Pastor Cindy Lapp: Representative, Mennonite Central Committee; Pastor Hyattsville • Dr. Stephen Colecchi: Director, Office of International Justice and Peace, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops • Bishop David Jones: Bishop, Virginia, Episcopal Church • Imam Mohamed Magid: Vice President, Islamic Society of North America; Director, ADAM'S Center • Archbishop Vicken Aykazian: Archbishop, Armenian Church of America.

Setting the Stage: Sudan and the Global Economic Crisis

seanbrooks — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:54:27 +0000

My colleague Andrea and I stepped off the plane in Istanbul about 36 hours ago. We are here in the commercial capital of Turkey and one of the symbolic bridges between the East and the West to attend the World Bank and International Monetary Fund’s annual meetings. As neither of us proclaims to have any ground-breaking advice for world leaders as they set out to rebuild the global financial and economic infrastructure after the so-called Great Recession, why are we here? Well, it’s certainly not to rub shoulders with U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, although we did see him and the American delegation up-close and personal today. Instead, we are here as always to try to focus the world’s attention on peacemaking in Sudan. But what possible role can the gathered finance ministers and international economists play in influencing politics and negotiations in Sudan? In the next few days, I will write on how the Obama Administration and international community should condition debt relief to peace in Sudan; how accountability in Sudan’s oil sector can help avoid a return to civil war; and how the international community can help build responsible state-capacity in conflict-affected countries like Sudan. Before I do, it’s necessary to set the stage. How in fact has Sudan been affected by the current global economic crisis? A recent IMF reports highlights in detail the immense and imminent economic challenges facing the Sudanese government. In short, the large drop in oil prices over the last year has sharply lowered government revenues – perhaps cutting government revenues up to 50%. The Sudanese central bank has compounded the problem by defending the exchange rate in order to prevent a rise in domestic food and import prices. This policy intervention drained Sudan of its foreign reserves which it had accumulated during the Khartoum-boom of the last decade. What’s more, the Sudanese government cannot access much emergency foreign capital because of its already precarious debt burden position – it owes international creditors over $34 billion. The IMF has sought to help many fragile and vulnerable countries overcome similar shocks brought on by the financial crisis that began last September on Wall Street. Sudan has not been eligible for such relief because it currently owes the fund, World Bank, and African Development Bank almost $1.5 billion in arrears – this represent roughly 75% of all past due payments by member states to the IMF. So what will Khartoum do? They invited the IMF to put together a Staff Monitored Program to assist in reforming various macroeconomic policies. In committing to implementing IMF reforms, Khartoum also asked the IMF “to take concrete action on debt relief for Sudan.” They followed up this request this week by sending a delegation to Istanbul to lobby for such assistance. One of our objectives here is to contextualize this appeal from Khartoum – reminding the delegates and officials of how President Omar al-Bashir and the National Congress Party irresponsibly and egregiously used loans over the last twenty years to wage war and genocide against their own people. Instead, we are calling on the international community to condition support for Sudan’s troubled economy on peace and human rights for all Sudanese. By no means do we want Sudan’s economy or the country to implode. A BBC World Debate that we attended this morning on “The Global Crisis and Policy Responses” made me reflect on the troubling state of Sudan’s economy and political system. An impressive group debated whether the world economy has begun to recover and the long-term consequences of bailing out financial institutions that were considered “too big to fail.” While world leaders immediately came to the rescue of investment banks and insurance companies to avoid the total collapse of the financial system, they still refuse to recognize Sudan as “too big to fail.” The international community continues to whistle past the graveyard as the country hurdles toward perhaps a new explosive wave of violence in 2010 or 2011 that could set the whole region aflame. Jerry Fowler, Save Darfur’s president, and leaders of the Darfur Consortium in Africa and the Arab Coalition for Darfur argued this case last week:

Re-ignition of conflict would be catastrophic for Sudan's people and the entire region. Full-scale war and descent into chaos would also represent a dramatic and costly failure for the United States and the international community. Refugee flows and violence would upset the tenuous stability in Chad, Uganda, Kenya, the Central African Republic and Ethiopia - and gravely harm Egypt's national security. The potential human costs to such a regional conflagration are incalculable.

Avoiding this catastrophe is the challenge for Sudanese leaders and the international community. The world must help the Sudanese reach durable solutions to end their interlocking political crises, while at the same supporting human rights and helping build the foundations for democracy and sustainable development. With Sudan's economy on the brink, the IMF and World Bank certainly have a role to play. So stay tuned for more blogging from Istanbul. We are heading over to the convention center now for a press briefing on the status of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HPIC) Initiative and a session on how resource-rich countries (like Sudan) have dealt with the crisis.

Conditioning Debt-Relief for Sudan on Peace

seanbrooks — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:42:19 +0000

The Sudanese government’s delegation, led by Dr. Awad Ahmed Al-Jaz, the finance minister and a senior National Congress Party (NCP) leader, is here in Istanbul for the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meetings. News reports from last week indicated that securing an internationally-brokered debt-relief package would be at the top of the delegation’s agenda. The dire straits of the Sudanese economy motivate this new diplomatic push. In none of the meetings thus far that I have attended has Sudan’s appeal been publicly raised; however, we have been speaking with numerous IMF and Bank officials, policymakers, economists, and journalists about this issue. In these conversations, we have stressed that Sudan’s creditors must condition any consideration of debt-relief or debt servicing adjustments on concrete and lasting progress towards peace in Darfur, the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and political and judicial reforms that fundamentally change the repressive political system in Sudan. In addition to blocking debt-relief now for a government in Khartoum that has shown a complete disregard for protecting its own citizens, we want the international community to realize what a powerful tool it has at its disposal for peacemaking in Sudan. Leveraging debt-relief to demonstrable signs of changed behavior by the NCP-led government and concrete and lasting peace fits perfectly with the Obama Administration’s strategy of engagement with Khartoum. Continuing to refuse to write-off debts should be regarded as a current bilateral American stick that – with changed behavior from the Sudanese government – could become a potential bilateral carrot. These are the very type of “earned incentives” and “serious consequences” that Save Darfur has urged the Obama Administration to include in its still yet to be released Sudan Policy Review. There is also legal and historical precedent for conditioning debt-relief for Sudan to long-term peace and significant structural reforms to the political system. Using the established legal principle of “odious debt” and “odious regimes,” one can make a strong argument against the international community developing a debt-relief package for a Sudanese government that has used a large portion of the $19 billion in loans accumulated by the Bashir regime to help finance civil war in South Sudan and genocide in Darfur. As the Jubilee Network USA writes:

[D]ebt is to be considered odious if the government used the money for personal purposes or to oppress the people. Moreover, in cases where borrowed money was used in ways contrary to the people’s interest, with the knowledge of the creditors, the creditors may be said to have committed a hostile act against the people. Creditors cannot legitimately expect repayment of such debts.

On a panel yesterday for the launch of a new book on debt-relief, the Norwegian Minister for International Development Erik Solheim noted that dealing with illegitimate debt is an important issue for the international community to address. In 2006, Norway became the first developed country ever to cancel unilaterally debt claims that it acknowledged were illegitimate from five countries (Ecuador, Egypt, Jamaica, Peru, and Sierra Leone). Notably, in taking this decision, Norway refused to write-off similar claims it held on Sudan and Burma – stating that they would consider write-off only after the “situations” changed in those countries. We can also look to two other countries to contextualize Sudan’s current debt-relief appeals. Sudan, today, accounts for 75% of the $2.09 billion in arrears (past due payments) owed to the IMF, World Bank, and African Development Bank. In 2007, of the 41 countries eligible for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, only Liberia and Somalia possessed similar arrears to the IMF that blocked their full participation in the initiative. On this situation, the IMF wrote:

Countries in arrears are all experiencing some form of crisis, ranging from violent conflict to serious governance problems and political paralysis. Typically, these crises are of long duration…Inflation tends to be far higher, and the external debt and fiscal balance ratios tend to be worse.

Of course, Liberians in 2007 were actually well on their way to rebuilding their country after its long and costly civil war. The next year the U.S. and the international community supported the new democratic government of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf by providing it bridge loans so that it could clear its IMF arrears and reach the decision point of the HIPC Initiative. The tragedy in Somalia though remains in perpetual chaos and, therefore, it’s still impossible for the international community to even begin a conversation on debt-relief. The Sudanese government in Khartoum currently though has a choice: it can choose to go the direction of Liberia by ending its conflict and rebuilding its economy to serve the interests of its people, or it can choose the direction of Somalia and perpetuate its conflict for years to come and give Sudanese citizens no hope of climbing out of wretched poverty with the help of the international community. President Obama and his administration should make this stark choice for Khartoum abundantly clear. To that end, he should lead an international coalition of Sudan’s creditors to deal simultaneously with Sudan’s economic challenges and human rights abuses. Providing debt-relief to Sudan before its leaders demonstrate a proven commitment to peace will not serve the interests of the Sudanese people, but rather give more political legitimacy and further financial resources to the repressive regime in Khartoum. This is the message that we are delivering in Istanbul. I will write more soon...

UNSC Adopts Resolution to Combat Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict

Melissa Warnke — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:37:06 +0000

[caption id="attachment_1659" align="alignleft" width="485" caption="AP Photo/Mary Altaffer"][/caption] Last Wednesday, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 1888, the full text of which can be found here. This resolution, introduced by Secretary of State Clinton, calls for the UN Secretary General to appoint a high-level special representative on sexual violence in armed conflict, to quickly deploy teams of experts to conflict situations where sexual violence is of concern, and to use the prevalence of sexual violence as a metric when determining whether sanctions should be applied or renewed in armed conflict situations. The resolution also calls for further engendering global peacekeeping forces and for the inclusion of "issues of sexual violence" in all UN-sponsored peace negotiation agendas and peace processes. While recognizing the broad and ambitious goals laid out in this resolution will require sustained commitment from UN member states, we are encouraged by the UNSC's attention to sexual violence in conflict zones and hopeful about what these commitments may mean for those who have experienced, and will experience, sexual violence in Sudan. Watch Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon speak about the resolution.

STAND at the G-20 Summit

Anna Siegel — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:55:34 +0000

Cross posted from STAND's blog

With the G-20 summit in our backyard last week, we, members of the University of Pittsburgh’s STAND chapter, knew that we had a unique opportunity to deliver our message to the world’s most powerful leaders. This message was that we, as members of developed economies, hold links to all genocides that make us complicit in their implementation and maintenance. These links also provide us with crucial opportunities to debilitate these genocidal regimes We kicked-off our campaign on Thursday by joining with PDEC, the Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition, to put up an art installation directly in front of the delegates’ Thursday night dinner. The installation, which represented villages destroyed by genocide, caught the attention of many local news sources and was featured the next day on the cover of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. It certainly caught the gaze of delegates Thursday night as well. On Wednesday, we participated in the United Steelworkers Conference on Human Rights along with the Save Darfur Coalition. There, we had the opportunity to rekindled discussions that had begun with Sudan Divestment campaign years ago about the capacity for unions and other institutions to draw on their economic investments to leverage their influence on the governments of genocidal regimes. We found the Steelworkers to be very receptive, and some attendees expressed a serious interest in starting up socially responsible investment campaigns. Later that day, we attended Save Darfur Coalition’s press conference. There, we had the opportunity to pass out press packets to attending members of the press. These press packets detailed how the countries of the G20 are connected the conflicts in Sudan, Burma, and the D.R.C. On Thursday, we passed our message off to a most impressive ear—that of President Obama. With hands filled with flyers and signs and dressed in neon yellow Save Darfur shirts, the University of Pittsburgh’s STAND members crowded every possible entrance to the venue of the delegates’ dinner. At these entrances we paced backed and forth, awaiting the delegates’ arrival. As we traversed the sidewalks, we passed out flyers and spoke to onlookers and officials about our conflicts and how they relate to the G20. Around 6:00 pm, the delegates passed through the Boulevard of the Allies, a contingent of STAND students waved and cheered. There, they were undoubtedly seen and heard. Obama looked directly at one STAND member holding a sign and waved and passed of a firm nod of affirmation! Hopefully, equally firm policies will affirm our asks in the days to come. Anna Siegel is STAND's National Programming Coordinator and a student at the University of Pittsburgh.

Investigative Blogging on Existence of a Darfuri IDP Spokesperson

seanbrooks — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:41:50 +0000

Amanda Taub at Wronging Rights has published a three-part series of investigative blogging examining the use of quotes attributed to a Darfuri spokesperson in the Internally Displaced Camps, known as Abu Sharati. She explores whether Abu Sharati speaks for all displaced Darfuris, as stated in a number of articles, or espouses the views of only one particular Darfuri rebel faction. After talking with journalists from The New York Times, The Associated Press, and Reuters who quoted Abu Sharati in their stories on Darfur, she writes:

After weeks of research, I have been unable to find any information that makes me think Abu Sharati, supposedly the “representative” of Darfuri refugees and IDPs, exists -except to the extent that someone, who possesses neither that name nor that position, has been making statements to the press. And that whoever that person is, he is apparently awfully fond of the rebel leader Abdel Wahid Al-Nur. I cannot think of any way to interpret the information I have been given that would allow me to conclude that no journalist has either (a) lied to me, (b) failed to follow the professional ethics that a journalist should, or (c) been duped by a fake “refugee representative” when any minor amount of digging or critical thought would have alerted them that there was more to the story. Frankly, the Occam's Razor explanation here really seems like it's (d): all of the above.

The trail that leads her to this conclusion is definitely worth a read, as are her conclusions for why this misreporting matters. She believes first that “Abu Sharati’s” claiming to represent all Darfuris deprives other IDPs of their ability to tell their own stories and, furthermore, that “presenting a political argument in the guise of a humanitarian sentiment is disingenuous at best, and dangerous at worst.” With 2.7 million Dafuris scattered over numerous camps in Darfur, it seems highly unlikely that they are organized and represented by one voice with one message. Finally, she notes the implications for the Darfur activist movement:

Thirdly, it matters that the media quoted “Sharati” misleadingly, because it allows any of us who trusted those stories to be, well, misled. The Save Darfur movement is massive, and has motivated a huge number of grass-roots activists to support the cause, many of whom have never been to Darfur and rely on the media for information about the humanitarian situation there. They are ordinary people, (except when they are Mia Farrow or Nat Hentoff), with regular jobs and lives, and they don't have access to firsthand experience to guide them. So when the mainstream media quotes Sharati, they trust that he is who the articles say he is. That lends power not only to the views expressed in mainstream publications, but also to the things that he says in less reputable publications. So, if it's not true that he can reasonably speak for the displaced, then the activists who listen to him have been duped, and that sucks for them. And if it turns out that the thing they've been duped into doing is supporting one particular dude's particular political ambitions because those views are presented as a neutral humanitarian perspective, then I think that sucks even more.

Overall, I think Taub accurately summarizes the dangers posed to the advocacy community’s understanding of Darfuri politics. At the end of August, I did quote Abu Sharati in one of my blog postings from a telephone interview “he” gave to The Sudan Tribune in which “he” expressed concerns about the “protection of civilians and evacuation of new settlers who occupy IDP lands.” These complaints matched up with a number of other reports we have received from Darfur and Darfuris. “Abu Sharati’s” strong denunciations though of U.S. Special Envoy Gration’s visit to the IDP camps in early September motivated me to look into other statements allegedly made by him. I found, like Taub, that Abu Sharati had a consistent record of restating the talking points of Darfuri rebel leader Abdel Wahid al-Nur. I shared this information with my colleagues and when such criticism of the Gration was brought up the same week on a Save Darfur activist conference call, a colleague of mine noted that activists should not put too much stock in the quotes from Abu Sharati because there were strong suspicions that he was speaking mostly for one faction of the Darfuri rebels. Taub should be commended for trying to ensure accuracy about the reporting on the harsh, no-exaggeration-needed situation and concerns of the 2.7 million Darfuris living in IDP camps.

Wrap-up from Istanbul

seanbrooks — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:44:15 +0000

Andrea and I have less than 8 hours left in Turkey. While we wish we had more time in Istanbul, the European Capital of Culture for 2010, we definitely feel that that the trip to attend the International Monetary Fund/World Bank annual meetings was a success. On the debt-relief front, the Syrian Minister of Finance did call in his speech for the international community “to help unburden Sudan of [its] debt problems.” However, we did not perceive any strong willingness from Sudan’s largest creditors to take immediate steps to give such a reward to Sudan’s leaders before durable peace in Sudan takes hold. This does not mean though that the international community recognizes yet the value of debt-relief as a significant carrot/stick for peacemaking in Sudan. We need further education and advocacy to convince countries of what a powerful tool they have in their hands. Indeed, a number of delegations, international economists, and civil society leaders supported our view that debt-relief for Sudan should be tied directly to concrete and lasting progress toward peace in Darfur, the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and significant structural reforms that fundamentally change the repressive systems in Sudan. Some of the strongest support came from leaders of debt-relief organizations that have been fighting for debt-relief for impoverished countries for decades. Many admitted that dealing with the ‘odious debt’ of brutal regimes still in power requires a coordinated approach from the international community. A Serbian democracy activist, and former opponent to Slobodan Milosevic, also told me that the denial by the Clinton Administration of emergency loans to Milosevic helped put additional pressure on the genocidal regime. On the way home, I will put together some further posts on other Sudan-related topics covered in sessions on the sidelines of the meetings – such as the importance of accountability in Sudan’s oil sector and building state-capacity in conflict-affected countries.

If you can read this

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:23:05 +0000

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="474" caption="One of our mobile billboards in downtown Pittsburgh"][/caption] If you can read this you can save lives in Sudan. That was the message that we brought to world leaders in New York at the U.N. General Assembly and in Pittsburgh at the G20 summit last month. We also brought them your messages - your reminders in photos and petitions to those world leaders: Don't Forget Darfur. Take a moment to check out what we accomplished together:

During our street actions in New York we delivered your 45,383 petition signatures to Special Envoy to Sudan General Scott Gration. In the short program before the Darfur/Darfur exhibit began, General Gration told the crowd:

"And this letter that I've got from you all is very important. I'll make sure that the President gets this, and that he understands the concern that America has to solve this problem in a very expeditious way; a concern that we'll see in these pictures... What you're doing is so important to bring the visibility and the pressures to bear, so that we can take the appropriate actions in Darfur to make a difference in the lives of people who deserve this and a lot more."

—Special Envoy to Sudan General Scott Gration

In Pittsburgh, President Obama drove by our street teams—and waved at our activists holding signs along the route to the G20 opening dinner. Also in Pittsburgh we held a live webcast policy briefing on "Sudan and the G20: what the world's richest countries can do." In combination with our TV ads, print and billboard ads these actions reminded world leaders that they can all save lives in Sudan.

Check out what we accomplished together during our United Nations and G20 "Don't Forget Darfur" campaign by taking a few minutes to see our TV and print ads, policy briefing, photos of our street actions, and our new "Don't Forget Darfur" video on YouTube.

"A Call to Action"

wcfischer — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:41:03 +0000

Today while accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, President Obama said that he was accepting this award as a call to action. A call to action… Will this include helping those in war-torn Darfur and Sudan? I hope so. Will this lead to bringing hope, supplies, and life back to so many that are living in crowded, squalid camps the size of your hometown of Chicago? I hope so. Will it lead to you taking a stand and not allowing the IMF and World Bank to forgive the odious debt incurred by the Bashir Regime from spending their loot (almost USD 20 million) on rape, torture and genocide? I hope so. I hope that you do take this noble, esteemed, and humbling award and truly use it as a call to action, Mr. President. There are mass atrocities occurring in so many parts of the world, I know. But you’ve made promises. You’ve declared yourself committed to helping the people of Darfur and Sudan. And now, sir, you’ve accepted a prize awarded to those persons who have taken stands; those who have committed every breath drawn into their lungs as another opportunity to make life better for their fellow man. Today, on WPFW-Pacifica Radio in Washington DC, Save Darfur Coalition board member and co-founder of My Sisters Keeper, Rev. Gloria White-Hammond was also hopeful that President Obama would fulfill his promises made on the campaign to make Darfur a priority. The Nobel Peace Prize, she said, should reinforce his leadership role in Sudan and Darfur with the international community. President Obama, today as I…as we have done so many times before, a nation of your citizens, and so many others around the world listened as you again declared yourself committed to the cause of peace in the world. You have the ability to bring brighter days…action to the people of Darfur and Sudan. The ball is in your court, President Obama. I only hope that you were listening to your speech this morning.

Sudan's Search for a Lobbyist

jerry — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:55:47 +0000

This morning, The Washington Post's Dan Eggen reported:

A prominent Democratic fundraiser and ally of Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) is attempting to secure a lobbying contract with the pariah regime in Sudan, which has embarked on an aggressive effort to enlist U.S. support against allegations of genocide and war crimes.

It’s not surprising that Khartoum is trying every way it can to buy influence in Washington. What’s appalling is that it can find takers. The lobbyist Bob Crowe makes it sound as if Khartoum would pay him to influence it, rather than the U.S. government. That is absurd on its face. It is shameful that any U.S. firm would want to do the bidding of an indicted war criminal. The government of Sudan should stop looking for shadowy ways to buy influence and start making concrete and lasting progress toward securing peace and security in Darfur, fully implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), and implementing fundamental political reforms that allow freedom of speech, association and movement in advance of the national elections scheduled for April 2010. Khartoum can spend millions on lobbyists, but this issue won't go away until the millions of Darfuris can return home. In the meantime, Khartoum should be spending its resources on aiding IDPs, not buying influence in Washington. The influence-buying efforts that have been revealed through the Washington Post’s reporting beg the question of how much has not been uncovered. Who else is working on Khartoum’s behalf that we don’t know about?

Dancing to the Edge of Darfur

Rebecca Dennis — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:29:09 +0000

This weekend, as part of my internship with Save Darfur, I traveled to Philadelphia to a special event held by the Rebecca Davis Dance Company called “Dancing to the Edge of Darfur.” This event brought together ballet dancers, filmmakers, activists and community members for an evening dedicated to artistic expression and raising awareness about the impact that violent conflict has had and continues to have on so many people throughout Sudan. [caption id="attachment_1736" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Darfur - Rebecca Davis Dance Company"][/caption] Prior to the event, various organizations and members of the dance company’s Board of Trustees had a dinner meeting at the theatre to discuss the connections between art and activism. The group brainstormed ways in which organizations can embrace art to increase awareness about their specific causes, including Darfur, and how to translate this awareness into action. The highlight of the evening was the performance itself. The Rebecca Davis Dance Company performed four excerpts from its ballet “Darfur” and Rebecca, the owner and head choreographer, spoke about significance of the scenes and her inspiration for the show. Rebecca first became interested in Darfur after reading several articles in the New York Times on the genocide, written by Nicholas Kristof. In an effort to learn more, she picked up Brian Steidle and Gretchen Steidle Wallace’s book The Devil Came on Horseback. This book inspired her to create a ballet which tells the story of a family in Darfur whose lives have been drastically affected by the genocide, as well as the story of those working in the international community to put an end the violence. In addition to the ballet, clips were shown from Brian Steidle’s film The Devil Came on Horseback and from the documentary Women in War Zones, which focuses on the effects of sexual violence on women in conflict ridden areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Before and after the show, organizations including Save Darfur, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Amnesty International, the Enough Project, the Darfur Information Center and the Darfur Alert Coalition, were able to meet with audience members in the lobby to discuss Darfur and other conflicts. We were thrilled to see how much interest there was following the performance from the audience and the dancers themselves in gaining more information about what was happening and what individuals could do to make a difference. This production was beautifully put together and I would highly recommend it to anybody who loves dance or is interested in Darfur. For more information on the Rebecca Davis Dance Company and future tour dates for “Darfur” visit www.rebeccadavisdance.com. Rebecca Dennis is a fall intern at the Save Darfur Coalition

Be A Leader In Your Community

nghent-rodriguez — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:58:09 +0000

Our partners at Genocide-Intervention Network are recruiting for the second class of Carl Wilkens Fellows, and the application is due Nov. 1! The Carl Wilkens Fellowship is a selective, year-long program that provides a diverse set of emerging citizen leaders with the tools and training to build sustained political will to end genocide. Seeking to bridge the gap between thought and action in the anti-genocide movement, the goal of the Carl Wilkens Fellowship is to develop effective leaders in communities across the United States who have acquired the skills and fostered the relationships necessary to influence and shape US policies on genocide. The program is named in honor of Carl Wilkens, a self-described “ordinary” man, who was the only American who chose to remain in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide and is credited with saving hundreds of lives. Mr. Wilkens is emblematic of the program’s theme: ordinary individuals can make an extraordinary difference when they choose to engage. The inaugural class brought together individuals from Los Angeles, CA, Terre Haute, IN, Ramsey, NJ, Miami, FL and more . . . These activists are corporate lawyers, IT specialists, professors, museum-based educators, filmmakers, heath professionals, and therapists. Apply now!

Congressman Wolf Asks President to Reject Lobbyists for Sudan

Robert — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:14:42 +0000

Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA) today joined Save Darfur's call for the President to order the Department of the Treasury to reject any license applications from U.S. firms seeking to lobby on behalf of the Government of Sudan. In a letter to the President, Wolf said it would be a "disgrace" for the Khartoum regime to be represented in Washington by lobbyists. Wolf also urged the president to "personally engage" on the issue of Sudan. "It is unconscionable that any government with blood on its hands be permitted the privilege of having a Washington lobbyist on retainer," Wolf wrote, referring to the genocide in Darfur. Wolf's letter comes in response to a Washington Post article which described the efforts by one lobbying firm to secure a waiver from the sanctions imposed on Sudan, in order for them to engage in a contract with the Government of Sudan for lobbying services.

Why all the ‘howling’ about Sudan’s debt?

seanbrooks — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:22:46 +0000

Cross posted from SSRC's Making Sense of Darfur blog Mr. Badawi in his recent post “Indebted to the Save Darfur Coalition?” plays loose with the numbers and the definition of Sudan’s “odious” debt. In addition, he mischaracterizes the objectives of the Save Darfur Coalition’s position related to how the international community should deal with Sudan’s debt crisis and ignores the coalition’s support thus far of the Obama Administration’s engagement strategy with Khartoum. We have repeatedly called for the U.S. to offer Sudan’s leaders with a choice between earned incentives for durable peace and escalating costs to those who obstruct efforts to resolve Sudan’s interlocking crises. It is necessary, as Mr. Badawi argues, for the international community to rid the Sudanese people of this burdensome and “odious” debt accumulated by multiple regimes in Khartoum – but the burden of proof first lies with Sudan’s leaders to demonstrate that they have finally committed to extinguishing the flames of decades of conflict in Sudan. To begin with the facts, Mr. Badawi is just plain wrong when he states that the “explosion [in debt] has been almost solely [due] to a build-up of repayment arrears to bilateral and multilateral creditors.” From 1989 until today, the Sudanese government has received an estimated $4 billion in new public medium and long-term loans and an estimated $5 billion in new private medium and long-term loans (information via Economist Intelligence Unit, a past employer of Mr. Badawi). Much of this new debt is even more recent. Sudan accumulated over $2 billion in new loans from international lenders (almost half of it from non-Paris Club bilateral loans) between 2001 and 2006 when it was still waging war in south Sudan and orchestrating its campaign of death and destruction in Darfur. In 2007 and 2008 alone, Sudan contracted another $1.444 billion in more loans mostly from Arab multilateral and non-Paris club creditors, as well as from China and India. This data reveals that many in the international community continued to give to the Sudanese regime while it was waging war and genocide against its own people. Sudan’s arrears certainly did balloon during this period by $12 billion to bring its total arrears to $18 billion (half of its estimated debt load of $36 billion), but NIF/NCP leaders also contracted new irresponsible loans to finance their destructive policies. From their own reporting, Sudan imported weapons worth $76.3 million between 2004 and 2006, not including fighter jets and combat aircraft. The cost of Sudan’s purchase of 20 MiG-29s and 26 attack helicopters from 2004 to 2008 is unknown but most experts conservatively estimate the price-tag at hundreds of millions of dollars. Recent reports, furthermore, allege that this advanced military buildup continues. These figures lead me to Mr. Badawi’s second slight of hand. While designating the Nimeiri regime’s debt as “odious,” he shows absolutely no willingness to apply the same standards to President Bashir’s twenty-year old regime. Any amount of intellectual honesty should have led him to consider this $9 billion in new loans as “odious” as well. This financing certainly did not go to improve the lot of the war-battered Southern Sudanese and Darfuris over the last two decades. In making the case for immediate debt-relief for Sudan, Mr. Badawi argues that “the pattern of inequitable development in Darfur, south Sudan, and other areas of the ‘periphery’… lies at the heart of Sudan’s history of instability.” With that said, his argumentation implies that such marginalization was a product purely of the Nimeiri regime – certainly an absurd historical account given that the civil war with the SPLA escalated in the years after the 1989 coup and such marginalization was a chief motivation of the Beja rebellion that began in the late 1990s and the Darfuri rebellion in 2003. It is also questionable whether the vast majority of northern Sudanese have seen their conditions improve. Their political rights, as consistently protested by northern opposition parties and democracy and human rights activists, continue to be severely curtailed. Last week, in fact, the Mo Ibrahim Index of Governance ranked Sudan 49^th out of 54 countries, noting that Sudan “scored well below the continental average in the categories of Safety and Rule of Law, Participation and Human Rights and Sustainable Economic Opportunity.” And even on strictly economic grounds, Sudan has not yet met the pre-conditions for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. Most notably, the Sudanese government has yet to complete its National Poverty Reduction Strategy paper in consultation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Given its track record, the current Sudanese government should not be surprised that advocates for peace and human rights in Sudan fail to take their argument about being unfairly burdened with Nimeiri’s debt and the related arrears seriously. President Bashir and Hassan al-Turabi took direct ownership of this debt when they carried out their unconstitutional coup in 1989 and usurped all vestiges of state power. Flouting the international community, they ignored the arrears that piled up as they instituted their reign of terror in the 1990s. Bashir and the NCP then, as shown above, have used billions in new loans this decade to finance not only crucial infrastructure for the new oil economy – but continuing repression, civil war, and even genocide. Severely affected by the global financial crisis, the Sudanese government currently seeks assistance from the international community to avoid a financial meltdown. Recent hubris underpinned by the Khartoum-boom now makes way for urgent appeals for debt-relief. Save Darfur’s campaign intends to remind the international community of the odious character of this debt contracted by a regime that remains in power and continues to obstruct peacemaking efforts in Darfur and the democratic transformation set forth in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. International financiers should not subsidize the continuation of such policies, orchestrated by a government with an indicted war criminal at its head, that are leading the country toward even further chaos and ruin. Save Darfur has also begun educating American policymakers and Sudan’s other major creditors on the real opportunity that debt-relief provides to incentivize peacemaking in Sudan in a multilateral, coordinated manner. Of course, it’s useful for those defending the Sudanese government, in the name of “ordinary” Sudanese people, to treat Save Darfur’s advocacy (for this specific initiative and in general) as a simplistic campaign to punish those in power in Khartoum. It’s also useful for these writers to conflate activist campaigns like “Fast the Eid” – to which Save Darfur had no relation – with the serious policy proposals put forward by the organization. Mr. Badawi’s description of Save Darfur fundamentally mischaracterizes the coalition’s approach to the Obama Administration’s engagement strategy. Up until now, we have supported the active efforts of the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan General Scott Gration to revive the constantly-adrift Darfur peace process and to help facilitate the ongoing negotiations surrounding the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. In fact, we have urged Gration to do even more to help create space, opportunities, and incentives for Sudanese to solve their own problems, such as sponsoring civil society mechanisms for non-combatants to participate in the Darfur negotiations. With Sudan at a dangerous crossroads, we have consistently called for President Obama to present those in power in Khartoum with a choice between earned incentives or serious consequences. To that end, the U.S. should put forward a clear but conditioned process toward normalization of relations with Sudan if, and only if, the government of Sudan provably: permits unrestricted humanitarian access; secures peace in Darfur; fully implements the Comprehensive Peace Agreement; ensures free and fair elections throughout Sudan; and removes the president who is a fugitive from justice. On the other hand, the U.S. should make clear to President Bashir and his party that if they renege on humanitarian commitments and continue to undermine efforts at peace, escalating costs will ensue. With this strategic approach to providing incentives and disincentives to those in power in Khartoum, the Obama Administration should utilize the ready-made multilateral stick/carrot of debt-relief. Mr. Badawi chose to ignore the political conditions that Save Darfur has set out for the provision of debt-relief to Sudan. In our public statements, we have said that if the government demonstrably changes its behavior to the benefit of all of Sudan’s people, the U.S. should lead the way in facilitating a debt-relief package for Sudan with the international community. On the other hand, if the Sudanese government fails to match its rhetoric for peace with proven action, then the U.S. should make it clear to Sudan that it will use its role at the IMF, as well as its position in the Paris Club, to block any potential debt-relief package. The American message should be simple: the international community will not help Sudan with its economic crisis unless the Sudanese regime takes concrete and lasting steps to resolve Darfur, implement the CPA, and enact true reform to the benefit of its citizens. These are the internal political solutions – outlined most recently by a cross-section of Sudanese political parties in the Juba Declaration – which the Obama Administration must support in its engagement with the Sudanese government. Indeed, these should be the parameters for – as Alex de Waal writes – “a more constructive political and economic engagement with Sudan, precisely because that will help shift the political centre of gravity in Sudan away from the sterile military/militaristic polarization to a civil-political process that nurtures democracy.” Without first achieving these political solutions and implementing these reforms, debt-relief now for Sudan would give unearned incentives to a regime that has shown no clear and demonstrable signs of finally kicking its murderous and odious ways.

Administration To Release Sudan Policy Review On Monday

Allen Combs — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:13:54 +0000

The Obama Administration is scheduled to release it's long overdue Sudan Policy Review on Monday morning after months of internal debate. The State Department has declined to comment on the release, but according to foreignpolicy.com: "Senior contacts in the White House have said it will be coming out of State on Monday." The Save Darfur Coalition created a checklist outlining key issues that must be addressed in order to achieve a lasting and comprehensive peace. Visit the blog on Monday for details about the announcement and reaction from Save Darfur and other advocacy groups.

Extraordinary Passions

wcfischer — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:51:02 +0000

This morning, the Washington Post reported that lobbyist Robert Crowe decided that working…serving as the eyes, ears, and rallying and legislative voice for indicted war criminal Omar al-Bashir's regime, might not be the best idea. This decision comes a week after a Washington Post story, statements of condemnation from the Save Darfur Coalition and Congressman Frank Wolf, and an outpouring of concern and disapproval from activists from across the country. James C. Gray Jr., an administrative partner at Crowe's firm, Nelson Mullins, said Friday that the firm "is no longer pursuing the application or a relationship with the government of Sudan." Additionally, Gray was quoted as saying "We determined that we are not in a position to make a difference on the issue”, adding that the "extraordinary passions" of opponents also played a role in the decision. Though, what wasn’t cited by James Gray or Robert Crowe as a reason for this plan to lobby on behalf of Sudan to not go through seems to be what’s most troubling. One would think that in addition to “not being in a position to make a difference”, and those pesky “extraordinary passions” of opponents to allowing killers to have lobbyists, it’s also just plain wrong.

Obama Administration Set to Release Sudan Strategy

Robert — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:11:16 +0000

The Obama administration plans to release its long-awaited Sudan strategy document at 9 a.m. on Monday, apparently with a press conference including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, and Special Envoy for Sudan Scott Gration. Elements of the strategy were outlined by Special Envoy Gration on Friday at an event at Kean University and in leaks to the press. According to the Washington Post, the policy will call “for a campaign of ‘pressure and incentives’ to cajole the government in Khartoum into pursuing peace in the troubled Darfur region, settling disputes with the autonomous government in southern Sudan and providing the United States greater cooperation in stemming international terrorism.” As more details are provided, we’ll compare the strategy to our checklist for an effective policy. Beyond details, actual implementation will be crucial, and there will be at least three elements that will be vital: (1) No front loading of incentives, which should only be provided after concrete and lasting progress is made by the Government of Sudan; (2) generating multilateral support for both incentives and pressures; and (3) direct presidential leadership in the process. Save Darfur will closely monitor implementation, keeping in mind the ultimate objective: a Sudan whose people can live free of fear and whose rights are protected by a government that legitimately represents them.

Sudan Policy Review Briefing Live

Allen Combs — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:20:42 +0000

Update: The press conference has concluded. We will post a video of the press conference as soon as it becomes available. You can also read the State Department's outline of the strategy, Sudan: A Critical Moment, A Comprehensive Approach.
Watch the State Department's Sudan Policy Review briefing live on CNN.com

White House Statement on Sudan Strategy

Allen Combs — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:17:38 +0000

From the White House:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 19, 2009 Statement of President Barack Obama on Sudan Strategy Today, my Administration is releasing a comprehensive strategy to confront the serious and urgent situation in Sudan. For years, the people of Sudan have faced enormous and unacceptable hardship. The genocide in Darfur has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and left millions more displaced. Conflict in the region has wrought more suffering, posing dangers beyond Sudan’s borders and blocking the potential of this important part of Africa. Sudan is now poised to fall further into chaos if swift action is not taken. Our conscience and our interests in peace and security call upon the United States and the international community to act with a sense of urgency and purpose. First, we must seek a definitive end to conflict, gross human rights abuses and genocide in Darfur. Second, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the North and South in Sudan must be implemented to create the possibility of long-term peace. These two goals must both be pursued simultaneously with urgency. Achieving them requires the commitment of the United States, as well as the active participation of international partners. Concurrently, we will work aggressively to ensure that Sudan does not provide a safe-haven for international terrorists. The United States Special Envoy has worked actively and effectively to engage all of the parties involved, and he will continue to pursue engagement that saves lives and achieves results. Later this week, I will renew the declaration of a National Emergency with respect to Sudan, which will continue tough sanctions on the Sudanese Government. If the Government of Sudan acts to improve the situation on the ground and to advance peace, there will be incentives; if it does not, then there will be increased pressure imposed by the United States and the international community. As the United States and our international partners meet our responsibility to act, the Government of Sudan must meet its responsibilities to take concrete steps in a new direction. Over the last several years, governments, non-governmental organizations, and individuals, and from around the world have taken action to address the situation in Sudan, and to end the genocide in Darfur. Going forward, all of our efforts must be measured by the lives that are led by the people of Sudan. After so much suffering, they deserve a future that allows them to live with greater dignity, security, and opportunity. It will not be easy, and there are no simple answers to the extraordinary challenges that confront this part of the world. But now is the time for all of us to come together, and to make a strong and sustained effort on behalf of a better future for the people of Sudan. # # #

Initial Reaction to Sudan Policy Review

Robert — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:38:48 +0000

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="297" caption="President Obama and Scott Gration in April (White House Photo/Pete Souza)"][/caption] This morning's release of the Sudan policy review covered many of the main points outlined in the Blueprint for Peace and our checklist for an effective Sudan strategy. Most important, the administration's policy lays out three strategic U.S. objectives:

A definitive end to conflict, gross human rights abuses, and genocide in Darfur.
Implementation of the North-South CPA that results in a peaceful post-2011 Sudan, or an orderly path toward two separate and viable states at peace with each other.
Ensure that Sudan does not provide a safe haven for international terrorists.

The Coalition has long advocated a comprehensive policy approach to resolving Sudan’s crises. Securing peace in Darfur, resolving tensions over the implementation of the CPA, and preventing Sudan from becoming a terrorist safe haven will benefit all Sudanese. What matters most, however, is effective implementation. This should ensure:

Incentives should not be provided before there is concrete and lasting progress on resolving Sudan’s interlocking crises, opening political space for Sudanese to determine their future and protecting human rights.
The U.S. must generate multilateral support for both incentives and pressures.
We need to see substantial personal involvement from President Obama – for example, he must make Sudan a priority when he goes to China next month.

The policy outlines pressures and incentives, but the Coalition believes that only an evidence-based approach towards evaluating progress on the ground is warranted given the Government of Sudan’s long history of broken promises. The emphasis by the administration on witnessing verifiable progress before providing incentives to the regime is welcome, as is its stated determination to punish those who do not cooperate. The policy states that “sustained political will to address Sudan’s tough challenges in the international community is sometimes lacking. American leadership is essential to a more effective multilateral approach.” Increased American leadership to build a strong international coalition, such as that was built for the CPA, to address Sudan’s myriad of crises is essential. President Obama, along with Secretary of State Clinton and Special Envoy Gration, must make this a top priority. On topic of Presidential leadership, the State Department's policy document highlights the roll of the President's Special Envoy, Ret. Maj. Gen. Scott Gration. While the Coalition appreciates the efforts made to date by the Special Envoy, he will need to be backed institutionally and internationally by President Obama, Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Clinton, and the rest of the Cabinet. The entire administration must make Sudan a higher priority than it has been to date and not leave all responsibility on the Special Envoy’s shoulders. We will continue to monitor this policy and its implementation. We hope you will join us in doing so, and ensuring that that this policy successfully helps to bring peace to Sudan.

Video + Transcript from Sudan Strategy Rollout (Updated)

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:59:01 +0000

The State Department has released the video and transcript from the Obama Administration's strategy roll out for Sudan. Secretary of State Clinton said that the roll out:

It reflects the Administration’s seriousness, sense of urgency, and collective agreement about how best to address the complex challenges that have prevented resolution of the crisis in Darfur and full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Read the full transcript here. Update: You can read a transcript of the background briefing with senior Administration officials held immediately following the press conference

Why the urgency: two breaking news items

seanbrooks — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:15:13 +0000

This morning Secretary Clinton, Ambassador Rice, and General Gration all spoke of the “sense of urgency” in dealing with Sudan’s interlocking crises. Two breaking headlines from Sudan today confirm the urgent necessity of finding a durable solution to Darfur and preventing the collapse of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). First, Bloomberg News is reporting that the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement announced today that it will boycott parliament for a week to pressure the country’s ruling party to amend bills including one that gives “unlimited powers” to intelligence services. This move comes after a weekend where the National Congress Party and SPLM reached a tentative compromise on the referendum. Yet, this progress was not enough to meet the SPLM’s ultimatum last week that gave parliament a week to make significant progress on a number of pieces of critical legislation:

“We want to see a parliamentary schedule for the discussion of all the nine laws,” Yasser Arman, head of the former rebel group’s northern sector, told reporters today in Khartoum. “The current security law allows for detention, search and arrest, and gives a lot of immunity to the security body. And this is against the constitution.”

Arman goes on to say that the NCP now has until October 26; otherwise the SPLM will boycott the remaining sessions in parliament that run until November 30. The other troubling news comes from UNAMID, the African Union/United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur, which released the following warning about a noticeable increase in military activities in Darfur:

UNAMID personnel in the field have recently observed a sizable and unusual increase in military activities by the Government of Sudan (GoS) and Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid Faction (SLA/AW) forces, notably in the areas of Sortony and Kabkabiya in North Darfur. UNAMID is gravely concerned by this build-up as it may signal the impending start of a new cycle of armed confrontations in the area.

UNAMID wishes to emphasize that armed clashes invariably result in casualties and fatalities among combatants and in dire consequences for the civilian population, with loss of life, destruction of property, and massive displacement, thus negating the gains made so far in attempts to restore peace to Darfur.< UNAMID solemnly calls on all parties involved to refrain from resorting to violence and reiterates its conviction that the only way for a peaceful resolution of the conflict is through dialogue and negotiations.

These troubling reports demonstrate why – as Secretary Clinton remarked – the conflicts and issues in Sudan “cannot be ignored or willed away” and why the U.S. government must immediately begin implementing a policy that “empowers the people of Sudan to solve their own problems.” The status quo no doubt portends the worse for Sudanese. The complex diplomatic tasks at hand require – as we have called – the full leveraging of every relevant piece of the U.S. government and the generation from the administration of multilateral, coordinated support. Photo from Yahoo News.

Jerry Responds to Sudan Policy Review

Allen Combs — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:12:27 +0000

Jerry Fowler, president of the Save Darfur Coalition, reacts to today's Sudan strategy roll out: 5 things you can do:

Energy and Purpose

wcfischer — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:27:06 +0000

Yesterday the Obama Administration released their long awaited policy towards Sudan and acheiving peace there and in Darfur. As exciting as it is to finally have a policy…anything from the administration regarding Darfur and Sudan, one cannot help but be a little cautious. The situation in Darfur is far from resolved and as Secretary Clinton put it earlier today, "the people of Darfur continue to live in unconscionable and unacceptable conditions." It is that knowledge that one hopes will serve as the guiding light for President Obama, the State Department, and Special Envoy Scott Gration regarding policy decisions. From Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler:

"Several things are critical for effective implementation. First, incentives should not be provided before there is concrete and lasting progress on resolving Sudan’s interlocking crises, opening political space for Sudanese to determine their future and protecting human rights. Second, the U.S. must generate multilateral support for both incentives and pressures. And third, we need to see substantial personal involvement from President Obama – for example, he must make Sudan a priority when he goes to China next month.”

Equally, President Obama made clear that he was committed to bringing peace, justice and stability to the region. From the official White House release:

“Our conscience and our interests in peace and security call upon the United States and the international community to act with a sense of urgency and purpose.”

It will, Mr. President, take just that sort of leadership and effort on behalf of you and your administration. This crisis doesn’t call for a referee or a foreman, but a leader. You, as citizen and Senator were just that leader. Now we ask that you again, as President, speak for those that “live in unconscionable and unacceptable conditions”, and help bring stability to the people of Darfur and Sudan.

Activist Call - Today @ 1pm

Allen Combs — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:41:18 +0000

The Save Darfur Coalition, Enough Project and Genocide Intervention Network are hosting an activist conference call today from 1:00 to 2:00 PM (EDT) to discuss the Administration's Sudan Policy Review. We hope that you will join us on the call and please feel free to invite your networks.

What: Sudan Policy Review Activist Call Who: Jerry Fowler (Save Darfur Coalition), John Norris (Enough Project), Sam Bell (Genocide Intervention Network) When: TUESDAY (today), October 20, 2009 at 1:00 pm EDT Call-In #: 877.254.9825 Access Code: None; tell the operator you would like to be connected to the Sudan Policy Activist Call

Something For Everyone: Why Implementation Matters

seanbrooks — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:09:34 +0000

In an interesting development yesterday, all the major political groups in Sudan showed a moment of “rare unity in welcoming [the] US policy.” The Save Darfur Coalition and other groups also welcomed the administration's emphasis on a balance of incentives and disincentives for peacemaking in Sudan – but stressed that implementation would be critical to the policy's success. This unusual moment of cohesion demonstrates why effective implementation of the American plan will be paramount in achieving the objectives set out in the policy review. When all sides praise your plan, despite having contradictory interests and motives, you must realize that your work has only just begun. What will shape these actors long-term interpretation of the Obama administration’s policy are not the principles or strategies found in the review, but the very next steps in the engagement process. For instance, Sudanese presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen told the Sudanese news agency that the lack of any reference to military intervention “is important” and that the plan constitutes a “new spirit” for the Obama administration. At the same time though, he criticized the administration’s description of Darfur as a “genocide” and said that the Sudanese government would not respond to a “policy of pressure” which it considers disrespectful and reflects “old mindsets” that found their way into the policy review (article in Arabic). The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) deputy secretary-general Anne Itto remarked simply: “The policy is in line with the SPLM position.” As for the Darfuri rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur hailed the affirmation of the “genocide” label for the Darfur conflict and said that the administration’s calls for “conflict suspension and providing security to civilians” were completely in line with the SLM position. However, he then criticized the efforts of Gration thus far stating that the special envoy had turned these principles “upside down” by making “genocide legitimate” (presumably by engaging with Sudanese officials) and “creating new [rebel] groups.” A spokesperson for the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) also said the policy “show[s] a good direction to resolve the conflict,” but then urged Washington to realize that Khartoum only want to buy time and lacks “the will to achieve peace.” The spokesperson concluded: “The US must press Khartoum to respond positively to genuine international will looking to bring peace.” Of course, Gration and the administration will make critical decisions soon that upend this consensus about the tone and substance of American policy toward Sudan. All parties have expressed a desire for U.S. leadership, but they have different expectations and fears regarding what American engagement actually means. From the first day of implementation (today!), Gration and others in the administration must remain clear about their intentions and objectives – as well as their expectations for Sudan’s leaders. Such an approach will mean that the United States immediately:

Holds the Sudanese government accountable for ongoing human rights abuses in Darfur – such as its refusal to acknowledge the widespread incidences of rape, its obstruction of the provision of humanitarian assistance and the full unhindered deployment of UNAMID, and the use of disproportionate force by the Sudanese Armed Forces
Pressures the National Congress Party to create an atmosphere suitable to holding free and fair elections, and then make public the measures by which the administration will judge the credibility of elections
Pushes the National Congress Party to pass critical pieces of legislation pertaining to the national security laws, freedom of press, freedom of association, and the 2011 referendum
Condemns the Sudanese government’s ongoing harassment of Sudanese human rights defenders
Urges the Government of South Sudan to tackle potentially explosive corruption issues and to coordinate with UNMIS to enhance police and SPLA capacity to ensure civilian protection
Encourages the Darfuri rebel movements to adopt a unified negotiating stance for upcoming talks that includes a role for civil society representatives, including women

Emergencies and crises will arise in the next few months that will fully test the administration’s commitment to its stated policies of resolving Darfur and implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. By taking the above steps now, the U.S. can assure all sides of the seriousness and substance of its policy – and, equally important, it can clearly demonstrate what is expected of Sudan’s leaders as the country and its people wrestle with the significant challenges before it.

Al-Bashir Launches New Website

Allen Combs — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:58:22 +0000

In preparation for next April's elections, Sudanese President (and indicted war criminal) Omar al-Bashir launched a new website yesterday. Visitors to the site are greeted by a poorly photoshopped image of al-Bashir and invited to select one of three languages: French, English or Arabic. All three version of the website feature a painfully ironic header with the same photograph of the Sudanese president and a peace dove perched on the end of his name holding an olive branch in its mouth. There is also an odd flash banner with the slogan "Freedom ,, Development ,, Peace" and a scrolling series of seemingly meaningless numbers. It's a pity that al-Bashir's policy advisers are not as committed to peace as his web designers. The English version of the website includes only four sections : "What said about Albashir," "News and Event," "Photo Gallery," and "Video." Unfortunately, the "What said about Albashir" section does not actually include much of what is being said about Omar al-Bashir (indicted war criminal, fugitive from international justice, etc.). According to the Sudan Tribune:

[Website project leader Hashim Ali] Salem on his end said that the website is updated daily noting that the information contained in media messages “requires a high degree of professionalism”. The site administrator stressed the importance of comprehensive coverage and providing resources.

While all three versions of the website may lack some basic functionality and an appealing design, the Arabic version is indeed far more comprehensive and appears to have more current content. Obviously most of al-Bashir's supporters speak Arabic and there is little need to cater to visitors reading English or French, but one wonders why they did not delay the release of the alternate language websites until they were able to build them properly. (Bec Hamilton makes an astute observation about the language options and the potential audience for this website.) It will be interesting to see how al-Bashir's government/campaign uses www.albashir.sd considering they already have a number of nicer and better developed government websites and a state-run media outlet to push their message. Check back in the next few days for a review of the Arabic version of al-Bashir's new online home.

Stronger Humanitarian Plan Needed in US Policy Review

Limnyuy Konglim — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:18:57 +0000

The long awaited release of the new US policy on Sudan outlines several key points that lay the framework for lasting peace there. With a focus on a comprehensive approach to Sudan, the US administration recognizes the importance that peace in Darfur, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and border safety play in establishing and maintaining stability for the people of Sudan. It is refreshing to see a US strategy that takes a holistic approach, recognizing the commitment made to all Sudanese people and the strength of US leadership in the international community. In Refugees International’s October 19 press release, Acting President Joel Charny highlighted the strengths of the new US policy. It also reminded us that while we strive for effective multilateral engagement, we cannot forget the plight of those that have already been victimized by the conflict, for whom achieving justice is one of our biggest responsibilities to the people of Sudan. It is unfortunate that the policy failed to mention US support in improving the conditions of displaced Sudanese people. Earlier this year when Refugees International traveled to south Sudan, we documented the grave conditions throughout the south and the severe lack of access to basic services. Instead of focusing on politically motivated returns (as the governments of Sudan have done), it is critical that the US support reintegration projects for those who have already returned home, but are struggling to rebuild their communities. Safe and consistent access to water, education, health services, and livelihood opportunities will help mitigate tensions that are steadily on the rise. This is a crucial link to security in Sudan that the US policy did not address. It is also worthy to note the US has proactively sought open dialogue with all of the various local and national stakeholders in Sudan. This is an admirable venture on the part of the administration and reminds us of the importance of community based reconciliation and justice. It is also comforting to know that the US will hold Sudan to an “assessment of progress [that is] based on verifiable changes in conditions on the ground.” Likewise, it is critical that those changes in conditions be linked to humanitarian access and the protection of humanitarian aid workers. We can not forget the international and national relief agencies that were banned and expelled from Darfur in response to the International Criminal Court decision to indict President al-Bashir. The operating environment in Darfur remains hostile and vulnerable civilians are left to pay the price. The Sudanese government must show a real commitment to eliminating bureaucratic impediments and allowing and facilitating access to needed services throughout Sudan. I hope that the Obama administration truly makes Sudan a priority on its agenda and not only takes advantage of the anticipation surrounding the 2010 election and 2011 referendum. A long term investment in rebuilding Sudan is necessary and the United States must step up and lead the way for the international community. Limnyuy Konglim is an Advocacy Associate with Refugees International.

More Than A Bumper Sticker

Robert — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:51:51 +0000

Today's Op-Ed in the Wall Street Journal entitled "Obama and Darfur" misses the mark and perpetuates an unfortunate stereotype that we're a partisan movement that was eager to criticize the Bush administration but reticent to do the same to President Obama. The Journal writes that "the larger wonder is how [Monday's release of the policy review] can go down so smoothly with those in the human rights community who have championed Darfur and assailed the Bush administration for not doing enough. Instead, they are congratulating President Obama..." Anyone who read our public response to the strategy release, as well as my blog post later that day would be clear on the fact that we did not congratulate the Obama administration. We were, without a doubt, pleased that the strategy review was finally completed and that it called for a balanced set of incentives and pressures to be used with the Government of Sudan. We had been calling for such a plan for months (and over 100,000 activists asked President Obama to take up our plan). Our brief criticism of the Bush Administration for pursuing normalization of relations with Sudan was due solely to a remark by then-Special Envoy Rich Williamson that the United States that led people to believe that the U.S. would be giving up that leverage without getting anything in return. To his credit, Williamson clarified his remarks during a hearing before Congress that the United States was not considering any such plan, and that normalization would only be considered if Khartoum fulfilled its commitments. We were not then, nor are we now, against holding out the promise of engagement for the regime in Khartoum. If that is the best way to end the conflict in Darfur, fully implement the CPA, and ensure justice is done, then so be it. What we have consistently been against is normalization for nothing. The Sudan policy document states clearly that "assessments of progress and decisions regarding incentives and disincentives must...be based on verifiable changes in conditions on the ground." To call our support for the policy review congratulatory is deeply misleading. We're pleased that the review is out, that it contains strong words about the conditions in which incentives would be considered and efforts to build more multilateral disincentives to prod the Sudanese regime, but we realize they are just words. As our president Jerry Fowler stated on Monday morning , the success of the plan will depend on its implementation -- in particular the personal leadership of President Obama. The policy won't be worth the paper it's written on if it's not adhered to by Special Envoy Gration and other American interlocutors and if the President doesn't make Sudan a higher priority on his agenda. Finally, we take deep umbrage at the Journal's reference to the movement as "less a moral cause than a partisan club." The Save Darfur Coalition represents over 180 human rights, faith-based, and advocacy organizations (which in turn represent over 130 million individuals), and about the only thing in common among these organizations is their outrage at the situation in Darfur and throughout Sudan. The Coalition represents a wide range of disparate political views. The movement represents an even broader array of views. The Journal apparently disregards all the efforts on Sudan's behalf that continue to be made by Republican leaders such as Congressman Frank Wolf, who said of the policy that "this...seems very positive. Seems [the Obama administration is] going to take a more balanced approach." One thing the Journal said is correct, however. Anyone CAN "put a 'Save Darfur' sticker on his bumper.'" How fortunate for the Coalition and the movement that so many, from so many different backgrounds and political affiliations, have chosen to do so.

Activist Stories: An Evening With Carl Wilkens

Barbara English — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:24:34 +0000

Last Saturday, October 10, Orange County for Darfur co-sponsored An Evening With Carl Wilkens in collaboration with 15 other organizations, and with over 150 attendees in Irvine, CA. The evening prior, the same collaboration held a screening of Shake Hands With The Devil, a documentary featuring Romeo Dalliare on his visit back to Rwanda ten years after the genocide. The screening was held in order to help familiarize attendees with the Rwanda genocide prior to hearing Carl Wilkens tell his own story on Saturday evening. OCFD decided to bring Carl to our local community after I first heard Carl speak. He was in attendance as part of the GI-Net Carl Wilkens Fellowship retreat last February. Carl spoke from his heart, and his personal story as the only U.S. citizen that did not leave Rwanda when the 1994 genocide began, speaks to our often under-recognized common humanity. His willingness to stay contributed to hundreds of lives being saved. At a time of so much division within the U.S., we wanted to hold an event that would not only deliver an anti-genocide message, but would also recognize how many groups have been subjected to de-humanizing treatment. Currently on a national bike tour with his wife, Teresa, Carl speaks of our need to eliminate the concept of “other” as the means to end genocide, recognizing that the world is better off with everyone in it. See pictures from the event. Or check out this video:

Barbara English is a member of Orange County for Darfur.

Jerry Fowler Discusses the Sudan Policy Review in CNN's Situation Room

Allen Combs — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:49:41 +0000

A Shell Game with Bashir?

seanbrooks — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:34:41 +0000

Are African countries that are state parties to the Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court playing a shell game with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir? Since the issuance of his arrest warrant by the ICC in March 2009, Bashir has repeatedly received invitations from African leaders to attend summits and conferences that eventually result in the dispatching of non-fugitives of international justice to serve in Bashir’s stead. Were these recent invitations from countries like Uganda and Nigeria in good faith? Or have there been pre-arranged deals cut that a public invitation would be extended with the understanding that Bashir would not accept them? Last week provides the most recent example of a possibly well-choreographed diplomatic dance. On Thursday, Amnesty International broke the news that the African Union had invited Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir to participate in the AU Peace and Security Council meetings on Darfur in Abuja, Nigeria. They urged the AU to rescind the invitation and, if Bashir made the visit, the Nigerian government “to arrest President Omar al Bashir and hand him over to the ICC.” After a day of headlines and ambivalent statements from Nigerian and AU officials about their commitments to fulfill obligations under international law, the Sudanese government announced on Friday that Second Vice President Ali Osman Taha would lead Sudan’s delegation to the AU meetings. But it’s not just international or Western human rights groups that are offended by the invitations issued by African capitals. Last week, an uproar on the matter occurred for the second time this year in Uganda before Bashir turned down an invitation to attend the Special Summit of Heads of State and Government on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa. The Sudanese government eventually sent only two junior officials in a pattern of events that closely mirrored another Ugandan invitation in July. At that time, a senior Ugandan foreign affairs official told Reuters:

“The invitation still stands ... (but) we will handle it through diplomatic channels to avoid embarrassment and inconvenience to anybody…It's a codeword for an agreement that President Bashir delegates another senior cabinet-ranked person. That was agreed.”

Likewise, the Nigerian based NEXT online news portal quoted “reliable diplomatic sources” in Abuja as saying that the government does not want to break ranks with the AU yet seeks to fulfill international obligation:

“My reasoning is that [the] government is merely inviting Sudan as a country with a veiled message that someone higher in the Sudanese government but not Bashir would be the welcomed guest,” said the source.

What would be the motivations behind such deals? By extending the invitations to Bashir, these governments can play to a vociferous current in pan-African politics that rejects the ICC proceedings on Darfur and case against Bashir. In July, the AU approved a resolution to abstain from cooperation with the ICC over extraditing Bashir. Many at the time complained that such a resolution was pushed unfairly by Libyan leader Colonel Muamar Gaddafi. Yet by going along with the resolution, many African leaders have placed themselves in a position where in order to reflect African solidarity and preserve the legitimacy of an AU decision purportedly made on behalf of the entire continent, they must make decisions regarding Bashir that may lack support amongst their own constituencies. By reaching pre-arranged deals with Bashir that he will not take up their invitations, these countries could be craftily avoiding the full weight of international pressure calling for their enforcement of international law. In the cases of Uganda and Nigeria, what is ‘good’ for the AU does not seem to translate necessarily into what is in the national interest, as expressed by local civil society and media. For instance, Nigerian human rights groups have said that they would protest any visit by Bashir. “The invitation is an insensitive display by the president of Nigeria,” said Innocent Chukwuma, head of the CLEEN Foundation. As for President Bashir and the National Congress Party (NCP), the invitations from other African heads of state send the public message that the Sudanese president still retains legitimacy in the eyes of his continental counterparts. It helps, furthermore, Bashir and the NCP make the case domestically that the president can still carry out the full function of his responsibilities – a matter questioned by some within the NCP since the issuance of the arrest warrants. In fact, Bashir and the party’s chief interlocutor with the international community, Ghazi Salah Al-Deen, in a moment of honesty acknowledged last month that the court’s decision is “limiting the movement of the president…He has to study of course any particular (travel plan) on its own merits.” All of this diplomacy is testing whether a head of state can effectively perform his functions while wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant. Are these countries really ignoring the decision of the ICC, or are they diplomatically circumventing it in order to avoid acting in what may be their own national interest? Countries are parties to the ICC because they have determined, independently of the AU, that its presence serves a warranted and legitimate role in the promotion and protection of international law. Some, including Uganda, have openly acknowledged the potential role of the Court in addressing their own crises. Even if these countries know that Bashir will pass on their invitations, Nigeria and Uganda degrade the force of public condemnation and isolation that the ICC arrest warrants have had on President Bashir and the NCP. Of course, the stances of these countries are better than non-ICC members like Egypt, Ethiopia and Eritrea that have welcomed and hosted Bashir. Yet these countries should be clear about their commitments to fulfill international law and follow the lead of South Africa and Botswana. If it turns out that they are intentionally playing such a shell game with Bashir, they must realize that they are directly weakening the efforts of those within Sudan fighting to make Bashir’s arrest warrant – and inability to perform his position – an important issue in the upcoming national elections.

Capitol Hill Briefing on Violence Against Women

nghent-rodriguez — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:21:03 +0000

Today Physicians for Human Rights convened a Capitol Hill Briefing on violence against women in Sudan and Chad. The briefing featured 3 physicians who spent several weeks on the ground in Chad and highlighted the findings from Nowhere to Turn: Failure to Protect, Support and Assure Justice for Darfuri Women. The physicians called for a new comprehensive approach to end gender-based violence occurring inside and outside camps in Chad and Darfur and an end to impunity for the crime of rape The briefing featured Dr Mohammed Ahmed Abdallah, formerly of the Amel Center for the Treatment & Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture in Darfur, Susannah Sirkin of Physicians for Human Rights and report authors and PHR Chad investigation medical team Dr Linda Piwowarczyk, Dr Julia VanRooyen, Dr Sondra Crosby.

Now We Need Presidential Leadership

jerry — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:55:57 +0000

Cross posted from the Huffington Post Now that the dust is settling from the release of the Obama administration's Sudan strategy we can begin to assess the landscape. The greatest virtues of the strategy are that it lays out the path the administration intends to follow and provides a basis for the advocacy community to hold the administration accountable. At the same time, it makes clear that the U.S. policy can take different paths depending on the actions of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and other actors. Although it provides principles for deciding what path to take, the decisions themselves have yet to be made. Our advocacy role will be to push President Obama and the administration to make the right decisions. The basic guidelines for deciding which path to take seem right. In U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice's words, the focus will be on "concrete and tangible progress" before any incentives are provided. Moreover, the new U.S. policy provides clarity that not only will there be no rewards for the status quo, there will be consequences if it does not change for the better. A huge open question is how engaged the President will be in implementing this new policy. His absence from the public roll-out was not encouraging. It sent a message to Khartoum and key heads of state around the world that he has delegated Sudan to others and that he does not plan to personally lead the effort to end the crisis in Darfur and promote peace in all of Sudan. A critical test of his commitment will be whether he makes Sudan a priority when he meets with Chinese President Hu Jintao in a few weeks. I for one will be watching closely, and calling him out if he doesn't. As for the new strategy, one thing we should be clear about is that the issue has never been engagement or non-engagement with the NCP. Rather, it has been the terms of engagement, which for nine months have been totally unclear, even worrisome. Now the terms are clearer on paper; we will have to see in practice. Another misunderstood issue has been the role of Special Envoy Scott Gration. Before release of the strategy, there was an understandable tendency to try to infer the terms of engagement from his public statements. Because many of those statements expressed optimism about Khartoum's responsiveness to incentives, the public was left to wonder if the Obama administration was focused only on incentives without requiring real change on the ground. We now know the store will not be given away unilaterally; the U.S. will "verify, then trust." Although General Gration will play a leading role in implementing this strategy, it is clear that he does not have carte blanche. The strategy is a product of the interagency process and reflects the policy views of a range of officials. Going forward, progress on the ground (or lack thereof) and decisions on incentives and disincentives will be reviewed quarterly at a senior level. Within that context, General Gration should be given the chance to implement this policy. Having heard him explain his views in greater detail than is conveyed in the media, I believe he has the potential to succeed in what is an enormously difficult mission. That is not to suggest that we always see eye-to-eye - we definitely do not. But he is clear-eyed about the dangerous characters he is dealing with. And he is committed to pursuing the policy set by the President. Some have called for General Gration to be fired. The reality is that if he were suddenly dismissed, it could be months before a new special envoy took his place. A void in the special envoy position would hobble any implementation of U.S. policy, and Sudan would hurtle toward the scheduled elections and the southern referendum with little diplomatic involvement or influence from the United States. While the new administration policy has many of the right elements, there are concerns, many of which were recently raised on the Save Darfur blog. The biggest strategic level concern is that those elements of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) focused on opening up political space in Sudan not be traded away for conflict resolution in Darfur or conflict prevention in southern Sudan. The most important long-term need facing Sudan is the creation of a political space in which Sudanese can resolve the country's issues without the use of extreme violence. The CPA presents a framework for creating that space, but the CPA elements crucial to that framework are the ones whose implementation is most seriously lacking. Now, elections are six months away and there have been no meaningful steps toward permitting freedom of the press, freedom of association, and freedom of movement or curbing the arbitrary powers of the security services. Judging from the travesty of the census, the ruling NCP does not intend to fulfill its CPA obligation to open up political space. This is a status quo that must be changed if peace is to be promoted. Tactically, the biggest concern is how much of a priority Sudan is for President Obama. He said all the right things while he was in the Senate and during the campaign, including pledging to bring "unstinting resolve" to Sudan policy if elected. For the new policy to work, General Gration can't go it alone. The President must lead in creating a real coalition of key heads of state to support the strategy laid out last week and push for concrete and lasting change in Sudan. Now is the time for him to show the resolve he promised. Jerry Fowler is the president of the Save Darfur Coalition, an alliance of more than 180 groups committed to ending the genocide in Darfur.

The Mbeki Panel’s Recommendations: An Analysis

seanbrooks — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:30:13 +0000

The African Union Panel on Darfur (AUPD) chaired by former South African President Thabo Mbeki released its much-anticipated report and recommendations to African leaders on Thursday. As mandated, the panel submitted specific “recommendations on how best to effectively and comprehensively address the issues of accountability and combating impunity, on the one hand, and peace, healing and reconciliation, on the other” (read the full report). Most reports in the press focused on the panel’s recommendation of hybrid courts to “investigate, prosecute and adjudicate the war and other crimes committed during the Darfur conflict." In addition though, the Mbeki panel’s recommendations also covered:

the process for reaching a Global Political Agreement (GPA); the important issues of justice and reconciliation; the promotion of dialogue among Darfurians; mobilising Sudan’s neighbours; the Sudan General Elections and the Southern Sudan Referendum; measures for the implementation of the agreements; support for the AU‐UN mediation process; and the role of UNAMID and the African Union in promoting and consolidating peace in Darfur.

As part of their seven month investigation, the AUPD consulted with a range of actors, including those in the advocacy community. At the panel’s request, the Save Darfur Coalition submitted recommendations concerning ‘a comprehensive and inclusive Darfur peace agreement’; ‘the challenge of justice and the suppression of impunity arising from the conflict in Darfur’; and ‘the challenge of reconciliation and healing arising from the conflict in Darfur.’ In subsequent blog posts, I will compare the AUPD’s report with our recommendations. With that said, we believe strongly that peace, justice and reconciliation are intertwined and cannot be dealt with in isolation from each other. Overall, the AUPD report generally matches the solutions to Darfur and Sudan’s other interlocking crises that the Save Darfur Coalition has urged the U.S. Government and the international community to support through aggressive diplomacy and mediation. On the specific question of hybrid courts, such courts could work as a mechanism for accountability complementary to the International Criminal Court (ICC). It is important to underscore that the panel did not suggest that these courts would replace the ongoing proceedings of the ICC. Rather, it observed that the ICC necessarily will only deal with those perpetrators most responsible for crimes in Darfur; an additional mechanism is necessary to ensure there is not impunity for lower level perpetrators. The ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo concurred in his reaction to the AUPD: “The primary responsibility lies in national states…The ICC is just doing a piece -- prosecuting the most responsible -- but then there are other efforts needed.” At its core, though, the report acknowledges that political transformation is necessary for peace in Darfur and all of Sudan. The report reads:

Characterised by the inequitable distribution of wealth and power, this imbalance has fomented tensions and conflicts in Sudan and given rise to the situation that the Panel has been called upon to investigate. The Panel believes that all the various overlapping layers of conflict must be addressed, but above all that the fundamental problem of Sudan must be confronted if lasting peace for Darfur is to be realised. The Panel defines the fundamental problem of Sudan as “The Crisis of Sudan as manifested in Darfur.”

For this change to happen, the report also specifically suggests that Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP) must make a strategic decision to open up political space:

To enable the people of Sudan to approach the next important phase of their history as one nation, without other distractions, there is an urgent need to secure a definitive peace settlement for Darfur before the 2010 General Elections and to ensure nationwide legal and security conditions to allow political activity to be freely conducted.

While these recommendations strike at the root of the political problem, the NCP seems nowhere close to implementing the National Election Act of 2008 as urged by the report – nor implementing the key elements of the 2005 Interim Constitution that guarantee important political rights. Put another way, the NCP continues to resist fulfilling these obligations to open political space agreed to both in the spirit and text of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The current dispute within parliament between the NCP and the SPLM and northern opposition parties over a revised National Security Act and other issues of freedom of association demonstrates that Bashir and NCP party leaders believe they can keep their tight grip on power by playing the same games they have for the last two decades. One can even read such an NCP strategy in its reaction to the AUPD report. Second Vice President Taha offered a classic example of the long-practiced NCP delaying tactic of appearing to say “yes” when the real meaning is “no”: “The report listed several recommendations worthy of consideration and is no doubt worthy of our great tribute due to the efforts made by the African Union” (translation from article in Al Ray Al Aam). He and other NCP officials have already expressed their deep misgivings about the hybrid courts. The Mbeki recommendations and other proposals for peacemaking in Sudan must be complemented with a significant set of incentives and pressures designed to achieve behavioral change by the NCP and structural reforms agreed to by all of Sudan’s competing stakeholders. We are also concerned that the extension of the AUPD’s mandate beyond last week’s report constitutes another “initiative” that provides an alternative forum for the NCP to talk, talk, talk without doing anything. To avoid this possibility, Mbeki and the other panelists should immediately commit their valuable services to support the efforts of AU/UN Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole. He has praised the work of the panel, but stated that the recommendations should be implemented through the Darfur peace talks that are set to resume in mid-November in Doha. The AUPD members’ involvement in the negotiations, as well as active support and leadership from U.S. Special Envoy Scott Gration and the other special envoys, could result in a major step forward in these stagnant and fragile talks. If there is a lack of coordination, however, the Sudanese government will inevitably play the various actors off against one another. Tomorrow I will have more to write on this subject. In the first of three blogs, I will describe our recommendations to the AUPD concerning ‘what can and should be done urgently to conclude a comprehensive and inclusive Darfur peace agreement.’

Mbeki Panel Report: Peace in Darfur

seanbrooks — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:50:56 +0000

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="280" caption="Darfuri Rebels at Negotiations"][/caption] As I mentioned in my last post, at the request of the African Union Panel on Darfur (AUPD), the Save Darfur Coalition submitted recommendations to the panel on how to promote peace, justice, and reconciliation in Darfur. You can read our full submission here. Since no country or international organization has the institutional capacity or required relationships with the Sudanese parties to end the conflict alone, we first urged the AU to closely coordinate its efforts with the international community. To that end, we recommended that the AU deepen its partnership with the United Nations for peacekeeping and peacemaking while at the same time coordinating all of its efforts with the permanent members of the UN Security Council, the League of Arab States, and key regional states. In discussing the specific issue of peace, we first rebutted the charge of many that the pursuit of justice in Darfur through the International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings had fundamentally interfered with the peace process:

Despite predictions to the contrary, the talks between the Sudanese government and some of the rebel movements have progressed considerably since the ICC Prosecutor requested an arrest warrant from the court for Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir in July 2008. In fact, at the time of the Prosecutor’s announcement, no serious negotiations were taking place. The naming of Djibril Bassolé as AU-UN Mediator that same month and the Qatari invitation to host the talks in subsequent months served as opportunities to re-launch substantive talks among the various parties. There is no doubt, though, that the possibility of Bashir’s indictment contributed to the Sudanese government’s decision to return to the negotiating table.

It has been argued that the prosecution of Bashir would only embolden the negotiating stance of the Darfuri rebels…The signing of the “goodwill agreement” between JEM and the Sudanese government and the continuing negotiations serves as evidence that the peace process has not stalled because of the ICC proceedings. On the contrary, the possibilities for reaching a peace agreement – while still not assured – appear closer now than at any point since the Abuja negotiations of 2006. Writing at the end of June, we also stated that all pressure therefore should be placed on the parties to agree and adhere to a long-term ceasefire that “could give necessary space and confidence for the negotiating delegations to move to the next step of negotiating a final settlement.” As for the structure of the mediation efforts, we recommended that the AU support a process similar to the Navaisha talks that produced the Comprehensive Peace Agreement:

As did Kenyan General Lazaro Sumbeiywo with the Naivasha process, AU-UN Mediator Djibril Bassolé should lead the Darfur process. The Joint Mediation Support Team (JMST) should work with Ambassador Bassolé on the plan for a negotiation framework, timeline for negotiations, and appropriate mechanism for shuttle diplomacy. Bassolé must also be supported by a strong team of diplomats and regional experts and backed by a small group of countries with leverage, high-level support, and full-time representation at the talks. This inner circle should include the United States, United Kingdom, France, and China. An outer circle group of countries and multilateral organizations (UN, AU, Arab League) should also be engaged in a formal manner to discourage spoilers, and other key nations such as Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, and South Africa need to be thoroughly consulted.

On the specific matter of securing a comprehensive and inclusive Darfur peace agreement, we urged the AU to draw lessons from the failed Abuja negotiations and the failed attempts to revive the peace process over the last three years. We felt the most important lessons from the past demonstrated a current need for the AU and international community to:

Provide the armed movements with support for pre-negotiations and negotiations;
Ensure that the Darfurians feel ownership of any peace agreement;
Support strong civil society input and presence in the peace process;
Ensure that a Darfur peace agreement advances peace, justice and democracy for all Sudanese; and
Coordinate all support to the peace process with appropriate regional and international actors.

Finally, we wrote that after multiple failed peace efforts and meandering consultations, the issues at stake in Darfur are fairly well understood. Any final agreement, therefore, must include:

A substantial sum for individual compensation to be paid by the government;
International monitoring of a cessation of all forms of state support for the janjaweed militia structure and the complete disarmament of the janjaweed;
International monitoring and support for encampment of all forces in Darfur (government, rebel, and militia);
Administrative arrangements for Darfur;
Power sharing for Darfurian constituencies; and
A comprehensive plan to address the humanitarian, livelihoods, environmental, and development challenges that Darfur will face in the aftermath of the conflict

As noted yesterday, we feel that the recent AUPD report includes a number of the above recommendations. Perhaps of most importance, the panel does not view the pursuit of justice as an obstacle to the pursuit of peace. Instead, it states:

[E]ven as the peace negotiations are taking place, action should be undertaken to investigate the serious crimes that have been committed in Darfur, and to put in place measures to prevent the commission of fresh crimes.

Among other things, the report also make a strong case for the necessity of an immediate ceasefire and an “inclusive process of negotiations” involving the Darfuri armed movements, IDPs and refugees, political parties and civil society leaders. The challenge of course will be in the implementation of these recommendations. The AUPD fell short of putting forward a concrete plan to support the UN/AU joint mediation efforts of Djibril Bassole. The team’s responsibilities are outlined in general and ideas for better coordination are suggested, but the report does not detail exactly how – in its words – the “AU/UN Joint Mediation should be properly positioned to discharge its mission.” In short, a lot is left for follow-up work. Yet, President Omar al-Bashir and the National Congress Party (NCP) are notorious for making verbal commitments to a peace process, only to continue their non-stop efforts to divide and intimidate those Darfuris seeking a durable and just peace agreement. There is no doubt that Bashir and the NCP are now devising ways to influence the implementation of these recommendations. It is for these reasons that we have called for the United States and the international community to put together a set of incentives and pressures to ensure that the Sudanese government does not unduly take advantage of critical processes like the Darfur negotiations. In my next post, I will summarize the coalition’s recommendations for seeking justice in Darfur, and how the AUPD’s recommendations of hybrid courts could actually work as a mechanism for accountability complementary to – but not a replacement of – the ICC proceedings.

U.S. Policy on Sudan on VOA's In Focus

Allen Combs — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:40:16 +0000

Amir Osman, Senior Director of Policy and Government Relations for the Save Darfur Coaltion, appeared on Voice of America's In Focus to discuss the recently released Sudanese Policy Review:
Learn more about the Sudan Policy Review

The Mbeki Panel Report: Justice for Darfur

seanbrooks — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:28:40 +0000

This week, I have been writing about the African Union Panel on Darfur’s recent report delivered to and endorsed by the AU Peace and Security Council. Having summarized the recommendations that Save Darfur submitted to the panel regarding the peace process, I will now summarize our recommendations for steps that should be taken to address the challenge of justice and the suppression of impunity arising from the conflict in Darfur. In our submission, we highlighted the AU’s stated will in its founding documents to suppress impunity and ensure justice for mass human rights violations and atrocities. As such, we urged the AU that “when faced with a choice between the rights of African people and the interests of African states and their leaders, the African Union should stand on the side of the people.” To make the case for why justice was paramount to tackling the crisis in Darfur, we pointed to recent Sudanese history:

Parties negotiating the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to end the decades-long war between North and South Sudan decided to leave accountability mechanisms out of the accord. Less than five years later, implementation of the CPA has fallen far behind schedule, violence has increased on border regions, and regional and international leaders have been forced to devote significant energy and resources to upholding the CPA and preventing a return to civil war. Similarly, the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) failed to address the need to end impunity and ensure justice for the victims of the conflict that has raged in Darfur since 2003. This deficiency of the agreement was one major reason for its death on arrival – why it was unable to gain the confidence of the non-signatory rebel movements and much of Darfuri civil society, particularly community leaders in the IDP camps.

Noting the challenges of securing justice for the victims of grave crimes like genocide, while at the same time securing peace, we recommended a two-layered solution.

[F]irst, the pursuit of international justice at the level of the International Criminal Court to end impunity for those most responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity; and second, the construction or reform of local, national and regional justice and reconciliation processes to address atrocity crimes in the future…But any genuine progress in ending impunity and ensuring justice at the national level in Sudan is unlikely at present, and current regional mechanisms are unable to provide justice for crimes in Darfur. As such, the AU and international community must positively engage with the ICC while reiterating commitments to support the development of genuine accountability processes at national and regional levels.

Disputing the charges that the ICC unfairly targeted Sudan, we reminded the panel that the case of Darfur was referred to the ICC by the UN Security Council due to the absence of capable alternative mechanisms to deal with the grave crimes in Darfur, including any at the national level in Sudan or at regional levels:

Failed to initiate criminal justice proceedings against individuals responsible for or accused of crimes against humanity or war crimes in Darfur.
Refused to arrest and turn over those individuals charged by the ICC with crimes in Darfur.
Refused to heed advice from its friends and allies – such as the League of Arab States – on compromise measures designed to satisfy the need for justice.
Prevented justice for rape victims in Darfur, despite rampant sexual violence against women and girls in the region.

Specifically we recommended:

Supporting the Darfur case before the ICC, as it currently provides the only genuine option for holding accountable those most responsible for crimes against humanity in Darfur.
Positive engagement with the ICC. The AU and all states concerned about peace and justice have the opportunity through positive engagement to enhance the ability of the ICC to play a role in achieving the goals enshrined in the AU Charter.
Ensuring justice in a future Darfur peace agreement. The Darfur peace process should clearly address the need to end impunity and ensure justice for the victims. Mechanisms must include both criminal justice proceedings to hold perpetrators accountable and complementary restorative justice processes that aid victims and survivors of atrocities and their families and communities.

While the AUPD regrettably did not unequivocally support the Darfur cases currently before the ICC, its report serves as a damning indictment of the Sudanese government’s handling of justice issues in Darfur. The report highlights a number of the failings summarized above and states “[T]he Panel must…recognise that the victims of the conflict simply have no faith that the justice system of Sudan will be deployed fairly to address the crimes they have suffered.” The report also notes that ICC’s “prosecutorial policy inevitably leaves the overwhelming majority of individuals outside of the ICC system and still needing to answer for crimes they might have committed.” It is this reasoning that leads the panel to endorse a Hybrid Court for Darfur “as one component of the architecture for confronting Darfur’s past.” In essence, the AUPD argues that the ICC should be allowed to function, but more justice is better than less. We believe, like Human Rights Watch and other human rights organizations, that this hybrid court system could theoretically work as a mechanism for accountability complementary to the ICC. This proposal, however, cannot be a substitute for or an alternative to the current ICC proceedings. While some Darfuris, including rebel groups, may rightly presume that some African leaders wish to replace the ICC with the proposed hybrid court system, the Mbeki report does not specifically state this intention. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that this concern may be realized. Instead, as with the Obama administration’s Sudan policy review, the proof will be in the implementation of the AU’s hybrid court recommendations and its continuing work to promote peace, justice and reconciliation for the Darfuri people.

Pledge2Protect Conference

Allen Combs — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:46:19 +0000

Here are some photos from the Pledge2Protect Conference in Washington, DC:

Activists "Pledge 2 Protect" in Washington DC

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:02:35 +0000

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Jerry Fowler, Dr. Mohammed Abdallah, Bec Hamilton, Michelle Gavin "][/caption] This weekend the Save Darfur Coalition joined the Pledge2Protect conference here in Washington, DC. Hosted by STAND: The Sudent Anti-Genocide Coalition, the Save Darfur Coalition and the Enough Project, the conference sought to create an experience for participants that will empower them to become stronger leaders on their campuses and in their communities while demonstrating the strength of the movement to end genocide to policymakers on Capitol Hill. The coalition hosted the Sudan Plenary, which featured NSC Senior Director for African Affairs Michelle Gavin, author Bec Hamilton, physician and professor at al-Fasher University and former Director at Amel Center for torture victims in Darfur Dr. Mohammed Abdallah, Representative Mike Capuano (MA-08) and Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler. During the plenary, Representative McGovern told the conference attendees, "Everyone in this hall is essential to peace... To ending genocide. You are the engine, the energy" and instructed them: "you need to make sure your representative knows this matters to you!" Michelle Gavin said she was "energized by this gathering" and told the audience: "you have one of the most important roles in this important time period we're in now" for Sudan. Gavin also noted that "history shows us when activists come together on key issues we become closer to the America we want to be" and asked that activists "help [the government] keep focused on the fact that what needs to change is the situation on the ground in Sudan." In addition, the coalition hosted the following panels:

Building Effective Sticks & Carrots for Sudan Free & Fair? Or Fraud & Failure? The Election & Referendum in Sudan Protecting Civilians in Sudan Imagination as an Advocacy Tool: Bringing the Arts into the Picture Sudanese Voices on Lasting Peace & Stability in Sudan: Challenges & the Way Forward Peacemaking in Sudan Wars against Women & the Pursuit of Peace: the Case of Darfur The International Advocacy Movement on Sudan: A Conversation with Global Advocacy Leaders Sudanese Voices on Lasting Peace & Stability in Sudan: Challenges & the Way Forward

And coalition staff helped equip activists with the tools they need on the following panels:

Congress 201: Building Political Will Moved by Faith: Activism, Advocacy, & Genocide Prevention Media 101: Marketing Your Cause Fundraising 101: Effective Fundraising from $5 to $50,000 From the Experts: Running a Community Coalition

You can see more of the conference by checking out the twitter stream and our photos.

Voices for Darfur: 5 Years of Advocacy

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:32:25 +0000

At this weekend's conference - Pledge2Protect - the Save Darfur Coalition began our plenary on Sudan with this video, showcasing the movement's advocacy over the past 5 years.

Bashir cancels visit to OIC Summit in Turkey

Megan Flemming — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:40:14 +0000

[caption id="attachment_29" align="alignright" width="180" caption="Omar al-Bashir"][/caption] Late last week, it looked like Sudanese President al-Bashir would successfully travel to Turkey to attend the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Summit yesterday and today. Turkish officials had initially declared they had no plans to arrest al-Bashir, and had seemingly rebuffed attempts by European Union representatives to persuade them otherwise. But on Sunday, the news broke that al-Bashir had cancelled his trip at the last minute, with Sudan’s state-run news agency Suna reporting that "new developments" required Bashir's presence in Sudan. The Save Darfur Coalition’s president Jerry Fowler responded with the following statement:

"Omar al-Bashir's eleventh-hour cancellation of his trip to Turkey underscores his increasing isolation from the international community. It should be more clear than ever to Bashir's allies that his inability to attend multi-lateral meetings is both a practical burden and an embarrassment. And if those around him do not want to end up in a similar situation, they should work quickly to bring peace to Darfur, fully implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and cooperate with the International Criminal Court.”

It is likely that quiet pressure from the EU – and perhaps quieter pressure from the US – helped convince Turkey that welcoming al-Bashir was not worth angering its Western allies. Warnings to Turkey of the consequences of allowing Bashir to visit came not only from the Save Darfur Coalition and its partners, and international groups like Human Rights Watch – which warned Turkey stood to see its international image “plummet” – but also from Turkish civil society. On Friday, the 16 civil society organizations forming the Coalition for the International Criminal Court Turkey called on the country’s leaders not to permit al-Bashir to enter Turkey for the OIC meeting, or to arrest and hand him over to the ICC. The Turkish coalition’s coordinator Ozlem Altiparmak warned that "Turkey could see a backlash in public opinion and from civil-society groups if it fails to act while he is here." As my colleague Sean Brooks highlighted in his recent blog on a possible “shell game” being played by African States Parties to the ICC, this was not the first time al-Bashir’s international travel plans have changed at the last minute. As he prepares to represent his party in the upcoming Sudanese national elections, al-Bashir needs to demonstrate that he can carry out the full functions of his position – even as an indicted war criminal. Therefore, he will likely continue attempting to travel internationally beyond the states that form his small circle of remaining allies. The uproar that contributed to this week’s cancellation should underscore to all states – whether party to the ICC, or, non-states parties like Turkey – the undesirable consequences of being seen to consider allowing a fugitive from international justice safe haven on their soil.

Our Activists and Omar al-Bashir’s Travel Arrangements

wcfischer — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:58:19 +0000

As of Saturday morning, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was 100 percent committed to traveling to Turkey. Bashir, an indicted war criminal wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, was scheduled to arrive in Turkey on Sunday for a Monday summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Turkey, for some reason, did not initially feel compelled to prevent a war criminal from planting his feel on their soil. However, that didn’t prevent the Save Darfur Coalition and hundreds of committed activists from mobilizing. As reported in the Christian Science-Monitor, the Save Darfur Coalition was planning an large action at the Turkish Embassy in Washington, DC. The action - a gathering of students, activists and Sudanese expats - was organized to pressure Turkey into not letting Bashir travel to their country. We planed on delivering handcuffs to the Turkish government and demanding that if Bashir made it into their country that they immediately place him under arrest and ship him to The Hague. Well, Omar al-Bashir didn’t go to Turkey, he didn’t even get wheels up out of Sudan. Omar al-Bashir remains an outlaw, stymied by the ICC and on the run from justice. Hopefully, his days as the leader of Sudan are drawing to a close, and a new day for the people of Sudan is on the horizon.

Secretary of State Clinton on Charlie Rose

Allen Combs — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:30:00 +0000

Last night U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared on the Charlie Rose show. The interview was conducted while Secretary Clinton was in Germany to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. During the hour long discussion, Rose asked Clinton about a wide variety of topics including China's role in promoting peace in Darfur.

CHARLIE ROSE: Africa, especially Darfur -- are they [China] doing everything you want them to do there? HILLARY CLINTON: They are more understanding of the long-term consequences to their position in Sudan than they were before. What I mean by that is the Chinese have natural resource interests in Sudan. Darfur is destabilizing. The north-south situation could become violent and lead to conflict again. That would put at risk Chinese investments.

As one of Sudan's closest economic allies China holds a great deal of leverage over the Government of Sudan, which it should use to help bring peace to Darfur. Take Action Now: Tell President Obama to make peace in Darfur
a priority when he visits China and Japan The President leaves for his trip on Thursday so please sign the petition today!

Live Webcast from the White House Today at 3:00 PM (EST) -- UPDATED

Allen Combs — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:05:14 +0000

Update: The webcast has concluded. We will put up video from the event and a transcript as soon as the White House makes them available. In the meantime, check out these behind-the-scenes photos from Thursday's webcast:

Ask U.S. Webcast

Allen Combs — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:14:38 +0000

On Tuesday, November 11th Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler and STAND Student Director Layla Amjadi sat down for an hour long discussion with Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration and NSC Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs Samantha Power about the Obama Administration's plan for promoting peace in Sudan. Jerry and Layla asked questions submitted by hundreds of activists from around the country. Take a look:

Majority Leader Responds to Ask U.S. Webcast

Allen Combs — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:55:49 +0000

From the office of the Majority Leader:

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement after Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration and National Security Council Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs Samantha Power held a discussion this afternoon on Sudan policy: “I am pleased that the Obama Administration is continuing to focus on the dire situation in Sudan. Today’s discussion reflected the numerous challenges we face as we work to advance a more stable and secure Sudan. I will continue to talk to the Administration about the comprehensive strategy for Sudan that was released a few weeks ago, and how we can alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people. Congress will work jointly with the Administration to ensure that we end the genocide in Darfur, that the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the North and South continues to be implemented in a fair and timely manner, and to prevent Sudan from becoming a terrorist safe haven."

Activist Stories: Raising Awareness Through Music

wcfischer — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:56:36 +0000

Below is an email from Christian Anderson, a great guy and committed activist, who recently put on a concert to raise awareness and funds for the Save Darfur Coalition. I worked closely with Christian to help him spread the word, find other activists in the area, and provided him ideas and merchandise. I hope you’ll take time to read this post from Christian, not only to read an account of a great event, but hopefully to also give you ideas for an event in your area.

Greetings to all fighting the good fight for Darfur! I am writing to you from Los Angeles, CA where our adjunct activist group, The Rise Up Coalition, recently produced the official Save Darfur Concert at the Knitting Factory-Hollywood on Sept 15, 2009. (www.savedarfurconcertla.com) The concert was a mad dash since we did not get confirmation of the venue until 5 weeks before date and for the bands, 3 weeks before the date. I tested the sanity of our PR team with this timetable, but we gave it our best shot and got the word out. The focus of the night was empowerment. We wanted the concertgoer to leave motivated and inspired to change the world. Our formula was get them in the doors via a knock out, eclectic musical line-up and an open vodka bar from 7-8. We then got them in the "global" mood by dressing the venue with Save Darfur and other global activist paraphernalia: flags, banners, posters, shirts, hats, etc. We were blessed with great looking aspiring models and actors as bartenders, bar-backs, and security (this is LA, after all), and their form fitting Save Darfur shirts did not hurt sales either. As the concert-goer moved through the space, tables were set up for Save Darfur, JWW, Stop Genocide Now, Amnesty International, and Enough!. Our awesome representatives had petitions, information, and gear to sell. The bands started their sets with easy singer/songwriters then escalated to funk, hip hop, reggae, and finally rock and roll. A multimedia presentation played on all the flat screens throughout the venue, including a projection screen on the stage itself which was a subtitled reel detailing all 5 organizations in attendance and how they served Darfur and the Congo. As artists like Rocky Dawuni jammed on, images of Darfurians and Congolese children played in the background. The concertgoer might have come for the music or open vodka bar, but they were enveloped in a world of activism, and invited to see the faces of those they were helping. In between each set, our celebrity host, Todd Newton from E!, introduced a representative from each of the agencies for a quick empowerment speech about their fight to eradicate global atrocities and inviting involvement. Gabriel Stauring from Stop Genocide Now, roused a concert hall full of rockers to take out their cell phones and text Hillary Clinton "I STAND FOR THE SUDAN." People learned how simple every day actions can aid the cause: putting the White House on their speed dial and calling everyday or taking part in an international day of fasting for peace. The concert goer not only heard a great line-up of music, but also listened to 5 activist organizations each take different approaches to fighting the same fight; maybe they were attracted to the political activism of Save Darfur, or perhaps they preferred the petition signing of Amnesty International. There was something for everyone each leading to the same goal of ending these horrible atrocities. There are a million causes out there, but how many focus on funding the individual rather than the individual funding them? If every decision we make, every band we hire, and every speaker we choose is focused on the objective of empowering the individual to change the world, then we might just reach our goal of raising the next generation of global activists. Change will not happen in Darfur or the Eastern Congo unless our political leaders are placing the right pressure upon the likes of Bashir and company. We want to do our part in helping to rise up this army of activists and lead them to every senator's and congressman's door. To knock and knock loudly until change in the Sudan and Congo happens. We look forward to the next event. Rise up. -Christian Anderson, Rise Up Coalition www.christianandersononline.com

If you’ve got an idea for an event and would like some help in putting it on, please contact will[at]savedarfur[dot]org.

Winning Legitimacy: What Bashir Seeks in the Elections

seanbrooks — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:53:03 +0000

President Bashir's National Congress Party in Sudan is driving for one primary goal: winning the national elections scheduled for April 2010. All analysis of the NCP's behavior between now and April should be viewed through this lens. Bec Hamilton in a blog yesterday sees such motivations behind the NCP's outrageous suggestion of closing down IDP camps next year:

[T]he NCP sees the 2010 election as a rare chance to start over with a clean the slate in the eyes of its neighbors, if not the broader international community. “Democratically elected Bashir” sounds so much better than “indicted war criminal Bashir.” But the desire is not just to win the elections (the conditions have already been established such that short of radical changes that I don’t expect to see, I think it’s safe to say they have that one in the bag already). The desire is to be seen as having won them legitimately, which in turn requires convincing anyone who would dare to say otherwise, that the elections will be “free and fair.” The consequences of this desire are seen in several areas, one of which is the aggressive agenda that Khartoum is now pushing on IDP returns. There is a very real sense in which those in Khartoum view the IDP camps themselves as the problem - as if the camps would disappear, then there would no longer be a “Darfur problem” and the world shift the spotlight. What the regime understands well is that “free and fair elections” and “2.5 million IDPs” are not concepts easily reconciled.

Part of the NCP's effort, therefore, will be to make the case that the vast majority of Darfuris can participate in the electoral process. A NCP-leaning newspaper this morning includes the headline, "The Displaced are the highest percentage of registered voters in South Darfur" (link in Arabic). The article claims that in 10 days that 388,000 IDPs have registered to vote. With no election monitors (domestic or international) working in Darfur, no one will be able to confirm or deny these numbers. Many are also complaining about the registration process in less troubled areas of the country. During the first days of registration, the Carter Center "expressed concerns about the obstacles facing election observers." Since then, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and the northern opposition parties have all leveled complaints with the National Election Commission concerning the registration procedures and accusations against the NCP of manipulating the entire process. Their central demands now are an extension of the voter registration period (which currently is schedule to conclude at the end of the month) and greater independent monitoring. To prevent President Bashir from using fraudulent elections as a means to re-legitimize his regime both domestically and internationally, the U.S. administration must urgently call on the Sudanese government to create the political environment throughout Sudan necessary for free and fair elections to take place. And as Bec stated in her blog, the administration must also ensure that the return of IDPs in Darfur take place in a manner consistent with the international standards of “voluntary, safe and dignified.” They cannot be pushed home just to fit the electoral timeline of President Bashir and the NCP.

The Untreatable Wounds

wcfischer — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:47:38 +0000

In recent years Americans have heard a great deal about the "invisible wounds" some people carry with them after a traumatic experience. Whether it's a story about a returning veteran of the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, or that of a Katrina survivor, public awareness of invisible wounds has increased considerably over the past few years. As someone who has dealt with the invisible wounds of war, both personally and with comrades, I cannot even begin to imagine the difficulties faced by untreated victims of the genocide in Darfur and Sudan. In today's Washington Post, Michael Gerson pens an article that tells some of these very troubling tales:

On May 15, a woman near the Al Hamadiya camp in Zalingei was collecting firewood. Three armed men in khaki uniforms raped her, stabbed her in the leg, inflicted genital injuries and left her bleeding. She spent 45 days in the hospital. In 2003, the same woman was raped and shot while fleeing her village. Her story is in a recent, exhaustive, chilling report on Sudan written by a panel of experts at the United Nations. A U.N. official told me, "We have not talked to a single woman [in Darfur] who has not stated that sexual violence is their first concern." The panel documented sexual assaults against pregnant women and 12-year-old girls. Prosecutions are nonexistent. Local officials are indifferent.

The crisis in Darfur is anything but over. If anything, aid from the world is needed now more than ever. We must not allow war criminal Omar al-Bashir and his deadly regime to outlast our resolve. We must not allow our care to fade; our spirit to be broken; or our commitment to be anything but stalwart. We must, in chorus-as fellow humans, demand from our leaders a new day in Sudan. We have to demand that our leaders deal with the invisible wounds.

How Many Rifles Can an Airbus Hold: China Streamlining Genocide

wcfischer — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:34:48 +0000

[caption id="attachment_2098" align="alignright" width="126" caption="With flights from Khartoum to Beijing running direct, illicit weapons trading finds easier route "][/caption] China, an instrumental supporter of Omar al-Bashir and his murderous regime, proudly announced a new flight direct from Beijing to Khartoum earlier this week. The flight, provided by Hainan Airlines, China’s largest privately-owned air transport company, is launching its maiden direct flight between Beijing and the Sudanese capital next Tuesday. Interestingly, the Beijing-Khartoum flight is Hainan’s second to Africa - the first was a flight to Luanda, Angola…..another of the continent’s top oil-producing countries. These flights are clearly about business. Additionally, the timing is interesting in terms of the priorities it reveals. Hainan only has one North American destination in service: Seattle. The Khartoum route service coincides with approval to begin a second North American route to Honolulu. That’s two American routes for one Sudanese route….Furthermore Hainan has only two current destinations in Western Europe: Brussels and Berlin, with a bid for Dusseldorf. It has five routes to Russia, no stranger to illicit arms deals with Sudan. So what’s the big deal? Well, aviation links between China and Sudan deserve extra scrutiny. Why? Because first, the illegal deployment of aviation assets was a major factor in violation of the Sudan arms embargo as cited by the United Nations Panel of Experts report released last month. Further, private companies have been central to these violations, and many have been nonresponsive or uncooperative toward the panel’s inquiries. Finally, the vast majority of ammunition and weapons found in Darfur, POST-EMBARGO, were manufactured by Chinese companies in China. That means that military materiel was illegally transported from China to Sudan somehow. The report calls for greater transparency and accountability in their movement, citing:

“The obvious lack of consistent and professional monitoring is exacerbated by the failure of the Government of Sudan to provide the Panel with data on air traffic movements and to ensure the Panel’s full and unfettered access to relevant airports and to the Sudanese civil aviation companies that are involved in delivering embargoed materiel.”

“Because many of the arms and ammunition documented in the Darfur region have been manufactured in China, the Panel has sought with particular interest the cooperation of the Government of China.”

Widely known and reported, China is and has remained a stalwart player throughout the crisis in Sudan. Whether curbing UN investigations or totally dismissing atrocities committed by the Bashir regime – China has been a leading voice in defending the Khartoum government and its destructive actions. But why shouldn't they? After all, when has China been known to let human rights abuses get in the way of efficiency? Why have to deal with risking someone finding a cargo hold of weapons? "Sudan and China have held old and renewed relations along the past fifty years," recently said, Minister of International Cooperation of Sudan, Dr. Al-Tigani Saleh Fedail. "Sudan has the advantage of vast natural resources and China has the advantage of expertise and appropriate technology" With allegations of an arms war beginning between the North and South, when will the first re-supply of weapons for the Janjaweed and other Sudanese “auxiliary” forces arrive, Dr. Al-Tigani? One cannot help but picture full barrels of oil being loaded up as crates of arms and ammo are unloaded and dispersed to these militias. But that’s ok, right, China…as long as you’re getting yours.

Civil Society Now: Darfuris Gather in Doha

seanbrooks — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:51:14 +0000

This week, the African Union/United Nations Chief Mediator Djibril Bassolé will begin consultations with 150 Darfuri civil society representatives in Doha, Qatar. Rather than focusing on this important gathering though, the media over the weekend strangely focused on the postponement of negotiations between the Sudanese government and the Darfuri rebels. Those following the process closely knew for weeks that Bassolé and the Qataris were intending to use the remaining weeks of November to consult with Darfuri civil society and the rebel movements – and were not planning to launch direct talks between the rebels and Sudanese government until December. So this was not really news. A government-leaning Sudanese newspaper, Al Rai Al Aam, on November 9 even ran a story entitled, “Resumption of the Doha negotiations in December.” What the media has fundamentally missed is that the gathering of Darfuri civil society is critical to a successful peace process. The voices and concerns of these local leaders who have not taken up arms merit attention from the press and support from the international community. The most important question that journalists should be asking is whether the Sudanese government this time will allow all Darfuri leaders to leave Sudan and travel to the meetings. Despite all of its recent rhetoric about being ready for peace talks, in May of this year, the government obstructed “the safe passage of Darfurian delegates from Sudan” to the Mandate Darfur conference organized by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. At the time the organizers wrote:

“Despite numerous attempts at engagement with the Sudanese government, including sending a delegation to Khartoum and inviting senior figures to address the conference, we were greatly disappointed that Sudanese security services harassed our delegates, confiscated passports and threatened the conference coordinators in Sudan. Ultimately, the government has refused to grant exit visas to the delegates making it impossible for the conference to proceed.”

A second important question to ask is whether the 150 delegates will be representative of the diverse nature of Darfuri society. That is, will there be the necessary ethnic, geographic, and gender balance and will IDPs and traditional leaders be represented? Many Darfuris remember the hand-picked civil society “representatives” that the government sent to the Abuja peace talks in Nigeria in 2006. The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has already complained (article in Arabic) about the current list of invitees and delivered to the mediators their own list. Drawing lessons from Abuja, the Save Darfur Coalition has consistently called for the broadening of the peace process in order to create a sense of ownership among Darfuris. In our submission to the African Union Panel on Darfur, we wrote:

Limited formal means have existed to date for civil society to contribute to the peace process. The previous practice of giving seats at the table to almost any combatant has had the perverse effect of encouraging the factionalization of armed groups and giving armed groups a greater say in determining the future of Darfur than their unarmed counterparts. To date, the concerns of disaffected Arab tribes in Darfur have also been excluded from the formal peace process because of the focus on only bringing officially recognized rebel movements to the talks. A vigorous process of consultation with Darfurian civil society, including tribal leaders (including Arab tribes), will ensure the talks are truly representative and limit the ability of individual rebel leaders to put their personal ambitions ahead of a broadly acceptable agreement. With such a process in place, individual leaders will abstain from the process at their political peril.

We then recommended a strong mechanism, like Mandate Darfur, to enhance civil society representation and engagement. We also highlighted the important work conducted by the Institute for Inclusive Security and Femmes Africa Solidarité to promote the role of women at the negotiating table. These channels must now be set up to gain the necessary support within Darfur for any final agreement. Otherwise, a deal reached in Doha – like the one reached in Abuja – could be dead on arrival. The active involvement of civil society leaders could also help isolate any Darfuri rebel leaders who may try to spoil the peace process because of personal or political ambitions. In sum, it is good news that the chief mediator has made holding these civil society sessions a priority in advance of the formal negotiations. With that said, we must look out for reports that the government has blocked participants. The mediators should also ensure that the gathered group is sufficiently representative – or, if not, that the leaders have concrete plans to fill any significant ethnic, geographic or gender gaps. Hopefully, these consultations will help build a Darfuri consensus on the substantive issues on the table and, equally important, result in a formal channel for civil society to contribute to the negotiations when they may resume in December.

China: Obama's Test

jerry — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:00:05 +0000

Cross posted from The Huffington Post As President Obama travels to China this week, he unquestionably has a full plate of priorities to discuss with the Chinese government. The economy, trade wars, nuclear proliferation, and security cooperation will all receive significant amounts of attention, as well they should. Some commentators are describing the President's trip to China as a test of his foreign policy prowess; it will also serve as a test of his dedication to resolving one of the thorniest problems currently plaguing the international community: Sudan. On October 19th, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, UN Ambassador Susan Rice and Special Envoy for Sudan Scott Gration unveiled the administration's long-awaited Sudan policy review. In it, the administration asserted that "sustained political will to address Sudan's tough challenges in the international community is sometimes lacking. American leadership is essential to a more effective multilateral approach." President Obama can make good on that promise of American leadership in Beijing. China has a key role to play in bringing peace to Darfur and full implementation of the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). No nation holds more leverage over Sudan than does China. Sudan exports 70 percent of its oil (its main source of hard currency) to China, has an extensive military relationship with the Chinese government, and counts on China to veto tough multilateral sanctions at the United Nations on Sudan's behalf. Yet China has mostly played the role of Khartoum's "heat shield," protecting it from international pressures. If President Obama is serious about his administration's dedication to building a multilateral coalition to address the crises in Darfur, he could do no better than by starting in Beijing and convincing his hosts that they need to play a more constructive role in building a stable, peaceful Sudan, instead of continuing to blindly stand by a regime headed by an indicted war criminal. But why should China listen? It has always craved greater international respect and an enhanced role for its leadership. Sudan provides an opportunity for China to act as a responsible world power. But President Obama has a strong argument to make to President Hu Jintao that even China's narrower self-interests should motivate it to work in concert with the U.S. in Sudan. The reason is clear: China has come to count on access to Sudan's oil, much of which is in South Sudan, and has invested billions. If the North-South conflict is reignited, as is all too plausible, China could lose access to those oil fields. Even if conflict does not reignite between the North and South, the South will hold a referendum on its independence in January 2011, at which point the world may be dealing with the new republic of South Sudan. It behooves China to have a seat at the table during the run-up to this process so that its oil concessions can be adequately protected during any process of state separation. In short, President Obama has set viable terms for engaging the Khartoum regime, and he should encourage his Chinese counterpart, President Hu Jintao, to join the effort. When the Chinese recognize that peace in Sudan serves their interests, there are ways in which China can begin to demonstrate to the Sudanese and the world that it is serious. For example, the president should encourage China to condition any debt write-off owed to it by the Government of Sudan or its proxies on concrete and lasting progress on the ground in Darfur and throughout Sudan. The Government of Sudan has accrued $36 billion in debt, owed mostly to multilateral, Western, Chinese, and Arab creditors. Securing debt-relief has become a major priority for the Sudanese government. Darfur activists inside and outside Sudan support debt cancellation as a long-term incentive for Khartoum's implementation of the CPA, respect for democracy and human rights, and an end to violence in Darfur. But to cancel this odious debt pre-emptively, before the regime has changed its behavior, would not only relinquish an important source of leverage over Khartoum, it would throw good money after bad. China should also refrain from granting any new loans to the Government of Sudan until it meets such conditions as fully cooperating with the peacekeeping force in Darfur (UNAMID), faithfully implementing the CPA, and cooperating with the International Criminal Court. There is no substitute for President Obama's leadership if the situation in Sudan is to be successfully resolved. But, as the president's own policy outlines, it will take an international coalition to prod the Government of Sudan into taking the steps toward peace that the international community has called for, time and time again. If President Obama is serious about creating that coalition, he must start in Beijing, and he must start now. China's economic leverage in Sudan, used in the right way, is a necessary ingredient to creating a safe and secure Sudan. The afflicted people of Darfur and other disaffected Sudanese will be watching closely to see if President Obama backs his policy pronouncement with action and passes his test in Beijing.

Presidential Silence in Beijing

jerry — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:19:52 +0000

Cross posted from The Huffington Post Less than a month after his Administration proclaimed in its new strategy for Sudan that "American leadership is essential to a more effective multilateral approach," President Obama left China early this morning without any public reference to having brought up Sudan with his hosts. There were background statements to journalists that it was on a list of things discussed. Such low-key treatment was a huge missed opportunity to enlist the support for the new strategy from a crucial country. It also was a rejection of the recent, bipartisan plea by 44 Members of Congress:

As you prepare to visit China, we strongly urge you to make Sudan a priority in your bilateral discussions. As you are well aware, China is a major arms supplier and source of economic strength to the regime in Khartoum, and has a vital role to play in any ultimate resolution of the multiple crises in Sudan.

The Congressional letter echoed a petition signed by tens of thousands of citizen-activists who asked for President Obama to call on the Chinese to work with the U.S. and:

Use their economic and political influence with Sudan to support the Darfur peace process, full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), and significant structural, political and judicial reforms to Sudan.

The President's public silence on Sudan in Beijing follows on a similar silence by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on her recent visit to Egypt - another country that is crucial to bringing peace to Sudan. Their failure to raise Sudan publicly in bilateral meetings with key countries sends an unfortunate message to the Sudanese government and other key actors: The United States is not leading for peace in Sudan. Michael Gerson recently summed up the urgent need for leadership:

Only a president and his secretary of state can insist on boldness. Absent that insistence, America's Sudan policy is in a holding pattern, waiting for the next crisis to refocus global attention. Meanwhile, women are raped, with impunity. Weapons are illegally imported, with impunity. Civilians are attacked, with impunity. And at some point, impunity becomes permission.

The "unstinting resolve" that Candidates Obama and Clinton pledged last year is needed now, more than ever.

Save Darfur Coalition Reacts to President Obama's Trip to China

Allen Combs — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:43:04 +0000

Statement from Jerry Fowler, president of the Save Darfur Coalition on President Obama’s Trip to China:

President Obama's public silence on Sudan in Beijing sent an unfortunate message to the Sudanese government and other key actors that he is not willing to lead publicly for peace in Sudan. The Administration's new Sudan strategy cannot succeed without vigorous multilateral leadership that starts with the President. Tacking Sudan on to a laundry list of items behind closed doors is not that kind of leadership.

China's New Commitments in Khartoum

seanbrooks — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:01:19 +0000

[caption id="attachment_2183" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Zhou Yongkang of the Communist Party of China andSudanese Vice President Ali Osman Tah meet in Khartoum"]Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Tah meet in Khartoum" width="450" height="363" />[/caption] Yesterday, while President Barack Obama met with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing, top Sudanese government officials inked a new deal with a visiting Chinese delegation in Khartoum. Not yet covered by the English-language press, Al-Rai Al-Aam (an Arabic-language Sudanese newspaper that leans heavily to Omar al-Bashir’s National Congress Party) ran a leading story this morning with the headline: “The government welcomes China's plan for joint cooperation.” The series of agreements brokered between the two governments comes two days after the announcement of the first non-stop flight between Beijing and Khartoum. The multi-layered package of support will focus cooperation in four areas: energy, infrastructure, agriculture and food, and training and capacity building. There was also a commitment to develop stronger national ties by opening cultural centers and connecting universities. Perhaps most importantly, China pledged to work with Sudan to double its oil production and continue to finance large-scale development projects. To those ends, the two parties signed two loans worth a collective $46 million and a grant of $11 million. Xinhua reports that senior Communist Party of China (CPC) officials hailed their country’s relations with Sudan in their public comments. Zhou Yongkang of the CPC said that he was “pleased to see that Sudan has become one of the fast growing economies in Africa and has improved its people’s standards of living while advancing national reconciliation.” He also stated that:

Sudan has become China's third largest trade partner in Africa…China is Sudan's largest trade partner…Zhou said 2009, which also marks the 10th anniversary of an oil cooperation project between the two countries, is an important year in the history of the Chinese-Sudanese friendship. In order to enhance the bilateral relationship, China and Sudan should promote political mutual trust, deepen their economic and trade cooperation and expand their exchanges.

With this visit, the Chinese delegation has unabashedly affirmed China’s long-term support of the Sudanese government. The fact that this deal was struck while President Obama was in China makes the U.S. presidential silence on Sudan – that Jerry addressed this morning – so much more glaring.

U.S. Policy of Engagement Extends to International Criminal Court

Megan Flemming — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:27:11 +0000

At a news conference in Nairobi this morning, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues Stephen Rapp announced that the US will participate as an observer in the November 18-26th meeting of the ICC Assembly of States Parties in the Hague. According to reports, Rapp himself will lead the U.S. delegation. Like all countries which signed the Final Act of the 1998 Rome Conference that established the ICC, the U.S. is entitled to participate as an observer in all intergovernmental ICC meetings, a status which confers all the rights and privileges of any other attendee except voting. But until today’s announcement, the U.S. has never made use of this right, unlike many other non-states parties, including China and Russia, which have participated as observers in ICC meetings. The Obama administration – like the Bush administration before it - has already expressed support for the ICC’s investigations into crimes in Darfur. The administration’s recently released Sudan policy includes support for international efforts to bring to justice those responsible for genocide and war crimes in Darfur. The U.S.’s approach to the Court has steadily warmed since 2005, when the U.S. abstained from voting on -- and thereby allow to pass -- the United Nations Security Council resolution referring the Darfur situation to the ICC. Today’s announcement follows this trajectory. The U.S. has now taken a notable step beyond supporting investigations of specific atrocity situations and returned to a policy of engagement with the court as a whole. Describing the decision this morning, Ambassador Rapp noted: “we certainly are looking to engage with the ICC to ensure that in places where there are no other avenues for accountability that it will be an effective instrument for ensuring that individuals are brought to justice."

November's Darfur Hero: A Ballet about Darfur

goalawal — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:08:19 +0000

The Darfur Heroes program is a way for the Save Darfur Coalition to honor individuals and groups who have done inspiring and important work in an effort to end the violence in Sudan. This November, the Save Darfur Coalition is proud to honor Rebecca Davis, an entrepreneur and activist who has used the arts to bring attention to the genocide in Darfur. Rebecca's commitment and drive inspired us, and her ballet DARFUR wowed a colleague, who traveled up to Philadelphia for a screening. Earlier this month, we invited Rebecca to speak at the Pledge2Protect conference in our "Imagination as an Advocacy Tool: Bringing the Arts into the Picture" session where she inspired activists of all ages to use their talents at their disposal to promote social change. Next is the story of Rebecca's involvement, in her own words: It was 2006 and I kept seeing these horrific photos in the New York Times with bylines reading “Darfur”. I had followed Nicholas Kristof’s articles for quite awhile, but nothing had shocked and depressed me like this. What was this place called Darfur? Why was this happening to these people? As I learned more, I realized genocide isn’t something that happens to “these people”. Instead, it is a root evil that exists in all of us, and consequently, each and every individual has a responsibility to stop it. In my effort to find logic to the madness in Darfur, I picked up a book: The Devil Came on Horseback. As the story unfolded through the eye witness account of U.S Marine Brian Steidle, my curiosity mutated into frustration. I knew I had to do something about this, but what could I do as a 25 year old entrepreneur in Philadelphia? I choreograph ballets and run a dance company…so that’s what I did. In April 2008, The Rebecca Davis Dance Company premiered the first contemporary ballet about Darfur. Our production, also titled Darfur, conveys the story of The Devil Came on Horseback through movement. It is set to alternative rock music, ranging from 311 to A Perfect Circle. The production has been performed throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and it will premiere at NuDance Festival in NYC in December 2009. The production raises awareness and donates funds from each performance to genocide survivors in Rwanda and Sudan. Learning about this genocide and creating a subsequent ballet is just one small step in affecting our own consciousness about the tragedy of the human condition. Kristof will continue to write, Steidle will continue to show photos, my dancers will continue to perform…now, what will you do?

Rebecca Davis is the Artistic Director of the Rebecca Davis Dance Company.

Falling Down: Sudan Takes Its Place at the Bottom

Celeste Robinson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:43:50 +0000

Each year, Transparency International—a Berlin-based NGO that monitors global graft—releases a Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which reports corruption levels throughout the world by assigning the rank and score of surveyed countries. Each year, Sudan appears, predictably, in the last few spaces of a long list; among the lowest of the low. Despite its poor performance, Sudan does cling to one key distinction. Unlike even the most desperate states—including many of its struggling and war-torn neighbors—Sudan’s score has consistently dropped over the past five years. Since signing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), rather than progress, Sudan has fallen even further behind in terms of what TI’s index measures. But what exactly is that? Transparency International collects surveys from independent experts, formulates a number on a 10-point scale, and assigns each country a rank based on that (information on their research and methodology can be found here). More important than the lists and figures is what they indicate. In the case of Sudan, a dismally low and ever-decreasing score reveals that its leaders have failed to translate the country’s natural wealth and considerable international investment into equitable and steady economic progress for all of its people. It has failed to use the opportunities presented by peace negotiations, international aid, and prospective elections to realize essential political reforms and improve the country’s governance. It’s no surprise, then, that this year Sudan takes its place at #176 of 180 countries, with a score of 1.5 out of 10. Surrounded by headline-makers like Somalia, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Iraq, there, at the end, Sudan enjoys the company of its political and economic peers: the world’s failed and failing states. This seems appropriate; Sudan’s own list of well-documented failures is long: failure to protect its own people, failure to negotiate in good faith, failure to promote peace and justice....it goes on. Lack of transparency and accountability comprise a destructive and pervasive theme – a strategy, even – that defines the dealings of a government with a wanted war criminal at its helm. As much as Sudan risks becoming a failed state at the hands of its own destructive regime, the vast country has also been failed – by members of the international community, many of which dominate the index’s upper rankings or, like China, have worked hard to improve their own. Implicated in Sudan’s failure are many—from the passive acquiescence of African leaders to his crimes, to the outright denial of these violations in the Arab World; from the empty promises of wealthy Western countries, to the ethical void in Chinese influence. Non-state actors also share the blame: rebel groups, opportunistic bandits, and corporate interests alike work to destabilize and pillage an entire nation for the benefit of the few. One can see this entire picture at play in a recent report by the UN Panel of Experts on the Sudan, which cites a lack of transparency in all matters ranging from Janjaweed disarmament to arms embargo violations in Darfur. Private companies in the United Arab Emirates and powerful governments like China are implicated in the use of loopholes and shady dealings to facilitate and profit from criminal governance, rather than acknowledge what the evidence continually tells us: that American sanctions are in place and Bashir has been indicted for a reason. International supply chains and air transport data go conveniently missing when lucrative deals can be made, as does talk of human rights for one key reason: human rights and corruption operate in a zero-sum game. More corruption typically means more victims and wider suffering. Transparency International makes this important point in its analysis of “poor performance”:

“[W]hile corruption is indeed one of the most formidable challenges to good governance, development and poverty reduction….the vast majority of the people are victims of corruption.”

In no place has this been more obvious than the Sudan: corruption destabilizes more than just its economy. Lack of accountability has stolen Sudanese lives and livelihoods alike; it facilitates conflict, precludes justice, and negates peace. And yet, despite all that’s at stake, rather than secure the political and economic future of his country, President Omar al-Bashir relentlessly continues to destroy its chances of success. Rather than service its dangerously high debt burden, the transaction of choice for the Government of Sudan has been to procure advanced weaponry in illicit arms transfers. The al-Bashir regime has consistently chosen to invest in war and repression year after year….decade after decade, in a certifiable race to the bottom. The people of Sudan continue to suffer the consequences while hoping for more responsible leadership and foreign support. Elections scheduled for 2010 once were looked to as such an opportunity for a democratic transformation. With growing signs that these will be stolen by Bashir and the NCP, the international community must send a message that the regime cannot gloss over all of its failure and regain legitimacy with un-credible electoral enterprise.

Bashir: In case of emergency dial Hu or Zhou?

seanbrooks — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:15:25 +0000

[caption id="attachment_2205" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Zhou Yongkang of the Communist Party of China andSudanese Vice President Ali Osman Tah meet in Khartoum"][/caption] To close the week, more information on the China/Sudan deal reported first in the Sudanese press and covered here on Wednesday and breaking in the English-language press today. John Garnaut at The Sydney Morning Herald details the power of security chief Zhou Yongkang who led the Chinese delegation to Sudan. Garnaut describes the contingent from Beijing as “almost as impressive as Obama’s” and writes:

Zhou could not have made his visit to Sudan without the party leadership considering how it might affect the Obama-Hu Jintao spectacle in Beijing. Ostensibly, however, he and Bashir were simply getting down to business. They unveiled the first Khartoum-Beijing direct flights, opened a Confucius Institute, signed an agriculture agreement and agreed to jointly pump yet more oil.

The article also gives more of the back-story on China’s investments in Sudan:

Back in 1995 Zhou Yongkang was working his way to the top of China's biggest oil company, Petrochina. He had close connections with another oil industry veteran, Zeng Qinghong, who happened to be a powerbroker for the then president, Jiang Zemin. Zhou and Zeng were the drivers and Jiang was the decision maker behind China's hugely controversial decision to exploit Sudan's oil reserves at a time when Western companies could not afford the political or reputation risk, according to several Chinese oil industry and foreign policy sources…This week, Zhou gave a modest account of that personal history. ''Fourteen years ago, then Chinese president Jiang Zemin and you made the strategic decision to start China-Sudan oil co-operation, and our bilateral pragmatic co-operation has since entered a stage of fast development," Zhou recounted to Bashir, on the delayed CCTV report. Bashir was quick to give Zhou some personal glory. "You are the important promoter of the Sudan-China oil project, the Sudanese people have special affection towards you," said Bashir. "Sudan-China oil co-operation not only brought Sudan oil but also peace."

What is even more troubling than the airtight relationship between China and Omar al-Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP) is the power of the Oil Gang in China – led by Zhou. According to Garnaut, this group has “obstructed efforts by President Hu and others to support international sanctions against Sudan.” From the outside, it sure looks like Hu has a convenient excuse not to take any dramatic steps to challenge Khartoum's deadly policies in Darfur, failure to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and enact true political reforms. Yet, this is the very reason why Save Darfur has urged President Obama not only to use moral suasion with the Chinese but appeal directly to their own national interests: keeping oil freely flowing (something impossible, for example, if war erupts again between the North and South). This type of realist case for tying incentives for the NCP directly to sustainable peace in Sudan has the real potential to influence even Khartoum’s closest supporters like Mr. Zhou.

All the Sons (and Daughters) of Darfur

seanbrooks — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:17:49 +0000

The Darfuri civil society consultations in Doha concluded Saturday with representatives finalizing the “Doha Declaration” and delivering it to African Union/United Nations chief mediator Djibril Bassolé and their Qatari host, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H.E. Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud. The declaration reportedly urged the Sudanese government and the Darfuri rebels to commit to a ceasefire and begin negotiations as soon as possible. It also called upon all sides and the mediators to include civil society as part of the negotiations and to task it with assisting in the implementation of any agreement. The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) is not at all enthusiastic about a coherent civil society voice. But unlike in May with Mandate Darfur, a civil society initiative sponsored by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, we have not heard of any reported incidents of Darfuri representatives being prevented by the Sudanese government from attending. This outcome is likely due to the combined and coordinated pressure of Bassolé, the Qataris, U.S. Special Envoy Scott Gration and other envoys. As for the overall representation of the 170 delegates, we are hearing good things as well. Rebel representatives in Doha, who themselves are leery of a strong civil society voice, had to concede that the NCP had not stacked the conference. While there are no hard numbers, many of the representatives and others at the consultations stated that overall they were satisfied with the attendance. Of course, there were some pro-NCP attendees, but these were nowhere near the majority. And it seems apparent from the “Doha Declaration” itself that NCP representatives had limited influence on the outcome. In addition to a call for a ceasefire and negotiations, the civil society representatives also made strong demands about carrying out justice, ending impunity, and resolving land issues in Darfur. In fact, the document specifically calls for the return of all land of displaced persons and refugees to their original owners and the evacuation of those who have lived on the land during their absence. It also calls for the disarmament of all armed forces in Darfur, except for the constitutionally authorized regular forces, and the establishment of the necessary security mechanisms by UNAMID to allow displaced persons and refugees to return to their villages. As we have just received the text in Arabic, we will try to provide a summary translation later in the week. Overall, it seems like the chief mediator Bassolé accomplished his goal: sending a strong message from civil society representatives to the Sudanese government and rebels that the conflict should be settled as soon as possible. According to The Sudan Tribune, he said that the peace process “concerns all the sons of Darfur” and that this meeting would be followed by others in Darfur. Henry Anyidoho, the acting Joint AU-UN Special Representative for Darfur, added:

The growing consensus that would emerge in the civil society consultations here in Doha will certainly have a positive impact on the next round of talks between the Government and the armed movements, and I am hopeful that this will reinvigorate the entire peace process.

He issued a challenge to the gathered representatives:

You have been persistently asking for this opportunity and you now have it. Please make full use of it and do not let it slip away.

In addition to Bassolé and Anyidoho, the Darfuri representatives were welcomed to the meetings by Qatari prime minister, the African Union’s Chairperson Jean Ping and representatives from the Arab League, United States, United Kingdom, France, Chad, Libya, Egypt, China, Russia, Senegal, Syria, Organization of Islamic Conferences, and European Union. Their attendance showed the interest of the world in the meetings, but Anyidoho had a strong message to the international community as well:

Only when all stakeholders, including the international community, speak with one voice on how best to resolve the conflict in Darfur, will the improvements that we can already see on the ground in Darfur become sustainable and encompassing…Let us redouble our efforts towards this one objective: peace and stability in Darfur.

To that end, we know that only consistent, coordinated pressure on the Sudanese government and Darfuri rebels will compel them to engage seriously in future talks. So let us hope these consultations really represent a “breakthrough” in the negotiations and that this declaration from so many unheard voices will help push all sides to the table to address the critical issues of protection, peace and justice for millions of Darfuris.

One Last Chance for Credible Elections in Sudan

AlexMeixner — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:24:35 +0000

Cross posted from Change.org's STOP GENOCIDE blog During a recent press conference, as reported in the Sudan Tribune, U.S. Special Envoy Scott Gration stated that he was “pleased to see that Sudan is entering into the registration period that things are proceeding,” and that he was looking “forward to a good election in April.” While optimism is a rare commodity in Sudanese politics and one to be valued, and with the caveat that the press conference excerpts may have been followed by a litany of unquoted qualifiers, General Gration’s focus on the bright side of an increasingly dark election process avoids some hard but critical truths. No doubt, there is a fine line to walk when talking about the Sudanese national elections required by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and now scheduled for April 11, 2010. On one hand, a peaceful and credible democratic transformation of Sudan is easily the best alternative to the genocidal and dictatorial status quo, and so should be encouraged. On the other hand, there comes a point when the likelihood of a peaceful and credible election is so diminished as to become laughable. The electoral situation in Sudan is not quite to that point of no legitimacy and no return yet, but it is getting perilously close. How bad is it, you ask? The ruling National Congress Party continues to refuse to remove tyrannical laws forbidding the most basic forms of political activity, including the rights of opposition candidates to campaign publicly, the rights of the press to cover the elections objectively, and the rights of Sudanese citizens to freely assemble to demonstrate their support for opposition candidates or even to hear what they have to say. Pretty bad, you must admit. But the truly devious electioneering moves by the NCP come in the form of a seemingly innocuous calendar. Setting absurdly short duration limits on voter registration all but guarantees a low turnout. Worse, a short voter registration timeline enormously favors northern urban centers and other pro-Bashir areas where the NCP has seen fit to spend money preparing for the logistical challenge of the first national election in over 20 years. We have also heard reports that in some areas near Khartoum the NCP conducted early registration efforts. So as you may have guessed, the system is being rigged to make it harder for millions of rural or displaced would-be voters in Darfur (who are somewhat unlikely to vote for the man who has been orchestrating a genocide against them) to participate. Add rampant insecurity and well-founded fear for their safety to the logistical difficulties facing millions of Darfuris and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a massive fraud masquerading as an election. And here’s the rub: an electoral masquerade is in fact the ultimate goal of President Bashir and the NCP. Bashir has not held onto power for 20+ years by taking unnecessary risks, and that’s just what a credible and legitimate election would be from Bashir’s perspective – an unnecessary risk. Bashir is much better off manufacturing an illusion of a credible election and then tasking his formidable diplomatic and public relations team with spinning the unsurprising results in his favor within the halls of power and public opinion abroad. Bashir doesn’t expect his charade to win over skeptical western governments, media, or public opinion, but he doesn’t need to win them over. He needs his elections charade to give political cover to his semi-reluctant allies in China, the African Union, and the Arab League who would like to support Bashir’s continued hold on power, but who are wary of public and international opinion that has been trending increasingly against him. When the post-election dust settles, the west may scream bloody murder about fraudulent elections, but will be blocked from initiating any meaningful multilateral consequences by Bashir’s allies, who will claim the elections credible because it is expedient and just reasonable enough to do so. Bashir will have regained enough tarnished legitimacy to continue his rule without additional consequence from the allied states that have the power (but not the inclination) to compel real reform in Sudan, and the western world will be forced to admit it was once again suckered by a consummate political survivor. A grim scenario, but an unfortunately likely one. Alternatively, General Gration and other international powers could heed and publicize the warnings of logic and Sudanese history that the conditions for a free and fair election are not close to being possible. These warnings have been echoed by the Carter Center, which recently complained about the deeply flawed voter registration process. U.S. outrage after fraudulent elections in Sudan has almost certainly been factored into Pres. Bashir’s plans and is unlikely to derail them. A real U.S.-led international effort to spotlight election fraud as it happens, on the other hand, could help compel real concessions to democracy and give these elections a fighting chance at credible legitimacy. More important, strong U.S. leadership could give everyone’s favorite option to change Sudan’s genocidal and dictatorial status quo one last chance at success.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

Megan Flemming — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:31:48 +0000

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Photo Credit: Physicians for Human Rights"][/caption] This year, the Save Darfur Coalition is participating in 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence — an international campaign which recognizes the strength of women around the world and challenges advocates and global leaders to raise their voices to end the violence. Over the next 16 days — from International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25th to International Human Rights Day on December 10th — the Save Darfur Coalition will recognize leaders in the fight to bring peace, security and opportunity to women in Sudan and offer corresponding actions to help end violence against women in Sudan. On the first of these 16 days, the Save Darfur Coalition is honoring not one individual leader, but the Darfuri women living in the Farchana refugee camp in eastern Chad. On this day, we hope you will read and share with your friends and family “The Farchana Manifesto,” a declaration of women’s and human rights written by a group of Darfuri refugee women after the brutal beating of several women in their camp by community leaders. Most of us who have taken part in years of advocacy for peace in Darfur will at times reach points of overwhelm, even of hopelessness. News coverage -- and sometimes our own awareness-raising -- about the conflict in Darfur often focuses on the cold, impersonal and huge facts of death tolls and numbers of displaced people. What has continued to ground me over my last three years at the Save Darfur Coalition are opportunities to connect with and learn the stories and actions of survivors. I am humbled each time I meet Fatima Haroun and Zeinab Eyega, two Sudanese community advocates now working in the U.S., whom we’ll honor for their leadership on December 4th and December 10th respectively. I hope that reading and sharing the “The Farchana Manifesto” will similarly inspire and energize you. As we advocate to stop violence against women in Darfur, it can be difficult not to focus on acts of violence, on people as either victims or perpetrators. Reading and sharing the Farchana declaration is an opportunity to connect with Darfuri refugee women not as victims but as people, as survivors and leaders. In their response to violence against women in their camp, the manifesto’s authors described deeply rooted challenges facing women in their community ranging from “Lack of freedom to go toe work or engage in life’s activities” to “Lack of opportunity for freedom of speech, and no one to listen to what women say.” They write that in their community, there is a “Failure to value the life of the woman. They only value her in bed. They like a lot of births, but they do not like raising sons and children.” But far from hopeless, the women authors of “The Farchana Manifesto” end by writing “Thank you. We hope to achieve freedom for women in the whole world.”

Wear a white ribbon

Melissa Warnke — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:20:13 +0000

This Thanksgiving, my family was very into the spirit of the 16 Days. We found some holiday ribbon upstairs and, with the help of kitchen scissors and safety pins, had our very own "White Ribbons" - ribbons that serve as a pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women - to mark Day 2. Sadly, my sister is abroad this year but we plan on pinning one on her as soon as she reaches the States. While wearing a ribbon might seem like a small action, it is a fantastic tool for spreading awareness. I remember a Darfur vigil I attended last fall, where we all received green ribbons. I pinned it onto the coat I was wearing then and have never taken it off. Every time I wear that coat now, both strangers and friends ask me about its significance, and I have the opportunity to talk about the conflict. This small action has spurred so many conversations and has sparked real interest in a cause close to my heart. While I can't wear this shirt every day, I'll find a more permanent place for my white ribbon to keep the conversation going all year long. From all of us at Save Darfur, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours – and thank you for all that you do to bring attention to the cause.

Light a Candle

Andrea Clarke — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:44:01 +0000

It was especially meaningful to me to light a Save Darfur Connection Candle on Thanksgiving with my close female friends. For the three of us, it truly was a way to connect with women in Darfur. We talked about what they would be doing today. Their day would have been a repeat of the last Thursday in November for the past five years – uncertainty, insecurity and unparalleled fear of being sexually violated while taking a routine walk to collect firewood. We agreed that lighting a candle would be one of 16 actions that we’ll all take over the next 16 days. We hope you’ll join us.

Things that make us happy

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:36:40 +0000

After a weekend full of family, friends and food my cousins and I sat down to write a letter. We wanted to tell the people fighting for the women and children of Darfur what their work meant to us. We talked about how we felt this was an important thing to do, because if it was our mothers, or our grandmother, or us living in the camps struggling to provide for our family and always living in fear we would be very grateful that there was someone out there working so hard to help us. Today, the Save Darfur Coalition honors one such leader, Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Abdallah. Dr. Ahmed worked with survivors of violence and torture in Darfur, providing a safe space for women to speak about their experiences and with hope that their psychological and physical wounds could be healed. To accompany our letters to Dr. Ahmed and the women and children of Darfur, my cousins and I drew things that made us happy - home, family, sports, our pets. These are all things that we try never to take for granted, and for which we are especially grateful at this cold and gray time of year. As we celebrated Thanksgiving, we realized how thankful we are not only for these things that make us happy and keep us safe, but that there are people out there dedicating and sometimes risking their lives to keep the women and children of Darfur happy and safe. We wrote how much we hope that the women and children of Darfur soon have the opportunity to live in peace, without fear, and to enjoy these same simple but essential things that make us happy. We hope you'll join us today. Write a letter to one of the 16 leaders in the fight against sexual violence in Sudan, or to one of your personal heroes in this effort. Take a moment to tell the people on the front lines of this difficult cause how much their work means to you. In this time of thanksgiving a simple "thanks" goes a long way.

Reflections: Faith and Activism

wcfischer — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:52:02 +0000

Today, 30 November 2009, is the fifth day of our 16 Days Campaign. On this fifth day we're celebrating faith, human rights and anti-genocide leader, Rev. Gloria White-Hammond. Like the Reverend, I carry my faith with me at all times and it is a vital part of who I am. In addition to helping mold someone into who they are I also feel that faith should and can shape what a person is and does. As an action on this Thanksgiving weekend, I chose to reflect on the role that my faith plays in my work fighting genocide and working to bring peace and stability to the people of Darfur and Sudan.

Living during this time of the world in which we find so many evils, calamities, and tribulations, one can easily become let down with their fellow man. It really doesn’t take much effort or thought to look at what’s going on, and conclude that…“you know, there sure are a lot of problems out there, and I’m just going to worry about myself.” After all “What can I do”, you ask. In the Book of Ecclesiastes (3:1-8) God, through Solomon, tells us that there is a time for everything – a season, actually. A season, as you know is a time that has a defined purpose, whether that purpose is defined as weather, war, peace, or harvest, all seasons have a beginning and an end. We’re no different either-though we think of our long lives, they are, in fact, just short seasons in the big picture. This said, I will not allow myself to be a bystander is these troubled times. I will not allow the seasons of trouble, hunger, genocide, and war to begin before me and end long after I have returned to dust. I will use my faith and resolve and I will be Ecclesiastes. I will be the changes in season that I want to see, and I’ll live well because I’m lucky to live in this time. I will be happy with work done towards the betterment of my fellow man - this because I, as God instructs me, should “enjoy the good of all my labor, for it is the gift of God.”

Write a Letter to the Editor (LTE)!

Emily Diamond-Falk — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:13:13 +0000

Today, on Day 6 of the 16 Days, I am writing a Letter to the Editor (LTE) to my local newspaper to express my concern about the women in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and refugee camps in Darfur and Chad. Different events compete for air time or column space in the media, and journalists face numerous obstacles to get their stories—censorship, intimidation, and detention, for example. However, a handful of reporters have tenaciously followed the plight of Darfuri women. Today, we honor them. LTEs can have an enormous impact. The more ways we spread the message about violence against women in Darfur, the more likely we are to influence others (our Congressional Representatives and Senators, our neighbors, Editorial Boards) to help us bring an end to sexual violence in Darfur and throughout Sudan. With the power of your words and your determination to do good, I hope you will join me in writing a letter to your local newspaper today. Check out our basic guidelines for a successful LTE and find newspapers in your area. Good luck!

Tell Congress: Speak Up for Survivors of Sexual Violence in Darfur

Joe Read — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:46:55 +0000

Cross posted from PHR Blog. Last Friday, the PHR team delivered to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a joint advocacy letter, urging that sexual and gender-based violence (SGV) programming be recognized as an urgent need in Sudan. Forty advocacy and human rights groups called on Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sudan Envoy Scott Gration to recognize the absence of vital SGV programming following the March 2009 expulsion of international humanitarian organizations and key Sudanese NGOs. The number of supporting organizations has since grown to more than 60. The team from PHR met with General Gration’s office, and with the office of the Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues on Friday, to present the letter and advocate for the inclusion of SGV programs in the Sudan Policy benchmarks. The elimination of SGV services in Sudan is a perfect storm of collateral damage: when the 16 international humanitarian organizations and NGOs were expelled, these programs — and equally importantly, the network of SGV-focused personnel and leadership — disappeared. In a climate where remaining staff and organizations were afraid to rebuild or renegotiate their contracts for fear of Government of Sudan retribution, services for survivors of sexual violence in Darfur collapsed. Despite this, and despite the fine work of the State department on a number of gender-based violence issues, the issue of sexual violence was not explicitly recognized in the administration’s Sudan Policy review, nor was it included in the details of US strategic objective #1, which deals with the humanitarian situation in Darfur. It was, however, recognized by the UN panel of experts in the recent report released on the humanitarian situation in Darfur, and has been a key sticking point for activists in the US at the recent Pledge to Protect conference. Today — just in time for the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women on November 25 — PHR has launched a congressional action for advocates and activists to urge Senators and Representatives to join us in our call to the State department on this issue. Partnering with our co-signatories, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International USA, the Arab Coalition for Darfur, the Enough Project, Save Darfur Coalition and others, we continue to advocate for the restoration of services as basic as emergency assistance for injuries, documentation of injuries sustained during these brutal attacks, access to HIV/AIDS prophylaxis treatment, pregnancy testing and psychological and social support. We ask Hillary Rodham Clinton and General Gration not only to include SGV programs as a benchmark in the Sudan policy, but also:

To ensure that renegotiation of technical agreements between humanitarian organizations and the Government of Sudan takes place, so that international humanitarian organizations and NGOs can incorporate or SGV programs into their authorized operations in Sudan.
To monitor Government of Sudan obstruction of SGV services in Khartoum and on the ground: SGV services must be restored and made available to all IDP populations, including West and South Darfur, where humanitarian operations have historically functioned at a lower level than in North Darfur state.
To support and facilitate coordination between aid agencies, camp residents and UNAMID gender desk officers. The recruitment of gender desk officers must involve camp residents, and the work of gender experts should fully utilize the expertise and resources of aid agencies as well as camp residents, to ensure the establishment of culturally competent services.

We need action to protect the rights of survivors in Darfur: please let your US Senators and Representative know. Joe Read is a Darfur Fellow with Physicians for Human Rights.

Social Networks and Digital Activism

nghent-rodriguez — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:07:30 +0000

On December 1st of each year, the world observes World AIDS Day to spread awareness and hold world governments and international leaders accountable for promises and pledges to help halt the pandemic. This year’s theme is Universal Access and Human Rights. It is my hope that by promoting human rights, education, and gender equality, especially within at-risk populations such as women in Sudan, the world’s efforts to end the global AIDS pandemic will be more effective. According to the United Nations Development Programme, Sudan has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in North Africa and the Middle East. Women and girls are disproportionally affected due to their vulnerable status and the use of rape as a weapon of war in Sudan. On Day 7 of the 16 Days campaign, we remember the words of Hilary Clinton – “women’s rights are human rights.” As we work to bring peace to Sudan, we must not allow the marginalization of women and the myriad issues they face to continue. Today, I am asking everyone in my network on Facebook and Twitter to update their status to help spread awareness about the plight of women in Sudan. In Darfur, rape is used as a weapon of war—a weapon that has lasting physical and psychological effects. Today, tomorrow, and the next day, be the voice of these women—help build awareness by telling your networks to stand up for women’s rights. Together we can give the women of Sudan access to much needed care and empower them to be agents of change in their communities.

UNAMID in the Dark

Celeste Robinson — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:21:45 +0000

Three months ago, the outgoing force commander of UNAMID said there is no war in Darfur. To be fair, that controversial declaration of General Martin Luther Agwai was accompanied by a host of caveats and claims that were largely ignored by the reactive outcry that followed. After a few weeks, people calmed down and now Agwai’s best known accomplishment is in managing to stir up a semantics debate and pat himself on the back, all while trivializing the rampant insecurity that continues to afflict the region. But yesterday, in response to a UN report that portrays Darfur as a still troubled place, Sudan’s Ambassador Abdalmahmoud Abdalhaleem echoed the former UNAMID commander’s remarks. Criticizing the report for leaving out the essential detail “that the war is over”, he recommended the UN start planning for its departure. Before UNAMID begins packing up its things—many of which, ironically, have yet to arrive—perhaps it’s time to look again. Abdalhaleem suggests that by omitting the claim that war is over in Darfur, UN officials are using the report to preserve the relevance its mission no longer has. However, what the report actually reveals is that representatives of the beleaguered force were never in a position to make that claim to begin with…..for one very disturbing reason: access to any sustaining evidence has been consistently denied. Agwai’s initial declaration was based on the absence of large-scale military activities, the weakness of rebel movements, and his own perception that the only immediate threat is banditry. Around the same time, outgoing Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada proclaimed his own accomplishments resulted in the end of civilian massacres in Darfur. Less than a month after Agwai and Adada uttered their ambitiously optimistic remarks, no fewer than 13 civilian lives were lost as fighting broke out in Korma. Although Agwai posited that the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) was the only viable rebel faction in Darfur, it was the Sudan Liberation Army/Abdel Wahid (SLA/AW) involved in those lethal clashes that displaced 31,000 Darfuri civilians and reportedly resulted in serious human rights abuses, including sexual violence. Despite having local companies stationed in nearby Mellit and Kutum, the mission was unable to respond to the military build-up, prevent the clashes, and intervene when civilian lives were at stake. In fact, the peacekeeping force was nowhere to be seen. Even after the violence subsided, UNAMID was notably missing. While insufficient aerial reconnaissance and quick reaction capacity are among the operation’s critical shortcomings, UNAMID’s absence was not due to equipment shortages or even mandate issues, but primarily because the belligerents denied it access to the area. For 11 days, UNAMID was unable to patrol or investigate the incident. That incident—which the UNSG’s latest report reveals to be far from isolated—was a resonant reminder that Agwai and Adada cannot declare over a war to which UNAMID has been deliberately made blind. Despite signing a Status-of-Forces Agreement (SOFA) in early 2008, the Government of Sudan has been repeatedly implicated in obstructing UNAMID’s freedom of movement. Although UNAMID now boasts deployment of roughly 75% of its authorized military personnel, Sudanese government officials astonishingly still claim ignorance of its mandate to conduct patrols and monitoring activities to protect civilians and humanitarian activities. The report even reveals outright threats against UNAMID issued by various authorities in response to IDP camp access, patrols, and aircraft movement. Another recent report by the UN Panel of Experts on the Sudan recounts identical obstructionist measures taken by the Government of Sudan—and others—that have prevented the Panel from effectively carrying out its mandate to monitor the UN Arms Embargo. The data it was able to gather implicate all parties in violating the embargo, procuring illicit weaponry, and contributing to no less than “four distinct conflicts” in which “the Darfurian population continues to be victimized by the effects of attacks and counter-attacks involving most of the armed movements that frequently lead to the disproportionate use of force by the Sudnaese Armed Forces (SAF) and their auxiliary forces, and result in killings, injuries and displacements.” The truth is that the events that took place in Korma in North Darfur during September not only dispute every claim made by Agwai, reinforced by Adada, and echoed by Abdalhaleem; they also illustrate the complex reality of a place far from peace. Over the past three months, similar events throughout Darfur—including those in which the peacekeeping mission and humanitarian agencies have been directly targeted—reveal that the job of the UN mission to protect civilians in Darfur isn’t done; it’s barely even started. Both war and peace are at arms length for UNAMID. What is clear that they are placed there, at a distance, carefully, purposefully, and systematically by Darfur’s belligerent parties, most notably by the Government of Sudan. So, is it time to quit? Not at all. UNAMID isn’t in the clear; it’s in the dark.

United Nations: Important Progress on Gender

Michelle Brown — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:56:01 +0000

Cross posted from Refugees International's blog. This year there were two important developments for women at the United Nations. The first was the creation of a unified gender entity, and the second was the passage of Security Council Resolution 1888 on women and armed conflict. While neither of these developments has led to concrete improvements in the lives of refugee and displaced women as of yet, we’re hopeful that in the near future the issues affecting them will be front and center of the UN's agenda. This past September, The UN General Assembly approved the creation of a new and unified gender entity after three years of intense discussions. The four main agencies dealing with gender --- the Division for the Advancement of Women, the UN Development Fund for Women, the Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues and United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women --- were merged into a single agency to be headed by an Under Secretary General, the third highest ranking position within the UN system. In the past, women's issues within the UN system have been marginalized, receiving little funding, and programs have been fairly incoherent. Very little cutting edge policy on women's issues has emerged from the UN. We’re hopeful that this new entity will invigorate the UN's response to problems affecting women and will work to protect women's rights, as well as to increase women's participation in decision making processes. As RI works to improve conditions for refugees and displaced women, we are hopeful that this new organization will be a solid partner. Security Council Resolution 1888 is a response to the systematic targeting of women in conflict situations. Awareness about sexual violence in conflict situations has dramatically increased in the past several years, particularly as the accounts of atrocities committed against women in Darfur and DR Congo have made their way into mainstream media. Despite growing awareness and outrage, as well as funding for programs for survivors, the violence continued, and the UN found itself unable to respond. Resolution 1888 calls for the appointment of a Special Representative for the Secretary General (SRSG) who will serve as the focal point on sexual violence and will coordinate the wide array of UN responses. The SRSG will also link with the gender entity. We hope that the new SRSG will be appointed by the end of the year. In addition, the resolution calls for the deployment of rapid response teams to assist national governments to try and prosecute offenders. The resolution also calls for women protection advisors to be a part on UN peacekeeping missions in order to report on sexual violence. Ultimately, the Security Council can impose sanctions or travel bans on individuals who commit acts of sexual violence. Using the mechanisms outlined in Resolution 1888, RI can continue to push governments to protect refugee and IDP women from violence and bring perpetrators to account. Michelle Brown is a UN Representative with Refugees International.

“Blessed are the peacemakers”

nghent-rodriguez — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:49:11 +0000

The Episcopal Church of Sudan’s Provincial Standing Committee - the national policy making body of the Anglican Church in Sudan - released a statement on the current situation in the country at the conclusion of their most recent meeting. The statement - which addresses the upcoming elections, the peace process, and referendum - is a powerful declaration signed by Sudanese Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the Provincial Standing Committee. The faith community often serves on the front lines of humanitarian crises, and the situation in Sudan is no different. The Sudanese clergy are sounding the alarm as their country has reached a critical moment that requires the attention of not only the faith community, but world governments and international institutions. Statement from the Episcopal Church of Sudan:

The peace process in Sudan has reached a critical point. With less than five months before National Elections and just over one year to the referendum on southern self-determination, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is on the brink of collapse due to contentions over the referendum law, the demarcation of the 1st January 1956 borders, and violence recently perpetrated by other armed groups. We, the Provincial Standing Committee of the ECS affirm our role to act urgently to support the implementation of the CPA: through our internal Church networks, our ecumenical and inter-faith partners within Sudan and our international partner support. We express our sadness at the missed opportunity for making the unity of the Sudan attractive since the signing of the CPA: the lack a reconciliation process, the lack of transparency over the National Census and oil revenues, the failure to repeal or alter laws which are contrary to the spirit of the CPA which guarantees equality and freedom for all, the stalling implementation of the July 2009 Abyei ruling, and the current deadlock over the legislation governing the referendum in Southern Sudan and the popular consultations in Abyei, Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan. Unity has not been made attractive.

You can read the entire statement here.

A table at the Chinese Consulate

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:03:09 +0000

I wanted to share with you all this email from Lori Khan, an activist in Houston, TX. During President Obama's recent trip to China Lori took a few of her paintings and informational materials to the Chinese Consulate in Houston to raise awareness about China's role in Sudan. As Lori writes below, "Just think what we can do all together, as a united community fighting against the genocide in Sudan!"

This past Tuesday, November 17, 2009, I conducted a solo protest in front of the Chinese Embassy on Montrose Blvd., a four lane road in a commercial district of Houston, Texas. I wanted to take advantage of President Obama's presence in China to bring attention to both the Chinese and my fellow Americans about the terrible situation going on in Sudan. As you all likely know, President al-Bashir has been indicted by the ICC for genocide yet, he remains free. This is an untenable situation and I wanted to express my vehement disgust about his continued freedom. I am a middle-aged disabled woman who has been involved with both Save Darfur and Enough for years. I protested with my local Houston compatriots when they delivered the roughly 40,000 signed petitions to the Chinese Embassy and alone when the Olympic flame went through San Francisco. This latter protest was very simple; just me, my wheelchair, and my Save Darfur "put out the flame of genocide" signs. This time, I had something much bigger in mind! I have included photos but a word of caution though; I had to re-set up the booth at home inside for photos. I had a dickens of a time on Tuesday; as lovely as the temperature and very bright sun were, I battled for 4 hours with 15 mph winds! Oh my, I had paintings falling, brochures flying, table cloth whipping, etc. I was all alone so I had no one to take photos while I held things down so I just set up in my living room and took the photos here. I did take a few outdoor photos of the embassy itself though. For this protest, I set up a nice 4' table with a "Save Darfur green" tablecloth right in front of the embassy just a few feet from the curb at the entrance to the embassy between two concrete barriers. Being a retired lawyer, I checked ahead of time regarding permits and the like. So long as I was not obstructing the walkway, no permit was necessary. I brought with me several paintings out of a series of 12 paintings I have done on Sudan. Three were already custom framed and two were waiting framing (so expensive!). I had small tabletop easels and put two of the framed paintings on the easels. Resting against them were two of the unframed paintings. The two framed paintings were "The White Dress", a painting of a little Sudanese girl taken from a Live 8 feed showing a child in a donated dress, still able to swirl around and feel hopeful despite her surroundings, and "The Lost Boy", suggested by Dave Eggers's biographical narrative, "What is the What?" (highly recommended reading). The two unframed paintings showed 1) the flag of Sudan superimposed with both the map of Sudan and then a jigsaw puzzle, "Who can solve the puzzle of Sudan", and 2) a small map of Sudan and a red block suggesting China with a chain of barrels of oil going to China and a chain of guns and money going back to Sudan. On the ground, was the third framed piece, a very unflattering (but honest) portrait of al-Bashir (the rabid ruler) and a sign asking people to advocate for the immediate arrest and detention of al-Bashir. The rest of the table top contained Save Darfur brochures and the handbills (large postcards) along with a bowl with the green arm bracelets for sale for $5 with proceeds to go to Save Darfur. I included a few books as suggested reading (including "What is the What?") and a small palm size album of photos of the complete 12-piece Sudan series (the originals are not for sale though I am working on getting archival prints made (expensive!); however, I do have prints of The White Dress and The Lost Boy with 20% of their $60 price to go to Save Darfur.). Finally, I draped my Save Darfur t-shirt down the front of the table for easy visual recognition of the protest as a Save Darfur protest as people drove by; unfortunately, I am a "big girl" and the 2X simply doesn't make it for me. The setup took a bit of doing because I am mobility impaired and had no one to help but I just piled it all on my wheelchair, table included, and rolled from my parking spot 1/2 block away to the embassy. Unfortunately the idea of ADA-compliant sidewalks didn't hit this part of town and I battled some pretty deep slopes at the curbs. Wee! Finally, however, I was all set up and ready to go... or so I thought! This time, the embassy people were REALLY uptight about my being there. I protested alone back when the flame went through San Francisco (without a table and all the setup that I used this time). That time, just one person came out, asked what I was doing, and was satisfied with my simple answer - that I was educating people about the situation in Sudan. This time, they sent out a tall guy garbed in a security outfit complete with medal badge(!) who tried to be threatening by asking me where my permit was. I told him bluntly that I didn't need a permit as I was not obstructing the public street. After telling me he was going to call the police, I told him I didn't care because I knew I wasn't doing anything wrong. He left right in the middle of my sentence. About 15 minutes later, he came out with a short fellow in business clothes who asked me the same question. I explained that I was an attorney who had read the city ordinance in advance and so long as I didn't obstruct the public right of way, I was in my rights on the public street. They both left mid-sentence (never had this in-your-face kind of rudeness before). More battles arose as I sat in my wheelchair and fought repeatedly with the wind. 15 mph; a disaster! Everything knocking down - oh, my! Finally, about 1.5 hours after I had gotten there, yet another guy came from the embassy and wanted me to move farther down the street away from "their" (er, did he mean US public property?) entrance. I told him "no"; that I was disabled (I was sitting in my wheelchair and had my blue handicap car tag with me), and that I already could barely make it to where I was. He glanced at my handicap tag and wheelchair, turned around, and left. I am assuming that he figured he was on the losing end of that battle. However, I did see the Houston police drive by my site about 6-8 times while I sat there. I am just sure the officer was "thrilled" to have to "babysit" this great big terror : a plus sized, disabled, wheelchair bound woman sitting silently in her chair in back of a neat, non-confrontational table. LOL! Poor guy: I did feel sorry for him and could almost feel the movement of his eyes as he rolled his eyes in disgust at this "high security" risk. Well I kept my commitment to myself and remained at the embassy from 11:00 - 3:00. When I got home, I discovered that I was badly sunburned. LOL! Who'd think of it in November? All in all, I think it was a successful protest. Although I did not have the horn honking and peace signs of my earlier protest, the traffic was very heavy but with the weather windy and chilly, windows were up. I guess somewhere between 300-500 people passed by me in vehicles. I also had quite a number of people come up to the table, take materials, and ask questions. I definitely had more pedestrian traffic this time which was nice because I could answer questions and suggest materials. I also think my getting the embassy as stirred up as I did, though I was quiet, polite, and emphatically within the law, will teach them that the American people are very concerned about what is happening in Sudan and that we want to see an end to the genocide. I found peace in my efforts knowing I had riled them up by doing something so simple; hopefully, it will engender talk among themselves about the issue. Just think what we can do all together, as a united community fighting against the genocide in Sudan!

Art as Activism

Rebecca Dennis — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:04:38 +0000

Today marks the halfway point in our 16 Days campaign. On this day we have chosen to highlight the role of the creative community in educating and advocating for an end to genocide and violence against women. I’ve always considered myself to be a creative person and a dedicated activist. In college I put these two together for a project. I chose to combine painting, photographs I’d found and quotes from various world leaders to express my frustration at continuous pattern of genocide followed by declarations of “Never Again." It proved to be a great and unique way to educate my classmates about this topic. Despite this, I hadn’t really thought about how others might be using art to raise awareness until I found out about a choreographer in Philadelphia, Rebecca Davis. Rebecca had sent Save Darfur information about a ballet she’d created about the genocide in Darfur. I was immediately interested. Dancing has always been one my greatest passions, I studied ballet for years, and even taught it in for a period of time. I knew that dance had often been used to make statements about social issues but had no idea anyone had done a piece on Darfur. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a performance of excerpts from Rebecca’s Ballet Darfur. I was extremely impressed with what I saw. Not only was she able to put together a beautiful, technically exceptional piece of dance, but was also able to depict issues such as sexual violence and genocide on stage in a way that was very emotionally moving for an audience. The best part was of the evening was getting to talk to audience and the dancers about how this work of art had inspired them to learn more about the genocide and its effects on communities, families and the women in the Darfur. I am so happy to see Rebecca Davis being honored today for both her talents as an artist and an activist. I encourage everyone to follow her example today and use their individual talents to help educate and inspire those around them. If creating art isn’t your thing, you can still learn about and enjoy the creative things others in your community are doing to help raise awareness.

Sudan's Elections

seanbrooks — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:07:01 +0000

My colleague Alex Meixner and I have recently written on the importance of the national elections in Sudan scheduled for April 2010 (here and here). Going forward, the Save Darfur policy team will be writing periodic updates on the preparations for the elections, the political climate for free and fair elections, and how the elections are being used by various actors in Sudan to support their own agendas – especially Omar al-Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP). Reuters sounded an alarm yesterday with the headline, “Millions Could Miss Sudan Elections – Observers.” The story cited the Carter Center’s statement that their observation teams working in Sudan:

expressed concern that while turnout has been high in certain states, participation has been uneven and many states appear to lag behind in meeting registration targets. In light of these challenges, the Center also urged the NEC [National Election Commission] and Sudan's state elections committees to make available additional funds for the registration process; redouble efforts to ensure that registration books and materials reach as many eligible Sudanese as possible, especially in areas with difficult logistical and security challenges; and expand civic education on voter registration.

The Center also urged the NEC and state elections committees to “take action to ensure timely accreditation for both national and international observers so that they can observe the entire electoral process, both during and after vote.” Perhaps more disturbingly, the Center also warned of the Sudanese government’s efforts to intimidate voters in Darfur. The Sudan Tribune writes that the Center:

detailed specific instances of concern, such as the presence of agents of the National Intelligence and Security Service at registration centers in Darfur. The [Carter] statement noted that “NISS is not an agency perceived neutrally by a substantial proportion of the population. Through their mere presence at centers, NISS agents may serve to intimidate some citizens from registering.”

This statement comes four days after the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan, Scott Gration, returned from Sudan and asserted his own concerns “about the chances for conducting credible elections and referenda.” Rather than identifying any of the problems highlighted by the Carter Center and others, Gration’s statement merely urged:

Sudanese citizens [to] take advantage of the recently announced one-week extension to register to vote, as it is the only way for the Sudanese people to maintain their right to participate in the national elections in April 2010.

So where do things stand today? The elections (delayed six more days by the NEC last week) are scheduled to begin on April 11. Who will participate remains to be seen. Two days ago, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the northern opposition parties stated that their leaders would wait until December 12 to decide on their participation. Since the signing of the Juba Declaration in September, they have set out the following conditions for their participation:

The upholding of basic freedoms as stipulated in the Basic Human Rights Charter which has been incorporated in Interim National Constitution of 2005; and
The amendment of all laws related to freedoms and democratic transformation and bringing them in consonance with the INC, namely the National Security Law, Criminal Procedures Law, Trade Unions Law, Immunities Law, Personal Status Law, Press and Publications Law, Public Order Laws.

On the same day, the United Nations Deputy Secretary General on Peacekeeping Operations, Edmond Mulet, told the Security Council that “significant progresses remain to be made in coming months for the April 2010 Sudanese national elections to make any sense in Darfur.” For those that would like more information about the current elections and the history of elections in Sudan, I strongly recommend the Rift Valley Institute’s “Elections in Sudan: Learning from Experience.” Justin Willis, one of the authors of the report published in May, has recently written a shorter follow-up analysis in which he concludes:

“[t]he call for urgent action on the part of the international community made in the RVI report in April – a call that was echoed by a number of other bodies – has not been answered...” “The fear is that – unless circumstances change very rapidly and substantially – it is now simply too late to make necessary arrangements, either in terms of creating a free and fair environment, or in terms of bureaucratic organization, to make elections in April 2010 a success in terms of widespread participation and a sense of involvement across the country.”

Given these concerns, Willis then strongly urges the international community to state clearly throughout the registration and election process any evidence of significant failure of organization or malpractice: “This clarity is necessary because one or more parties will claim a popular mandate on the basis of the elections, and others will undoubtedly challenge this; the international sponsors will face a difficult position whatever happens, and ambiguity or uncertainty over the status of the elections will make this worse.” For the Obama administration, there is a chance tomorrow to begin clarifying the measures that the U.S. will use to judge the elections as free and fair. When General Gration testifies before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, let's hope that members of the committee will ask him serious questions about American policy toward this critical period in Sudan's history. Stay tuned.

Sudan Hearing on Capitol Hill TODAY

Allen Combs — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:15:43 +0000

This morning U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration is testifying before the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health. We will be live-tweeting the hearing, "A Review of the Administration’s New Policy and A Situation Update," this morning so you can see what's happening on Capitol Hill. Update: The hearing has concluded. You can see our live-tweets after the jump or read a complete write-up of the hearing on our blog. Live-tweets from House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health hearing:

Sudan hearing is standing room only. Should start any minute. http://tweetphoto.com/5755389
Rep Payne opens the hearing on #Sudan "I sometimes wonder if we'll get a just & lasting peace w al-Bashir in power" http://yfrog.com/37gcexj
"The people of #Darfur are still waiting for the suffering to end" - Rep Payne #Sudan
"What are we doing to promote justice and accountability? Can elections be free and fair w millions living in refugee camps?" -Payne #Sudan
Sen Brownback: "The genocide that began in 2004 continues under our watch today"
Sen Brownback: I strongly oppose any policy that provides incentives to a genocidal regime.
Rep Lee: we are all anxious to see concrete results. The people of #Sudan deserve no less.
Rep Lee recognizes the work of young ppl and the faith community in leading the fight for peace in #Sudan
Rep Royce: "General Gration, you and I had an opportunity to see this firsthand in #Darfur"
Rep Royce tells story of young boy whose hand was chopped off by janjaweed, recounts bombings by Sudanese gov't Antonov bombers #Darfur
Rep Royce: these are the war crimes of a head of state that won't allow NGOs to bring some relief to the victims of this conflict
Rep Royce accuses the GoS of supporting the LRA and their activities in #Darfur and Uganda
Rep Royce: "We got a rare victory the other day when the Sudanese president's planned trip to Turkey was canceled." #Sudan
Rep Royce quotes: the US appears to have joined the group of nations that sit idly by and watch as sanctions don't work to protect #Darfur
Rep Miller: "All of humanity has failed to act the way we promised 60 years ago" #Sudan #Darfur #genprev
Rep Woolsey: "I'm truly concerned that so much emphasis is being placed on the logistics of the elections, but..." (Con't)
Rep Woolsey: I'm hoping today to hear... what we're going to do to make sure the elections in #Sudan are not worthless.
Woolsey, con't: "...concern must be placed on the political environment in which they take place" #Sudan #sudanelections
Gen Gration is giving his opening remarks http://tweetphoto.com/5756894
Envoy Gration outlines the 3 objectives of the new #Sudan policy....
1) end the conflict in #Darfur: the gross human rights abuses, the genocide 2) ensure a peaceful post-2011 #Sudan, united or 2 states
3) ensure #Sudan not a safehaven for terrorists
"Voter registration will conclude next week, but far more work needs to be done... To ensure the will of the Sudanese people is expressed"
Gen Gration: The US has clear interest in forging an international response to #Sudan
Rep Payne asks implementation of strategy will be crucial... What are indicators of progress? What are the criteria for evaluating them?
Gen Gration: Implementation is the key. Agreements w/o implementation are worthless.
Gen Gration: Verifiable, unreversable progress on the ground. Verify then trust. Look for measures and monitoring ways.
Payne: Is there any plan for IDPs in #Darfur and in Chad. What is plan of return home?
Gration: we will only support return when it is voluntary, stable & secure and safe enough for them to return. #Sudan
Sen Brownback asks Gration rhetorical Q: Bashir has participated/lead the genocide in #Darfur? Bashir is an indicted war criminal?
...Has the US negotiated w/ anyone involved in leading the genocide? Are you dealing w/ a gov that's conducting a genocide?
Gration: we have to continue engagement not for enagements sake - we have to continue engagement to save lives. #Sudan
Rep Lee: I'm somewhat encourged by your new policy that promotes multilateral and international cooperation.
Rep Lee asks if Sudan WAS discussed on recent trip. Also asks about league of Arab states involvement.
Rep Lee: Given China's unparalleled leverage I wrote to Prez Obama to raise the issue w/ their leaders on his trip there last month...
Gration: centerpiece of new plan: "working with international partners, setting multilateral goals" #Sudan
Gration: President Obama did being up #Sudan with Prez Hu Jintao
Lee: have you communicated that the Chinese need to join us in imposing sanctions? Gration: we have. #Sudan
Gen Gration: The solution is one that involves not just america... Everyone has to be a part of the solution that brings peace. #Sudan
Rep Smith: I have asked a number of times for classified briefing on annex to the new policy. "This is a passionate concern for each of us"
Rep Smith asks Gration again about the Admins failure to press China ("who makes it all possible") on their role in #Sudan
... China can turn off the spigot of funds that allow Sudan to continue its behavior
Gration will give briefing. "I don't know about this annex, but I do know about working papers." "There is no annex" #Sudan
Rep Smith: "private diplomacy can only go so far when genocide is continuing." #Sudan
Rep Miller: what are we doing to make sure that the elections aren't used to legitimize a genocidal regime?
Gration: we've been able to do the registration piece... This allows the Sudanese the option of expressing their will in the election
Gration praises govt of Sudan's responsiveness in election process: "while it's not perfect... this is the 1st election in 24 years"
Gration: we have an "opportunity to work on political transformation through this election" #sudanelection #Sudan
Rep Boozman asks for specifics on incentives and pressures, benchmarks. #Sudan #Darfur
Gration says inter-agency group meeting quarterly to review progress on ground and evaluate pressures and incentives. #sudan
Rep Woolsey asks about the situation in #Sudan for women and children
Gration re health, food: we have gotten up to the conditions we had before. (but stopgap measures, "we're working on that") #Sudan
Gration briefly says protection issues for women and children still key #Sudan
Rep Woolsey: What happens if the elections aren't free and fair? Will we compromise and accept a criminal gov?
Gration: the elections are something we're going to have to build on through the referendum, through subsequent elections #sudanelection
Rep Royce asks about the expulsion of aid groups and the GoS efforts to obstruct relief for ppl in #Datfur and #Sudan
Gration: "I cannot find any links right now between the Sudanese government and Joseph Kony" #LRA #Sudan
Royce: "I don't give the benefit of the doubt to Bashir" #Sudan
Rep Royce: Do you have any concerns about GoS support for terrorism or religious extremists?
Brownback re negotiating w "genocidal regime": "I hope we can work with this administration and stop this complete loss of moral authority"
Payne: "A lot of us that want to see #Sudan come into the 21st century"
New Post: More Questions Than Answers at Today's Gration Hearing | http://ow.ly/Ik9E | #Darfur #Sudan

Contextualizing the Doha Meeting: The Process and the Declaration

Dr. Ali B. Ali-Dinar — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:31:53 +0000

[caption id="attachment_2368" align="alignright" width="250" caption="Dr. Ali B. Ali-Dinar"][/caption] This is a report to the general public about what I have witnessed in Doha, the process through which the Declaration was reached and my personal evaluation of the document. The Process: I received a letter of invitation from Mr. Djibril Bassole, the Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur to participate in the Darfur Civil Society Inaugural Conference in Doha on November 16-19. I arrived in Doha in the evening of November 15^th. Due to the delegates delayed arrival to Doha, the conference started two days later, Nov. 17^th. The participants arrived from the states of West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur, including a contingency of Darfurians from Khartoum. According to Dr. Siddiq Umbada, the conference facilitator, the original plan of the conference was to divide the delegates into 7 groups. Each group would discuss the same topic independently and make recommendations. At the end of each day all groups would meet and deliberate on the agreed points to reach a consensus on the set of recommendations. According to Dr. Umbada, the issues in question were listed as: (1) Land and natural resources, (2) Power sharing, (3) The role of civil society in the peace process, (4) General issues. However, the above plan of the conference was not in the interest of the delegates from the three Darfur states. Upon their late arrival (Nov 16^th), the delegates of South and West Darfur held a meeting at their hotel and revealed that they came with one position for the Doha meeting. They announced that they will not start deliberating until they meet with the North Darfur delegates to formulate one position paper. On the morning of Nov. 17, the North Darfur and Khartoum delegation arrived in one plane after a long delay in Khartoum. The Conference opening session was chaired by a representative from each state in addition to Dr. Umbada. It was agreed that any discussion about recommendations must wait until the delegates from North Darfur finish writing their position. The delegates were later escorted to an adjacent room for a formal opening by the Qatari government and the UN-AU mission. Words of support and encouragement were uttered by representatives from the African Union, the Arab League, Egypt, Syria, South Africa, Chad, Algeria, USA, Canada, Japan, Eritrea, France, China, and others. On the 18^th, representatives from South/West Darfur and North Darfur read their recommendations. At the end there was consensus for the 2 positions to be merged into one document representing Darfur. At this point Dr. Umbada brought his plan of dividing delegates into groups; but his proposal was defeated. The will of the people prevailed. The joint list of recommendations was then read and time was given to many to voice their views on the first draft, but no attempt was made to remove any of the stated points. At the end a broader committee was entrusted to incorporate the technical points of views, language and style for the next day. On the 19^th, the final document was read followed by thunderous applause from the attendees who refused any further discussion on the document and thus it was passed. Next, the conference discussed forming a mechanism that will be in charge of the recommendations, and the final agreement was set for 10 representatives from the three states of Darfur and Khartoum. The final session was resided by the Qatari State Foreign Minister, and Mr. Basole and Salah Alghali. The conference was then addressed by Dr. Umbada and representatives from the three states. The final communiqué was presented to the Qatari Minister and the conference was adjourned. The Declaration: The “Doha Declaration” should be regarded as the end of a process of deliberations that started in Darfur and culminated in Doha. The declaration has stated its position in key areas regarding future negotiation with considerations to: (1) Security arrangements and disarmament, (2) Wealth sharing and economic and social development, (3) Power sharing, (4) Justice, reconciliation and return, (5) Land and nomadic routes issues, (6) Role of civil society in Darfur peace process. Among many, the Declaration stressed that “..the conflict in Darfur is political, developmental and social”, and that “..Darfur remained marginalized since the independence of Sudan”, that “.. suspension of violence and the war are the only options to restore peace in the region”, that “..the unity of Darfurians is essential for achievement of sustainable peace through willingness that reflects consensus of Darfurians”. Among the recommendations are: 2.2.1 Weight of the population of Darfur is the standard for sharing wealth and economic and social development.. 2.3.9 The representation of women in all levels of authority should not be less than 30% 2.4.4.5 Emphasizing that perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity and serious crimes such as rape will not escape with impunity, and the empowerment of victims of those crimes and those affected to have access to transitional justice at all levels, whether national, or regional or international. 2.4.4.6 Hold to account those responsible for crimes in Darfur and prosecute criminals. 2.4.4.12 Reform legislation with regard to the abolition of immunities and immunities that lead to impunity, procedurally and substantively. 2.5.2 Retain ownership of land (hawakir) and define its borders by the Native Administration. 2.5.3 Land return of displaced persons and refugees to their original owners and evacuate those who lived in them during their absence. The Declaration is available in Arabic and English from these links: In Arabic: http://www.darfurinfo.org/doha-arabic.doc In English: http://www.darfurinfo.org/doha-english-rough.pdf The Declaration in Perspective: The delegates of the conference represent local NGO's, native administration, internally displaced people, women, youth, experts and facilitators. Although the conference was also attended by Darfuri NCP members and perpetrators of war crimes, however their presence was not instrumental neither in derailing the list of recommendations nor successful in disrupting the meeting. The presence of NCP-ers and war criminals in the meeting should be judged against what has been agreed upon in Doha where the perpetrators were self-incriminated. It is also misinformation to describe the event as a government-orchestrated act and to dub the participants, who include diverse sectors of Darfurians, all as dupes and now in the government’s hand. The Doha Declaration could better be viewed in its very historical context as an event in which individuals from Darfur came to the conference with their points of views and insisted in adopting them as their collective position, unanimously. The recommendations in the Doha Declaration are intended for consideration in future negotiations with the government of Sudan. There is no absolute promise, neither from the government of Sudan or from the armed movements that they will adopt these recommendations in future negotiations. When President Al-Bashir welcomed the Doha Declaration grudgingly, he has no way but to salute the unity of Darfurians in Doha, but at the same time this does not mean he is committed to adopt it with references that are self-incriminated to him, personally. Al-Bashir’s welcoming of the Declaration is tactical and should be understood in the context on how much he implemented with regard to the signed agreements of the CPA and the DPA. It is in the best of interest of the government of Sudan to have Darfur divided, but some of these divisions are hardened by some who believe that only they should be consulted. The Doha Declaration is not the first civil society initiative coming from Darfur or advanced by Darfurians. Even, at Doha there were many writings in circulation of many past initiatives regarding peace in Darfur. These but all were brushed aside and the current recommendations were passed. These initiatives represent the aspirations of the Darfurian civil society towards inclusion in future negotiation between the government and the armed movements. One wishes that such transparency will be adopted by the armed movements by advertising their positions publicly on all issues before negotiating with the government of Sudan. All citizens of Darfur have the right to espouse their views regarding the future of their region, and each individual is accountable for his/her act. The future of the Doha Declaration or any similar declaration is not in the hands of those who made it. Currently, it is up to those in the government of Sudan, the Darfur armed movements, and the international community who could decide the extent and the level of participation of the civil society in any peace process and whether it should be inclusive or exclusive. But since the conflict engulfed all sectors of the Darfuri populations, the voices of civilians in the conflict zone must be heard and their participation must be considered. Dr. Ali B. Ali-Dinar علي بحرالدين علي دينار aadinar@darfurinfo.org Darfur Information Center, Darfur Alert Coalition Dr. Ali B. Ali-Dinar is president of the Darfur Alert Coalition. A native of El Fasher in Northern Darfur, he is the grandson of the last king of Darfur, Sultan Ali-Dinar.

Know Your Stuff

cwagner — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:44:42 +0000

Today is the 9th day of the 16 Days campaign against gender-based violence. In that spirit, this morning I sat down determined to do something I’ve put off for far too long: really inform myself about violence against women in Sudan. Even though it’s not my focus at Save Darfur, of course I’m aware that gender-based violence (or GBV) is an ongoing, heart-wrenching problem and I’ve been outspoken on the need to address it. But I have to admit that I’ve shied away from reading many of the reports of facts on the ground – perhaps because this issue is so haunting. Reading and thinking deeply about this reality for Sudanese women is not easy, but it is incredibly important. Workable solutions depend on a thorough understanding the problem with all its nuances; effective advocacy does as well. As a person who cares about ending GBV and helping survivors, I have a responsibility to be well-versed in what precisely is happening and what can be done to stop it. Violence against women gets a decent amount of media coverage, but too often the stories focus only on the problem and never get to how we can combat it. Our job as advocates is to work for action. The papers painstakingly written by organizations such as Refugees International (today’s 16 Days honoree) are not just horror stories. By evaluating how past and current efforts to help have worked (or, rather, not), they point the way forward. They break down this big, scary issue into the specific barriers to combating GBV and make concrete recommendations that we can rally around. As activists, the single best thing we can do is be well-informed. When we talk to friends, family, and strangers we want to be able to tell them more than just that GBV is happening in Sudan, we want to engage them and explain what specifically can be done. So, today, I am taking time to read the reports. Join me!

A Tweet and Ring to My Congressman

goalawal — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:48:03 +0000

Today, marks the 14th day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign - a global movement to end gender-based violence. This day focuses on the humanitarian and civil society organizations working on the ground in Darfur and throughout Sudan. I took action today by calling my representative and encouraging him to make restoring peace in Sudan a priority. Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) has been a prominent voice for the people of Darfur on Capitol Hill, but it is my responsibility as a constituent to consistently push for him to do more to end sexual violence in Sudan. Having spent my childhood in Nigeria, I remember my grandparent’s sharing their memories of the Nigerian Biafra War that claimed more than a million lives. The reason they told their story was not merely to fill the air with loose talk, but to teach us the role we ought to play in preventing future atrocities. There is no greater calling in life than to help your neighbor at their weakest or most vulnerable moment; and to fight great injustice no matter where it is. Now, with years of conflict and suffering in Darfur, I am once inspired by survivors' stories - this time I am compelled to take action on behalf of those suffering in Sudan. Today I reached out to just one of the leaders of this country with the power to help bring the Darfur genocide to an end. In my phone call and twitter message to Congressman Moran I asked him to lead efforts to restore unrestricted humanitarian access in Darfur and prioritize the return of services for survivors of gender based violence. I hope that you contact your representative and encourage them to be advocates for the people of Darfur and to end the violence against women.

Sudan: Women’s Groups Advocate for Rape Law Reform

Melanie Teff — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:35:21 +0000

Cross posted from Refugees International's blog. Women’s groups in Khartoum are working together to push for reform of north Sudan’s criminal laws on rape and adultery. Despite all of the difficulties that they face, they are taking positive steps forward and using the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence to launch their campaign. A new network of Sudanese women’s organizations calling itself “the section 149 alliance” has come together to advocate for reform of section 149 of north Sudan’s Penal Code. Section 149 is one of the huge problems that face northern Sudanese women, including Darfuri women, who want to report a rape. This section of the criminal code mixes up the offences of rape and adultery. As Refugees International reported back in 2007, the criminal system in north Sudan makes it almost impossible to prosecute rape cases successfully. The crime of rape is difficult to prove in most criminal systems, but in north Sudan many judges require four adult male witnesses to testify that a rape took place. Such evidence is of course almost impossible to obtain. Sadly, reporting rape brings stigma onto survivors in almost all countries. But in north Sudan, women have even more to fear than the stigma. Sudanese women are scared to report rape because they could themselves be prosecuted for adultery if the rape prosecution fails. For an unmarried woman the punishment for adultery is 100 lashes; for a married woman the punishment is death by stoning. This is obviously an enormous disincentive for rape survivors to come forward. So it is good news that women’s groups in Sudan are campaigning to change this system. They are pointing out to lawmakers in Sudan that the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between north and south Sudan requires them to change their laws to bring them in line with international human rights. The current laws on rape and adultery in north Sudan are clearly in violation of international human rights laws. There are many Islamic religious scholars who have stated that Islamic law does not prevent reform of these rape and adultery laws. It is heartening to see that Sudanese women’s groups are standing up for the rights of rape survivors and calling on their politicians to reform these unjust Melanie Teff is an Advocate with Refugees International.

Walking the Halls of Congress

Robert — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:38:47 +0000

I was nervous. Very nervous. I was a college freshman in Washington D.C. and about to meet my hometown Congressman. I had made the appointment weeks earlier -- an "interview" with the Congressman was critical to a political science paper that was coming due all too soon. In theory, the whole thing sounded easy. But here I was, in the waiting area, 2,800 miles from home, waiting for one of the most powerful people in the Capitol. When I arrived, I was warned he might not have much time for me -- votes were on the horizon. And all too soon, I was rushed into his inner sanctum and it was just the two of us. I managed to gasp out a couple questions, taking notes as fast as I could; and then the bells rang. The bells, of course, indicated that he had to go vote. I immediately assumed that my time with the Congressman was up. But after talking a few more minutes, he jumped out of his chair, said "come with me," and we were on a fast-paced jaunt; me trying to keep up and ask questions all at the same time. Upon reaching the Capitol, he deposited me, ran to vote, and came back to finish the interview. I was genuinely astonished that he had taken so much time to talk to me and answer my questions. Later, I wrote him a thank-you note; I received a handwritten notecard back saying he hoped I received a good grade on the paper "despite the interviewee." I was impressed, but still a little dumbfounded as to why he would spend so much effort on one 18-year old college student when he had over 600,000 constituents back home. Little did I know then that the jittery encounter would not be my last with the Congressman. I eventually spent the better part of six years working on foreign policy issues for him. That experience in turn opened the opportunity to represent the Save Darfur Coalition before Congress. But I've always felt fortunate I had that first experience of being on the other side -- of being the constituent in the room -- because it allows me to understand what many Darfur activists must feel when they go to meet their Congressional officials. My subsequent time on the Hill enlightened me to why the Congressman chose to go out of his way that day -- I was a constituent. Although not wholly without reason, too many of the stories about Congress are about the supposedly immense access lobbyists have. But in my experience, constituents are the ones who get first-class treatment by their Members of Congress. Because people see their Congressional officials on TV, in parades, or speaking on the Floor of the House, they forget that the elected official actually works for them -- but elected officials, the smart ones anyway, never forget that fact. On Day 11 of the "16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence" I wanted to use my own experience to demonstrate the impact you can have by simply calling or visiting your Member of Congress. Some people think I have the easiest job in Washington -- I lobby against genocide, what could possibly be easier than that? It's true that there are no pro-genocide Members of Congress, that the pro-Bashir caucus is a mighty quiet one. But what we at Save Darfur lobby against, and what we encourage Sudan activists to lobby against, is inaction and indifference in the face of genocide; in the face of gender-based violence. And we need your help to do it. Today's highlighted Leaders Against Gender Violence are two Members of Congress who have taken it upon themselves to refuse to allow inaction and indifference in the face of gender based violence. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) are two longstanding champions for Darfuris, and they jointly held a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on "Confronting Rape and other Forms of Violence Against Women in Conflict Zones: Spotlight DRC and Sudan," earlier this year. Save Darfur's own Niemat Ahmadi, a Darfuri survivor, testified at the hearing at which the Senators present pressed for more State Department action in the wake of the horrible crimes that continue to be committed. Support for ending the violence in genocide is strong in Congress. But it can always be stronger. So on this day, I ask you to consider contacting your Senators to urge them to make ending gender-based violence in Darfur a personal priority. My fearful first encounter opened up a world of possibilities -- imagine what yours might be able to do for the women of Darfur.

Sudanese demonstrators arrested - call the White House

wcfischer — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:16:37 +0000

This morning in Khartoum, "Riot police arrested two senior members of south Sudan's main party and their supporters who turned out to demonstrate outside Sudan's parliament on Monday in defiance of an official ban, a witness and officials said." Reports indicate that Yasir Arman, a senior member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) was beaten while in custody. Jerry Fowler, President of the Save Darfur Coalition, said:

“The demonstrators were rallying peacefully to change laws in Sudan that currently prohibit them from speaking freely and expressing their opposition to the Bashir regime. The government’s thuggish response demonstrates why that change is necessary. The Obama administration has said little about the political environment necessary for free and fair elections in Sudan – choosing to focus on the technicalities of the process rather than the ongoing repressive environment in Sudan. These events make clear that, for all its rhetoric over the last few months, the Bashir government will not tolerate peaceful dissent in Sudan nor is it willing to create the conditions necessary for credible elections in April.”

Read the Save Darfur Coalition's official statement

President Obama must condemn this repression by the Sudanese government. Call the White House at 202.456.1111 or 202.456.1414. A sample script is below.

Hi, I’m _(Name)_ I’m calling to ask that President Obama publically condemn the violent actions committed by the Bashir regime and his National Congress Party against the peaceful demonstrators in Sudan earlier today. Now is the time for President Obama to show that he does care about the people of Sudan and their human rights. Now is the time for the administration to call unequivocally for a dramatic change in the political environment in Sudan to allow for free and fair elections in April 2010. I ask that President Obama turn his words into action. He recently described America as a nation that will “speak out on behalf of human rights” and “tend to the light of freedom” – this is on his watch now. Thank you.

Bad Day in Sudan, Portends Worse

seanbrooks — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:42:16 +0000

[caption id="attachment_2484" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Protests in Sudan today"][/caption] Omar al-Bashir and his National Congress Party (NCP) failed another test today of their commitment to holding free and fair elections in Sudan scheduled for April 2010. Responding to a march (see video here of crowds chanting “Freedom, Peace and Security”) planned by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and northern opposition parties, the Sudanese security forces violently quashed the demonstration and arrested a number of Sudanese politicians and activists. We have been compiling information throughout the day. The following is a run down and here is also a collection of pictures. Amnesty International confirms that over 200 people, including opposition leaders and human rights activists, were arrested at the demonstration. It demanded that Sudanese authorities announce the names and whereabouts of those arrested and either charge them with recognized criminal offenses or release them immediately:

“This is yet another example of the culture of violence that the Sudanese government has adopted,” said Tawanda Hondora, deputy director of the Africa program at Amnesty International. “The government must respect the right of protesters to peacefully assemble and express their views. This is a crucial time for Sudan and all parties should abstain from using violence, especially in the light of the coming elections and referendum.”

Two of the leading members of the SPLM, Pagan Amum and Yasir Arman, were among those arrested. Our sources tell us that Arman was beaten severely by a group of police officers before being taken to the hospital. Both men are now free. The children and grandchildren of Sudanese opposition leaders Sadiq al-Mahdi (Umma Party) and Hassan al-Turabi (Popular Congress Party) were also detained during the day. Here is an interview of Amum from prison:

All of us have been arrested in violation of our constitutional right of peaceful demonstration and marches. Our intention was to present a petition to the members of parliament to enact within these two weeks the Referendum Law on the right of self determination for the people of southern Sudan…Sudan is on the edge of an abyss and we must do everything to preventing it from falling into this abyss of disintegration and chaos…[We are protesting] so that these laws are enacted in conformity with the constitution so that there are freedoms which will ensure that the upcoming elections will be free and fair.

Al-Jazeera reported early this morning that the Sudanese security blocked them from covering the protests and confiscated their tapes. Fortunately, they captured this footage before being shut down. Our colleague has quickly translated and transcribed two interviews in the footage. The woman in a white toab(Sudanese national dress), a member of the Umma party, about a third of the way through the video says:

The arrest of the SPLM leaders and members of the Sudanese parliament has proved that there is no freedom in Sudan. This demonstration is peaceful, the people are peaceful. If the government is facing it with this number of military and police forces and with harassment and violence, that means this country doesn’t have freedom, no respect for law and order, no freedom of expression. This consequently demonstrates the reality that the government is using the force to maintain its seat (in power) and is not allowing any democratic transformation in this country to take place.

After this interview, the man in suit, a member of PCP, asserts:

It’s impossible for the election to take place in an environment dominated by oppression and dictatorship. It’s crucial to change the laws one of which was referenced by the police today to justify their reaction to the protest…because the government’s justification for their reaction is Article 127 of the Sudanese criminal laws that allows the authorities to stop any kind of demonstration or protest even if its peaceful, as well as prohibiting any gathering for delivering statements of protests to the government…The demonstration is calling for the reform and amendment of many laws that were supposed to be amended based on the Sudanese Interim National Constitution.

[caption id="attachment_2486" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Protestors Detained Today"][/caption] The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies issued an alert later today about two students detained yesterday around 7:00pm for distributing fliers for Girifna, a campaign for free elections in Sudan:

The security forces chased the two students, firing shots into the air in order to force them to stop. When the students stopped they were arrested. Their instruments, a flute and a bass guitar, were smashed. One of the students, Mr. Khalifa, was beaten with the butt of a rifle by security agents and was knocked unconscious at the scene. They were then taken to NISS offices near the railway station in Khartoum where they remain in custody without access to lawyers or family. The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies fears that they have been subjected to torture. Available information indicates that these students were targeted for no other reason than that they were attempting to peacefully express their political opinion. The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies calls on the government of Sudan to respect the provisions of Article 39(1) of the Sudan Interim National Constitution, which provides that every “citizen shall have an unrestricted right to the freedom of expression, reception and dissemination of information”. The government should immediately release these students unless they can be charged with an internationally recognised criminal offence. At a minimum, the students should be given access to their lawyers and families.

ACJPS also provided these additional details on the crackdown:

Despite the announcement that the intent of the demonstrations was peaceful, authorities released a statement shortly after midnight declaring the demonstration illegal. Heavily armed riot police with batons and tear gas lined the streets of Khartoum in the early morning hours, blocking the roads to Parliament and the main headquarters of several political parties, including the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM). Though the government had announced a public holiday for schools and public employees in an effort to deter the public’s participation, thousands had gathered by morning. Rubber bullets and tear gas were fired into crowds, and security agents confiscated cameras from international media. In Khartoum, over 250 people were arrested, including prominent lawyers, students, journalists, and parliamentarians. Pagan Amum, the SPLM’s Secretary General, Abbas Jumma, the SPLM Minister of the Interior, and Yasir Arman, the SPLM’s Deputy Secretary General and leader of its Parliamentary block, were all arrested. Mr. Arman was seriously injured in police custody, where 13 security agents took him from his cell to a bathroom and beat him. In total, 42 people so far have been taken to the hospital including Samia Rabih, Hussam Mohamed Alamin, and Muna Eltigani, who was seriously injured and taken to a hospital. Arrests also took place at similar demonstrations held across Sudan. In Wad Medani and El-Obeid, capital of Northern Kordofan State, 42 individuals were arrested, as were 58 in El Hasahisa. Protests also took place in Port Sudan, Gedaref, Kassala, and El Fasher, as well as in every major city in South Sudan and IDP camps in Darfur. A list of the arrested protestors is available upon request.

In sum, it was a very bad day in Sudan – with ominous signs that things could get a lot worse. And with all of this happening, radio silence from the Obama administration.

What We're Fighting For

Melissa Warnke — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:24:06 +0000

I have always loved the written word above all else – my earliest memory is being ridiculed on the school bus for furiously attempting to finish my latest chapter book. In my tormentor’s defense, I did live three blocks from our middle school. As I grew older, this love for writing and literature only intensified. So when I took our action for Day 13 – reading Halima Bashir’s Tears of the Desert – I was both excited and terrified. As part of the Save Darfur team that works to raise awareness and action around sexual violence, I was all too familiar with the horrors the book would hold. In discussing this issue, we often use clinical, colder terms – “gender-based violence,” “moment of assault,” “psychological implications.” In many circumstances, we as an activist community write our way around the truest and most difficult word – rape. Stalin famously said that “one death is a tragedy, one million is a statistic.” Unfortunately, these words often ring true – not only in the international community’s reaction to mass killing, but in how we react to mass sexual violence. While statistics are hard to come by and those who were to collect them have been either expelled or intimidated by the Sudanese government, we know that thousands upon thousands of women in Darfur have been raped by governmental forces and the janjaweed militias. But this story of mass rape is actually a much more horrifying story – it is the story of a single rape, an unbearable experience that no one should have to suffer through, experienced thousands and thousands of times. In many ways, it is harder to read or hear a single testimony than to write a paper about its prevalence. This understanding was at the core of my apprehension – to read is not only to know, but to embody an experience for a certain time. What euphemism and convention can obscure, the written word lays bare. This is the source of its power. Tears of the Desert is, however, a majestically crafted memoir – one which I am a fuller person for reading. For the past four years, I have studied the history of genocide intently and for the past two I have been engaged in research on genocide memorialization, both formal and informal, in Rwanda. In a period of six weeks, I traveled to nearly every recognized memorial in the country – frequently traveling to four memorials, attending a remembrance ceremony and conducting several hours of survivor interviews in a single day. At that time, I realized that if I could not construct walls between myself and what I was studying, the reality of the situation would cripple me. At the same time, the reality is what spurs you to action. It is a strange and frequently uncomfortable tightrope to walk – between feeling and acting, between policy and testimony. And in the past year or so, in order to act and to write analytically, I constructed walls which became, at times, too large for me to see beyond. Tears of the Desert forced me to surrender this distance. The capacity for genuine compassion – literally “to feel with” in Latin – and to verbalize thought are the two elements that distinguish human beings from our animal counterparts. In many ways, this surrender was a kind of return to a deeper humanity – one which provokes pain, but also understanding, kindness, empathy and action. For much of Bashir’s memoir, she speaks about her family, friends and community – the close relationship she shared with her encouraging father, her stubborn and fiery grandmother and her love of learning. While the details were different – from the kinds of food her family ate to the games they played as children – the broader relationships and experiences of her youth reminded me much of my own. It is through this kind of relation – our profound affection for the young Halima that her writing provokes – that the losses she suffers, the things she sees and the rapes she experiences later on are written so much more closely to our own hearts. Often people think of the genocide in Darfur and the violence in other parts of Sudan as remote, intangible and inapproachably complex. But Tears of the Desert, by telling a single story, reminds us that the women experiencing this suffering are intrinsically related to us – their relationships, desires and aspirations before the genocide were the same as our own, our sisters’ and our friends'. Activists often speak about a moment of obligation – when they first realized that they could no longer “sit idly by.” My first moment of obligation was when I read We Wish to Inform You Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda by Phillip Gourevitch. That day in tenth grade, I made a choice to dedicate my life to working to prevent genocide and mass atrocities. In the years since then, I have become tired, frustrated and, at times, cynical at the lack of progress we as a human community have made. Reading Halima Bashir’s gorgeously written, deeply affecting and brave memoir was my second moment of obligation. Bashir’s story shows us that, as activists, we can never forget that people - their right to freedom, to have the kind of lives that they want to live - are at the center of our work. This is what we're fighting for.

Addressing Repression and Supporting Civil Society in Sudan

seanbrooks — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:10:47 +0000

A full 36 hours after the beginning of the crackdown in Khartoum, we still have not heard the Obama administration address the troubling situation in Sudan. This morning the BBC reports that Sudan People’s Liberation Movement’s (SPLM) Secretary General Pagan Amum (one of those arrested yesterday) has stated that peace in Sudan is in serious crisis. Headlines this morning in the Sudanese papers demonstrate the urgency. The “Juba group” of political parties has demanded the resignation of the Ministers of Justice and the Interior, as well as the police chief of Khartoum, for their actions yesterday (in Arabic). Meanwhile, Omar al-Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP) alleges that the opposition yesterday attempted to undermine the elections, overthrow the government, and take control of the government (in Arabic). NCP members particularly called out Hassan al-Turabi, the intellectual who helped Bashir come to power in 1989, for being behind the plot. The Sudan Tribune also carries a number of stories on yesterday’s events. Reading about the subsequent protests in the South, which turned ugly quickly, one realizes that it’s not hyperbole when Sudanese and others speak of being on the edge of the abyss. Things could get much worse if the right flame is lit. Given the silence of the Obama administration and the precariousness of the situation in Sudan, I wanted to highlight Jerry Fowler’s statement submitted to the House Foreign Affairs Committee last week. He called for the United States policy to address political repression throughout the country, support the process of democratic transformation of Sudan per the spirit of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and support the civil society efforts of Sudanese striving for these goals.

Our central concern is the need for increased emphasis on the implementation of the aspects of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that focus on political transformation. Without such a transformation, the prospects for long-term peace and stability in Sudan and the region are slim. The key to lasting peace in Sudan is ending the dominance of a NCP-led government which represents a minority of a minority of the Sudanese people by creating open space for Sudanese to resolve their differences without the need to resort to extreme violence. Addressing political repression throughout the country We are concerned that the [U.S.] strategy does not address the broad human rights situation in Sudan. The continuing crisis in Darfur denies millions of Sudanese the hope of a normal life free of violence and political repression. Adequate civilian protection is also an urgent need in South Sudan. The administration’s strategy does a good job of highlighting these immediate concerns. But those are not the only human rights challenges facing Sudan today, and indeed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement provides a framework for addressing the broader concerns. A challenge is that it is not clear whether either CPA party is committed to implementing the parts of the CPA that address those concerns. As the administration implements the strategy, we urge it to: (1) Express support for the human rights and civil liberties of all Sudanese, not just those in Darfur and South Sudan (2) Press the Government of National Unity (GNU) to reform the country’s national security laws to be consistent with international human rights standards and to implement the 2005 Bill of Rights (3) Pay close attention to the fragile Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement (4) Support the work of Sudanese human rights defenders who have been systematically targeted over the years, including many who were forced to leave in the country in March 2009 (5) Consider initiating a dialogue with all the primary Sudanese political parties Emphasizing democratic transformation The national elections scheduled for April 2010 could give Sudanese the opportunity to choose their own leaders for the first time in more than 20 years. But the strategy document and comments from administration officials provide neither benchmarks for considering the elections to be “free and fair” or “credible” nor a commitment to making them so. If the Government of National Unity does not pass and effectively implement necessary laws allowing freedom of press, freedom of speech, and freedom of association and ending the arbitrary powers of the security services, the election has no chance of credibility – no matter the level of American largesse for logistical support. We are dubious of the value of moving forward with elections at all if there is no open political space in which they can be contested. Again, the creation of that political space is a key component of the CPA, a vital part of fully implementing the CPA, and the key to ending the myriad Sudanese conflicts. As the administration implements the strategy, we urge it to: (1) Demonstrate strong American and multilateral leadership to push the NCP to create an atmosphere suitable to holding elections (2) Make public the measures by which it will be judging the credibility of the elections Supporting non-Darfuri Sudanese civil society efforts Secretary of State Clinton spoke about the need to empower Sudanese to solve their own problems, and we all agree that this is the ultimate goal of our advocacy and General Gration’s hard work. The strategy document, though, does not appear to take account of many significant and promising efforts within Sudan by those working for peace, justice, and democracy. One such effort is rallying around the Juba Declaration by political parties and civil society. While the strategy document does mention engaging Darfuri civil society, it does not address how the U.S. government can strengthen the hand of tireless non-Darfuri activists and peacemakers within Sudan. Their monitoring and reporting of pre-election conditions will be critical in assessing whether “free and fair” or “credible” elections can take place. As the Administration implements the policy, we urge it to: (1) Hold consultations with leading Sudanese civil society organizations (particularly those operating in northern Sudan – not just Darfur and South Sudan) and opposition political parties (2) Strengthen the voices of civil society and human rights defenders by pushing the National Congress Party to end its crackdown and grant these individuals and organizations more freedom to operate

Afflicting the Comfortable, Comforting the Afflicted

Britney Schultz — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:28:49 +0000

Of course you know about the most recent developments in Sudan, because you follow the work of organizations such as the Save Darfur Coalition. It is entirely expected that an organization dedicated to the issues in Darfur would be on top of the latest news, especially in regard to violence against Sudanese women. But why is this very important issue so often under the radar of the major media outlets? As an undergraduate journalism student, I was always told by my professors that the whole point of journalism is to “afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.” When the truth is not confronting you from your television, you have a tendency to think that it is no longer an issue. Nothing could be further from the truth. That is why today, Day 15 of the 16 Days, we honor NBC journalist Ann Curry for her in-depth reporting at the forefront of this issue. She focuses on individual stories of the women caught in the conflict, giving a human face to the survivors and a voice to those who are often silenced. In this way, Ann Curry embodies the journalistic tradition I was taught—she comforts the afflicted women by empowering them and sharing their stories, and afflicts those of us living comfortably by showing us the costs of our ignorance or perhaps our inadvertent compliance. To observe the 15^th day of this campaign, I am writing to Dateline NBC to ask the producers to continue this excellent journalism by running a special on violence against women in Sudan. While our televisions are awash with other things, is it important for us to not let the suffering of the women in Darfur be forgotten. The only time the major networks should fail to run these stories is when they are no longer necessary—when violence against women ceases in Darfur. That is why I hope you will join me in writing to Dateline NBC (Dateline@nbcuni.com). If enough of us show a determination to bring back the voices of those women in Darfur, we can tune in to an important issue instead of who is gaining weight in Hollywood. Britney Schultz is a Communications Intern at the Save Darfur Coalition.

Ending Genocide: An Anniversary, and an Opportunity

AlexMeixner — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:43:52 +0000

Sixty-one years ago today, still reeling from the horrors of the Holocaust, the international community boldly declared its opposition to the world’s worst crime by adopting the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Despite the hope inherent in that declaration, the six decades that followed witnessed again and again the deathly spectacle of humanity at its worst. One year ago today, a bipartisan task force led by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Secretary of Defense William Cohen released the Genocide Prevention Task Force report, a comprehensive roadmap to guide U.S. policy through the long-overdue task of turning the ideals enshrined in the 1948 Genocide Convention into reality. Sitting in that packed room at the National Press Club as Secretaries Albright and Cohen unveiled the report, an all too rare look of hope came over the assembly of familiar faces who likewise work on issues pertaining to genocide. It seemed that the world’s ongoing inability to end the genocide in Darfur had finally lent a sense of urgency to the oft-stated but seldom acted upon promise of Never Again. It seemed that the time was right for real change. The 2008 elections had concluded and the Obama transition team was hard at work figuring out how to improve our national and economic security by changing international perception of U.S. foreign policy for the better. It seemed that a U.S. led effort to end the crime of genocide by helping to make the world better at prevention and response fit the bill perfectly. And perhaps more importantly, the details of the plan would save both political and actual capital – in addition to lives – in years to come. The monetary costs of funding prevention and early response mechanisms are far lower than the costs associated with open-ended large-scale humanitarian operations such as we see in Darfur. The U.S. has rightly spent billions in Darfur, with no sign of stopping as the humanitarian conditions brought about by genocide continue. Additionally, the political costs of securing international agreement on prevention and response mechanisms in advance of a specific crisis are significantly lower than the high political costs inevitably levied by a criminal regime’s economic and political allies who are disinclined to risk their investments by suddenly pressuring their wayward allies once genocide is underway. Put simply, a strong U.S.-led international effort to end the crime of genocide by bolstering prevention and response mechanisms just makes sense. And thanks to the hard work of the Genocide Prevention Task Force and other complementary projects, we finally had a clear plan of how to do it. So why then have those hopeful faces grown a bit grimmer over the last year? Because this critical and historic effort to help end genocide once and for all has lost its urgency, and may see its window of opportunity slip away. The politics of domestic and international crises has elbowed genocide prevention and response off of the President’s plate – it’s time for the broad but largely dormant anti-genocide lobby to start elbowing back. We must do everything we can to ensure that ending genocide is added to the President’s to do list before this moment of opportunity slips away. President Obama has three years left in his first term – more than enough time to make history by beginning the process of adopting and enacting the reforms laid out in the Genocide Prevention Task Force report. As we have all learned from Darfur, however, important goals must also possess a sense of real political urgency if they are to be effectively pursued by our over-burdened government. Together, we must ensure that our Nobel-laureate President feels both the pressure and the support necessary to make the most of this chance to help end the world’s worst crime.

Aftermath of the Crackdown in Sudan

seanbrooks — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:22:21 +0000

Yesterday, at the end of the first full day after the crackdown in Khartoum, the State Department finally released its statement condemning the violence used against protesters in Sudan. Calling for restraint and dialogue among all parties, the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, stated:

“I am deeply concerned about these developments and urge all parties to exercise restraint. Negotiations on issues of urgent importance to all of the Sudanese people cannot proceed in an atmosphere of intimidation.”

Today, at the end of the second day, we have the following to report. First, the Juba alliance announced that it would not hold another demonstration tomorrow, but would postpone the effort until next Monday, December 14. Sudanese newspapers this morning also reported that Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir would meet today with Sudan's First Vice President and leader of the Sudan's People Liberation Movement (SPLM) Salva Kiir to discuss Monday's events and to seek solutions on overcoming the roadblocks in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). As for the political climate in Khartoum and much of the rest of the country, it remains tense. Al-Sahafa reports that the Sudan Scholars Authority (Muslim scholars) issued a fatwa (a religious decision) prohibiting Muslims from joining demonstrations organized by the "enemies of Islam" and that the government is entitled to prevent sedition and chaos in the country. The opposition mocked this fatwa and considered it as clearly a propaganda item of the National Congress Party (in Arabic). Afrik.com also has a story claiming that five Ugandan businessmen were killed during the violent clashes between the police and protesters in the Southern Sudanese town of Rumbek. And despite a number of claims by observers and participants, police in Khartoum again denied that they used teargas on Monday against the protestors. Meanwhile, the Sudanese Journalist Network called for an investigation of detentions of and alleged abuses against five reports – including the confiscation of their tape recorders - during the demonstration. In addition to this fallout from Monday, we also received this news from the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) about the arrest of three lawyers in Sudan on Tuesday:

On Tuesday 8 December, at the Al Kalakla court complex in Khartoum, three lawyers were arrested. Initially the three were arrested for posting fliers on behalf of the Sudan Lawyers' Democratic Front calling on lawyers to obtain certification and pay membership fees in order to vote in elections to be held in January 2010 by the Sudan Bar Association. A judge named Bashir Rahama ordered the arrest. The women were arrested by the police and interrogated, but released the same day without being charged. Immediately upon their release, an NISS car stopped them outside the police station and re-arrested them, taking them to the NISS office in the Abuadam area in Al Kalakla district. The women remain in custody. The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies urges the Sudanese authorities to allow the women access to their lawyers and families, and to expeditiously either charge them with an internationally recognised criminal offence or release them. More broadly, the government of Sudan should not interfere with peaceful political organizing and allow for freedom of expression and association. If these freedoms are not respected, the holding of free and fair elections - whether at the level of the Sudan Bar Association or the national level - will not be possible. Background Elections for the Sudan Bar Association are scheduled to be held in January 2010. The previous elections of the Sudan Bar Association were held in January 2006 and pitted the National Congress Party, represented by Fathi Khalil, against the Democratic Alliance, a coalition including the Sudan Lawyers' Democratic Front and headed by Amin Mekki Medani. The National Congress Party won amid allegations of rigging. The results of the election were appealed in the courts by the Democratic Alliance alleging corruption and fraud. This submission was accepted by the Constitutional Court, but to date no decision in the case has been rendered.

With so much brewing and so many clear examples of people's rights regularly being violated in Sudan by the security apparatus of the Bashir regime, it is critical that the Obama administration mean what it said yesterday in the official statement when it called on the Government of Sudan to allow "freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and protection from against arbitrary arrest and detention." These are not only fundamental to credible elections in 2010 but the democratic transformation originally promised for Sudan in the CPA.

Sudan’s Debt: A Leverage Point for Peace

seanbrooks — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:30:53 +0000

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="413" caption="Bashir took power militarily in 1989, since then his regime has accumulated 23 billion dollars in debt "][/caption] In October, I reported from Istanbul that the Sudanese government had sent a delegation to the annual International Monetary Fund/World Bank meetings to seek a debt-relief package from the international community. With an economy hemorrhaging from the global financial crisis, the delegation sought relief from an estimated 36 billion dollars in foreign debt. The Save Darfur Coalition has called for the international community to condition any debt-relief package on concrete and lasting progress toward peace in Sudan. To provide more information on this new mechanism for the international community to place pressure on Omar al-Bashir's regime and to offer earned incentives for peace, we have just published a new paper entitled, “A Leverage Point for Peace: how the United States should deal with Sudan’s troubling debt.” Here is the executive summary:

The current global economic crisis has significantly affected Sudan’s fragile economy. The country’s large existing public debt burden—which ballooned under the National Islamic Front/National Congress Party reign from 1989 until today—frustrates its attempt to access needed foreign capital during the financial downturn. Like other struggling countries, Sudan has sought a debt-relief package from its creditors to overcome its current challenges. This debt, however, has been incurred by an unrepentant, unreformed regime, and has effectively subsidized war and genocide waged by the Sudanese government against its own people. The Sudanese people have been burdened with more than $23 billion in “odious debt” from the Omar Al-Bashir regime’s campaign of negligence and destruction over the last 20 years. During the past six years, moreover, robust economic gains have underpinned the government’s hubris and intransigence in confronting the international community on Darfur. Now in dire straits, the Sudanese government has redoubled its push to secure a debt-relief package and economic foreign assistance agreement as part of its bilateral talks with the United States, with American allies, and with multilateral creditor institutions in which the United States plays a key role. With Sudan at a dangerous crossroads, President Obama must present those in power in Khartoum with a choice between earned incentives or serious consequences. His administration should lead an international coalition of Sudan’s creditors to condition any consideration of debt-relief or debt-servicing adjustments on concrete and lasting progress toward peace in Darfur, the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), and significant structural political and judicial reforms that fundamentally change the repressive systems in Sudan. For a more prosperous future in Sudan, the international community must rid the Sudanese people of this burdensome and “odious” debt created by the regime in Khartoum – but Sudan’s leaders should know they first must finally commit to extinguishing the flames and embers of decades of war in Sudan.

This aggressive lobbying by the Sudanese government continues and the economic conditions that precipitated the urgent requests have not disappeared. Instead, Sudan’s Central Bank Governor Mohamed al-Hassan Sabr last week confirmed that Sudan’s banks still have not recovered from the global crisis. Foreign reserves remain low due to a decline in oil revenues, as well a significant drop in foreign investment and financing (link in Arabic). As inflation has increased and the Sudanese pound has become less valuable compared to other currencies, the average Sudanese person has seen the cost of food, consumer goods, and imports become much more expensive over the last year. With elections looming, Bashir certainly wants to reassure those committed to his National Congress Party (NCP) - and more broadly the Sudanese people - that his economic policies are working. This fact is yet another reason why debt-relief has become such an important issue for the Sudanese government. Overall, the global economic crisis and Sudan’s ballooning foreign debt has created a unique set of circumstances that economically compel the NCP regime to seek debt-relief from the United States and other countries and multilateral lenders. We must therefore call on President Barack Obama to take advantage of the reality of the NCP’s economic woes and the existence of a broad array of states who share the distinction of being Sudan’s creditors. As part of his administration's engagement plan with Khartoum, Obama should make clear to the Sudanese government that debt-relief can only be an earned incentive conditioned on concrete and lasting progress toward peace in Darfur, the full implementation of the CPA, and significant structural political and judicial reforms that fundamentally change the repressive systems in Sudan.

More Protests in Sudan

wcfischer — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:10:44 +0000

Earlier today, an estimated group of 50,000 Sudanese hit the streets in opposition to Omar al-Bashir, and the National Congress Party. Bashir, who is an indicted war criminal governing on the run from the ICC, is up for re-election in elections scheduled for April 2010. This demonstration was spawned in reaction to political events last Monday, December7^th, 2009 in Khartoum in which political leaders including SPLM Secretary General, Pagan Amum and his Deputy for Northern Sector, Yasir Arman, were unlawfully arrested and taken to police custody. They addressed the crowds today. This large demonstration occurred peacefully because it took place in South Sudan, away from the tight grip of Bashir’s security services. Northern Bahr El Ghazal State Governor, Maj. Gen. Pual Malong Awan, voiced that “the old Sudan was gone forever and the destiny of the people of marginalized areas would never be dictated by anyone other than the people themselves.” The Juba group that organized the demonstration on Monday postponed another rally today in Khartoum, but there is word that they will mobilize people in the streets next Monday. They also announced that they had notified the police that they would hold “seminars” in and around Khartoum in the coming days (in Arabic). More information to come...

Webcast with Ambassador Susan Rice - Tonight

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:13:46 +0000

Tonight at 7:00 p.m. (Eastern), the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum will host a live webcast of a special program with U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Susan Rice. Michael Abramowitz, Director of the Museum’s Committee on Conscience, will interview Ambassador Rice, discussing her work at the United Nations and her experiences working on issues of genocide and mass atrocities and what can be done to prevent such crimes in the future. Watch the webcast. Museum staff will also be "live-tweeting" the event, so check out their twitter feed and send your own messages with the hash tag "#genprev" as well.

UNAMID Under Attack

Celeste Robinson — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:48:23 +0000

The UN-AU hybrid operation in Darfur has been called many things, from being described as a pawn or a proxy to being dismissed as incompetent or irrelevant. But the truth is almost always ignored: these peacekeepers are quite literally the only force standing between a vulnerable, victimized population and criminally rampant insecurity. Each and every soldier risks his or her own safety to be there, in the line of fire, protecting Darfuri civilians. On December 4^th and 5^th, five Rwandans gave up their lives as part of that important effort. What’s more, all reports indicate that rather than resort to reckless, desperate measures to save only themselves when under attack, the soldiers returned fire with due restraint, thereby ensuring the security of nearby civilians, and fighting for their protection until the very end. Someone has to be held to account for these attacks. Sudanese authorities, responding to Rwandan accusations, have denied involvement and suggested these deaths were inflicted by subversive attempts to sabotage the peace and stability that Darfur “enjoys”. North Darfur Governor Osman Mohamed Yousef Kibir has dismissed the incident as ‘isolated’ and deflected blame to common criminals. He says it was banditry, claiming the peacekeepers were killed by looters for a vehicle. Make no mistake; these peacekeepers – and the 17 others who have been killed in action since the beginning of 2008 – did not loose their lives simply because of a vehicle. They were not defeated by petty thieves. It is becoming increasingly obvious that the Government of Sudan and its auxiliary forces have created an environment that works against UNAMID and places its troops in daily danger – as evidenced by the three attacks this week, including two lethal ones in as many days. Regardless of whether one buys into rumors that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their allies SLA/MM are trying to scare UNAMID away, or that Darfuri rebel groups are trying to prove they have yet to be defeated, one cannot ignore the reality that the absence of compliance by the Government of Sudan does not mean it can escape some responsibility for the events. Consider two points. First, according to the United Nations, “no UNAMID movement is permitted without approval by the Government of the Sudan.” Therefore, in the case of both deadly attacks, the SAF or other Government authorities would have been aware of UNAMID’s activities. Additionally, one location, Saraf Omra, is a government “stronghold” where, according to the Rwandan Armed Forces spokesperson, there was no known rebel activity. UNAMID’s Rwandan platoon was escorting a water tanker a mere 300 metres from Sudan government forces when they were ambushed. At best, this makes the Sudanese Government – which maintains primary responsibility for security in the region – negligent and incompetent; more realistically, it means UNAMID’s troops are the latest victims of the ongoing violence in Darfur that is either sanctioned, facilitated, or directly perpetrated by Khartoum. There are three main ways in which Sudan has either fallen short of, or directly defied, its responsibilities to ensure peace and civilian protection in Darfur: first, by maintaining a lack of transparency in militia disarmament; second, by failing to implement effective security measures in Darfur; and, third, by obstructing and threatening UNAMID. Janjaweed refers to militias once armed by Khartoum to implement the mass killing, rape and destruction of Darfuri villages in a systematic campaign targeting specific ethnic groups in Darfur. As part of the 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement, the Government of Sudan was responsible for integrating the Janjaweed into its own army and auxiliary forces. However, according to the UN, the Government remains “intransparent and unwilling to account” for controlling and disarming the Janjaweed militias. As such, the UN Panel of Experts on Sudan recently reported that it “cannot with certainty exclude the possibility that banditry and the Janjaweed are symptoms of the same problem, which the government has neglected to address.” It is important to remember that, as a sovereign state, the Government of Sudan is responsible for the security of its own citizens. However, as the UN notes, “there is a systematic failure” in the government’s efforts – or lack thereof – to protect its people. Darfuri civilians – including the millions of internally displaced persons – continue to suffer ongoing harassment and abuse. The Government’s response has been, the UN says, to install “some security posts, mostly manned by under-trained and under-equipped personnel, around the areas where internally displaced persons, primarily women, conduct their livelihood activities.” Rarely do they intervene, and as such, civilians – and now peacekeepers – suffer while the perpetrators “enjoy unchecked impunity.” In addition to having failed to protect its own civilians, necessitating UN-AU intervention, Khartoum has obstructed the peacekeeping mission at almost every turn, from delaying its deployment to withholding essential equipment; from limiting its movement to directly threatening its personnel. A recent report by the UN Secretary-General even reveals outright threats against UNAMID issued by various authorities in response to IDP camp access, patrols, and aircraft movement. If, as Khartoum claims, the Government of Sudan is a friend to UNAMID, it has yet to act the part. Officials have announced the arrest of six men allegedly responsible for the recent attacks against UNAMID in North Darfur. They have reportedly been transferred to El Fasher, which is headquarters for the Force and Sector North. If Sudan is truly committed to ensuring UNAMID’s success and protecting its men and women from criminal violence, these suspects should be interrogated and tried with full UN and AU involvement. It is time that countries like Rwanda, Nigeria and South Africa – which contribute thousands of troops to the peacekeeping effort and hold strong positions of leadership within the African Union – more vigorously demand accountability and cooperation from Khartoum. This is, after all, a government that – through embracing impunity – does not simply fail to deter, but effectively provides incentives to criminals and looters to rob well-intentioned peacekeepers of their equipment and, more importantly, their lives. African officials should reflect the steadfast will of their soldiers, and refuse to either tolerate or be intimidated by bandits and war criminals alike.

Press Conference on Developments in Sudan

Allen Combs — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:07:58 +0000

This morning the the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is holding a press conference with Rep. Frank Wolf, Rep. Donald Payne and Rep. Chris Smith. Members of the USCIRF recently returned from Sudan and witnessed Khartoum’s crackdown on peaceful Sudanese protesters. These protesters, including high-ranking members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, had gathered in the streets to press Sudan’s President Bashir and his National Congress Party to demand passage of important laws by the National Assembly. Update: The press conference has concluded. See all of our live-tweets after the jump or read a complete write-up of the press conference on our blog. Live-tweets from the USCIRF press conference:

Press conference GoS crackdown about to begin on Capitol Hill. http://tweetphoto.com/6476110
The US delegation met with 4 Sudanese parliamentarians who were detained after protest - saw their bruises.
Commission on Religious Freedom: "NCP is more emboldened than anytime in the past... Have hijacked the peace process"
USCIRF: we have called on the SOS to lead on this issue. Every time the Special Envoy visits he emboldens the NCP
"For years the US had been a leader - the leader - in advocating for the marginalized peoples of #Sudan" - Rep Wolf
Rep Wolf: The time has come for Second Clinton and Prez Obama to personally get involved in Sudan.
"The CPA is not up for renegotiation" - Rep Wolf #Sudan
This administration's negotiation with the Sudanese regime fails to recognize the true nature of Bashir - Rep Wolf #Sudan
Rep Wolf: Bashir and the NCP are not our partners in peace - but they have not been inconsistent. They have consistently obstructed the CPA.
"Bashir is not an overnight thing - he's been there for years" - Rep Payne
Rep Payne: one of the thing we need to begin to talk about is regime change.
Question - when supporting elections are we risking legitimizing an indicted war criminal? - Rep Payne #Sudan #sudanelection
Rep Payne: we will not have the CPA pitted against Darfur and terror... All 3 are important, but implementation is important.
Rep Smith: ominous clouds hang over #Sudan. The CPA is on life-support.
Rep Smith: now we as a nation are sitting on the sidelines... looking on and hoping the problem goes away.
The president, the Nobel Peace Prize winner has to use the gravitas from that award and say: '#Sudan is my priority.'
Rep Smith: this admin must get much more serious in dealing with Khartoum or the killing fields will continue.
The Reps are now taking questions.
Rep Payne: The benchmarks for Khartoum need to be known.
Payne: w/out a plan for return "the govt of #Sudan can be off the hook for several million people they despise anyway."
Rep Smith: Sudan's patron is China. I was extremely disappointed that Prez Obama did not forcefully raise the issue when he was in Beijing.
Smith: arms flowing in to #Sudan and the subsequent deaths of civilians "directly attributable to Beijing"
Rep Payne: China is the root of much of the evil we have seen in #Sudan.
USCIRF: The rest of the world is going to take its lead from the US. We need to reach out to the UN, AU, EU, China and be forceful.
Smith: fully implement the CPA & do so transparently. The ruling junta can have an appearance of free and fair... We're concerned abt that
Rep Payne: I feel the goal is regime change, the methods are the issue. Obviously the best way to have regime change is with elections.
USCIRF: Regarding the election: there are a number of laws that aren't in place that would guarantee a free and fair election.
USCIRF: Where are the resources to ensure the election is not gamed? #Sudan #sudanelection
The press conference is over. Check our blog later today for a full write-up. | http://tweetphoto.com/6477668

Read a complete write-up of the press conference.

Letters for Our 16 Leaders

Melissa Warnke — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:52:08 +0000

I wanted to share excerpts from some of the many moving letters of support that activists wrote to our 16 Leaders (the action for Day 4). The number of letters that came in from across the world was astounding, and it is clear that the work of the leaders we recognized has made a huge impact beyond the walls of our office. Thanks to everyone who participated in the 16 Days and told our leaders what their work means to all of us. Some snapshots:

“I was so impressed and heartened to read about your courageous work in Sudan. Please continue your vital role in the knowledge that women around the world support you and are inspired by your skill, vision and humanity.” -MR “I have recently been informed by the Save Darfur campaign about the work you have been doing in helping to heal victims of sexual violence and torture in Darfur and would just like to applaud your efforts. I want you to know that you have the support of literally millions of people behind you as you go about on this extremely difficult work. When times get really tough, you can think about the ordinary people like me who admire and appreciate everything that you are doing. The world could use many more people like you, dedicating their lives to helping others. Thank you for everything that you have done.” -MH “I am a physician in a busy LA county emergency department. I am participating in the 16 days of advocacy to eliminate violence against women. This kind of abuse is so common in our communities here in California and the United States in general. But it seems to be active at an entirely different level in other countries. I have been aware of the violence and rape directed against innocent mothers and daughters in the villages of Africa. Particularly places like Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Having worked in East and West Africa, I have personal experience treating women in the aftermath of this kind of violence. I am writing to encourage you to participate in this movement and to demonstrate, as a leader in our community, your commitment to this issue. Please consider standing up for the human rights of our sisters, mothers, and daughters in other countries as an example on this important issue. An issue which reflects how far we have to go as an international community.” –RM, MD “I am writing to thank you for the incredible work you have done on behalf of the women of Darfur. Amid all the horrible news one hears from the region, yours is a bright light piercing the darkness of torture and sexual violence. You no doubt downplay your own contributions, but they are heroic to me. May my prayers and those of many others here in the United States help strengthen and encourage you in your continuing efforts to help and heal.” -AP “I am writing to tell you that I am deeply grateful for your work on behalf of issues concerning gender violence and the empowerment of women, whether it be overseas or here at home. The news we see and read is indeed deeply troubling. Darfuri women are raped near their villages and in refugee camps. The Taliban continues its battles to prevent girls from earning an education. Here at home, too many mothers struggle to support and care for their children because of poverty, domestic abuse, or other challenges. However, I do see reason for hope in the children I serve every day as a public librarian. I meet children from all walks of life, and I see that all of them have the potential to be thriving, productive members of society. Empowering women and protecting them from violence also empowers such children. Mothers who have the tools and resources to support and educate their children can give their children healthier, happier environments in which to thrive and succeed. I thank you for all that you do to protect and empower women, whether they are mothers or not. As an American citizen, I feel it is our country’s duty to promote human rights and liberty, both at home and around the world. I truly appreciate all you do to help the United States live up to its reputation as a beacon for oppressed people around the world. The children of the people you serve will have better lives because of your work.” -ML “I'm a minor living in a prosperous part of the United States ... and it often feels like nothing I can do will make a difference. Even here, there is abuse and rape... and although I have not yet been personally affected by it, I get really scared to watch the news at night, wondering what else will have happened while I live sheltered. But you are working to change that. You are saving people. Reading about you on Save Darfur’s website, it was like someone walked up to me and handed me a Superman cape and said, "Look! You can fly now!" Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit. But I feel like even though I don't have much of a voice now, I should keep trying for other people who have even less of a say…I'm wearing the White Ribbon and on Monday I'll be bringing in extra for my friends, so I can spread awareness. I know it's not going to be as easy as that... but I'm going to keep trying. Thank you... so much.” -NL “Your action to help Darfuri women is extremely selfless and motivational. Sometimes it's easy for jobs like yours to become underappreciated, and sometimes even the workers no longer feel the value their job holds. I want to tell you that I appreciate your work. The women who live in Darfur in fear of rape, although they may not realize who is helping them, appreciate the work you’re doing as well. Please let me add my humble thanks to theirs.” -AAE “I cannot fathom the tremendous suffering that you encounter every day, in your efforts to heal those who have survived the barbarous acts of spiritual cannibalism, physical torture, and debasement of their womanhood and manhood, by beings who are abominations of humanity. If I could, it would be my most fervent wish to have the medical training to fight by your side. But, alas, I don’t. Yet, I do stand with you in spirit and student activism, as a member of an anti-genocide organization called STAND at Arizona State University. What you are doing makes me realize our efforts are not for naught.” -KM “I want to encourage you today as you work to help female victims of violence. Please know that you are making a difference in many lives. You are a living example of selfless service and leadership, and it is very much needed and appreciated in the world today. The world thanks you as it does all those who take responsibility and give of themselves, working to end fear and suffering. Keep up the good work!” -A “I am a member of the Save Darfur Coalition and I am participating in the 16 Day Campaign to help females struggling in Darfur. I wanted to say how much it means to me that you fight for the rights of women and protection them as well. It is a great thing that not only I appreciate, but God does as well.” -TC “Thank you for the work that you are doing to help the victims of torture and sexual violence in the Darfur region of the Sudan. In a culture that undervalues women, it gives me hope that one man has stood up to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem. I wish you continued success!” -AW “I wanted to express my gratitude to you for helping raise awareness of the current situation in Darfur. I'm writing this letter because, as I'm pretty sure you know by now, you were selected as one of Save Darfur's "16 Days of Activism" leaders against gender violence. I think what you do every time you speak out for Darfur is vital. I've even been asked once or twice, I think, what/where Darfur is, and it makes me really sad to think that some don't even know about the violence and the intolerance that occur there every day. Raising awareness will definitely help bring about an end to the conflict. It has already helped the current situation; the government is starting to take firm action now. Anyway, thank you again for all your work in raising awareness of the situation in Darfur. I hope you will continue in the future.” -MV “I commend you for all of your actions and efforts. We need more people like you in this world and I want you to know how much I appreciate your work. Being a woman who has traveled to Africa recently, I am pained by the prejudice and injustice going on in our world right now. I urge our representatives in Congress and our peacekeeping forces to take immediate action to quell the violence in Darfur and prevent it from arising again in the future. I hope you will take my request seriously and act accordingly. Thank you for your dedication and effort.” -CC “I am writing to you from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I pray every day for peace, keep working.” -M “Thank you for all of your efforts and your obvious love. The things you are doing are very much appreciated and you are a good role model for the rest of us. You have richly blessed all of us through your work.” -ML “I sit at home, I work, I cook, I enjoy the pleasures and comforts of life. Despite losing my job as a teacher this year, I am happy, and have much to be grateful for. I have watched "Darfur Now,” I taught the basics of the conflict to my 9th grade students in world geography, I sign petitions, I share information with friends... BUT YOU - You are the ones who sacrifice a great deal of time of your own lives, to assist these innocent people who have been suffering and inevitably will continue to suffer as long as the world's influential nations and organizations continue to look the other way and drag their feet. No matter one's religion, or moral doctrine, I simply do not understand how any human being can sit back and hear about the conditions for these people without doing anything to help. I am grateful for your work, as are the many people who will one day experience the positive outcome you are working to bring. Thank you again, for all of your work. You all are kind people, with a great understanding of what it means to be a positive part of our global society. Your efforts are in my thoughts every day.” -JP

16 Days Builds "Creative Community"

Melissa Warnke — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 03:26:24 +0000

In the past several months, Save Darfur has received an influx of mail about artistic projects activists have undertaken to raise awareness about the conflict in Sudan — ranging from making jewelry to creating paintings for galleries to establishing multimedia displays. On Day 8 of the 16 Days, our action was for activists across the world to share or start a creative project. We asked: have you done something artistic or out-of-the-box in your community to draw attention to the crisis, or do you want to? We received dozens of poems, oodles of paintings, several songs, a handful of films and even an academic essay on how to use art for social change. In the new year, we will pull all of these works together to launch a page on our website called the “Creative Community.” It will be a place both to display the terrific work of our activists and to provide inspiration for others who want to create a Sudan-related project, but aren’t sure how to start. In the meantime, I wanted to share one of the paintings we received during the 16 Days. By Lori Khan, an activist in Houston, TX, this work is titled "Listen!" She writes: "I want the viewer to see the painting and to listen, if you will, to the cries of the victim [of rape] and, perhaps most importantly, take action to prevent the further victimization of women. I chose the name 'Listen!' because it is a proactive word and the person depicted in the painting is speaking to the viewer, her words painted into the background of the painting." We look forward to featuring more powerful work like Lori's, which speaks to what is happening on the ground in Sudan and bring new kinds of attention to the issue. Stay tuned...and email melissa@savedarfur.org if you have any ideas or additions.

Twenty-seven Senators Push for UN Action on Darfur

Robert — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:01:11 +0000

[caption id="attachment_926" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Ambassador Susan Rice"][/caption] A bipartisan group of 27 Senators wrote to US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice urging her to ensure that the UN Security Council does not tolerate continued human rights abuses and arms embargo violations by the Sudanese government and rebel groups in Darfur. U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and John McCain (R-AZ) led the group in writing to Ambassador Rice. They cited a recent report by the UN Panel of Experts on Sudan which states that "...almost all sides in the conflict have failed in their obligation to comply with Security Council sanctions," and urged her to ensure the UN Security Council reviews the panel's recommendations for action. Joining Senators Feingold and McCain were Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Arlen Specter (D-PA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Robert Casey (D-PA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Richard Burr (R-NC), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Bob Corker (R-TN), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), James Risch (R-ID), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Read the letter to Ambassador Rice after the jump. Senate Letter to Ambassador Rice on Darfur - December 14, 2009

Déjà vu in Sudan: another crackdown on protesters

seanbrooks — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:03:59 +0000

[caption id="attachment_2602" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Protesters yesterday in Khartoum, courtesy of Girifna"][/caption] It was déjà vu yesterday in Khartoum, when on the second Monday in a row the police and security agencies loyal to Omar al-Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP) forcibly shut down a peaceful demonstration organized by the Juba group (those political parties that signed the Juba Declaration in September) . The student group Girifna has a gallery of photos from the scuttled demonstration. This time NCP officials tried vigorously to split the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) from the network of political parties calling for reforms to the national security laws, peace in Darfur, and free and fair elections in April 2010. On Sunday, the SPLM and NCP announced a breakthrough in their negotiations over the 2011 referendum, the status of the Abyei area, and the popular consultations promised to the people of the Blue Nile and South Kordofan. So on Monday NCP officials said that the SPLM had also agreed to suspend the protests warning that any move to the contrary would nullify the recent breakthrough. SPLM leaders though denied these reports, with Yasir Arman, the deputy secretary general of the SPLM, stating: “any attempts to drive a wedge between the SPLM and the Juba forces will not succeed.” Instead, some SPLM officials participated in the demonstration and afterwards they and other participants strongly condemned the use of tear gas to disperse the gathered crowds. In addition, Pagan Amum, the secretary general of the SPLM, accused (in Arabic) the NCP of paying people to suppress the demonstration. The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) today put out the most detailed report of yesterday’s events:

On Monday 14 December 2009, Sudanese security forces dispersed a peaceful protest organised by the Juba Declaration Forces, and aimed at presenting a petition to parliament detailing needed legislative changes and demanding the establishment of an enabling environment for free and fair national elections. The crowd was dispersed using tear gas and rubber bullets which led to at least seven people being seriously injured. People were pursued into private homes, pulled out and forced to sit down and be beaten. One victim, Rania Musa Tahir, sustained a serious head injury and a broken arm. Shames Aldeen Abdelraheem, a man in his 70s, also sustained a serious head injury and injuries to his shoulder. A rubber bullet also hit Mutaz Mohammed and seriously injured him. All three were taken to the hospital. Nine journalists were arrested, including seven from Soaut el Umma newspaper, and Lucia John from Al-Sharouk TV and Rashan Oshi, a journalist from Al Tayar newspaper. These detainees were reportedly beaten in police custody. Several other journalists and correspondents of international media were beaten in the streets and a number had their cameras and other equipment confiscated. A number of other people were arrested, as well, including: Hala Abdelhaleem, the leader of the HAQ or New Forces Movement

Mubarak El Fadil Mahdi, the head of the reformist branch of the Umma party

Mariam al Sadiq al Mahdi, of the Umma party

Abdullah Deng Nyal, of the Popular National Congress

Mohammed Jalal Aldeen Hashim, an activist and university professor

Faisal Shabu, communist party

Makki Ali Bilail, head of the Justice Party and a former minister of government

A total of 118 people were detained, and a fuller list of detainees is available upon request. 48 faced trial today. In addition, parallel demonstrations in other cities were also disrupted. In Atbara , in the North of Sudan, 13 people were arrested. Among those arrested there was Sid Ahmed Alkhatib, a medical doctor and a well known trade unionist. In Sinja, in Southern Blue Nile, five people were arrested. Available information indicates that the protesters were seeking only to peacefully voice their political opinions. Their right to do so is protected by Article 39 of the Sudanese Interim Constitution and should be respected. The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies calls on the government of Sudan to immediately charge the detainees with an internationally-recognised criminal offense or release them. In addition, we emphasize that the suppression of such protests undermines not only national and international guarantees with regard to freedom of expression, but also impedes the process of carrying out free and fair elections in Sudan scheduled for April 2010, and the full implementation of the democratisation programme envisioned by the CPA.

On this day of repression in Sudan, the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Scott Gration was present in Khartoum. After meetings with Sudanese officials, he welcomed the breakthrough agreement between the NCP and SPLM. However, he also “condemned any kind of violence and encouraged the leaders of the political forces to work to adopt implementation mechanisms and dialogue to move forward on the outstanding issues and create a climate for negotiations that will bring about the desired change” (in Arabic).

Building A Safer Planet: Reflections on the 16 Days

Niemat — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:27:50 +0000

In concert with the commemoration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the 16 Days mark important events in our lifetime in which the bases for equality, liberty, justice, security for all and the respect for human dignity have been established. These 16days are very unique for all of us as human beings and as women in particular. They are a reminder to those who care about human and women’s rights to check our calendars and see how far we have come since both of these declarations. Have we done enough to honor them, or is there a lot more homework to be done? Sadly, in recent history and in the current crisis in Darfur, war is too often waged on and with women’s bodies. In Darfur, where slaughter continues and insecurity has reigned supreme for over six years, women are the most common targets. Women and children make up the overwhelming majority of the camp population, estimated at eighty percent. Every week, innocent people in Darfur – especially children, women and the elderly – lose their lives or are forcibly displaced from their villages. Countless women and girls continue to face brutal rape, humiliation, beating, starvation and disease. As recently as October 2009, the UN Panel of Experts report showed that “sexual and gender-based violence is rampant.” In Darfur, rape is being used as weapon of war. It is a systematic tactic to destroy the very fabric of our community. Sexual violence in Darfur is not the product of chaos or undisciplined troops. It is not an after-effect of war. It is a well-planned and orchestrated calculation to break apart families, tear down leadership structures and leave individuals and communities with long-term social, emotional, and physical scars. Women are raped when their villages are attacked, when they flee their homes seeking safe refuge and while they are living in camps for the internally displaced. Abduction and sexual slavery are also tactics used by the Sudanese government and its allied janjaweed militia. This terrorizing of women, families and communities is not a nightmare – it is the reality of daily life in Darfur. Even when the firing of guns stops, rape does not. As the UN Panel of Experts report tells us, “an overwhelming concern expressed by internally displaced persons was the unchecked aggression by armed elements from Arab tribes, janjaweed, Government of the Sudan forces and other belligerent tribes, and the high rate of harassment and of sexual and gender-based violence. These fears are exacerbated by the apparent impunity these forces seem to enjoy, the ever-present memories of most internally displaced persons of grave human rights violations committed against them and the fact that many individuals commonly referred to as the janjaweed have not been disarmed and continue to brandish their weapons.” Despite the alarming rate at which rape and sexual violence are used in the genocide in Darfur, little has been done to address this deadly phenomenon. Until today, there has been no study carried out to determine the number of women and girls in Darfur impacted by sexual violence, which is indeed beyond our imagination. Trauma counseling and psychosocial support are unavailable to most women survivors of violence in Darfur. Also lacking are projects that could be designed to provide fuel alternatives for Darfuri women. With these lacking, women leave camps to go in search of firewood for fuel and income and risk facing this cruel act of violence. The expulsion of many NGOs from Darfur in March 2009 put women at risk more than ever before. Some of these NGOs were doing very important to address women’s emergency health and protection needs. While the programs were insufficient to address the scale of sexual violence in Darfur, they provided crucial services to many women and girls. For years, the Government of Sudan has kept my people hostage and has obstructed any effort to put an end to the tragic situation in Darfur. The government not only orchestrates crimes, but also denies the existence of sexual violence in Darfur even as its army and allied militias perpetrate rape day and night. I feel the agony of my beloved ones and know the value of being a voice for those who are voiceless. This is why my organization chose to recognize those who make use of their voices, who stand up to say no to the dehumanization of women. Among the 16 Leaders we honor, some have been through similar experiences, like my sister and countrywoman Zeinab Eyega. While she fled Sudan after the brutal civil war in the South, the suffering hasn’t weakened her – instead it has given her more courage and confidence to stand up for the women of the continent of Africa, not only those from Sudan. Zainab Salbi grew up in Iraq during its rule by one of the most notorious dictators of our time, where women could barely dream of having voices. But she saw beyond the borders of her home country. Today, as the co-founder and CEO of Women for Women International, she is standing in solidarity with women in conflict zones around the world, including my country Sudan. Dr. Mohammed is a man of great principle who sacrificed his own safety to give hope to many others, including victims of torture and rape. Using his profession and compassion to heal and remedy their wounds, he brings women the possibility of going back to normal and rebuilding their communities. His contributions are indeed unique and deserve our recognition. The former Ambassador Swanee Hunt has extended her help to the women of Bosnia and many more on continents far from her own homeland. Is this not amazing? Imagine finding someone advocating on your behalf from across the world, while you were abandoned by your own people. By mentioning these leaders, I am hoping to highlight the unique experiences of our honorees and how they have struggled and sacrificed to do their great work. They set an example of the power of conscience in supporting, empowering and giving hope. For all their contributions to the betterment of others, these 16 leaders deserve our gratitude and recognition. If we can find 16 voices within each continent, country, state or community to educate and raise the attention of their closest 16 friends and family members, we will make the world a better place for all of us to live in peace. If every individual making up our united front just speaks loudly and says no to the abuse of women and girls everywhere, we will make the promise of “never again” become reality. While there are many famous people working for change, you don’t need to be recognized across the world to be a leader. I believe the voice of conscience can be even stronger and more meaningful coming from ordinary citizens who care. I believe women are the center of the world community. If we can all come together to protect, educate and empower women, our planet will be safe enough to sustain us all. Niemat Ahmadi is the Darfuri Liaison Officer for the Save Darfur Coalition

Congressmen Call For Intensified U.S. Engagement In Sudan

Megan Flemming — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:48:30 +0000

[caption id="attachment_2632" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Congressman Payne Speaks at the USCIRF Press Conference"][/caption]This morning, a bipartisan group of Congressmen that included Representatives Frank Wolf (R-VA), Donald Payne (D-NJ) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) held a press conference to highlight recent developments in Sudan and call for intensified U.S. engagement to achieve peace in Darfur and prevent a return to conflict between North and South Sudan. The Congressman were joined by representatives of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, which just returned from conducting an official visit to Sudan that coincided with Khartoum’s recent crackdown on peaceful protests and arrests of opposition figures. Speaking to the press, the Congressmen issued united calls for personal, sustained engagement by Secretary of State Clinton and by President Obama in advancing the administration’s new Sudan policy. Rep. Wolf noted the immediate need for such leadership, noting that this week and the next will be critical times requiring US engagement. While supportive of the overall framework of the administration’s Sudan policy, the Congressman stressed that implementation remains the critical question. In points echoed by the other representatives, Rep. Payne commended Special Envoy General Gration’s intentions, dedication, and time spent on the ground in Sudan, but stressed the need to examine and measure results. All three Congressmen expressed concern that the Administration has not shared clear benchmarks for evaluating progress in Sudan, as well as defined incentives and pressure measures. The Congressmen highlighted the grave humanitarian situation in Darfur and threat of a return to conflict between north and south Sudan. Rep. Smith stressed that Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement is in grave danger of unraveling and expressed deep concern about the flow of arms into South Sudan, noting that this should sound alarm bells for the international community. Reports from representatives from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom on its recent delegation to Sudan served to complement the Congressmen's remarks. USCIRF chair Leonard Leo stressed that the international community will follow the U.S.’s example and echoed the Congressmen’s calls for urgent and high-level engagement by the President and Secretary of State. Leo also noted the lack of progress in passing reforms necessary to allow for free and fair elections in Sudan. He stressed that the international community will continue to see tactics of delay and repositioning by the Government of Sudan unless it faces greater international pressure led by the U.S. The Save Darfur Coalition, Enough Project and Genocide Intervention Network welcomed this morning’s hearing with a joint statement. Save Darfur’s president Jerry Fowler noted: “With elections rapidly approaching and the atmosphere getting more and more volatile, the situation in Sudan cries out for presidential leadership. In his Nobel address, President Obama recognized that the 'world must stand together as one' in dealing with recalcitrant regimes like Sudan's. That will not happen without sustained engagement by President Obama himself. "

Save Darfur and Propr Release New T-Shirt

Allen Combs — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:58:23 +0000

[caption id="attachment_2661" align="alignright" width="250" caption="Propr/Save Darfur"][/caption]The Save Darfur Coalition has partnered with the owners of Propr (David Arquette, Ben Harper, and David Bedwell) to design a new exclusive t-shirt that will be sold both in their Venice store and on the Save Darfur website. The shirt will raise awareness and support advocacy work to end the crisis in Darfur. An official VIP launch part will be held at the Propr store tonight in Venice, CA. The new "Peace" t-shirt, designed by David Arquette, is just one of many items of clothing that can be purchased from the Save Darfur Store. Shop now for great holiday deals and help support our work.

Al Jazeera's "Inside Story" On Sudan's North/South Conflict

Allen Combs — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:19:55 +0000

Last week, Al Jazeera's "Inside Story" examined the recent violence in Khartoum and the conflict between the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). The segment, Sudan's North/South rivals collide, features a brief news report and a panel discussion/debate about weather or not Sudan's elections can take place on time without a reform to the electoral laws. Take a look:

Carter Center's Wake-Up Call on Elections in Sudan

seanbrooks — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:05:47 +0000

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="453" caption="Sudanese women registering to vote"][/caption] A new report by the Carter Center on Sudan’s elections expresses grave concerns about recent security crackdowns. The report should serve as an urgent wake-up call for the international community that the necessary conditions for free and fair elections currently do not exist in Sudan. Instead, the lack of political freedoms and the gross registration violations, especially in Darfur, shed clear light on the ruling National Congress Party’s intentions for these elections: a fraudulent process designed to legitimize its undemocratic, repressive and genocidal rule. Jerry Fowler, Save Darfur’s president, stated in a press release today:

The Carter Center’s report came as no surprise. Sudanese civil society and opposition leaders for the last two weeks have been speaking out loudly about the gross human rights and elections violations of a repressive regime. By and large, the international community has remained quiet while these activists and opposition leaders have been threatened, harassed, and beaten throughout Sudan. The situation, as the Carter Center report acknowledges, is even more severe in Darfur. The heavy military and intelligence presence at the registration sites and the lack of even the basic freedoms make it impossible for the people of Darfur to participate in a credible elections process.

Given the alarming nature of the Carter Center’s report, Save Darfur has urged the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, General Scott Gration, to work with his international counterparts and demand answers from the Sudanese government on the following issues: Lack of Basic Freedoms. Several recent incidents – such as the crackdown on protesters in Khartoum and the beating and detentions of journalists – have clearly demonstrated the lack of political rights and freedoms in Sudan necessary for free and fair elections. The Carter Center reported:

[T]he Center…expressed serious concerns about incidents that undermine political rights and fundamental freedoms in Sudan, including: arrests, detention and harassment of civil society and political party members for constitutional and peaceful activity in Khartoum and other cities by security services, and attacks on the National Congress Party (NCP) premises in Wau and Rumbek.
The Center is gravely concerned by the recent action of the security forces in Khartoum to restrict legitimate activity related to the exercise of freedom of assembly, association and speech. The Center urges the Government of Sudan to cease arbitrary arrests and to release persons detained while conducting peaceful political activities.
According to a directive issued by the Ministry of Interior on September 17, 2009, notification by a political party of intention to hold a rally is sufficient for such an event to go ahead. The Ministry should urgently clarify procedures for the holding of political rallies and events. In addition, the Ministry and other officials should take immediate steps to ensure the necessary authorizations for such public events. The Government of Sudan should take all necessary steps to investigate claims of police brutality and take swift action against officials who are found to have perpetrated or permitted unwarranted acts of violence against civilians. If the police are to be perceived as a credible and neutral force in managing elections security, constitutional standards and freedoms must be respected.
In Southern Sudan, the Government of Southern Sudan should take action to ensure that political party pluralism is fully protected. This must extend to the activities of all parties, including the NCP in Southern Sudan. The arson of the NCP’s office annex in Wau and the looting and attempted arson of the NCP’s premises in Rumbek are criminal acts. The Government of Southern Sudan should pursue the perpetrators without delay to the full extent of the law. Obligations in public international law lay out the need for investigation by the government and redress in any cases of violations of human rights.

Limitations/Obstruction/Intimidation in Darfur. The Carter Center observers were not able to fully assess the registration process due to several security limitations. It is reported that many Darfuris chose not the register due to the presence of Sudanese government armed forces at numerous registration sites, in addition to the wariness about a free and transparent election process. The Carter Center reported:

Due to security limitations in Darfur, Carter Center observers were not able to travel as widely as would be necessary to fully assess the quality and inclusiveness of the registration process throughout the region…State elections committees in Darfur were not able to access all areas of the region, particularly those not under government control, and the armed movements did not encourage registration activity. State elections committees did not and were not able to visit all IDP camps, which partially accounts for the relatively low rate of registration in the three states. Registration is a voluntary exercise and some IDPs in Darfur chose not to participate.
In areas visited by the Carter Center mission, observers reported that Sudanese Armed Forces military units, Sudanese police, and agents of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) were present at registration centers. Electoral authorities confirmed the presence of NISS agents at many registration centers. In some instances, NISS agents were actively engaged in the registration process, e.g. by laminating voter registration receipts, a practice which undermined the independence of the electoral management authorities, and which raises questions about the role of NISS in the electoral process. In North Darfur, Center observers reported the presence of vehicles with heavy mounted weapons (technicals) outside of registration sites, in a show of force that may have intimidated registrants.
Given the possibility of heightened tensions in the run-up to the elections, the NEC and state elections committees in Darfur should take immediate action to ensure that the presence of security forces is sufficient to ensure public order, but limited to their appropriate role. The security services should not execute tasks that are the specific responsibility of the elections committees.
Most importantly, political actors must take immediate steps to build the foundations of a genuine political settlement in Darfur in advance of next year's elections. The state of emergency and extreme limitations on freedom of assembly and association stifle a free and open campaign process. The NEC and GONU must take urgent steps to implement broad civic education programs, lift restrictions on the freedoms of assembly and association, and ensure that civil society organizations can fully participate in the electoral process. These steps are critical to ensuring that the citizens of Darfur can meaningfully participate in Sudan’s electoral process, as required by Sudan’s national and international obligations.

Accreditation for Election Observers. The lack of clarity in procedures has placed an undue burden on domestic observer groups in applying for accreditation, as well as on registration officials in allowing observers access to the process. It is critical that no Southern or Northern Sudanese government officials interfere with the election monitoring process. The Carter Center reported:

The lack of clarity in procedures placed an undue burden on domestic observer groups in applying for accreditation, as well as on registration officials in allowing observers access to the process. The NEC should take steps to facilitate simple and fast accreditation procedures for domestic observers for the remainder of the electoral process, as the right for domestic observers to participate in Sudan’s electoral process is a key component of both national laws and international obligations.

Suspicion of Voter Intimidation: Alarming reports from the Carter Center may point to a larger plan to rig the elections or intimidate voters on election day. The Carter Center reported:

Some parties, principally the NCP, collected voter registration receipts, and/or recorded the registration numbers and corresponding identifying details of registrants. While not in violation of the electoral law, party agents did not appear to explain that this practice was not an official step of the registration process, resulting in confusion for many registrants. Carter Center observers also observed representatives of the SPLM and NCP laminating registration slips and directly participating in registration activities. Such organized political party activity in close proximity to registration centers was problematic. In the future, political parties should ensure that their members do not engage in activity that could undermine public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process. For the polling period, the NEC should consider specifying a minimum distance from which political parties are allowed to operate, and should clearly delineate activities that are not permissible within the vicinity of polling centers (though allowing the activity of accredited political party agents).

Flashpoint in Abyei. There is much confusion over the registration process and general elections in the contentious Abyei. To prevent renewed violence in the area sparked by such confusion, the National Election Committee (NEC) and authorities should take immediate steps to address and clarify these questions to avoid fuelling suspicion and mistrust in the area. The Carter Center reported:

Registration was the first electoral activity to take place in Abyei for many years. Abyei’s special status, and definition under the CPA as having geographic representation rights in both South Kordofan and Warrap states, requires special treatment by the NEC and by the relevant state committees. There is widespread confusion in Abyei over how the population will be represented in the National Assembly and state legislatures, and how registration is linked to Abyei’s referendum process. The authorities should take immediate steps to address and clarify these questions to avoid fuelling suspicion and mistrust in the area. South Kordofan and Warrap state elections committees should do more to coordinate their efforts and outreach to the Abyei Area, and also make greater attempts to consult and communicate with the Abyei Area Administration, which was largely left uninformed about the registration process.

Jerry Fowler Discusses The AU Panel Report On Darfur With VOA

Allen Combs — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:06:35 +0000

Earlier today, Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler appeared on Voice of America's In Focus program to discuss the African Union panel report on Darfur. Check it out:

Time to Take Away Sudan's Credit Card

seanbrooks — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:19:54 +0000

Cross posted from ForeignPolicy.com. Omar al-Bashir's brutal Sudanese regime certainly has nerve. On Dec. 14, as Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP) thugs violently suppressed the second peaceful demonstration by opposition groups in seven days, the Sudanese minister of finance met with the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration and urged the United States to lift sanctions on Khartoum and cancel Sudan's foreign debt -- in other words, bailing out the government that brought you such atrocities as Darfur and the decades-long civil war with South Sudan that now ominously threatens to reignite. While no Western country is rushing to hand out money to Bashir, the international community has disagreed over how to persuade Sudan to end its genocidal ways, and the United States is still the only country to impose sanctions. One unlooked-for upside of the global financial crisis may be that it offers new economic leverage with Khartoum. Following the crash, Sudan now holds roughly $36 billion in external sovereign debt that it is struggling to repay. This debt gives the rest of the world a new opportunity to finally affect the course of Sudanese political reform and even end the conflicts in Darfur and South Sudan, if Western countries are willing to act boldly. For much of the last decade, Bashir and the NCP, who were sitting on Sudan's rich oil reserves, could afford to ignore their mounting debt. A flood of foreign direct investment and new loans contracted with China, the Gulf Arab states, and India financed a booming resource economy and made Sudan careless about payments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Paris Club members, and other debtors. The existence of such a steady stream of income has also enabled Sudan's hubris toward the international community on issues like Darfur. But the global recession has rocked Sudan's fragile economy, and the good times are over. The large drop in oil prices over the last year has sharply lowered government revenues. The Sudanese government compounded the problem by defending the exchange rate of the Sudanese pound in order to prevent a rise in domestic food and import prices. This unsound policy quickly became unsustainable as the Sudanese government began to run out of foreign reserves and found foreign capital more difficult to acquire, because all of its creditors were also affected by the crisis. The crash subsequently led the Sudanese government to return to the international community with an urgent appeal for debt relief. This summer, it asked the IMF to push forward a debt-relief package provided to other countries in similar financial circumstances and even convinced Japan to write off a small portion of its debt. Securing a debt relief package was at the top of the Sudanese delegation's agenda at the recent IMF/World Bank annual meetings in Turkey, and now -- for the first time publicly -- it has raised the issue with Obama's envoy to Sudan. The Sudanese newspaper Al-Sahafa reported last Tuesday that Sudanese Finance Minister Awad al-Jaz will travel to Washington in January to speak again with Gration. Sudan's aggressive international lobbying must be put in its appropriate context. Its debt -- the second most in Africa -- has subsidized the government's war and genocide against its own people. Between 2001 and 2008, some of the bloodiest years in Sudan, the regime contracted more than $3.4 billion in new loans from international lenders. Although Khartoum claimed to use these loans to build up the oil sector and public infrastructure, it is impossible -- given the scant public information on the government's budget -- to disconnect this financing with the revenues available for war-making. Even from the government's limited reporting, we know that Sudan imported weapons worth $76.3 million between 2004 and 2006. In addition, it has purchased in the last five years 20 advanced fighter aircraft and 26 attack helicopters, which most experts conservatively estimate carry a price tag of hundreds of millions of dollars. Because of these violent campaigns and the general repression since the regime took power in 1989, the estimated $23 billion accumulated by Bashir and the NCP should be classified as "odious debt." This term, advanced by debt-relief advocates and recognized as an international legal principle, submits that the people of a country cannot be expected to repay debts contracted without their consent and spent against their own best interests by repressive regimes. This legal argument, however, is usually made to defend new governments facing unmanageable debt conditions created by the malfeasance of past dictatorial regimes. But what -- other than attempting to block additional financing -- should the international community do with the burgeoning debt load of an odious regime that continues to terrorize its people? In the case of Sudan, the United States and other countries should seize Khartoum's request as a potentially effective and multilateral tool, at a time when few other options present themselves. Given Sudan's earnest desire for debt relief, U.S. insistence on regular debt payments should be regarded as a stick that -- with changed behavior from the Sudanese government -- could become a carrot. With Sudan at a dangerous crossroads in 2010, the Obama administration and the global community should not stop there. As the Save Darfur Coalition, an NGO that aims to raise public awareness about human rights abuses throughout Sudan and mobilize a unified international response, has argued, Obama should present Khartoum with a choice between earned incentives or serious consequences, making debt relief a key part of the equation. The Obama administration should lead an international coalition of Sudan's creditors to condition any consideration of debt relief on concrete and lasting progress toward peace in Darfur; the full implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which brought an end to the 22-year-long civil war between North and South Sudan; credible elections in April 2010; and significant political and judicial reforms that fundamentally change the repressive systems in Sudan. Gration should start by making it clear to NCP officials that free and fair elections next April are one important benchmark to gain U.S. backing of a debt-relief package. That means Finance Minister al-Jaz should cancel his scheduled trip to Washington in January to further discuss debt relief unless his regime immediately begins opening the political space necessary for a credible election process. For a more prosperous future in Sudan, the international community must rid the Sudanese people of this burdensome and "odious" debt created by the regime in Khartoum. However, Sudan's leaders should know that the first step must finally be to commit themselves to extinguishing the smoldering embers of decades of war. Sean P. Brooks is a policy expert at the Save Darfur Coalition.

Great Letter to the Editor in the Tennessean

Emily Diamond-Falk — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:47:14 +0000

Today, on the first Monday of 2010, The Tennessean (the second largest newspaper in Tennessee) printed a Letter to the Editor by14-year old Jessica Goldstein from Brentwood, TN entitled Let's reaffirm our Darfur commitment. Take a look:

When we enter a new year, we tend to reflect on our gains and our losses from the previous year. In 2009, we accomplished much, but many factors have caused us to forget one very important issue that our country has passed by for many years now: Darfur. After almost seven years, genocide still continues to threaten the very existence of those in Darfur and all of Sudan. Since 2003, an estimated 300,000 have perished in this violence and 2.7 million have been displaced or forced to leave their homes. This genocide is seen as the most atrocious humanitarian crisis occurring today. The U.S. called this murder, rape and torture genocide in 2004, yet our country hasn't learned that actions speak louder than words. As Holocaust survivor and novelist Elie Wiesel stated, "I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." And Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." With the upcoming election in Sudan, there is little time to wait. We all need to begin this new year and the new decade fighting for the rights of those only allowed to whisper. With our strong words and strong actions, our voices scream. Let us honestly be able to say, "Never again."

Thanks, Jessica! It is advocates like you that keep Darfur and Sudan in the media and on the minds of newsmakers and policy leaders.

A Perilous “Fragile Calm” in Darfur

seanbrooks — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:48:50 +0000

[caption id="attachment_2729" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Refugees in Camp in Eastern Chad "][/caption] The New York Times on Saturday ran “Fragile Calm Holds in Darfur After Years of Death,” an article that discusses in detail the profound changes in daily life in Darfur since the early days of the genocide that began in 2003. This depiction of a Darfur that perilously hangs between war and peace may be front page news for the Times, but certainly not for those in the advocacy movement calling for a peaceful resolution to the seven-year old conflict, as well as immediate protection and justice for all Darfuris. Jeffrey Gettleman writes:

The rebel groups that started the war in Darfur in 2003, catalyzing a conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, almost seem to have gone into hibernation. So, too, have the infamous janjaweed, the marauding bandits who raped, killed and terrorized countless civilians. And this planting season, for the first time since 2003,United Nations officials say that tens of thousands of farmers who had been seeking refuge in squalid displaced persons camps returned to their villages to plant crops, a journey many Darfurians would have considered suicide until recently.

Gettleman quotes Lieutenant General Patrick Nyamvumba, the Rwanda commander of the African Union/United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID): “Frozen. That is a good word for the situation. It is calm, very calm at the moment, but it remains unpredictable.” While this does appear to be the case, as I wrote in August 2009, with or without active warfare though, Darfur remains a human rights crisis of the first order. The article also fails to probe deeply into the ongoing obstructions by primarily the Sudanese government – but also the rebel movements – of the peacekeeping force. Nyamvumba states casually, “Yes, we have obstructions from time to time. But it’s not as bad as I thought it would be.” However, as my colleague C.R. pointed out last month, such a claim from the new commander belies the U.N. Secretary General’s findings in his most recent report to the U.N. Security Council and the conclusions of the most recent U.N. Panel of Experts Report. It also contradicts recent statements from Rwandan officials following the death of their members in the force. On another topic, it’s nice to see the efforts of Darfuri civil society leaders finally gaining some attention. Gettleman writes:

But one glimmer of hope is that camp elders, religious figures and women’s leaders are being given prominent roles in peace talks for the first time. “Will it be the big breakthrough?” Mr. Augstburger [the director of UNAMID’s humanitarian liaison office in Darfur] said. “I don’t know. But the movements are starting to get concerned. It’s a brand-new dynamic.”

So overall Gettleman provides a pretty good snapshoot of the challenges ahead for Darfuri civilians as they strive for peace, protection, and accountability in the new year. The Darfuri rebels and janjaweed have gone into hibernation, but the primary agent for the mass killings – the Government of Sudan – remains a foreboding threat to Darfuris with still the capability of re-igniting the war at anytime. The Bashir regime’s decision to freeze the conflict relates directly to the most glaring omission of the article: a failure to discuss the possible impact of the government’s hell-bent efforts to hold elections in Darfur in April 2010. As we have repeatedly warned, the heavy military and intelligence presence in Darfur – as well as the lack of even the most basic freedoms – make it impossible for the people of Darfur to participate in a credible elections process. The government’s insistence, therefore, over the next four months on rushed elections will not help the peace process and could prove to be a dangerous flashpoint for renewed mass violence. So even though the security situation is relatively calm, no one should declare the conflict and human rights tragedy over until a just and durable peace agreement is signed and millions of Darfuris are able to return safely home.

A Global Action on Sudan

Rev. David Emmanuel Goatley — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:41:12 +0000

Cross posted from the NAACP's blog. Rev. David Emmanuel Goatley, Ph.D., is Chairman of the NAACP International Affairs Committee. At the NAACP, our work in the global arena sometimes elicits the following kind of question. “With all the ills in the United States, why should we be involved in the problems in those countries?” There are at least three principle reasons you should engage globally.

First, if you intend to be relevant, you have to be global. We are interconnected in economics, politics, entertainment, and the like. Every time you purchase something, you are participating in the global economy. You have a vested interest in what is happening in the world for your personal well-being.

Second, if you don’t make the world a better place “over there,” you will soon suffer the consequences “right here.” The ease of global communication and transportation makes the creep of problems around the world inevitable. Remember the Asian Flu and HIV?

Third, making this world a better place for all is the work of mature and responsible people. We are interdependent and interconnected. How can you know that a child is starving or a woman is raped or a family’s home is burned and not be moved add your voice to the call for peace and justice?

Sudan is a country where unimaginable human atrocities are continuing. Despite modest steps of progress, there are still gross displays of inhumane treatment of individuals, families, and communities. The NAACP is joining the Save Darfur Coalition to call for people who believe in peace, justice, and security to join in a global day of action on Sudan on January 9, 2010. January 9, 2010 marks the fifth anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between North and South Sudan and one year out from the referendum that will determine whether the Southern region of Sudan will separate from the North. With many highly contentious issues still to be resolved, with growing violence in the South and unresolved conflict in Darfur, there is a real risk of a return to widespread conflict that could destabilize the entire region and place civilians in grave danger. On January 9th, groups from across the world will join together and call on their leaders to take urgent diplomatic action to prevent a return to violence in Sudan. Events are being held in Mali, Togo, Benin, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Kenya, London, Edinburgh, Italy, Norway, New Zealand, Cairo and other places to be confirmed. The event in Washington, DC will begin at 11 AM and feature powerful drumming, footage of celebrity drummers from around the world joining the beat, and words from Sudanese survivors and leaders in the movement for peace in Sudan. Who: Save Darfur Coalition What: Sudan 365: Drumming for Peace Event When: 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 9, 2009 Where: New York Avenue Presbyterian Church (1313 New York Ave, NW; Washington, DC) After the short program we will march to Lafayette Park, in front of the White House. Please bring a drum or other percussion instrument if you would like to join in the drumming, and a sign if you would like to join the march. Additional events in the United States events will take place that day in: San Francisco, CA Congregation Emanu-El 2 Lake Street; San Francisco, CA 94118 6:45 PM - 8:45 PM Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Federal Building 11000 Wilshire Blvd; Los Angeles, CA 90024 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM New York, NY Washington Square Park W 4th St and Waverly Pl; New York, NY 10012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Additional U.S. events are being added. For more information, please visit the Sudan365 page on Save Darfur's website.

ACJPS: Chadian Opposition Forces Commit Serious Human Rights Abuses in Darfur

Allen Combs — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:35:31 +0000

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies issued an alarming press release yesterday accusing opposition groups from Chad of attacking civilians in Darfur. ACJPS outlines a number of violent incidents over the past few weeks and calls on the Sudanese Government, United Nations and international community to ensure civilians are protected from further violence and that the attacks are fully investigated and the perpetrator held accountable. From the release:

Chadian rebel groups which had moved into North Darfur in early November have been committing a series of attacks against the civilian population reminiscent of the tactics employed by the janjaweed militias and government forces early in the Darfur conflict. Villages have been raided, property looted, and women raped. ... The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies believes that these acts may constitute war crimes and call on the government of Sudan and relevant UN representatives to the initiate a full and thorough investigation. The perpetrators should be held accountable. At the same time, the international community should do more to ensure that civilians are protected, including ensuring full logistical and political support for the joint United Nations-African Union hybrid peacekeeping force (UNAMID) and pushing it to take robust action.

Read the full release.

White House Releases Statement on the 5 Year Anniversary of the CPA

Allen Combs — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:38:30 +0000

Earlier today, the White House has issued a statement regarding the five-year anniversairy of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Statement from the Press Secretary on the Fifth Anniversary of the
Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement This week marks the five-year anniversary of Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended Africa’s longest running war. It speaks to the will and endurance of the Sudanese people that the ceasefire between northern and southern Sudan has now lasted longer than in any other period in Sudan’s history since independence. Our challenge is to ensure that this record holds, and that the agreement is implemented transparently, fairly and in a timely fashion. President Obama has made promoting peace and stability in Sudan a priority and his Administration is committed to supporting the CPA and its implementation. The CPA maps out a series of confidence-building measures that are critical in the aftermath of what was a decades-long brutal war. Sudan’s progress —the withdrawal of northern military forces from southern Sudan, the sharing of significant portions of Sudan’s oil wealth between north and south, and an agreement on the contested Abyei region -- is significant. But time is limited, the stakes are high, and there is much work yet to be done to secure a lasting peace and prevent the resurgence of a deadly war. Recent setbacks, including violent clashes in the South, the Khartoum government’s passage of a repressive National Security Act, the government’s violent suppression of peaceful protests, and the failure of the two sides to come to agreement on critical issues such as border demarcation, do not bode well for the region or for the people of Sudan. Consistent with our strategy, the United States will continue to call to account those responsible for delays and deviations from the path to lasting peace. Just one year remains in the CPA’s transition period before the south will vote in a referendum on secession. Given the brevity of the remaining period, the United States is intensifying our efforts to mobilize international coordination and support for the CPA, to encourage the parties to honor their commitments under the agreement, and to work with partners in the region and throughout the international community to prepare for the future. # # #

Update: Senator Feinfold also released a statement.

Election Delusions at Foggy Bottom

Robert — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:36:11 +0000

[caption id="attachment_2831" align="alignright" width="245" caption="Secretary Clinton and Special Envoy Gration
speak to the press on January 8, 2009"][/caption] Today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Special Envoy for Sudan Scott Gration held a press conference marking the fifth anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between North and South Sudan. The Secretary quite rightly noted the increasing levels of violence in South Sudan and the fact that the situation in Darfur remains dire. Additionally, for the first time publicly, the Secretary demanded that President Omar al-Bashir’s National Congress Party “use its executive order to suspend elements of the national security and public order laws that are incompatible with free and fair elections.” She added that “there must be no efforts to restrict freedom of speech and assembly.” Her emphasis on these onerous laws which have prevented the proper political environment for free and fair elections from being created in Sudan is welcome and long-overdue. Unfortunately, time has run out. We are now a slim three months away from the scheduled national election date of April 11th. Last minute changes (and make no mistake about it, we are now in the last minutes of the election preparation process) to the national security and public order laws will be insufficient. The proper electoral environment and freedoms must be created at least 90 days prior to any election – and unfortunately we are now inside that 90 day window. As a result, we do not believe that credible elections can take place in April. Unfortunately, it appears as though the Obama administration still believes they can. At the press conference, Special Envoy Gration said that he “believe[s] that [the administration] is working hard on processes that will allow credible elections to be had in April.” Given the oppressive security environment throughout Sudan and, in particular, the completely insecure status of Darfur, we do not see how credible elections will be possible in April. The entire process has been tainted by government interference and restrictions on freedoms of assembly and speech. The arrest of top opposition leaders and journalists last month by the NCP proves the point. The administration must quickly recognize that free and fair elections are not possible in Sudan in April and be forthright about it. President al-Bashir’s goal is to legitimize his regime in the eyes of the world, and particularly in the eyes of the Arab League and African Union. This cannot be permitted and the United States must not delude itself or the international community into believing that the April election will be anything other than fraudulent. The time to work on “processes that will allow credible elections…” is over. The election campaign has begun and last minute superficial legal changes will not change the result. Bashir will win, and democracy will lose. It’s time for the U.S. to fess up to that inconvenient truth.

Sudan365: A Beat For Peace

Allen Combs — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:10:07 +0000

The Save Darfur Coalition is proud be part of Sudan365: A Beat For Peace. Our partners include Aegis Trust, Amnesty International, Arab Coalition for Darfur, Darfur Consortium, Enough Project, International Federation of Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, and Refugees International. For more information about Sudan365 and what you can do to get involved, visit www.sudan365.org.

Sudan365 - DC Event

Allen Combs — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:03:48 +0000

Earlier today the Save Darfur Coalition hosted a special event in Washington, DC as part of a global effort to promote peace in Sudan. Similar rallies were held in dozens of cities from across the world. Here is a peek at our event: We'll have more video from the event up soon, so please check back early next week. In the meantime, check out these great photos from Sudan365 events around the world:
For more information visit www.sudan365.org.

An End to the Sudan/Chad Proxy War?

seanbrooks — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:22:45 +0000

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="404" caption="Rebels in eastern Chad (Photo: Reuters)"][/caption] Is there an end coming to the Sudan/Chad proxy war? Perhaps, and that may be a good thing in the long run, but in the short run the people of North Darfur are bearing the brunt of changing calculations by the ruling regimes in Khartoum and N’djamena. The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) last week issued an urgent warning about attacks on civilians by the Chadian opposition forces operating in North Darfur. These troubling developments may be in response to the much rumored rapprochement between Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Chadian President Idris Deby. A Sudanese delegation last week traveled to N’djamena, Chad, to continue bilateral discussions on ending the proxy war between the two countries. These talks—which began in October—allegedly aim to create a “framework for joint patrols on their shared borders” and to normalize diplomatic relations. The United States has welcomed the dialogue as “a key element in advancing the Darfur Peace Process.” This reading is dead-on. Just as important though, the international community and the United States must offer support for the implementation of commitments made by both Chad and Sudan, while at the same time speaking out about any human rights abuses committed by all armed forces in the region. The Small Arms Survey provides a helpful background to the tensions and hostilities between Sudan and Chad:

Throughout the 1990s Déby was a loyal ally of the regime in Sudan. He consistently refused to supply aid to Sudanese rebels—whether from Darfur or South Sudan—despite requests to do so since the early 1990s. But from 2003 he was unable to stop the two rebel movements in Darfur, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), from using Chad as a rear base, recruiting combatants even among the Chadian Republican Guard (a pillar of his regime) and garnering support among the Chadian Beri, including those close to the government. …Déby’s inability to prevent those close to him from supporting the Darfur rebels weakened his credibility among power-brokers in Khartoum. In response, starting in 2003, Khartoum incorporated Darfur based Chadian opposition elements into the janjawid…When these groups were not fighting alongside the Sudanese army in Darfur, they launched periodic attacks on Chadian territory. In 2004 Khartoum started asking the numerous rebel Chadian factions to unite. From 2005, Déby began a rapprochement with Darfur rebel groups (SLA–Minni Minnawi and JEM), in exchange for their commitment to aid in fighting Chadian rebels on Chadian soil. The situation deteriorated rapidly .An attack on the border down of Adré on 18 December 2005 by the Rassemblement pour la démocratie et les libertés (RDL), a Chadian rebel movement made up of Tama led by Captain Mahamat Nour Abdelkarim, marked a turning point. Déby now realised that Sudan was decisively supporting Chadian rebels against him. While the rebels did not manage to take Adré, the raid allowed Mahamat Nour to display his strength and later assume the leadership of the Sudan-supported rebel coalition, the Front Uni pour le Changement (FUC). From this point onwards Déby actively supported the Darfur rebels.

In the last two years, this proxy war has included rebel offensives on both capitals. Two months ago, the UN Panel of Exports Report identified the Sudan/Chad hostilities as a key component of the Darfur ongoing crisis, noting that they serve as a chief “impediment to the political process that also has a negative impact on the settlement of the conflicts between Chad and the Chadian armed opposition groups and between the Sudan and JEM.” In the last month, in fact, Chadian President Idris Deby has both bombed rebel forces and offered to make peace with them. So any concrete signs that Khartoum and N’djamena are beginning a period of rapprochement are significant. Given numerous broken previous agreements though, this dialogue must be viewed with much skepticism. The United States and the international community can and should support this dialogue and the implementation of any new agreements in a few ways. First, it should speak out about any human rights abuses being committed by Chadian opposition forces in Darfur or Darfuri rebel movements in Chad. The recent reports of attacks in Darfur by the Chadian opposition most likely are due to these forces responding to a possible deal between Khartoum and N’djamena. In its report on these incidents, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) called on the government of Sudan and relevant UN representatives to initiate a full and thorough investigation. As it’s doubtful that the Sudanese government will heed such advice, the United States must be out front on this issue. Second, the United States should also take up the recommendation of the UN Panel of Experts and push “the [United Nations] Security Council [to] explore possible ways to provide assistance to the…cross-border monitoring activities, including by expanding the mandate of UNAMID, providing it with the necessary resources and taking account of issues of command and control.” Ultimately, an end to the Sudan/Chad proxy war could serve as a positive step forward in achieving peace and stability in Darfur and eastern Chad. In the short term, however, the agreement could be a catalyst for more violence against civilians as different armed groups adjust to the changing strategic realities. During this period, human rights monitors must be vigilant and any perpetrators of violence should be held accountable. Any deal by Khartoum and N’djamena will remain only ink on paper unless an agreement is immediately followed by monitoring and implementation supported by the international community.

Sudan: Winning the Peace?

Andrea Clarke — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:47:51 +0000

An intimidating panel gathered at London’s Frontline Club Tuesday night to discuss this very question in the context of Sudan’s first multi-party elections in 24 years scheduled for April 11, and what lies ahead for Sudan on the fifth anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. With a packed house and many journalists among the crowd, it was a conversation that could have gone well into the evening, but moderator Richard Cockett (Africa editor of the Economist) did his best to keep it to ninety minutes. The panelist line-up included the Most Rev. Daniel Deng, Archbishop of Sudan; Paul Molong Akaro, deputy head of mission for the government of Southern Sudan Liaison office to the UK; Osman Hummaida, human rights activist and executive director of the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies and Sara Pantuliano, programme leader, Humanitarian Policy Group, Overseas Development. Each panelist spoke for several minutes about their personal thoughts for free and fair elections and the possibilities of return to war or for restoration and transformation, before the floor was opened to questions. Not surprisingly, the focus stayed on the April elections, with firm agreement between the panelists (and audience) about the conditions on the ground in Sudan being in no way conducive to free and fair elections, thanks in principle to an oppressive security environment, a process tainted by government interference, restrictions on freedoms of speech and gross registration violations. Paul Molong got down to basics and pointed out that no voting system in the world is more complicated – he mentioned the sheer complexity of voting ballots alone - recent graduates in Khartoum were given ballots to fill out as a pseudo experiment. On average it took each student 22 minutes to complete. Imagine how long it would take voters in a remote village with a 90% female illiteracy rate, he said. This was quite the reality check, even for those reporters who had just returned from the region. This example was naturally one of many basic truths denied by the lone representative of the Sudanese embassy, who bravely took a second row seat. At one point he took the microphone to shamelessly defend the integrity of the much-maligned census, insist that political parties are free from government intimidation and interference and that the Sudanese people can freely express their opinions. By that I wondered if he meant express opinions before getting arrested, held without charge and beaten for them -- like several top opposition leaders and journalists in Khartoum on December 7, who were rallying for change to laws which restrict basic political freedoms. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="474" caption="Sudanese security forces confront protesters in Khartoum (Photo: AFP)"][/caption]I wondered how the US Special Envoy to Sudan would respond to this crowd after declaring last Friday at a State Department press conference that he “believes the administration is working hard on processes that will allow credible elections to be held in April.” We all want to believe this is the case, but the evidence, less than 90 days out from the scheduled national election date of April 11, is just not there. As my colleague Robert Lawrence has already highlighted, ‘last minute changes to the national security and public order laws will be insufficient. The proper electoral environment and freedoms must be created at least 90 days prior to any election – and unfortunately we are now inside that 90 day window.’ In light of this, Paul Molong believes the United States and the international community should be looking beyond April 11, and prepare to mitigate post-electoral violence, engaging the high level international diplomacy, leadership and shared commitment which is totally absent from the process now. Yet another reality check for the audience. If the international community is willing to stand on the sidelines and allow the NCP to conduct a fraudulent election so it can legitimize its genocidal rule, let's hope its willing to help the millions of Sudanese who will be impacted by its consequences.

Statement of support from Sudanese Human Rights Defenders

Allen Combs — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:14:53 +0000

Several Sudanese human rights activists released a letter in support of the Sudan365 initiative earlier today:

On 9 January 2010, activists from around the world gathered to call international attention to the critical importance of the coming year - just 365 days - for Sudan. The date marks the entry of the country into the final year of the interim period envisioned by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended decades of war between the northern dominated government and the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement in the South. This agreement promised democratic transformation and comprehensive peace in Sudan, but unfortunately violence has persisted as evidenced by the ongoing conflict in Darfur and intercommunal violence in the South. This year several critical events will occur in Sudan, including national elections and finally the referendum which will decide whether Sudan will remain one state or whether the South will secede. It is clear that urgent action must be taken both at the national and the international level if Sudan is to chart its way through these events in such a way as to avoid renewed violence and build respect for democracy, rule of law and human rights. Given this urgency, the following prominent human rights and political activist in Sudan wish to raise their voices in support of the international advocacy campaign Sudan 365. In particular, we call on the international community to:

take urgent action to ensure support for the implementation of the CPA and the resolution of outstanding issues - particularly those which are likely to spark conflict; and

undertake urgent efforts to end the massive human suffering in Darfur.

Signed: Salih Mahmoud Mohamed Osman, human rights lawyer and MP Sudanese National Assembly Farouk Abu Easa, MP Sudanese National Assembly Dr Amin Meky Madani, human rights lawyer Nabeel Adeeb, human rights lawyer Joseph Modesto, former MP and community leader Nimat Koko, human rights activist Mahgoub Shareef, poet and human rights activist Nor Alsadig, MP and human rights activist Sara Nugdalla, political activist

Bashir’s Pre-Election Victory Lap at the Scene of the Crime

seanbrooks — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:42:45 +0000

Cross posted from the Huffington Post. Can you imagine Slobodan Milosevic running for president in Srebrenica? The world would have been justifiably outraged. Yesterday, however, indicted war criminal Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir visited El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. While not an official campaign appearance, the trip comes three days after Bashir received the formal presidential nomination of his party in the upcoming elections in April. It is long past due for the world – and particularly the United States – to express its grave concern about the sham electoral process that in a few months could effectively legitimize Bashir’s repressive government. This week at a campaign stop, Bashir vowed to his supporters that the elections would teach the world lessons in dedication and sacrifice. What they are really teaching the world is that a dictatorial and even genocidal regime can forgo its commitments to peace and democratic transformation without suffering any consequences. These elections did not fall from the sky, but – instead – were supposed to be a key milestone in transforming the country after decades of civil war. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) agreed to by Bashir’s party and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in 2005 set a path for the Sudanese to rebuild their political institutions, economy, and society. The death and destruction in Darfur and continued repression of political opponents by the Bashir regime over the last four years vitiated the CPA-inspired hopes that those in power in Khartoum had disavowed intimidation and violence as the chief means to resolve political differences within Sudan. But despite the lack of basic political freedoms and the insecurity that persists in Darfur, the Bashir regime now promotes these elections as a critical moment in the history of Sudan. Their strategy cannot be any clearer: use these elections to consolidate power within Sudan and re-legitimize themselves in the international community. While Milosevic attempted to steal the Serbian elections in 2000 after a decade of bloodshed in the Balkans, he could not campaign in Srebrenica, the site of the worst massacre during the civil war because Bosnia had gained independence. In stark contrast, Bashir’s visit to Darfur serves as a pre-election victory lap at the scene of the crime. Indeed, his regime has declared that Darfur is now safe enough for elections to take place and, if that’s the case, it follows that the conflict must be over. Despite clashes this week between rebel forces and the Sudanese army, violence over the last two years has significantly diminished in Darfur. The clever 2010 election strategy though by Bashir attempts to hide the fact that 2.7 million Darfuris remain displaced, a peace agreement with the Darfuri rebels remains elusive, and Bashir and others perpetrators of war crimes remain fugitives from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes committed in Darfur. Furthermore, The Carter Center, which will monitor the elections in April, reported last month that many Darfuris chose not the register due largely to the presence of Sudanese government armed forces at numerous registration sites, in addition to the wariness about participating in a less than free and transparent election process. A solution to Darfur in 2010 cannot emerge from the ballot box but must come from real negotiations between the Sudanese government and divided rebel movements – who also must set aside their personal and political differences to negotiate a political settlement in the best interest of the Darfuri people. Due to the lack of a safe political environment for freely contested elections, few in Sudan doubt that Bashir will win re-election in April. The real question for Sudanese opposed to this outcome: how will the world respond? The Bashir regime believes that it can secure quiet acceptance of the results in exchange for promises that it will bring the conflict in Darfur to an end and allow the people of South Sudan a vote for secession in January 2011. In short, Khartoum is bargaining conflict management and prevention for re-legitimization in the international community. To add serious injury to this equation, Khartoum has a history of empty promises that deliver anything but the pledged outcome. If we were not so deeply familiar with the history of conflict in Sudan, such a deal might seem plausibly adequate. Unfortunately though, accepting this offer from the Bashir regime ignores the chief drivers of conflict in Sudan for the last 50 years: the monopolization of power and wealth at the center and the marginalization of the periphery. The consequences of allowing the regime to steal the elections will not address the root causes of the conflict in Darfur or other persecuted areas of Sudan. And even if the South secedes in 2011, a re-legitimized regime in Khartoum will no doubt cause it endless troubles. It is for all of these reasons that the international community, led by the United States, should state clearly that it will not allow these elections to change the way it views the corrupt and repressive regime in Khartoum. Of course, conflict management in Darfur and the implementation of the CPA should continue, but not under any illusion that those in Khartoum serve as a representative and reformed government of the Sudanese people.

Clashes in Darfur

Celeste Robinson — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:08:29 +0000

In late December, Lt. Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba, the force commander of the United Nations-African Union mission in Darfur (UNAMID), warned against over-optimism in assessing security in the troubled region. While acknowledging a near absence of clashes between the government and armed groups, he cautioned that “there is absolutely no guarantee that the situation will not get worse.” According to Nyamvumba, “the factors that caused the conflict…still exist.” The first few weeks of 2010 have largely justified his concerns. Amid reports of civilian deaths and mass displacement, recent events illustrate the complex reality of a place far from peace. SLA commanders accused this week the government of launching an assault near the heavily populated market area of Furung in North Darfur. On Wednesday, the SLA-AW attacked the government-held town of Gulu [Golo], allegedly in response to operations by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) targeting rebel assets in Jebel Moun as well as in Jebel Marra. The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) also claims government warplanes are engaged in sustained aerial bombardment of their positions in West Darfur, causing civilians to flee across the Chadian border. Highly troubling is UNAMID’s limited access to the sites of these attacks as well as its critical lack of force enablers to enhance its military presence in the vast region. The mission’s peacekeepers were unable to prevent the incidents or provide immediate protection to the local population and humanitarian organizations caught in the clashes. They have been urging both the rebels and the government to allow a UNAMID investigation into the events; however, a force spokesperson could not confirm details from the latest events, indicating that many sectors under both government and SLA-AW control are “no-go” areas for the mission. Unfortunately, these latest incidents highlight a severe shortcoming in the mission’s ability to implement its mandate of protecting civilians in Darfur. It shows, once again, that the peacekeepers continue to face careful and systematic obstruction by the conflict’s belligerent parties. The international community must recognize that the victims of such obstructionism are Darfuri civilians and the NGOs attempting to provide assistance to those affected by the ongoing crisis. Without resolute political and logistical support to the mission – including the immediate fulfillment of its materiel requirements – UNAMID’s ability to intervene on their behalf is severely limited. United Nations and African Union member states, as well as other key members of the international community, must make clear their condemnation of actions that directly threaten or limit the ability of UNAMID to implement its mandate, and should strongly urge all armed groups in Darfur to both facilitate the mission’s freedom of movement and cooperate fully with its inquiries. The failure of the international community to more vigorously promote UN-AU access to all areas of Darfur and to investigate without restriction all incidents involving armed clashes will continue to put civilians at further risk of death, displacement, and human rights abuse.

Deadline Diplomacy for Darfur, again?

seanbrooks — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:24:25 +0000

The Darfur peace talks have resumed this week in Doha, Qatar. Under the guidance of the United Nations/African Union Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole and the host Qatari government, the Government of Sudan and a myriad of Darfuri rebel movements are expected to begin a dialogue on a final political resolution to the crisis in Darfur. While the meetings began on January 24, there have yet to be direct talks between the Sudanese government delegation and any of the rebel movements. This inconvenient fact, however, has not stopped the Sudanese government from already proposing a deadline for the negotiations. Yesterday, a leader of the Sudanese delegation stated:

“Some groups are demanding more time. We have told mediators that time is running out and that negotiations must not exceed the third week of March. Talks do not require a month or two as outstanding issues are simple. If parties have the political resolve it won't take more than two weeks as we have discussed everything and what remains is to take decisions.”

While a peace agreement is desperately needed for the people of Darfur, the international community must not fall into the trap of accepting this hard deadline proposed by the Sudanese government – which has previously used this deft negotiating tactic to its great benefit. For instance, this sort of deadline diplomacy led to the failure of the last serious Darfur peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria in the spring of 2006. As I have written, the chief lesson to learn from the Abuja experience concerns the credibility of imposed deadlines.

After two long years, all the parties ignored the AU and UN deadline of April 30 [2006] when it was first announced. Based on the blatant disregard shown to earlier deadlines, [UN Special Representative Jan] Pronk argued at the time that setting a deadline “would not make much sense . . . in particular if the parties and the mediators would not aim at complete, unambiguous texts.” His counsel dismissed, the non-urgent response by the movements to the deadline meant that the real negotiations and dialogue – the objectives of the imposed “turning point” – did not begin until April 28, when the movements finally realized the full dynamics of the situation.

At that point, the international community swooped down on the negotiations and attempted to force the movements to sign the text of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) – which they had only been handed two days before. Ambassador Robert Zoellick, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, represented the United States and orchestrated the final days of negotiations with Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo. One of the AU mediators at the time revealed that the most important element of the DPA was the signature page and not the solutions within the agreement that could set the foundation for long-term peace and security. What resulted from this approach were the signature of only one movement (Sudan Liberation Army-Minni Minawi), the still-born DPA, and the fragmentation of rebel movements from three factions to the complicated constellation of movements in existence today. Unfortunately the international community’s current engagement in the process resembles the flawed engagement of 2006 that led to this disastrous outcome. In my analysis of Abuja, I write:

Nonetheless, the international quartet did not have time or the will to coordinate effectively a dual approach of negotiated compromise and an imposed deal. Instead, the grand theatre during the final days was axiomatic of a process never fully staffed and supported by the international community, whose deadline of April 30 some thought (see Laurie Nathan's article), resulted primarily from an unwillingness to continue funding the effort further.

Once again, in 2006, the Sudanese government took advantage of the arbitrary deadline imposed by international community. This time around the Sudanese government has a clear objective of securing a peace agreement – any peace agreement – before the April 2010 elections. The mediators and the special envoys supporting the process – including U.S. Special Envoy Major General Scott Gration – must learn the lessons from Abuja. Deadlines will not work because so many other flaws and challenges in the process must first be overcome. As the Save Darfur Coalition submitted to the African Union High Panel on Darfur last year, the negotiations cannot simply be the haphazard convening of delegations from the rebel movements and the Sudanese government. Instead, for effective negotiations that produce an agreement that addresses the root causes of the conflict and reflects the will of the Darfuri people, the international community must:

Provide the armed movements with support for pre-talks and negotiations;
Ensure that the Darfurians feel ownership of any peace agreement;
Support strong civil society input and presence in the peace process;
Ensure that a Darfur peace agreement advances peace, justice and democracy for all Sudanese; and
Coordinate all support to the peace process with appropriate regional and international actors.

These elements of a peace process are still mostly missing and, furthermore, require sufficient time. They should not be abandoned for a calculating deadline imposed by the Sudanese government.

Messages on the 65th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:41:36 +0000

Yesterday marked the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, since 2005 commemorated by the United Nations as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and President Obama both made statements in honor of the day. President Obama said in a video message:

I want to thank those of you who found the strength to come back again, so many years later, despite the horror you saw here, the suffering you endured here, and the loved ones you lost here. Those of us who did not live through those dark days will never truly understand what it means to have hate literally etched into your arms. But we understand the message that you carry in your hearts. For you know the truth that Elie Wiesel spoke when I stood with him at Buchenwald last spring. There, where his father and so many innocent souls left this earth, Elie said that “memory has become the sacred duty of all people of goodwill.” We have a sacred duty to remember the twisted thinking that led here—how a great society of culture and science succumbed to the worst instincts of man and rationalized mass murder and one of the most barbaric acts in history.

Secretary General Ban focused on genocide prevention:

Holocaust survivors will not be with us forever ‑‑ but the legacy of their survival must live on. We must preserve their stories ‑‑ through memorials, through education, most of all through robust efforts to prevent genocide and other grave crimes. The United Nations is fully committed to this cause. Together, let us pledge to carry forward the mission of Holocaust remembrance ‑‑ and uphold human dignity for all.

Photo of Auschwitz-Birkenau by flickr user daneen_vol.

Idaho activist passionate about Sudan

goalawal — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:41:49 +0000

The Darfur Heroes program is a way for the Save Darfur Coalition to honor individuals and groups who have done inspiring and important work in an effort to end the violence in Sudan. This January, Save Darfur Coalition is proud to Honor A.J. Fay, the co-founder of the Idaho Darfur Coalition and a member of the Idaho Student Chapter of Amnesty International. A.J. Fay recently helped organize the Sudan365 program in Boise, where activists from several cities within the United States and 15 other countries stood in solidarity with the people of Sudan and rose awareness of the possible return of all out violence in the country. A.J. has been a longtime activist in the Sudan movement, and below are his own words about his passion for the people of Sudan. I first became involved in the Darfur campaign when I was in high school. I joined an Amnesty International chapter and worked on various campaigns, realizing I had a strong interest in human rights advocacy. One day, the ongoing crisis in Darfur came up, and it immediately sparked my interest. I thought, “how genocide could still be occurring systematically in the 21^st century?” I yearned to learn more, and Save Darfur Coalition served as a resource for my research. I also visited Amnesty International to strengthen my knowledge base, and I was smitten by the resilience of the Sudanese people, their rich culture, and immediately I knew I wanted to be of part of the movement to act as a voice for the people of Sudan. So, through the Save Darfur Web site I found a few people that wanted to meet and discuss how Idaho could create a movement, and it was clear for us all in our hearts that we couldn’t remain idle. What fuels my passion to continue working to help bring sustainable peace to Darfur and all of Sudan is the personal and working relationships I enjoy with the Darfuris and Sudanese refugees in my community. Boise is a major refugee resettlement and home to three resettlement agencies in town. Truthfully, the Darfuri and Sudanese people give me hope; their strength is inspiring and their stories gripping. I could never give up on the Sudan movement, because I am vested in the long race. This truly is a part of me, and I will work on their behalf until we bring an end to the genocide, rebuild the country, and restore Sudan to a peaceful state and to its citizens. I wish every activist could get to enjoy the first hand experience of living and working with Darfuris who experienced the genocidal regime of Al-Bashir and can also tell the stories of their agony and those of Sudanese people. I love this movement, the Sudanese people, and the leaders of the movement. I will follow this through the end.

Basketball for Darfur

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:31:20 +0000

On Saturday afternoon President Obama, Vice President Biden and Houston Rockets star Tracy McGrady watched on as the Georgetown Hoyas played (and beat) the Duke Blue Devils at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC*. Unusual content for this blog? Perhaps, except for the video that played during a timeout early in the game. In the video longtime rivals Duke and Georgetown announced a partnership in support of the Darfur Dream Team, a fundraising project for the Sister Schools Program, an initiative to connect American middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities with sister schools in 12 refugee camps in Chad. The student groups Georgetown STAND and Duke for Darfur are leading the effort to raise money to refurbish and equip two schools in Darfuri refugee camps in eastern Chad. According to the Enough Project, "Thanks in large part to their high-profile event today, they are well on their way." That Tracy McGrady, Alexander Aleinikoff, the incoming U.N. deputy commissioner for refugees and a Georgetown alum, and Michel Gabaudan, the UNHCR Regional Representative for the United States and the Caribbean, and other U.N. staff would come specifically to support the student's fundraising efforts says a lot about the role of both students and sports in highlighting important causes. That the students could launch their initiative in front of the President and Vice President (and in the middle of such a great game) was all the better. For more coverage check out Enough Said, The Huffington Post, and ESPN.com. *yes, this blog post might be slightly biased towards the Hoyas. Sorry, Duke fans.

Beja Civil Society Demonstrates at Sudanese Embassy

marissa.glauberman — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:28:20 +0000

[caption id="attachment_2878" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Protestors outside the Sudanese Embassyin Washington, DC on January 29, 2010"][/caption] My Friday afternoon interning at the Save Darfur Coalition took an unusual twist when I was asked to attend a demonstration to commemorate the Anniversary of the massacre in Port Sudan of the Sudanese Beja people. After bundling up and trying to brace myself for the freezing cold weather, I arrived at the Sudanese embassy both surprised and impressed by the event taking place. Despite the frigid conditions and the fact that it was a Friday afternoon, there were more than a dozen demonstrators making their voices heard. The protesters spoke eloquently and forcefully through a megaphone, declaring that justice would be served and that the Sudanese regime's crimes against humanity would not be overlooked. The demonstrators main objective was to provide a voice for the Beja people - a political group comprised of various ethnic clans in Eastern Sudan - who have been historically marginalized. As they chanted “Long live Beja People, Long live The Sudanese Marginalized People,” I was inspired by their passion and dedication. In a situation as volatile as Sudan’s, it is extremely comforting to meet people who are dedicated to creating a sustainable peace in this war torn nation.

DNI Blair: South Sudan most at risk of new genocide

Robert — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:38:46 +0000

[caption id="attachment_2927" align="alignright" width="175" caption="Director of National Intelligence
Dennis C. Blair"][/caption]On Tuesday, before a rare public hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Admiral Dennis Blair, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), presented the intelligence community's annual assessment of threats to U.S. national security. Admiral Blair's testimony included several references to Sudan and Darfur, highlights the important geopolitical implications of the next year in Sudan. Perhaps most striking was Admiral Blair's testimony that "a number of countries in Africa and Asia are at significant risk for a new outbreak of mass killing. Among these countries, a new mass killing or genocide is most likely to occur in southern Sudan." Admiral Blair testified that "many observers warn that the risk of renewed conflict [in Sudan] is rising as we approach 2011, when the south is set to vote in a referendum on southern independence. Khartoum and Juba are running out of time to resolve disputes over the north-south border -- along which most of Sudan's oil reserves lie -- or to formulate a post-2011 wealth-sharing deal, which [the intelligence community] judge are key to preserving the peace. While a renewed conflict could be limited to proxy fighting or skirmishes focused around individual oilfields, both sides' arms purchases indicate their anticipation of more widespread conflict." Blair continues that "Southern leaders' rhetoric suggests that they are increasingly determined to secure independence in 2011 -- whether be referendum or unilateral decision if they believe Khartoum will thwart a vote -- but the south is poorly prepared for the post-2011 period. The southern government is spending a large amount of its revenues on military force modernization while failing to provide basic services, curb rampant corruption, or curtail escalating tribal clashes. Some international observers have suggested the south will become a failed state unless the international community assumes a significant role in development, security, and governance." In regards to Darfur, Admiral Blair testified that "the conflict in western Sudan's Darfur region has become less deadly but more complicated since the government began its counterinsurgency campaign against the rebels in 2003. Overall levels of violence have declined sharply since 2005, but a wide body of reporting points to a proliferation of banditry, ethnic clashes, and inter-rebel fighting. Darfur almost certainly will continue to experience sporadic bouts of fighting, especially as the government and rebels try to secure stronger negotiations in peace talks. Some of Darfur's fractured rebel groups are amenable to reunification efforts led by the US and UN mediators, but the two most important rebel leaders have remained intransigent as they maneuver for advantage. The number of displaced persons has climbed steadily to nearly 3 million, and any government efforts to resettle them could spark an even greater humanitarian emergency."

Enough, YouTube, And Propelling Sudan To Center Stage

Allen Combs — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:42:37 +0000

Co-authored by Zack Brisson & Laura Heaton. Cross posted from Enough Said blog.

Four years ago, asking the President of the United States a meaningful question would have required serious power, uncommon access, or a lot of luck combined with being in the right place at the right time. Not anymore.

Thanks to CitizenTube and the connective power of the internet, any one of us can reach the president. Yesterday, we did. Following up on last week's State of the Union address, YouTube hosted a community driven "Your State of the Union." Steve Grove, YouTube's head of news & politics, asked President Obama a wide variety of questions, submitted and selected by citizens around the country, if not the world.

At the Enough Project, the challenges in Sudan right now are incredibly important to us. Recognizing that President Obama didn't address the crisis in Sudan at his State of the Union, we were eager to take advantage of the opportunity YouTube offered to engage directly with the president. Seeing the chance to get our concerns about an issue that we feel is underappreciated, we mobilized to get our question to Mr. Obama.

Late last week, we videotaped our question, eloquently delivered by our intern Alison Grady. Then we asked our supporters, fans, partners, and others who care about the message to vote and pass the word.

Thanks to the support of grassroots activists, partners like Genocide Intervention Network, Save Darfur Coalition, Invisible Children, and Change.org, our question was the most popular in the foreign policy category. In response, President Obama gave his lengthiest remarks on Sudan since announcing his special envoy for Sudan last March. (Granted, we were disappointed with the substance, but for this post at least we're staying focused on the positive.)

All of us at Enough are deeply thankful to YouTube for increasing access to the president, to Mr. Obama for thoughtfully responding to our question, and to all of the passionate Sudan advocates who took action and made their voices heard. Sudan advocates, let's keep the momentum going:

Sign Enough's petition and tell President Obama that we need increased pressures and a full-time field based presence in Sudan.

Peace and Security in Sudan

nghent-rodriguez — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:49:19 +0000

Ahead of the 14TH Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Amnesty International called on the African Union to:

Call on the government of Sudan to protect the civilian population in Darfur and to call on all parties in the conflict to stop directing attacks against civilians, including humanitarian staff.
Continue to support the reinforcement of national and international justice mechanisms in order to end the culture of impunity in Sudan by bringing to justice those suspected of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
Call on the government of Sudan, and the authorities of South Sudan, to protect civilians and provide UNMIS with the support it needs.
Call on the UN to urgently develop an action plan for UNMIS to strengthen the protection of civilians in Southern Sudan in light of the deteriorating conflict situation. This should include more long range patrols, more stations of peacekeeping troops – including in remote areas, and rapid deployment units that can respond to outbreaks of violence.
Call on the Sudanese government to bring the National Security Act in line with international human rights standards and with the Sudanese Bill of Rights. The immunity of NISS agents must be removed and allegations of human rights violations must be investigated and those responsible prosecuted in accordance with standards of fair trial.

In previous Ordinary Sessions, the AU debated issues related to international justice and peace and security. In December 2009, many African countries pledged to comply with their obligations under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and surrender anyone with an arrest warrant issued for their name. With the ICC decision on al-Bashir being announced tomorrow and today being the last day of the 14th Ordinary Session of the AU, we hope that the Commission honors its commitments to the ICC and that additional African countries join the pledge. Chairperson Jean Ping, of the African Union Commission, recalled that 2010 was declared to be a year of peace and security. With the help of its neighbors and regional support let's hope that 2010 is certainly a year of peace in Sudan.

ICC reopens door on genocide charges for al-Bashir

Megan Flemming — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:38:43 +0000

[caption id="attachment_2936" align="alignright" width="150" caption="ICC ProsecutorLuis Moreno-Ocampo"][/caption] Yesterday in The Hague, the International Criminal Court’s Appeals Chamber reopened a door that could allow Omar al-Bashir to face charges of genocide. On March 4, 2009, the judges of the International Criminal Court’s Pre-Trial Chamber 1 issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President al-Bashir on five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes. The Pre-Trial Chamber did not include in the warrant the three counts of genocide requested by the court’s Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo. Yesterday, the Appeals Chamber unanimously reversed the Pre-Trial Chamber’s decision not to include the crime of genocide in the warrant, on the basis that the Pre-Trial Chamber applied an erroneous standard of proof. The ruling upheld an appeal submitted by the ICC’s Prosecutor in July 2009. In yesterday’s ruling, the Appeals Chamber held that the Majority (2) of the ICC’s three Pre-Trial Chamber judges applied an incorrect standard of proof when it required that the existence of reasonable grounds to believe that Omar al-Bashir is criminally responsible for genocide must be the only reasonable conclusion from the evidence presented by the Prosecutor. It noted:

In the view of the Appeals Chamber, requiring that the existence of genocidal intent must be the only reasonable conclusion amounts to requiring the Prosecutor to disprove any other reasonable conclusions and to eliminate any reasonable doubt.

The Appeals Chamber noted that such an evidentiary threshold is higher and more demanding than what the ICC’s Rome Statute requires for the issuance of an arrest warrant. The Rome Statute requires higher evidentiary thresholds for the confirmation of charges (“substantial grounds to believe”) and the threshold for a conviction (“beyond a reasonable doubt”). The case has now been sent back to the Pre-Trial Chamber to decide whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that President Omar al-Bashir is criminally responsible for genocide, applying the correct standard of proof. The Appeals Chamber refused a request by the Prosecutor that it enter its own finding and direct the Pre-Trial Chamber to issue an arrest warrant on the genocide counts. It is unknown how long the next step will take. Due to rotations of judges at the ICC, Pre-Trial Chamber 1 is now made up of different judges than the three judges who made the original ruling on the Bashir warrant. The Save Darfur Coalition welcomed the Appeals Chamber’s decision, noting that justice and accountability are essential components of the comprehensive solution required to finally end the crisis in Darfur. Regardless of the eventual decision made by the Pre-Trial Chamber on the genocide charges, al-Bashir remains wanted on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. Also at large are Ahmad Haroun and Ali Mohamed Ali (“Ali Kushayb”), for whom the court issued arrest warrants in April 2007.

50 Days and 50 States: Activists Mobilize for Free and Fair Elections

Katie-Jay Scott — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:04:47 +0000

"The April elections are a lie. Please tell Americans to not support in any way these lie elections." Abdullaziz, a displaced Darfuri leader living in a refugee camp in Chad, tells Gabriel Stauring, Director of Stop Genocide Now, during their 3am phone call. Like many Darfuris, Abdullaziz is deeply concerned about what April elections will bring to his people. Grassroots groups and Darfuris across the nation have joined together to say: No support for sham elections in Sudan! For the 50 days leading to the election, regular citizens in every state will take targeted and effective action to say we do not support elections that will legitimize an indicted war criminal. Under the current climate of violence and political intimidation, the Sudanese elections currently scheduled for April 11, 2010 will be anything but free and fair. The electoral reforms laid out by Sudan’s 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement – necessary for a credible election – have been delayed, obstructed and outrightly violated by the Sudanese government. With insecurity continuing in Darfur and violence mounting in the South, fraudulent elections in April could be a dangerous flashpoint for Sudan. Join us in the Sudan Sham Elections 2010 campaign. For 50 days leading to the elections, February 20th through April 11th, each of the 50 states and Washington DC will take daily action to show overwhelming support for peace, protection, and justice for Sudan. Each state will organize one day of action for the campaign. Actions will be easy and available for everyone in the state to take, yet targeted and effective. Our grassroots actions will support high-level advocacy campaigns by the national groups: Enough, Save Darfur, and Genocide Intervention Network. Actions will urge our government not to legitimize a war criminals reign through elections built around violence, intimidation, and coercion. Join this national, grassroots campaign! Visit the website, Sudan Sham Elections 2010, to: 1. Sign the petition 2. Find your state on the map - contact the leader to get involved locally. 3. If your state doesn't yet have a leader, sign up! We need all 50 states represented for success. 4. Tell 3 friends about the upcoming campaign - use your facebook, myspace, or twitter status to spread the word! States who still need a leader: Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming We are regular citizens around the 50 United States and DC, standing with the people of Sudan—the marginalized, the disenfranchised, and the brutally oppressed—in demanding truth and strength. An indicted war criminal, responsible for millions of deaths, will never be a legitimate leader. Peace, protection, and justice will come from strength in effort and conviction from our leaders. Do Not Stand Idly By - Join Us! Contact Katie-Jay Scott, ktj@stopgenocidenow.org to get involved.

Playing a Part

Melissa Warnke — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:44:10 +0000

Last week, the U.N. held a press conference to introduce the newly appointed Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict, Margot Wallström. Wallström – a wildly well-qualified and highly competent choice – will have been at work for just over a month when we, with organizations and individuals around the globe, mark International Women’s Day on March 8. It is a tough time for Darfur advocates – as the situation in Sudan has become increasingly complex and layered, international approaches to ending it have been stale, tired and painfully one-dimensional. But Wallström’s appointment is indicative of one area in which both the U.N. and State Department have made significant progress in the past year – putting women’s issues on the agenda. The U.S.-led U.N. Security Council Resolution 1888, passed last fall, created this position. President Obama’s April appointment of Melanne Verveer as the first-ever Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues and Secretary Clinton’s creation of a new GWI office at the State Department shows an invigorated national commitment. Both U.S. and international commitments to women’s issues are critical to ending the scourge of sexual violence in Sudan – and beyond its borders in refugee camps. Upon her appointment, Wallström said that “violence against women is the most common but least punished crime in the world. It continues in every continent, country and culture and the results are devastating on women's lives as well as on their families and on the fabric of society as a whole. In recent years it has been sickening to see sexual violence become a tool of modern warfare. In far too many parts of the world women are excluded from the decision-making process and from conflict resolution and peacekeeping. This absolutely has to change and I am determined to play my part in making that change happen.” That’s something that every Darfur activist can not only be inspired by, but a place where we can play a part.

Peace "Deal" A Start, But Only That

Robert — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:17:16 +0000

On Saturday, it was announced that the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) had agreed to a preliminary cease-fire with the Government of Sudan. The framework agreement, to be signed in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday, February 23rd, is supposed to lead to an agreement for a permanent ceasefire between JEM and the Government of Sudan by March 15th. As Darfur watchers know, JEM is one of the two major rebel groups that has refused to negotiate with the Government of Sudan in Doha (the other being the Sudan Liberation Movement - Abdul Wahid al-Nur faction). JEM is the militarily stronger of the two major rebel groups, marching to the outskirts of Khartoum in the spring of 2008. It has also been long supported by the Chadian government, as Chad used it to execute a proxy war against the Government of Sudan. It is surely no coincidence that preceding the preliminary cease-fire agreement was an agreement between Chad and Sudan to end hostilities and disarm their proxy militias. JEM surely felt pressure from the Chadian government to negotiate. The proposed temporary cease-fire, with hopes of a permanent cease-fire is certainly welcome news. Any time the Government and the rebels agree to stop fighting, the innocent civilians of Darfur and Chad benefit. However, as Save Darfur has said for quite some time, it is not enough for the Government of Sudan to negotiate with the rebels alone, for the rebels cannot claim to represent a significant portion of the populations in Darfur. Civil society and IDP representatives from Darfur must be brought into the negotiating process -- an agreement between various armed movements will not bring the peace and political stability that Darfur so desperately needs. Already there are rumors about what political and military spoils JEM may be expecting from any agreement with Khartoum, and questions about what this will mean for the elections. There is no doubt that Khartoum, along with much of the international community, would like to see negotiations with the rebels conclude prior to April so that elections may take place in Darfur. The agreement is notable also for the pressure it seemingly puts on the other major rebel movement, SLM-AW. While SLM-AW's support in the IDP camps is likely stronger than that of JEM, the fact remains that SLM-AW has more recently become more an obstacle to peace for the people of Darfur that a positive contributor to it. The most recent UN Secretary-General's report on UNAMID for example, stated that more humanitarian convoys were blocked by forces loyal to SLM-AW, than were blocked by the Government of Sudan during the reporting period. With allegations of disunity within SLM-AW and Abdul Wahid's personal refusal to leave France to participate in any peace talks, the question of whose interests SLM-AW serves at the moment can be called into question. It is also been widely alleged that the participation of civil society members in recent peace talks in Doha was scuttled not by the Government of Sudan, but by the armed rebel groups, principally JEM and SLM-AW. The international community must resist the urge to see weapons as a source of political legitimacy and deal only with the armed factions in this conflict. Additionally, if a cease-fire is agreed upon, the international community must insist that it is adhered to. In the past, the Government of Sudan has been all too willing to sign agreements and violate them minutes later. While some rebel groups have not positively contributed to peace efforts in recent years, the Government of Sudan shares a disproportionate share of responsibility for securing peace in Darfur due to the disproportionate force it used there. Whatever the faults of the rebel groups, the current situation in Darfur is the responsibility of the Government of Sudan, and it is their obligation to earn the trust of both the international community and the people of Darfur. Sticking to a cease-fire agreement would be a small step in the right direction. But, again, even if deadline diplomacy works and JEM and SLM-AW were somehow able to reach peace deals with the Government of Sudan, the significant voices of Sudanese civil society and IDPs who do not feel represented by any of the rebel groups would be a critical missing element. In response to the news about the framework agreement and following his trip to Darfur last week, Save Darfur president Jerry Fowler stated, "I have met with dozens of leaders across Darfur who are desperately longing for peace. They represent an emerging constituency for peace. The Sudanese government and all armed elements in Darfur must listen to these voices and their real concerns. Signing another piece of paper in Doha is not enough."

The Future of MINURCAT

Celeste Robinson — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:32:28 +0000

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="436" caption="A UN Convoy in Goz Beida, Chad (Photo: The Peacekeepers Flickr)"][/caption] International human rights and humanitarian groups have expressed increasing alarm over recent developments regarding the United Nations Mission in Chad and the Central African Republic (MINURCAT) as its March 15^th mandate expiration quickly approaches. Since last month, Chadian officials have been indicating to the UN Security Council that they will not seek its renewal. Though initially regarded as a possible negotiating tactic, N’djamena seems to have both sustained and strengthened its position, publicly questioning the relevance and impact of the troubled mission. At stake in these negotiations is the fate of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable civilians. MINURCAT has been deployed since March 2008, tasked with providing protection to 170,000 internally displaced persons and 250,000 Darfuri refugees as well as to the humanitarian groups aiding the region’s besieged population. According to Amnesty International the mission is a source of limited but essential protection from attacks “by Chadian armed opposition groups, irregular militias, criminal gangs, and members of the Chadian security forces.” Human Rights Watch likewise claims that the peacekeepers “appear to have prevented a resumption of large-scale violence and mass killings,” and that “despite its many challenges, [MINURCAT] is improving protection and security for civilians” amid prevalent violent crime – including sexual and gender based abuse – and rampant impunity. Earlier this month, President Idriss Déby of Chad reaffirmed his government’s position that MINURCAT’s mandate should not be renewed, calling the peacekeeping mission a “failure”. The country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations – Ahmad Allam-mi – announced at a press conference last week that Chadian forces should assume responsibility for security near the Sudan border, as MINURCAT’s military component – having caused “difficulties” and “served its purpose” – should consider its withdrawal. On the one hand, the Chadian government has questioned whether MINURCAT, which has struggled to complete its deployment, would be able to secure the region even at full capacity. On the other, Allam-mi voiced concerns that the UN Mission’s presence has caused problems ranging from an increase in the cost of living to a deterioration of infrastructure conditions. While acknowledging that MINURCAT still had a role to play in certain areas of assistance – including continued support of the Détachement Integré de Sécurité – Chadian officials have suggested that security-related concerns could adequately be addressed by both strengthening UNAMID in Darfur as well as by the recent improvement of Sudan-Chad relations along the border. However, there are serious reasons to question the introduction and sustainability of security based on these factors. Recent fighting in Jebel Moun and elsewhere has reportedly caused thousands of Sudanese to flee across the border into Chad, representing a significant shift in the regional security dynamic. Meanwhile, rather than serving as a deterrent to such clashes, UNAMID – itself often a target of attacks – has faced obstructionism by all belligerent parties, and as such has largely been unable to prevent, intervene in, or investigate ongoing violence in the west. With the security situation in Darfur becoming more serious, stability along the border and in Eastern Chad is threatened. Removing MINURCAT’s military presence could have more serious consequences than current assessments may indicate. Additionally, although improvements in Sudan-Chad relations are welcome, there is cause for both skepticism and caution. Agreements have been made in the past, but tensions and outright hostilities better characterize recent relations between the two countries. Last fall, the UN Secretary-General warned that this problematic dynamic was stalling peace efforts and “exacerbating the plight of civilians.” Severing MINURCAT’s military presence based on the assumption of sustained diplomatic success may prove naïve, particularly as both volatile countries approach elections. With less than a month before the mission’s mandate expires, the Chadian government has expressed interest in finding a compromise “between total withdrawal and merely extending” the current terms of the mandate. While the international community should be taking the opportunity of MINURCAT’s mandate renewal to seek ways to improve its shortcomings and enhance its impact, negotiations to accommodate political changes have apparently sidelined very real security risks. Any agreement must prioritize the protection of civilians, and all parties should acknowledge – and avoid at all costs – the potential impact of the looming security vacuum on both the immediate and long-term protection and promotion of human rights in Chad and Darfur.

On The Ground Update From Sudan

jerry — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:42:15 +0000

As I write this I am in Khartoum, Sudan, having just returned from a week of traveling through Darfur. Although I've traveled to eastern Chad to meet with Darfuri refugees who fled the country, this is the first time I've actually been to Sudan and Darfur. I applied for a visa in 2004, but only recently did the Sudanese government give me permission to come. I came with my colleagues Mark Lotwis and Sean Brooks. [caption id="attachment_3004" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Visiting Otash camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)"][/caption] The chance to meet with displaced Darfuris inside Darfur, and in general to see firsthand this country that I have read and thought so much about, has been profoundly moving. One of the most striking things in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), as in refugee camps in Chad, is the children - living in the present, as children everywhere are so good at doing, but not totally unaffected by the turmoil that has swirled around them. As we were leaving one camp, a little girl who couldn't have been more than three and a half feet tall flashed the omnipresent thumbs up sign and chanted, "Bashir is a criminal, the khawaja (foreigner) tells the truth." We will be providing more in depth reporting on our trip, which is continuing as we leave to spend several days in southern Sudan. But I wanted to give you a very quick update based on our time so far in Khartoum and Darfur. Two big points have been reinforced from our time here. First, the issues of Darfur cannot be resolved in isolation from the larger issues of Sudan, and vice-versa. And the most significant issues of Sudan involve marginalization and exclusion. A great danger is that Darfur, seen as an isolated issue, gets ignored in coming months as attention focuses on the referendum on the independence of southern Sudan scheduled for next January. We must view Sudan holistically. Second, there is an important role for the international community to play in helping to create a space for Sudanese to resolve the issues of Sudan without the use of extreme violence against civilians. It was such violence, used particularly by the government and its allies, that riveted the world's attention on Sudan. Extreme violence is not happening now, but the potential remains. [caption id="attachment_2988" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Camp leaders meeting in Otash"][/caption] In that regard, in Darfur we found an uneasy situation - "neither peace, nor war," we heard a number of times. From IDPs we consistently heard expressions of fear and a pervading sense of insecurity. Clashes between the government and rebels are happening in some areas, but such organized fighting is not widespread. Nor is there systematic violence against civilians. But neither is there a sense of stability, security or peace. Quite simply, nothing is resolved. And a large portion of the civilian population remains extremely vulnerable. We heard over and over from the IDPs and other Darfuris that they long for peace and security. One of the most poignant comments we heard was from a leader in one of the camps we visited. "Once milk is spilled on the ground," he said, "it is impossible to get it back in the pail." This proverb recognizes how challenging it is to create a durable peace and that it is not merely a matter of restoring things as they were. Creating that peace will require a sustained effort by the Sudanese themselves and sustained engagement by the international community. Stay tuned as over the coming days, we will be reporting more on our assessment of the current situation on the ground. Thank you for all you do for the people of Darfur and Sudan.

Jerry and the rest of the Save Darfur team in Sudan will be hosting a special live webcast on Thursday, March 4th, at 2:00 PM to discuss what they saw on their trip. Please, sign up to watch the webcast and submit a question you'd like our team to answer on the 4th here: http://action.savedarfur.org/campaign/asksavedarfur

Rebel Contraindication

Celeste Robinson — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:43:22 +0000

[caption id="attachment_3020" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Former UNAMID Force Commander Meets SLA Field Commander (UN Photo/Stuart Price)"][/caption] Without excuses and without exception, when humanitarian and human rights are threatened, there must be independent monitoring; when violated, there must be an investigation. This applies as much to oppressive government forces as it does to their challengers. When clashes threaten the lives and livelihoods of civilians, the rebel cause is weakened. SLA-AW, take note. Obstructionism – sometimes enforced by hostile threats – against Darfur’s embattled peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) has become a serious problem. Despite recent advances toward full deployment, other factors have severely limited its troops from implementing their mandate to effectively protect civilians. Perhaps most troubling of these is the extent to which all key belligerent parties continue to restrict UNAMID’s monitoring patrols and access to the sites of ongoing or recently concluded clashes, most of which have resulted in the limitation of humanitarian assistance and direct abuses against local populations—including human rights violations, civilian deaths, and mass displacement. Though this is far from an emerging problem in Darfur, it requires renewed attention and must be addressed with the rigorous application of impartial standards to all groups involved, while acknowledging responsibility is not shared equally. The reality – which varies over time depending on military and political strategy – is some are worse offenders than others. In December, we highlighted the role of the Government of Sudan (GoS) in impeding the work of UNAMID and the UN Panel of Experts. Today, we single out the SLA-AW for obstructionist actions that have complemented, rather than counteracted, GoS destabilizing activities and have further eroded civilian security while promoting impunity in Darfur. The latest report of the UN Secretary-General on UNAMID cites 21 restrictions on freedom of movement, breaking down as such:

	Sudan government forces		6
	Non-state actors		15, including:
	SLA-Abdul Wahid		9
	Justice & Equality Movement		4
	SLA-Minni Minnawi		1
	Chad armed opposition		1

None of these groups has a defensible reason for their actions, but SLA-AW is out at least nine. Further, they have been implicated in threatening UN peacekeepers by firing shots and confiscating UNAMID equipment. In November of last year, SLA-AW also obstructed humanitarian activities, without any apparent regard for the severity and urgency of local civilian needs. The international community led by JSR Gambari must make it clear that while fulfillment of materiel and personnel needs are essential, ending such severe obstructionism should be a priority second to none. Furthermore, although the long overdue arrival of 5 Ethiopian tactical helicopters represents welcome progress, guarantees of flight clearance must be secured from both rebels and government forces, and immediate facilitation of UNAMID aerial reconnaissance capacity must be realized. The incidents described above indicate that the mission’s full impact and ability to implement its mandate cannot be achieved without these measures. As we’ve noted before, both war and peace in Darfur continue to be placed purposefully and systematically at arms length. While UNAMID is often the target, it is always and invariably the civilians who suffer the consequences. And although the UN-AU hybrid operation in Darfur has been called many things, the truth is almost always ignored: these peacekeepers are quite literally the only force standing between a vulnerable, victimized population and criminally rampant insecurity perpetuated by belligerent parties that seem to increasingly hold their own interests above those of Darfuri civilians. For the Secretary-General's full report to the UN Security Council, click here. See section IV. Security Situation, page 5 for more details on obstructionism by Darfur's key belligerent parties. UNAMID's November 2009 statement on SLA-AW restrictions can be found here. For a different perspective on this issue, click here.

A Hollow Framework

jerry — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:34:26 +0000

The big news as I arrived in Khartoum from Darfur earlier this week was of a “framework agreement” and ceasefire between the Sudanese government and one rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). The agreement was formally signed on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar. Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir was there, as was JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim, Chadian President Idriss Deby and a host of envoys, including U.S. Special Envoy Scott Gration. The agreement creates a “framework” for negotiations – basically a list of items to be discussed and agreed upon. Notably, and worryingly, justice and accountability – which so many IDPs told us was important to them – are not on the list. It also establishes a temporary ceasefire, although as with the whole framework, the details are still to be worked out. A final agreement is supposed to be completed by March 15, a hugely ambitious – if not unrealistic – target. Almost exactly a year ago, Khartoum and JEM signed another “framework agreement” and ceasefire in Doha. It went nowhere, as have a sheaf of other agreements in recent years. So there is ample reason to be skeptical. Still, this year’s framework may be more robust. It seems to have high level buy-in from Bashir and JEM leader Ibrahim. And both sides have near term incentives to follow through. Bashir is running on a peace platform (“Symbol of Unity and Peace” says one of his omnipresent campaign posters) in the April elections. JEM is pressed as a result of the recent peace agreement between Khartoum and Chad. In fact, the Sudan-Chad rapprochement caused JEM to move more of its forces into northwestern Darfur, leading to a new round of fighting that promised to be devastating for the civilian population in that area. To that extent, the ceasefire – if it holds – is definitely a good thing. But although a step forward, a lasting ceasefire – even a final agreement – between JEM and the government is far from a final resolution of the Darfur crisis. JEM is militarily the strongest rebel group, but it has a narrow constituency within Darfur. Giving its officials a handful of government posts would scarcely begin to address the underlying problem of marginalization and exclusion. Bashir traveled to Darfur after the framework agreement was signed and declared, "The crisis in Darfur is finished; the war in Darfur is over. Darfur is now at peace." What we saw and heard in Darfur tells us this is plainly not true. The problem of insecurity is cited widely by internally displaced persons, UN officials, civil society leaders and others as one of the principal impediments to peace. This day to day insecurity is felt all over Darfur, impedes a durable end to displacement and restricts the presence of NGOs and UN agencies in the “deep field.” Lasting agreements with all rebel groups would be welcome. But durable solutions for the displaced population in particular and Darfuris in general will require more. Politically, it will require a much greater level of popular participation and involvement in decision making and intensive efforts to address conflict among communities. Economically, it will require a commitment to sustainable development. As to the latter, even as immediate humanitarian needs remain substantial, international assistance also has to be provided to help develop Darfur. The economic foundation for peace does not exist. But both politically and economically, the primary responsibility lies with the Government of Sudan, a responsibility that to date it has spectacularly failed to fulfill. This regime, built for most of two decades on violence and exclusion, will have to radically revise its priorities and approach if it really wants to resolve what former South African President Thabo Mbeki has called “the crisis of Sudan in Darfur.”

Newsy Coverage of the GoS/JEM Ceasefire

Allen Combs — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:49:47 +0000

Celebrating International Women's Day - Every Day this Month

Melissa Warnke — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:17:21 +0000

As we at the Save Darfur Coalition prepare to celebrate International Women's Day by holding events and advocating for greater protection and rights, our partners around the world are doing the same in creative, powerful and exciting ways. Check out Candice Knezevic's blog post, originally posted on Enough Said, about the Enough Project's plans for March, and learn how you can get involved below. Next Monday, March 8, will mark International Women's Day. It’s a global day during which women and men around the world join together to highlight the accomplishments of women, as well as call for their political, economic, and social empowerment. Here at the Enough Project, we believe that the key to a peaceful and prosperous future in Congo is the protection and empowerment of its women. That’s why we launched the RAISE Hope for Congo campaign a year and a half ago – to make this goal a reality. But we think that a day is just not enough to celebrate the accomplishments of women in Congo and around the world, as well as advocate for their empowerment. So we’ve decided to celebrate International Women’s Day all month long. We’re kicking off our celebration with a march and rally on the Arlington Memorial Bridge here in Washington, D.C. on March 8 as part of Women for Women International's "Meet Me on the Bridge" campaign, which strives to unite societies and people in peace across the world. We will march in solidarity with women from around the world, and in particular, with women from Rwanda and Congo, who will also join together in peace on a bridge between their countries to demand an end to war and to demonstrate that women can build the bridges to peace and development. After the march, we’ll listen to inspiring remarks from Congolese and women's empowerment advocates. Sign up to attend here. If you’re not in the D.C. area but want to attend a rally, check out Women for Women’s website for rallies in your neighborhood, or download a toolkit to learn how you can host your own rally. Then the following week, on March 17, tune in for a special episode of NBC’s hit show, Law & Order SVU, which will highlight the issues of violence against women and conflict minerals in Congo. I hope you’ll join us this month in celebrating and empowering women in Congo and around the world. This truly is the most pressing cause of our time, and we owe it to our sisters, nieces, daughters, and granddaughters to stand up now and act. Candice Knezevic is the campaign manager for RAISE Hope for Congo.

Gunships Can't Save Darfur Alone

Celeste Robinson — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:07:11 +0000

[caption id="attachment_3116" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Newly deployed M-35P in Nyala. Photo: UNAMID/Albert Gonzalez Farran"][/caption] It’s been a painfully long time coming, but last week, five Mil Mi-35P gunships settled in to their new home in Nyala, South Darfur. The Ethiopian helicopters – whitewashed for peacekeeping service – will in theory greatly enhance UNAMID’s aerial capacity. They represent a key force multiplier, essential in developing the mission’s rapid reaction capability, including emergency response and tactical intervention. But after celebrating their long overdue arrival, the first thing on Force Commander Nyamvumba’s agenda was to ask for more. He has made it very clear that this is only one step in a series of many that UN and AU member states must take to provide his peacekeepers with the very best odds possible as they confront endless challenges in Darfur, an advantage they have not thus far enjoyed. This means giving them the mobility and muscle needed to successfully confront hostile operating conditions, the adversities of which have been compounded by continued obstruction by both the government and rebel groups, as well as by violent attacks directly targeting the mission and its assets. Amid reports of civilian deaths and mass displacement, recent events illustrate the complex reality of a place far from peace. The use of indiscriminate aerial bombardment by the Sudan Armed Forces against rebel positions in Jebel Moun and Jebel Mara has a disproportionately devastating effect on local populations. Rebel movements have likewise hurt Darfuri civilians by restricting both UNAMID investigations and humanitarian access. In at least one battle – which resulted in more than a dozen deaths, 31,000 displaced civilians, and serious human rights abuses, including sexual violence – highly placed military sources told me that “helicopters and aerial reconnaissance units would have helped…prevent the incident.” In fact, over the last three months, fatal incidents have repeatedly highlighted the essential role of helicopters in life-saving medical evacuation, rapid investigations and assessment following clashes, tactical intervention and quick reaction capacity, aerial reconnaissance and monitoring, as well as troop and equipment deployment. The Mi-35P is only capable of fulfilling a small number of these tasks. The Mi-35Ps – with their powerful 30-mm twin-barrel automatic cannons – bring exciting new strength to an operation consistently criticized for being weak and ineffective, but they are in reality only a few items on a long list of aircraft that UNAMID desperately needs to implement its protection mandate. The gunships, while important, have limited impact on the mission’s ability to negotiate Darfur’s harsh terrain, rampant banditry, and prohibitive lack of infrastructure necessary for the efficient movement of troops and equipment to the region’s hotspots. For that, UNAMID requires many more utility and transport helicopters. For this reason, despite the arrival of the Ethiopian Mi-35Ps, Lt. Gen. Nyamvumba still indicates the lack of helicopters is the mission’s most significant handicap, and that he needs at least 18 to do the job. The Commander’s first concern is his troops: “How do I reinforce them, how do I extract those in danger?” Just as important, Nyamvumba highlights the impact on UNAMID’s capacity to protect civilians. He warned, “We cannot deliver the mandate without the necessary equipment.” [caption id="" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Amnesty International documented GoS Mi-34 attack helicopters in Darfur"][/caption] The effort to procure these resources is not new, and the violence that may have been prevented by more timely support is untold. In 2006, Human Rights Watch urged the international community to provide the beleaguered Darfur force – then solely an African Union operation – with helicopters, which military experts deemed necessary for fulfilling the mission’s mandate to protect civilians and proactively enforcing its rules of engagement. In 2007, a joint NGO report urged fulfillment of the mission’s aerial needs and warned that without helicopters, UNAMID would ultimately be rendered ineffective. In 2008, to highlight the contrast between need and availability, the Future of Peace Operations project compiled a global inventory of attack, transport and observation helicopters in order to identify possible donors. In 2009, in a move welcomed by UNAMID, 22 NGOs once again highlighted the severe lack of vital aerial resources, notably helicopters. Month after month and year after year, the UN Secretary-General has noted this highly problematic shortcoming in his reports to the Security Council, citing its crippling impact on the mission’s effectiveness. It is therefore imperative that the arrival of the Ethiopian gunships signal the beginning of renewed attention toward helicopter deployment in Darfur. At the same time, advocacy and diplomatic pressure must be rigorously applied to fulfill the terms of the Status of Forces Agreement (SoFA) and secure guarantees of freedom of movement and flight clearance from both rebel and government forces. With increased violence and approaching elections, UNAMID cannot afford to be grounded any longer.

Bashir’s at My Hotel, and I am Getting Out of Here

seanbrooks — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:04:02 +0000

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="President al-Bashir at a rally in 2009/Photo: Reuters"] [/caption] My colleagues Jerry Fowler and Mark Lotwis left Sudan last Friday heading back to Washington. In order to set up a few more meetings in the South, I stayed on in Juba. Little did we know, President Omar al-Bashir and his entourage of advisors and security agents would be coming to town—and staying in the same modest hotel as the Save Darfur delegation, in the very wing where Jerry had been sleeping. Over the weekend, I had heard that Bashir would be traveling to Juba and a few other towns in the South to campaign. In my mind, I imagined a quick dash by motorcade from the airport to a rally in Juba and then a few darts by plane to some other choice locations in the Greater Equatoria states. So I was quite surprised when early Monday afternoon, I was confronted by a newly erected roadblock in front of my hotel. Initially, the mix of police and security officials told me that I could not pass. When I explained that I was staying at the hotel beyond their checkpoint, they quickly scanned my backpack and then gave me strict instructions on how to walk to the next crowd of security personnel suddenly stationed in front of hotel gate. After another round of negotiations that involved coaxing hotel staff out to verify my claims, I was finally permitted to enter the foyer—where I was promptly urged by a security guard to take my room key and, like a misbehaving child, go straight to my room. About an hour later, I returned to reception to ask about the “protocol” and restrictions in place due to the arrival of the special guest from Khartoum. The staff assured me that the security had overreacted in the first few hours and gave me a stamped pass that would allow me to go and come as I please. Thus far, I have not faced any further issues – other than that inescapable locked-down feeling of any setting where men with guns sit and stand around every entrance and exit, looking all-too-bored for any by-stander’s comfort. Ironically enough, I did not have to leave the hotel to watch Bashir’s political rally. My window afforded a partial view of the stadium. I could not make out the words of his speech, but at times I could hear the crowd break out with a chant of “Salaam, Oyay” (Peace, Yes!). Maggie Fick of the ENOUGH Project was inside the stadium and reported on the climate. Papers the next day quoted Bashir as making an economic case for unity. He argued that Sudan’s economy could expand by a higher percent if all efforts are exerted to end political tensions:

“that have encouraged nothing than regional wars and displacement of inhabitants…To experience real growth and success in the war against poverty, we must get our act together on two fronts…[O]ur politics must promote political stability and public confidence in the future of our country."

Bashir, dressed down in a short sleeve shirt, treated the crowd to some interesting campaign rhetoric, such as "We will cut off every hand attempting to disrupt peace." He also promised to celebrate with the people of the South after the referendum, whether they chose unity or secession. In my conversations though in Juba thus far, it’s clear that Bashir’s last stab to make unity attractive will fall mostly on deaf ears. People are gearing up for the elections to contest leadership within the Government of South Sudan, but with a keen eye on the referendum. As for those in Darfur, very few trust these most recent promises from Bashir and his National Congress Party (NCP) – and, thus, confidence in a durable political resolution emerging from the Doha negotiations remains low. With my flight out of Juba soon to depart, I hope to have more time to write about the many interesting conversations that we have had in Sudan over the last four weeks. For now, I can say that having visited Khartoum, the three capitals of Darfur and Juba, one cannot help but be struck by the depth of complexity to the immediate crises and issues at hand. Peace, prosperity and development for all Sudanese – the slogans of Bashir’s campaign – can be realized over time, but first a profound and dramatic shift in the mentality of those in power and those who dominate politics through fear and violence must occur.

Sudan Trip Debrief Webcast

Allen Combs — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:50:44 +0000

In this special webcast, Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler and Senior Director of Campaign Advocacy Mark Lotwis discuss what they saw on their recent trip to Sudan and give their thoughts on the challenges facing the country as it prepares for the first multi-party elections in more than two decades. The webcast was recorded at 2:00 PM on Thrusday, March 4th:

Bashir's Curious Peace

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:28:04 +0000

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="Darfur's tumultous Jebel Marra region/ Photo: Matt Powell Humanitarian Photography"][/caption] At a speech last week in the North Darfur capital of El Fashir President Omar al-Bashir confidently announced that “the crisis in Darfur is finished; the war in Darfur is over. Darfur is now at peace”. Bashir echoed a similarly misguided claim made last August by the outgoing head of UNAMID, shortly before a series of renewed clashes and violent attacks against his own troops. Bashir appears to have a skewed definition of peace, as certain areas of Darfur have since January been consistently beset by fighting, which seems to be escalating. Despite progress toward a ceasefire between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the areas around Jebel Moun and Jebel Marra remain highly volatile. This past week, the increasingly violent clashes between SLM-AW and Sudan Armed Forces in Deribat have caused mass displacement and an estimated 140-400 civilian casualties. There has been no international assistance available to the victims in the Jebel Marra region after Médecins du Monde was forced out last week. The SLM-AW leader Abdel Wahid al-Nur called the Doha framework “ceremonial,” adding that his movement wants “a genuine peace realizing the demands of Darfur people who are suffering in camps since seven years after losing their relatives and homes”. However, al-Nur has refused to be a part of any peace negotiations and the SLM-AW has in some recent cases exacerbated the security and humanitarian situation in parts of Darfur by restricting peacekeeping and aid access. JEM condemned the escalating hostilities in a statement on February 28^th denouncing:

“the exploitation by Khartoum regime of a ceasefire outlined in the Framework Agreement signed with the Movement on February 23, 2010 to launch a sweeping attack on the positions of resistance in the Jebel Marra and to bomb peaceful villages and kill unarmed civilians.”

The Department of State and UNAMID both issued statements on Tuesday urging the SLA/AW and the Government of Sudan to refrain from further aggression. UNAMID also announced that it will be taking further measures to verify the reports of violence in the region, but an investigative patrol heading to Deribat over the weekend was ambushed. The peacekeeping personnel were held over night and major assets seized by the attackers. It remains to be seen whether the newly arrived tactical helicopters will enhance the mission’s ability to address the insecurity in the mountainous region. Recent background Renewed fighting between SLM-AW and SAF troops flared up last July after their forces clashed in Nertiti and re-emerged from September 2-17^th primarily in Korma where 18 civilians were killed and over 31,000 were displaced. For the remainder of the year the situation in Jebel Marra relatively stabilized with conflict on a smaller scale, until January 13^th when the SLM-AW attacked Gulu the capital of Jebel Marra in response to earlier bombings on rebel positions. Intense clashes have continued throughout January and February, and on February 13^th and 14^th government troops attempted to re-take Aradyeb Al-Asharah. The SLM-AW was able to maintain control but SAF forces made a second offense attempt on the town on February 24-25^th which according to rebel commander Nourredine Janga, “40 people were killed and 28 young girls and 8 women were raped”. Since January fighting has occurred elsewhere in Jebel Marra region including Kadmir, Lidy, Fugly, Dogo and Kotor. Increasing amounts of civilians have been displaced due to intense fighting this past week with additional 40,000 civilians displaced from Deribat without any support from international aid organizations who have also fled the region. Another 5,400 civilians from Jebel Marra have been displaced to Nierteti and UNAMID estimated that 1,500 civilians have been displaced to Thur. Shannon Orcutt is a policy intern at the Save Darfur Coalition.

Celebrating International Women's Day

marissa.glauberman — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:04:04 +0000

If I told you that I am a sophomore at George Washington University and a graduate of an all-girls high school, you would think I was celebrating International Women’s Day, right? And I am. However, this has not always been the case. Before interning at Save Darfur, I tried to distance myself from women’s or feminist causes, as I felt the issue was not at the forefront of the human rights struggle. I had attended countless lectures on the suffrage movement and the three waves of feminism, and came to believe that continuing to discuss these issues in the present day was not very productive. Certainly, my logic was flawed and my time at Save Darfur has proven how incredibly skewed my thinking was. The issue of women’s rights is a grave concern for all and is often indicative of other ingrained illnesses within a society. The endemic violence against women in Darfur makes it increasingly apparent that the maltreatment of women reveals other conflicts at play – struggles for land, political power and recognition. As nations with poor political infrastructure are the countries most culpable of victimizing females, guaranteeing women’s rights are imperative to achieving the peaceful world we all seek. The mission of International Women’s Day is to promote a world in which women are no longer victim to rape, incest, battery and sexual slavery. All of the world’s inhabitants must recognize that International Women’s Day is, truly, about defending basic human rights. The fight for women’s rights is not only a distinct movement, but one that encompasses all those who wish to redefine our modern world. Marissa Glauberman is a Campaign Advocacy Intern with the Save Darfur Coalition.

International Women’s Day, SDC Style

Melissa Warnke — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:43:42 +0000

At noon, in honor of International Women’s Day, several of us snuck out of the office for a bit to attend the “Join Me on the Bridge” March in Washington DC, hosted by our friends at the Enough Project and Women for Women International. After grabbing signs and t-shirts, the crowd began its march down Memorial Drive, across the Memorial Bridge, and to the Watergate Steps at the base of the Lincoln Memorial. There, we sat on the steps and listened to Candice Knezvic of RAISE Hope for Congo, Andree Simon of WFWI, Sylvie Muanga Mbanga, a Congolese human rights lawyer, and Seema Jalan of Women Thrive speak about what the day meant to them.

[caption id="attachment_3173" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Melissa & Teresa at "Join Me on the Bridge" in DC "][/caption] We heard about the struggles of women and girls in the Congo, Rwanda and beyond, many of whom have been intimidated, tortured and raped due to their gender. We heard about the heroic acts of women and men fighting for an end to sexual violence within their own countries and communities. And, looking around at everyone who had come out to march on a workday, we saw the faces of activism in our city. [caption id="attachment_3174" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Over 100 people marched across the Memorial Bridge"][/caption] Afterwards, our staff gathered together to “share a special meal” – one of our actions to mark the day. Catherine, SDC’s Grants Liason and Field Coordinator, was the only one who had made a truly Sudanese recipe – the Yogurt and Tahini Dip – but homemade hummus, chicken and cupcakes made the group a happy one. [caption id="attachment_3175" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="We wrote to our Congress(wo)men asking them to restore SGBV services"][/caption] We then all settled down to write letters to our representatives about sexual violence in Sudan (those of us who live in DC and are Representative-less wrote straight to Secretary Clinton). We agreed that the United States needs to lead the charge to fully restore services for Sudanese women, particularly in the areas of food security, protection and gender-based violence. [caption id="attachment_3176" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Some of the letters we wrote"][/caption] And a bit futher away, men and women came together in solidarity on a bridge that crosses from Rwanda to the Democratic Republic of Congo. They made a statement that, as neighbors, the lives of Rwandan and Congolese women are tied together, that peace and progress for one can lead to the same for the other. The relationship between us in the United States and our sisters in Sudan, while geographically disparate, is similarly interrelated – as Americans, we are caught in King’s “inescapable network of mutuality,” called to help when we are able and to raise our voices when we witness injustice. If you want to get involved in the movement to fight for women’s rights in Sudan, check out our International Women’s Day actions, which can be done throughout the month of March, or email us at women@savedarfur.org. Let’s make International Women’s Day last all year.

Faith Community Calls On Congress

Melissa Warnke — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:04:45 +0000

[caption id="attachment_3206" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Imam Abdul-Malik, Archbishop Aykazian, Kirk Betts, Ruth Messinger, Galen Carey and Rev. White-Hammond gather in front of the Capitol Building"][/caption] Last week, I attended a prayer breakfast hosted by the Interfaith Sudan Working Group (ISWG), a coalition of Jewish, Muslim and Christian organizations working together for a lasting peace in Sudan. Since its founding several years ago, the group has held multiple events to raise awareness of the conflict. The prayer breakfast brought advocates, clergy and Congressional staff together to discuss the need for peace and an end to human suffering in Sudan, particularly as the elections approach. In working with our coalition and activists, I am constantly struck by the diversity of the movement – people of all ages, political affiliations, faith traditions and life experiences have come together to say that they can no longer “stand idly by.” Faith leaders at the breakfast came from the American Jewish World Service, Muslim Alliance in North America, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Episcopal Church, Lutheran World Relief, the Armenian Church of America, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judiasm and the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Following the breakfast, the Interfaith Sudan Working Group delivered copies of the children’s fairy tale book, Humpty Dumpty, to all 535 Members of Congress as a reminder that the situation in Sudan is fragile and could break at any second. Read more about the event here and email melissa@savedarfur.org to learn about how your faith community can be involved in Sudan advocacy.

Peace in Darfur: still a long ways off

seanbrooks — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:56:27 +0000

Cross posted from Foreign Policy's new Middle East Channel. It is too early to tell – but the "framework agreement" recently signed between the Government of Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the most effective armed rebel movement in Darfur, offers some hope for peace in Darfur. The commitment to an immediate ceasefire and reaching a final accord by March 15 advances the dialogue further than at any point since May 2006 – when President Omar al-Bashir's government signed the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) with what was then considered the strongest of the movements. The problems with that agreement are the same as those threatening the current talks: the fragmentation of the movements and questions about the sincerity of the Sudanese government. The rushed-together DPA helped precipitate the complete unraveling of non-signatory rebel movements – which proliferated from two to almost 30 by 2007. It is therefore more good news that ten factions have recently united as the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) and appointed a respected former governor of Darfur to represent them. In the coming days, they may sign their own "framework agreement" with the Sudanese government upon which the mediators would begin working with the parties to draft a final text. If this happens, only a few movements will remain outside of the talks. The holdouts, however, include Abdel Wahid al-Nur who, while based in Paris since 2006, has maintained popularity and allegiances among many of the millions of displaced persons living in camps throughout Darfur. The IDPs will ultimately help decide the agreement’s fate by voting with their feet. Almost all IDP leaders continue to claim that the security conditions are not suitable to return to their villages. The Sudanese government, however, claims that 90 percent of Darfur is now secure and, therefore, IDPs should begin voluntarily returning home. While systematic violence in Darfur has markedly declined, there remain volatile hotspots and the lack of peace makes any decision to return fraught with risk and uncertainty. It is also true that returning home for many would mean leaving behind basic services – such as clean water, education, and health care – often available in the camps or nearby towns. The international community for the past four years has attempted to bypass Abdel Wahid as his unmovable pre-conditions for negotiations (which include disarmament of the notorious janjaweed and the removal of ‘settlers’ on the land of the displaced) amount to the full implementation of a peace agreement. Some countries and envoys have tried to promote other commanders and politicians among his tribe, the Fur (the largest and historic rulers of many areas in the region), to leadership positions. This strategy has largely backfired – creating more divisions among the movements and in some cases deeper allegiance to Abdel Wahid. A more successful approach has been supporting the involvement of civil society and IDP leaders in formal peace talks. Last November, 170 such Darfuri delegates met in Qatar and produced the Doha Declaration affirming their collective views on a number of issues to be included in any final agreement. Meanwhile, the endgame of the Sudanese government remains unclear. The sudden announcement of the agreement with JEM resulted primarily from the rapprochement a few weeks earlier between Sudan and Chad, which had been supporting JEM in its proxy war with Sudan since 2006. At the same time that Bashir's government sees a benefit in negotiating a deal with JEM and perhaps the LJM, it has launched a massive offensive on the territory controlled by commanders loyal to Abdel Wahid. In two weeks of fighting, the UN estimates that up to 400 civilians have been killed and 40,000 displaced. Clearly, a military solution remains part of the government’s strategy. In this regard, the omnipresence of the military and intelligence services in the major cities and the fear of uncontrolled militias loyal to the government and various armed movements in rural areas continue to suffocate the potential for local dialogue about Darfur’s future. Rather than engage Darfuris on solutions to local security challenges, the Sudanese government continues pushing upcoming elections as a political solution to its Darfur problem. Election results that will represent the popular will seem wildly far-fetched. Opposition leaders and human rights activists, for example, have been recently detained without charges and many of the conflict-affected communities lack candidates on the ballot to represent their interests. Elections, therefore, could serve as a catalyst for even more violence. This gap between the government’s rhetoric for peace in Doha and its repressive policies in Darfur only further distances it from emerging constituencies for peace. Continued rebel infighting means also that they have generally ignored demands for peace and the specific concerns of the conflict’s victims. So while some Sudanese and the international community believe that these framework agreements could offer the best road yet to sustainable peace, a senior UNAMID official speculated to me recently that any agreements signed in Doha (even if by all the various factions) may not change much on the ground in the short term. Only a joint commitment by both the Sudanese government and the movements to rebuild trust with the people of Darfur, so that the root causes of the conflict can be addressed, will lead to a durable peace. This means ensuring the inclusion of Darfur’s civil society in the ongoing negotiations and capable mechanisms for local participatory politics and governance in any final agreement.

Untouchable Crisis? A Call to Action

Shannon Orcutt — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:00:59 +0000

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="400" caption="SLA Fighters in Jebel Marra, 2007 (Photo: Reuters)"][/caption] The situation in Jebel Marra remains unstable and essentially unknown as thousands of civilians to pour into IDP camps and flee to neighboring countries, while outside organizations continue to be denied entry into Deribat and its surrounding areas. The critical lack of independent monitoring and investigations in Jebel Marra combined with obstructionism by belligerent parties makes credible information on the crisis disturbingly non-existent. On March 8^th, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) made a statement that they were in control of the region while SLA-AW denied the claim, both of which are impossible to verify. UNAMID launched a patrol to assess the situation on March 5^th which was ambushed and seized by apparently unidentified gunmen. The 60 peacekeepers were later released but their weapons and vehicles are now in the in the possession of the attackers. According to Radio Dabanga a government delegation from South Darfur was also ambushed on March 12^th leaving SLA-AW and SAF contradictory claims the only information on the situation in Jebel Marra. In a recent post on the SSRC blog “Making Sense of Sudan,” Julie Flint reflects on the poignant absence of international outrage. “Where are the Save Darfur activists?” she asks, adding in an article for the Daily Star that “2002 is being rerun in 2010 – despite Save Darfur, despite UNAMID, and despite the ICC.” As Save Darfur – a unique community of activists and rights organizations – we have been called to action. The international community and the Save Darfur movement worked hard to see the deployment of UNAMID. Now – amid the worst fighting in the 27 months since its deployment and as crucial national elections approach – this voice is as essential as it ever was. Likewise, activists and NGOs from around the world fought tirelessly to ensure UNAMID was provided with essential equipment like tactical helicopters capable of rapid intervention. Now that these gunships have arrived, it is our responsibility to ensure they are used to enhance UNAMID’s peacekeeping presence and enforce its mandate to protect civilians. The global community needs to express its concern, mobilize support for Darfuri civilians caught in these clashes, and remind international policymakers why they should care about what’s going on in Jebel Marra. It is our mandate both to act and to demand action – and the time to do so is now. Contact Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at 202-647-4000 today and ask her to condemn this violence and work with the international community to mobilize support for Darfuri civilians.

Carl Wilkens Fellow Naomi Natale Launches One Million Bones Project

Melissa Warnke — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:11:34 +0000

Naomi Natale is one of many inspiring anti-genocide activists using art as an advocacy tool. In the upcoming months, we will be highlighting projects like One Million Bones on our Creative Community site. Naomi's blog, featured below, is cross-posted from Genocide Intervention Network. As a 2010 Carl Wilkens Fellow, I am excited for opportunity to introduce a new project to the anti-genocide community. I am thrilled to announce that yesterday on March 14, 2010, the One Million Bones project officially launched in Albuquerque, New Mexico One Million Bones is a fundraising art installation designed to recognize the millions of victims who have been killed or displaced by ongoing genocides, creating a visual demand for solutions to this issue. Our mission is to increase global awareness of these atrocities while raising the critical funds needed to protect and aid displaced and vulnerable victims. The goal of One Million Bones is for one million people to each create one bone to represent one victim of genocide. In the spring of 2013, each bone will be installed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Like a mass grave, the installation will recall the millions of victims of genocide, and demand action from the American people, our policy makers, and the worldwide community to end ongoing atrocities. To raise funds, One Million Bones requests a sponsorship of $5 for each bone submitted in hopes of generating $5 million. Proceeds will be donated to our beneficiary organizations -- Genocide Intervention Network, Enough!, and Women for Women International. To open the project up to a larger audience of people and to raise further funds, the project offers a second way to participate. This option will allow individuals who would like to be a part of the project but who cannot create a bone to make a $15 contribution that will enable a bone to be manufactured and sponsored in their name. These manufactured bones will be constructed of biodegradable materials impregnated with seeds. When the installation is completed, One Million Bones will distribute these bones to be buried with a foreseeable future of growth. That way this project will not end with the installation; rather, it will renew itself the following year. Hopefully, this regeneration will celebrate the end of one or more outbreaks of genocide; if not, it will reinvigorate the movement calling for an end to the atrocities. The importance of this project within the anti-genocide movement lies in its mission to create a visual movement that is based on civic engagement and participation. One Million Bones offers an open, creative and educational environment in which students can address the issue of genocide. The project also offers an opportunity for individuals to find their voices in this movement, while creating a visual space where that voice will be heard and understood in a tangible way. But the most important component of this project is to use the momentum and participation to change the behavior of the international community regarding genocide. I am excited for the opportunity to introduce this project to the anti-genocide community and to ask for your support. On behalf of the One Million Bones project, I invite all of you to be a part of it… to find your voice through your actions, your hands, your eyes and your vision. For more information please visit our website at http://www.onemillionbones.org

Women's Day Reflections Must Be Backed with Action

Megan Flemming — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:44:55 +0000

Last week, Special Envoy Scott Gration released a statement on International Women’s Day and Sudan, reflecting on “the unique challenges and horrors that women as a group have had to endure and continue to face in Sudan.” He described the women of Darfur and Sudan not as mere victims of events unfolding around them, but as key leaders and peacemakers. These statements are welcome. But as all Sudan advocates know by now, words must be backed with actions. Aid and support for Darfuri women and girls One year after Oxfam Great Britain had its license to operate in Northern Sudan revoked by the Government of Sudan, Oxfam’s Alun McDonald reflected on the lasting impact of the March 4th, 2009 expulsions:

Support for victims of violence, particularly rape and sexual assault, has also suffered. 14 of the 16 expelled agencies had projects working to support victims of sexual violence and many of the trauma counselling projects, women's health centres and support networks that were shut down have not been adequately replaced.

In his International Women’s Day reflections, the Special Envoy concurred that since the March 2009 expulsion of aid groups by the government of Sudan, “many services for addressing gender-based violence and its consequences have not resumed, and the women of Darfur have suffered accordingly.” This recognition is welcome – especially after Gration’s early negotiations with the Government of Sudan on the restoration of aid following his appointment as Special Envoy failed to restore these critical services. Its also worth noting that the US government – and indeed we as advocates – must take care not to portray the pre-expulsion aid environment as one in which SGBV services were widely available at adequate levels throughout Darfur. On the contrary, aid groups providing such services faced myriad hurdles even before the expulsions. Most importantly, the Special Envoy should explain how the US government is working to improve the availability of protection and human rights services in Darfur, in particular services designed to assist women and survivors of gender-based violence. Access to these services must be ensured not only in and around IDP camps and urban areas, but also to Darfur’s rural population. Recent violence in the Jebel Marra region has shown just how insecure much of Darfur – particularly rural areas – remains. Addressing impunity The Special Envoy’s statement notes only that “we should resolve to do better at ending impunity for GBV.” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice similarly declared last week: “We particularly are concerned about the importance of holding accountable violators who employ sexual violence against innocent civilians in Darfur.” Indeed, one of my colleague Sean Brooks’s primary impressions after returning from his recent trip to Darfur was just how pervasive impunity is in Darfur. The environment that UNAMID officials have described as “calm but unpredictable” can be terrifying for average civilians – and options for civilians to safely report acts of violence, particularly sexual violence, are extremely limited. The Special Envoy must go further than describing the need resolve to do better at ending impunity, and explain how the U.S. will work to end impunity in Darfur. Women in the peace process In his reflections, the Special Envoy noted that “On Darfur, women continue to play a significant role in peace process.” Gration must ensure that the input and recommendations of Darfuri women and civil society broadly are firmly integrated into peace negotiations. The Special Envoy has lauded recent progress made with the signing of a ceasefire and framework agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Justice and Equality movement, and is invested in supporting ongoing negotiations between these two parties and with other armed movements in Darfur. While these negotiations hold potential, they must focus on the specific concerns of the conflict’s victims, rather than attending mostly to the interests of the armed parties. The fact that the recent framework agreement between JEM and the Government of Sudan includes an amnesty provision offering “general amnesty for the civil and military members of the Justice and Equality Movement Sudan” is a worrisome sign that accountability remains a low priority for those negotiating. As Sudan advocates, we must ensure that Darfuri and Sudanese women are not merely paid lip service on an annual international holiday, but that their capacity and concerns form pillars of the US’s Sudan policy. As Gration eloquently stated on International Women’s Day, “It is the strength, resolve, and leadership of the women of Sudan that will be the deciding factor in making Sudan a land of peace, stability, and prosperity.”

“Obviously, this place is very hot and nervous”

cwagner — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:44:19 +0000

Earlier this week, I attended a panel discussion organized by the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom and Voices for Sudan with expert perspectives on the elections coming up in Sudan in April. The panelists, who included representatives from the National Endowment for Democracy, the Nuba Mountain International Association, the Nubia Project, and Voices for Sudan provided glimpses into the thinking of various groups paying attention to the complex political situation in Sudan. Though the conversation focused on hopes that the voting will proceed peacefully, what struck me was the way the speakers talked about the freeness and fairness of the elections. As a group, they seemed to agree that genuinely free and fair elections are not possible with the overbearing security laws and media restrictions still in place this close to the start of polling. They also noted the complicating factors of the crisis in Darfur and allegations of census fraud in the North. But – perhaps most importantly – everyone treated this point like more of a foregone conclusion than a question still up for debate. As an activist, the idea that Sudan’s elections may have reached the “point of no return” for being free and fair is powerful. It substantiates what we have long feared: that flawed elections could be used to provide a repressive, genocidal regime with the legitimacy it so desperately seeks. With less than a month before polling begins in Sudan, this idea should galvanize our efforts to call the elections what they are -- a far cry from democratic -- and show them as such to the world. The Obama administration must lead the international community as these elections unfold and stand firm in its commitment to democracy and human rights. Click here to send a message to President Obama not to sanction the results of an illegitimate electoral process in Sudan.

Update on Violence in Jebel Marra

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:55:32 +0000

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Rebels from SLA-AW stand guard in Nertiti, Jebel Marra (Photo: Reuters, 2008)"][/caption] Darfur’s troubled region of Jebel Marra remains under the radar of international concern, despite ongoing hostilities taking a serious toll on the local population. Significant numbers of civilians continue to flee their homes into IDP and refugee camps as the situation deteriorates, with neither humanitarian relief nor peacekeeping protection available. Jebel Marra is a mountainous area in central Darfur (see map below), and is allegedly the rebel faction SLA-AW’s last stronghold. With talk of a (now faltering) peace agreement in Doha involving Darfur’s most viable rebel group (the JEM) and another with the new rebel alliance (the LJM), and amid reports of divisions among the SLA-AW, Khartoum seems determined to gain control of Jebel Marra once and for all. While there’s no independent way to confirm the extent of civilian deaths (estimates are well into the hundreds) and human rights abuses committed during the fighting, it is clear that all parties to this latest outbreak of violence have been responsible for obstructionist measures that have prevented the local population from receiving the assistance it desperately needs. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="Darfur's Jebel Marra region, southwest of UNAMID Force Headquarters in El Fasher. Image based on a UN Planning Map. The boundaries and names shown are for reference only and do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by any party. "][/caption] The most significant attacks have occurred in Kidingeer, Leiba and Fugoli, Feina and Deribat, which has severely affected the 300,000 people living in Jebel Marra, many of whom are currently displaced and are deprived of access to international humanitarian aid since the NGOs and UN have forced out of the region. In a recent article, Julie Flint stated that the amount of civilians killed in Jebel Marra is the highest since UNAMID began its deployment with over 35,000 regular troops and 12,000 militiamen in Jebel Marra. An assessment completed by the UN and several NGOs in mid-February estimated that around 2,000 families had recently arrived in Nertiti (site of a Rwandan UNAMID company) with over 5,000 new arrivals in Thur and Guldo after the fighting in Eastern Jebel Marra forced civilians to flee their homes. Since the violence in Jebel Marra continued to escalate after the assessment, the amount of displaced is bound to have increased significantly. With resounding claims that the war in Darfur is over, the crisis in Jebel Marra cannot be ignored. The current loss of lives and livelihoods demand both international outrage and attention. So “where are the cries of “Never again” now that they are needed?” Help the Save Darfur Coalition and others raise the alarm about the devastation in Jebel Marra. It is our mandate both to act and to demand action – and the time to do so is now. Contact Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at 202-647-4000 today and ask her to condemn this violence and work with the international community to mobilize support for Darfuri civilians.

The "Involuntary Return" of a Humanitarian Aid Commissioner

seanbrooks — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:50:33 +0000

[caption id="attachment_3295" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Abou Shouk Camp, near El-Fasher (Save Darfur/Mark Lotwis)"][/caption] A month ago in one of my first meetings in Khartoum, I sat through an extended lecture from Dr. Hasabu Abdel-Rahman, the Humanitarian Aid Commissioner. For more than an hour, he extolled the ability of the Sudanese state to provide for the millions of displaced in Darfur and sharply critiqued the international humanitarian assistance efforts. It was his opinion that Darfur is well on its way to a full recovery. He shot out statistic after statistic to make his case, including that over 1.2 million Darfuris had returned home from 2007 to 2009 – a number flatly denied by numerous sources during the rest of our trip. Dr. Hasabu also wanted us to know that international NGOs lack appropriate transparency mechanisms . He complained that while the Sudanese government is forced to sign numerous “treaties” and documents holding them accountable for international assistance that donors and NGOs act with few constraints. His argument carried with it the implicit accusation that one of his employees made directly when we visited Abou Shouk camp outside of El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. This man argued with a straight face that 80% of the budget of INGOs goes to administrative costs and only 20% go to services for the people. He said that these organizations are making millions off of the suffering in Darfur. Therefore, I found it highly ironic yesterday when I read a story in the Sudan Tribune about Dr. Hasabu:

The Sudanese cabinet issued an unannounced decision to investigate the disappearance of 10 billion pounds from the ministry of humanitarian affairs, a newspaper reported today. The Akhir-Lahza newspaper said that the council of Ministers wants a probe into the performance of the ministry and the relationship between the minister and the state minister. Furthermore the report indicated that the humanitarian aid commissioner Hasabu Abdel-Rahman has been relieved from his duties but did not say when the decision was taken. The Sudanese official is running for parliamentary elections and is therefore prohibited from keeping his position at the ministry. The newspaper quoted reliable sources saying that issue is an outcome of what it called the chaos in decision-making within the ministry and spoke unaccounted funds including eight billion pounds earmarked for the emergency program, two billion pounds for humanitarian action.

I hope Dr. Hasabu takes care in his own involuntary return.

Harassment & Torture in Advance of the Elections

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:39:57 +0000

Reports are coming out of Sudan of intimidation, harassment and violent repression - leading up to the first nationally contested elections in 24 years. From the crackdown on protesters and opposition leaders in December to more recent detentions and abuses documented by Human Rights Watch and The Carter Center, political and personal freedoms are under assault in Sudan. Earlier this week, a student with the Girifna movement was detained and tortured in Khartoum. Girifna held a press conference in which Mahdi, the detained student, detailed his detention (in Arabic) and the organization has more information on their site (also in Arabic). The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies released the following statement in response:

ACJPS Condemns the Silencing of Political Activists On 15 March, Abdallah Mahdi Badawi, an 18 year old accounting student at Ahlei University and member of Girifna was detained and tortured in Khartoum. Girifna is an election and civic education campaign started by Sudanese youth during the registration period, and is colloquial Arabic for “we are fed up”. The movement is calling for free and fair elections, and uses orange as its signature color to signify its commitment to nonviolence and peaceful democratic change. That afternoon, Mahdi received a call from “Hassan”, one of the newest members of Girifna. Hassan requested that Mahdi meet him at Khartoum University. When Hassan did not arrive, Mahdi entered the University; however, Hassan called moments later and the two met. Hassan was accompanied by another young man, and the three walked to a local café to discuss Girifna activities and plans. On their way, in an empty alley behind the café, Hassan and the other man pulled out pistols and forced Mahdi to follow them to an office. He was taken to a small room which had photos of Salah Gosh (the former Director of the National and Intelligence and Security Services, NISS) and tortured. He was beaten by 13 men with sticks, hoses, and electric wires, and interrogated as to the Girifna movements’ activities and sources of funding, and was taunted as to what he was “fed up” about. The agents placed a pistol near his head and pretended to squeeze the trigger, and threatened to make him drink a liquid that they claimed had a virus that would kill him. Mahdi was told that they were the same people who had killed Mohamed Musa, the Darfuri student found murdered in Omdurman in February. A senior officer identified later as Lieutenant Mohamed Noor Aldaiem forced Mahdi to sign by fingerprint 6 pieces of paper, including an invoice that stated that he owed 100,000 Sudanese pounds to Lieutenant Aldaeim. His captors encouraged him to join the National Security forces. Other pages included a list of the names of Girifna members and their contact details, and a statement that Girifna receives funding and support from the SPLM. Mahdi was then released in an area unknown to him. Arbitrary arrest, detention and torture violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the UN Convention against Torture. Information available to the African Centre indicates that Mahdi was targeted for no other reason than his association with Girifna and his involvement in peaceful political activities. The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies calls on the government of Sudan to respect the provisions of Article 39(1) of the Sudan Interim National Constitution, which provides that every “citizen shall have an unrestricted right to the freedom of expression, reception and dissemination of information”. In the context of the elections, such actions by Sudanese authorities indicate a pattern of silencing civic engagement by its own people, which is demonstrative of severe restrictions on civil and political freedoms. The African Centre is concerned that free and fair elections cannot take place in such an environment. The unflinching resolve of Sudanese security services to infiltrate the Girifna movement, and to cause such serious damage to one of its members, shows an unwillingness to tolerate opposition voices.

Nick Kristof Encourages Darfur Activists

marissa.glauberman — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:40:26 +0000

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="150" caption="New York Times' Columnist Nicholas Kristof"][/caption] As part of my internship at the Save Darfur Coalition, I was asked to listen to the Voices on Genocide Prevention podcast by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. To my surprise, the interview for this particular session was with my activist idol, Nicholas Kristof. His articles have been a consistent source of information about the unrest in Darfur and have, in many ways, been a beacon of hope. Having attended many of his lectures, I expected this podcast to be similar; however, this interview took an unusual twist. Rather than discussing the importance of individual voices in the fight against genocide, he spoke mainly about Darfur’s media attention. He admits that the media absolutely oversimplified the issue and perhaps created unrealistic expectations for the Sudanese about Western intervention. Kristof explains that though the media is responsible for the simplification of the issue, the attention that this crisis received saved many lives in both Darfur and Chad. Though Kristof has interacted with the victims of the most brutal crimes, particularly against women, his message seems neither jaded nor pessimistic. Though he can’t deny the Western media’s mistakes, he sees the Darfur movement as a huge milestone in human rights activism. It is undeniable that the international community has far from mastered its reaction to genocide. The devastating loss that Darfur, Sudan has experienced cannot be undone and, as an activist community, we must critique our own response to genocidal regimes. But, to me, Kristof’s responses in this podcast were extremely encouraging. For someone so revered in the human rights world, it is reassuring to hear him acknowledge that strides have been made. Kristof’s travels to the Congo and Darfur have put him in contact with both perpetrators and victims. His insights and understanding of this situation are immeasurable. To hear him say that the Darfur movement has actually saved lives affirms my own motivation to continue to work for a free and fair Sudan. Listen to the podcast here.

Women in Darfur: One Year On

Joe Read — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:57:31 +0000

Cross posted from PHR's Health Rights Advocate blog. Last Thursday marked the end of General Gration’s first 12 months as US Special Envoy to Sudan — an event that closely followed the one year anniversary of the Government of Sudan’s expulsion of humanitarian organizations in March 2009. In the course of the past 12 months, the humanitarian community and UN Country Team in Sudan have made significant efforts to rebuild programming disrupted by the expulsion of 13 international and 3 Sudanese NGOs — efforts that have been encouraged by the US Envoy’s office. Now one year on, however, the loss of specialized programming continues to challenge NGOs and UN agencies working on the ground. As Physicians for Human Rights and numerous other organizations pointed out in a public letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last November, multi-sectoral programming addressing the vulnerability and needs of women and girls has been affected seriously by this disruption in programs and services. But broader efforts to re-establish programming lost in the expulsions have been unable to rebuild the base of gender expertise in the humanitarian community prior to 2009. The range of women-specific concerns spans all areas of humanitarian programming in Darfur: specialized health needs; different levels of education; cultural issues concerning sanitation and hygiene services; and, not least, the widespread incidence of sexual violence across Darfur. There is an urgent need to improve the coverage of relief distribution to target women effectively, expand programming into rural areas, and encourage the mainstreaming of gender concerns by NGOs and UN agencies. Even prior to the expulsions, the breadth and consistency of women-focused programming had suffered a number of setbacks in 2008, including the closure of many women’s centers, the suspension of psycho-social programming in some instances and increasing obstacles for NGOs to communicate with other agencies. In order to remedy this, we need strong sector coordination and the commitment of sufficient resources to the UN lead agency for Gender-based Violence (UNFPA) to implement the strategic plan designed to address these issues. In response to this urgent crisis of treatment and services, Physicians for Human Rights has issued a briefing paper to the Special Envoy’s Office: Action Agenda for Realizing Treatment and Support for Women and Girls in Darfur, outlining the conditions of this crisis and immediate actions needed to realize both responsive and proactive programming to reduce the vulnerability of women and girls in Darfur and provide support to survivors. The paper outlines the need for a commitment from the US Government to expend the necessary resources for women and girls in Darfur and to establish a consistent message in the Special Envoy’s diplomatic relations. Over the past 12 months, a number of humanitarian sectors — water, sanitation, shelter — have been restored and rebuilt, yet vital services such as psychosocial support, medical and legal outreach and livelihoods support for women and girls remain devastated by the impact of the expulsions. It is the duty of the Special Envoy’s office to ensure that US engagement in critical events, such as the upcoming Sudan elections and the continuing Darfur Peace Accords, does not divert attention from the unmet needs of women and girls any longer. By March 31, 2010, General Gration should announce his office’s strategy to address the following:

US Government support for humanitarian programming to reduce the vulnerability of women and research to establish a recommended service provision model that can be replicated in under-served communities.

US Government funding for sector coordination to the UN lead agency for Gender-based Violence in Darfur, UNFPA. This funding commitment will allow for UNFPA strategic planning to increase treatment and support and facilitate broader initiatives to reduce vulnerability to violence.

US Government use of diplomatic leverage to ensure that the Government of Sudan take responsibility for managing and acting on information received through the Tripartite Reporting Mechanism and institute a Rapid-Reporting mechanism between State and Federal bodies of the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC).

US Government encouragement of troop-contributing and police-contributing countries to boost deployment of the UNAMID peacekeeping force; the provision of outstanding equipment, in particular military helicopter assets, remains critical to increasing the mobility and operational impact of the mission in a volatile security environment. A commitment is also needed to boost the number of female troops and police sent by police- and troop- contributing countries.

US Government promotion or development of a multi-year funding mechanism for relief, early recovery and emergency projects through the 2010-2012, pre-election to post-referendum period, for projects to mitigate the risks of sexual and gender-based violence should complex emergencies arise in Sudan and to provide the necessary treatment and support for survivors.

As the largest donor to the humanitarian operations in Darfur, and as a key diplomatic player engaged with the Government of Sudan, the US Government has the opportunity to assure that the urgent needs of women and girls in Darfur are met. The US Special Envoy’s office represents the political and diplomatic interests of the American people and has the ability to commit both the diplomatic and financial resources of the US Government to address the needs of survivors, and prevent further violence. Joe Read is a Darfur Fellow at Physicians for Human Rights and a Pre-doctoral Fellow at the Harvard University Committee on Human Rights Studies.

Darfur Now More than Ever

Robert — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:02:34 +0000

Cross posted from the Huffington Post In recent weeks several commentators have declared the Save Darfur movement variously as no longer useful, confused, or stuck in the past. Such assertions belie a misunderstanding of what the Save Darfur movement is all about. Darfuris continue to suffer, and as national elections and the referendum on independence for South Sudan grow closer, it is clear that the problems of Darfur will not be solved in the absence of major governance reform in Sudan, and conversely that the myriad of problems facing Sudan cannot be resolved until peace is secured in Darfur. Resolving the Darfur conflict is critical not just for the people of Darfur, but for the future of Sudan and the stability of the entire region. Rather than being past its expiration date, the Save Darfur movement is needed now more than ever. The Save Darfur movement is perhaps, along with the anti-apartheid movement, the most successful domestic mobilization on a non-military international issue in American history. When the genocide began in 2003, few Americans knew of Sudan, let alone the distant region of Darfur. By raising awareness and communicating public outrage about the genocide to Congress and the Bush administration, the movement helped secure funds for one of the largest humanitarian operations in the world and hundreds of millions of dollars of US support for the eventual deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping force. These actions have saved tens of thousands, if not millions, of lives, and have helped salvage millions of civilian livelihoods devastated by years of conflict and forced displacement. As the conflict has evolved, the Save Darfur movement has matured. Mass janjaweed attacks on villages no longer take place with any regularity; prior to the recent Jebel Marra offensive, violence (thankfully) was at an all-time low, according to the United Nations. Our critics contend that our movement has refused to acknowledge that the face of the battle has changed; that we are adrift unless villages are burning and wells are being poisoned. We not only acknowledge that the contours of the conflict have changed, we welcome it. But success in raising domestic awareness of the issue and putting pressure on the Sudanese government to stop the most visible abuses does not mean that our work is done - in fact, much hard work remains. According to UN estimates, 2.7 million Darfuris (a number equivalent to the population of the President's home town of Chicago) remain in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. Over 4.7 million Darfuris rely on humanitarian aid. Compounding matters, levels of insecurity have only increased in recent months. A column of over sixty UN peacekeepers was recently disarmed and held overnight by parties allegedly unknown on its way to investigate claims of civilian deaths and displacement. Darfuri civilians, international aid workers, and UN peacekeepers all face daily threats of banditry; all (ironically) depend on the Sudanese government for protection, which it fails to provide. The scourge of rape plagues the IDP and refugee camps. Darfuri civilians cannot leave these designated areas of relative safety and return home because their safety is not guaranteed, and the protracted length of the conflict has made repatriation an uncomfortable and complex prospect, particularly for the hundreds of thousands of children who have grown up knowing nothing but insecurity. While fewer Darfuris die today from direct violence than in 2003-2005, pervasive violent banditry, combined with the ever-present dangers of poor sanitation and hygiene, contaminated water supplies, and irregular food distribution poses daily risks. President Bashir demonstrated one year ago how quickly he can threaten the humanitarian lifeline when he expelled 13 international aid organizations, which collectively represented 40% of the humanitarian capacity in Darfur. Additionally, the Government of Sudan has failed to disarm the janjaweed and small arms' trafficking has become a grave concern, so Khartoum easily could resume mass direct attacks if it desired. As I write, it is unclear what the current status of the fighting between Sudanese government forces and rebels in Jebel Marra is, or whether civilians have been intentionally targeted. Humanitarian agencies estimate over one hundred civilian casualties and tens of thousands of displaced civilians, but have been forced out by obstructionism and insecurity. The resulting silence is itself a condemnation of the lack of peace in the region. In short, Darfuris today face different, but no less dangerous, challenges and they still depend upon international support to survive. Thus, there remains a political imperative for activists to continue to draw attention to their plight and engage with relevant domestic and international actors to build the political will to address both the immediate needs and the underlying cause of the danger. It is true that a number of officials within the Obama administration have long been champions of the Darfur cause. As a candidate, President Obama pledged to work with "unstinting resolve" to end the genocide in Darfur and promote peace in Sudan. Joining him in that pledge was now-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice were also vocal champions of the goals of the Darfur movement. Many hoped that President Obama's election would bring a sea-change in the situation in Darfur. Surely, the candidate of hope and change, the candidate who has deep ties to Africa, the candidate who called the genocide "a stain on our conscience," would act immediately to rescue the Darfuri people from their plight. But the reality of the international system does not easily facilitate change. We were not so naive. We knew and understood the powerful political undercurrents that had stood in the way of many of the Bush administration's efforts to end the genocide and knew they would not disappear on Inauguration Day. With such strong proponents of the Darfur cause in such important positions within the administration, some say the Save Darfur movement should stand back and let them do their work; that brute political activism is no longer useful or necessary since the true believers are in power. They claim that Save Darfur could not possibly hope to transform activism into an effective role as the matter turned to an intergovernmental policy debate. A fair point, but it ignores the fact that the gravitational pull of inaction within government is always far stronger than that of taking action. Friendly to the cause they may be, but they still need support. President Obama came into office facing the worst economic crisis in over a half-century, the prospect of a nuclear Iran, frozen Middle East peace-talks, an increasingly belligerent North Korea, and the minor matter of major wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Getting Sudan on the agenda was always going to be a challenge. And it is always the responsibility of activists to remind today's leaders of yesterday's promises. The first fourteen months of the Obama administration bear witness to the need for continued activism. The administration was inexplicably caught flat-footed when President Bashir expelled the humanitarian groups in March 2009, following his indictment by the International Criminal Court. The subsequent appointment of Special Envoy (General) Scott Gration, a personal friend of the president's, was a welcome development, but came only after mounting agitation among activists. Since then, there have been contradictory statements on Sudan policy emanating out of various executive branch offices. While the initial policy review on Afghanistan took 60 days, the policy review on Sudan was not released until last October, reflecting the differences of opinion within the administration over the future of U.S. relations with Sudan. General Gration should be credited for his outreach to the advocacy community and his frenetic pace of international travel and dialogue. But he cannot solve this problem alone. The urgent involvement and leadership of President Obama and Secretary Clinton are desperately needed to rally key world leaders behind a coherent and comprehensive solution to end Sudan's multiple crises. While Secretary Clinton released the policy review with Gration, the president's absence at the roll-out was perhaps a bad omen. To date, President Obama has expended more personal political capital on Chicago's failed Olympic bid than he has on resolving Sudan's problems. The cornerstones of the policy were to be reviewed quarterly by the so-called "Deputies Committee" of the major foreign policy and national security agencies. These meetings were designed to ensure the "incentives and pressures" targeted on Sudan were properly calibrated based on the situation on the ground. Troublingly, the first meeting, held in January, apparently took place in a black hole. The only thing the meeting seems to have produced was a hardly inspiring cross-departmental round of sniping by senior-level administration officials. Our fiercest critics have accused the Save Darfur movement of turning the very complex situation in Sudan into a caricature - that the good guys are the rebels and the bad guys are the Sudanese government and that our ultimate goal is for the United States or NATO to march on Khartoum. But this is itself a caricature of the Save Darfur movement. The main concern of the movement - which actually encompasses a broad range of policy views - has always been civilians, who have borne the brunt of violence. While the Government of Sudan bears disproportionate responsibility for that violence, the various rebel factions are not blameless, and our policy analysis on the matter is far from black-and-white. We are well aware of the need for all of the rebel groups to negotiate, and are often as frustrated at their intransigence as we are at that of the Sudanese government. While the recent talks between the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudanese Government appear stalled, Darfuris would still be best served if the rebels sit at the negotiating table alongside IDP representatives and civil society leaders, rather than cling to what remains of the battlefield. And few of us are under any illusion that there is any effective military solution to the current stalemate; the movement does not advocate for one. In many ways, we are a unique movement. We advocate for something that very few object to - there are no pro-genocide interest groups (other than genocidaires). Rather than battle the challenges of contrary opinion, we battle the forces of inaction and indifference. We may no longer put 50,000 people on the National Mall to get the administration's attention; we no longer need to. As the conflict has changed, we have changed. Rather than through brute force, we use our influence tactically and, oftentimes, quietly. The nuance and gray areas inherent in the international system are accepted and incorporated strategically. We have learned that simply shouting "end the genocide" is not enough. There are issues of politics, of capacity, of international diplomacy and intrigue to deal with. But that makes us far from irrelevant. Sympathizers in the administration and in Congress need political support to make the tough choices that we ask of them, they need to know that their constituents still care about Darfur. We can provide the backbone to support their actions. But we will not be taken for granted either. If the administration chooses a path that is not in the best interest of the people of Darfur, we will let them know. At the same time, the movement has a responsibility not to obstruct reasonable initiatives to secure peace in Sudan. While many assume that the Save Darfur movement is synonymous with the Save Darfur Coalition, they are in fact distinct entities. The movement encompasses a broad array of voices and organizations from across North America, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. While the Coalition is a cornerstone of the movement, it cannot take credit for all of its successes - and neither should it be blamed for every misstep the movement has made along the way. The Coalition's responsibility - my responsibility - is to portray the facts as we know them and provide the policy analysis necessary to support efforts to turn concern into effective action. While some voices in the movement have occasionally been off key, the Coalition persists in its efforts to be faithful to the truth. The Save Darfur movement has been at times incredibly successful, and at times unspeakably frustrating. It is a movement unique in the annals of history, one which is learning from its own history as it seeks to make it. To suggest that the movement has not adjusted to changing circumstances is to reject the spirit in which the movement was originally created. We will continue to focus our efforts on growing faster, smarter, and becoming ever more effective. But until the people of Darfur can live securely, peacefully, and equally, we will continue to speak out. The author is Director of Policy and Government Relations at the Save Darfur Coalition

What the Islamic Conference got wrong on Darfur

seanbrooks — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:16:30 +0000

Originally posted on Foreign Policy's Middle East Channel. Members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) pledged $850 million dollars for future development in Darfur yesterday in Cairo. Egypt and Turkey co-chaired the donor’s conference – which aimed to jumpstart international commitment to long-term reconstruction and development in Darfur after seven years of conflict, mass displacement, and humanitarian crisis. Some countries making generous pledges though willfully ignored the ongoing security challenges and unresolved conflict between the Darfuri rebels and the Sudanese government. In this way, the OIC – like the League of Arab States in its response to the Darfur crisis – sought to help the people of Darfur without addressing those most responsible for their deplorable conditions. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, for instance, said in his opening statement, “Since the beginning of the crisis in Darfur, the basic issue has been one of development, which has taken on political, tribal and social dimensions.” This short-sighted view of the recent bloody history of Darfur conveniently avoids placing blame on the Government of Sudan or any other political agents. Having just returned from Darfur, I know that Aboul Gheit’s prescription that “the core solution to the Darfur crisis must focus on increasing rates of development and improving the standard of living for each citizen in Darfur" will be met with heavy skepticism by the over two million people living in internally displaced camps and many of the United Nations agencies assisting them. To a person, they told me that security does not exist yet in Darfur to begin large-scale development projects in rural areas. Continued clashes between the Sudanese government and various rebel factions, as well as general banditry, prevent Darfuris from returning home from the camps and development staff from venturing out into what’s referred to as “the deep field.” For instance, the Arab League over the last year has been championing its funding of "Model Villages" in Darfur – but those on the ground say that the few villages that have been built thus far are located in areas still not secure and therefore remain empty. It is quite ironic that even Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir acknowledged this past Saturday that security and development are two sides of the same coin. On a trip to Darfur for an election campaign rally in El-Geneina, the capital of West Darfur that sits on the border with Chad, he pledged the government’s willingness to make peace with all of the rebel movements and then to turn his government’s attention to reconstruction. Unfortunately, Bashir and his party after so many years of conflict have lost the complete trust of people in Darfur to make good on these promises. So when Darfuris hear of these pledges from the OIC, most will assume the assistance will be controlled by the Sudanese government to pave over its past crimes. For this reason, the OIC should encourage full transparency of all of the donors to ensure that Darfuris know where and how the money is being spent. The OIC should also coordinate all planning and implementation of development projects with relevant UN agencies that have been working in Darfur since the early days of the conflict. Likewise, rather than relying on the government as the chief intermediary, the OIC should engage directly with Darfuri civil society and local leaders. More importantly, for the OIC’s considerable investment in development in Darfur to contribute to durable peace, its members must understand the political nature of their assistance and then use this leverage to press for behavioral changes by the Sudanese government and rebel movements. It could rely, for example, on independent assessments from the United Nations/African Union peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) and mediation team to tie development assistance to progress on security and political issues. If, however, the OIC cannot muster the courage to confront Sudan – a member state – on dangerous elements of its military and security policies in Darfur (such as its failure to disarm the notorious janjaweed, and continued impunity for all military personnel operating in Darfur), then its members should hold back their assistance until peace has been firmly achieved. It would be so much easier if Darfur’s problems amounted simply to a lack of development. Poverty though did not arm militias to push millions of people off their lands, and impoverishment does not today prevent the Sudanese government and rebel movements from taking actions to finally protect its people and secure peace. Until the OIC members acknowledge these facts, they will not be able to contribute significantly to peace and prosperity in Darfur and the rest of Sudan. Sean P. Brooks is a policy expert at the Save Darfur Coalition. He recently returned from a trip to Sudan during which he spent a week in Darfur.

Women Participate in Camp Patrols

lsittley — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:50:09 +0000

[caption id="attachment_3353" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Members of the all female Indian Formed Police Unit (UN Photo/Christopher Herwig)"][/caption] On March 16th, 17 female police officers arrived in Khartoum from Namibia to prepare for their deployment to Darfur, where they will take part in patrolling IDP camps and training local residents in community policing. The arrival of these women police officers, while their numbers remain small, is a welcome step toward improving the UNAMID peacekeeping force’s capacity to respond to the needs of Darfuri women and girls in particular. Throughout the conflict in Darfur, women and girls face the daily threat of targeted attacks, sexual violence, and loss of homes and livelihoods. Displaced civilians in IDP camps continue to confront widespread insecurity, and options are lacking both for reporting new crimes and attacks and helping survivors recover from past violence and rebuild their lives. In announcing the news of the Namibian contingent’s deployment, UNAMID noted that the female officers are “a vital asset as a great number of the victims of the conflict are women, many of whom will only approach female officers for assistance” (unamid.unmissions.org). Many Darfuri women are reluctant to tell their stories to males because of the social stigmas associated with rape. Newly elected UN Police Adviser, Ann-Marie Orler is another encouraging force in promoting the participation of women in peacekeeping efforts. “One of her top priorities in her new role as the UN’s top police official will be to enhance the participation of female police officers so that they comprise 20 per cent of all UNPOL in peacekeeping by 2014” (pfmc.com). This rejuvenated emphasis on female inclusion has great implications to improve the status of women in war-torn areas of Sudan, while also creating a space in which women and girls can feel comfortable in sharing their stories of the burdens of war. At the press conference following her recent appointment, Orler referenced the successful deployment of an all-female Formed Police Unit (FPU) in Liberia. The unit’s participation in Liberia had positive impacts on the lives of women and children affected by the conflict, giving them a source of support as well as demonstrating the roles that women can have in society. Formed Police Units are highly specialized in rapid responses in high-risk situations, and take part in investigating violations that occurred in refugee camps. In Darfur, UNAMID is still awaiting the deployment of four more FPUs. In addition to promoting the inclusion of female police officers, Save Darfur advocates for a greater female role in the mission’s military components. As such, the all-female FPU in Liberia may set an interesting and promising precedent for UNAMID as it approaches full deployment and seeks ways to enhance its ability to communicate with and better protect Darfuri women and girls. While civilians in conflict-ridden areas of Sudan still face many challenges, including the high rates of rape and gender-based violence, the deployment of these female officers is a sign of progress. Libby Sittley is a campaign intern at the Save Darfur Coalition

Bashir Threatens To Expel International Elections Observers

Allen Combs — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:03:09 +0000

Speaking at a campaign event earlier this week, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir threatened to throw election observers out of the country after one of the groups recommended a slight delay in voting. Apparently, the hundreds of thousands of names missing from the voter lists and continued violence in Darfur did not trouble the indicted war criminal enough to warrant a delay. Al Jazeera has this short video report:

Protection, Trust and UNAMID in Darfur

seanbrooks — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 03:38:57 +0000

Cross posted from change.org's Human Rights blog. “We need active forces, not UNAMID. They are a tourism army,” declared a leader of an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in West Darfur. He expressed in these words the frustrations of many Darfuris whom I met during a recent week spent travelling in Darfur. Another former state minister complained that the United Nations/African Union peacekeeping force (UNAMID) was “only good at writing reports in their air-conditioned offices.” With news that violence was flaring in the Jebel Marra area of Darfur and that UNAMID lacked the full authority to investigate the reports of civilian causalities and mass displacement there, these complaints certainly resonated. Such blame, while understandable, should not be directed at those courageously serving or leading UNAMID. The Sudanese government and Darfuri rebel movements continue to prevent UNAMID from fully carrying out its mandate. The UN Security Council sent UNAMID to keep a peace that did not exist – a common refrain from those associated with the mission. In practice, this reality means that UNAMID can only carry out its Chapter 7 mandate and other duties to protect civilians with the consent of the Sudanese government. Only after you have sat in a UNAMID convoy as it passed through a Sudanese Armed Forces checkpoint do you understand the inherent restrictions on the mission. For citizens throughout Darfur, this arrangement means that daily security depends almost entirely on the local relationships between residents, UNAMID, and the controlling authorities in the area. In some places, such as the Zam Zam camp near El-Fasher, a certain amount of trust for various political reasons has evolved between the IDP leaders and the authorities. As such, UNAMID’s presence reinforces this trust and serves to support and extend security in the area. In many other camps though, the Sudanese government lacks any substantive relationship with camp residents and, therefore, UNAMID’s efforts are largely curtailed as they do not have the authority or resources to provide the full functions of local authorities. Such is also the case, of course, in rebel controlled areas where UNAMID is often prevented from establishing a permanent presence. It is difficult for Darfuris to understand though why UNAMID at times can be rendered almost useless because of the decisions of Sudanese police and other security forces, as well as the rebel groups. The instances of UNAMID inaction during major clashes between the belligerents are equally, if not more, incomprehensible. How, Darfuris ask, is it acceptable for both the Sudanese government and the rebel movements to block UNAMID access to conflict areas? Yet, in his January report to the UN Security Council, the Secretary General reported 21 restrictions on freedom of movement: 6 by Government forces and 15 by non-government actors. The current fighting in Jebel Marra is the most recent and egregious example. To his credit, the new Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari has stated that securing firm commitments from the Sudanese government and rebel leaders to enhance security and protect civilians is one of his top priorities. Just last week, Sudan’s Second Vice President Ali Osman Taha met with Gambari and afterward stated, "We want to see UNAMID succeed as this is beneficial to the people of Sudan, and most importantly for the Darfurians.” Likewise, Gambari flew to Paris over the weekend and met with rebel leader Abdel Wahid al-Nur, who also pledged greater cooperation. Now is the time for the UN Security Council to support Gambari and UNAMID by pressuring the Sudanese government and individual rebel leaders to follow through with such commitments of enhanced security and civilian protection. With lives hanging in the balances in places like Jebel Marra, the United States and international community should not tolerate any obstructions from the parties. The Sudanese government’s rhetoric of peace at the negotiations in Doha must also be questioned on account of its dismal failure to take the first steps of providing security to millions of Darfuris. With UNAMID’s assistance, local authorities could begin – even before the signing of a formal peace agreement – to engage communities and IDP camps to develop plans on how to tackle current issues and threats. Instead, the government’s complete abdication of this responsibility in many areas begs questions about its true priorities in Darfur. Unfortunately, UNAMID has little recourse to challenge this mentality. The international community, therefore, must demand more from the Sudanese government than mere “cooperation” with UNAMID; it must demand the government’s commitment to peace expressed daily in Doha manifest itself in direct steps to rebuild trust with its citizens in Darfur. It is only with this paradigm shift by the government that UNAMID can fully carry out its mandate and help restore peace and security in Darfur. Sean P. Brooks is a policy expert at the Save Darfur Coalition. He recently returned from a trip to Sudan during which he spent a week in Darfur.

The Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition Diaspora Summit

goalawal — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:11:19 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to attend "The Way Forward in Darfur and South Sudan,” a Sudanese Diaspora Summit in Pittsburgh. The Summit was made possible by the Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition , Global Solutions the planning committee and hosted by Carnegie Mellon University. I attended as a representative of Save Darfur Coalition along with my colleague Niemat Ahmadi who is a Darfur-Sudanese liaison officer. My purpose was to seek out the united voices of the Diaspora and listen to both their proactive and reactive recommendations on the continuing atrocities in Sudan. On Friday, March 19, signs with the names of destroyed villages in Darfur and South Sudan were displayed and filmed on the Carnegie Mellon University campus. Councilman Bill Peduto, State Representative Dan Frankel, Matt Smith, and many others spoke of the significance of the signs, but also called on activists to pressure their representatives and help empower them in bringing sustainable peace to all of Sudan. Saturday, March 20 started with an early discussion by Diaspora voices on lasting peace and stability in Sudan - the challenges and the way forward. The panelists included: Head of the Government of Southern Sudan Mission to the United States Ezekiel Gatkuoth, Issac Leju-Loding, Dr. Adam Yahya, and Niemat Ahmadi. The conflict in Darfur was discussed from two different perspectives; one of an ongoing genocide in Darfur, enacted by the Arab-dominated central government in Khartoum and Arab Militia, and the other of the Khartoum government’s brutal campaign, which tried to crush armed insurgents responding to marginalization, and discrimination. The summit had many other discussions ranging from challenges on the road to peace and stability in South Sudan and Darfur. Topics that came up included establishing stability between Chad and Sudan, as well as developing a peaceful understanding or relationship between the marginalized people, Darfur and South Sudan. An afternoon session discussed the Diaspora community as a voice for the voiceless and an advocate for reconstruction and reinvestment in Sudan. Discussions of a shared vision for the future included the upcoming April elections, post 2011, secession, an independent South Sudan, Gender-Based Violence, and capacity building. The Main presentation of the Diaspora Summit kicked off at 8pm with activists, students from Carnegie Mellon University and neighboring colleges, the Diaspora community and a few religious leaders. Jerry Fowler; former president of Save Darfur Coalition, spoke on the prospects for peace, findings from his recent trip to Sudan, and what the activist community must do to continually engage the US, the UN, and the world on bringing sustainable peace to all of Sudan. The Head of the Government of Southern Sudan Mission to the United States, Hon. Ezekiel Gatkuoth, spoke of the inability of the elections to be free and fair and the unwavering South Sudanese support for an independent South Sudan. He mentioned that many doubt whether or not South Sudan can act as an independent nation, but cited that the United States once faced similar doubts. Nevertheless Americans determined that they had had enough and that they wanted freedom. General Scott Gration spoke of what the Obama administration is accomplishing in Sudan and asked for the support of the Diaspora community. He noted to the dismay of many that the United States had no leverage in Sudan and that things such as peace talks in Doha were a result of rebel and civil society leaders agreeing that there has to be a better life for their kids’ generation. Nevertheless, he urged the Diaspora to reach out to him with their recommendations on how to move forward in Darfur and South Sudan. The next morning, Sunday, March 21, Gen. Scott Gration had breakfast with the Diaspora community and answered more questions, promising to take what he heard at the summit to the Obama administration and to his meetings in Sudan. As this blog post can’t do enough to fully explain the lessons learned or the many panel discussions that took place, I encourage you to join a local advocacy group and get involved. Click here for pictures Click here for more pictures Click here for Scott Gration's blog on the summit

Darfur Womens Action Group and STAND club at American University Honor Women

goalawal — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:15:34 +0000

Late last week I attended a panel discussion by the Darfur Women Action Group and the STAND Club of American University to honor the struggle, strength and resilience of Darfuri women in the face of genocide. This event was held to commemorate International Women’s Day and Women’s History month, and was solely focused on what needed to be done to empower female survivors of the genocide and how to bring justice and accountability to Darfur, the marginalized cities, and all of Sudan. It was an all-woman panel featuring Rev. Gloria White Hammond of My Sister’s Keeper, Evelyn Thornton of Initiative for Inclusive security, Fatima Haroun of Darfur Women Action Group, Ciatta Z. Bayshah, Esq. for International Justice Project and Niemat Ahmadi, a representative of Save Darfur Coalition and member of Darfur Women Action Group Rev. Gloria spoke first of the terrible history of slavery in South Sudan that she herself witnessed. She mentioned that, at the time, $33.00 U.S Dollars was the exchange rate for a slave and that women were disproportionately affected by the slavery. She spoke of the need of women’s voices in peace building for Darfur and all of Sudan. She encouraged the attending American University students, Diaspora community, and other activists to never give up and to use their voice to advocate for women and peace in Sudan. Evelyn Thornton spoke strongly, clarifying that asking actors to include women in the peace process is not to demonize men, but to have women present and represented in the peace and decision making process for their community and Sudan. Ms. Thornton talked about Inclusive Security’s commitment to innovative strategies that will include women in the peace processes while mentioning that women were only present at the Abuja peace talks at the final, or 7^th meeting. She highlighted that female inclusion was not about equality, and that women at peace talks or tables helped raise issues of peace, not power, education, development and healthcare centers. In all women, have demonstrated a willingness to cross conflict lines and consistently reach collaborative agendas. Key findings that were discussed about women’s involvement were that women should be involved from day 1, that the US negotiation team of mediators should reflect at least 30% women, and that women should be supported at the peace talks. Fatima Haroun of Darfur Women Action Group spoke passionately of a need for community healing and recovery; that women are enduring constant pain and emotional distress from being witnesses to murder, rape, mass killings, and abuse. She highlighted a urgent need for a process of healing, as well as a trusted system of justice and accountability in Darfur. Fatima asked for stabilization, social amenities, infrastructure and development, trade schools and an empowerment center for women that can provide counseling services and microfinance institutions. Kiara Nagel recounted her younger years as an organizer and the emotional pain that losing a common playground, “the square,” caused her. She talked about how people were unfairly displaced from their community and loved ones for big businesses and political gain, and how a feeling of responsibility gave her a personal attachment to organizing a base of activists out of friends and family. Ciatta Baysah, Esq. spoke about her involvement with the international justice project, especially its focus on helping women and children, and its advocacy on their behalf at the ICC and other global forums. She also highlighted the work of Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre whose mission is to strengthen the capacity of research, documentation, local civil society action on issues relevant to peaceful resolution of armed conflicts, and the associated human rights and humanitarian crisis in Darfur. To bring the panel discussion to an end Niemat Ahmadi spoke of the main focus of the Darfur Women Action Group, stating that it was established to focus on women’s emergency needs and work as an empowerment tool for women, mainly in Darfur and Sudan but also in the Diaspora community. She shared a personal story of how she worked to empower women in Darfur and how much more still needed to be done. She also spoke of a young Sudanese lady in Virginia, who could not attend college because of her language barrier. When trying to enroll her 7 year old daughter in school, she was referred to a school for mentally disabled kids because of her daughter’s language barrier. The Darfur Women Action Group immediately contacted the school, informing its leaders that the young lady and her daughter were part of the community and needed help. Niemat called on activists and the government to strengthen and create a means of empowerment for indigenous organizations promoting sustainable change.

New Sudan Field Report from Refugees International

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:32:09 +0000

With Sudan’s first elections in 24 years scheduled for April and the landmark referendum on Southern secession in January 2011, the prospect of increased violent conflict erupting in Sudan over the next year remains high. A new field report from Refugees International (RI), Sudan: No Time for “Business as Usual", highlights the urgent need for contingency planning for possible violent conflict around the referendum. While many members of the international community may see the situation in Sudan as “business as usual”, the report points out that the humanitarian situation in Sudan is already at emergency levels, with over 390,000 people displaced last year according to the UN. The high potential for increased violent conflict requires the creation of concrete, country-wide plans for response, rather than theoretical discussion. The lack of coordination in contingency planning processes between the UN and NGOs in North and South Sudan must be bridged as soon as possible. As communication with Sudanese communities is essential and training provided now could help prevent a slide into crisis in the future, the report also calls for international organizations to consult with local communities to help develop early warning systems and local self-protection strategies, with a particular emphasis on involving women in consultations. The RI report calls for the U.S. and other donors to fund these consultations with local governments and communities on contingency planning, to increase aid for the reintegration of refugees and IDPs, and to be prepared to provide flexible funding when quick responses to changing events are required. The report also highlights the need for the U.S. and other donors to expand funding for coordination and services to address gender-based violence (GBV) and reproductive health issues in Sudan. This need is particularly great in transitional areas and in the South, where many survivors of the widespread sexual violence during the civil war and more recent violent clashes have yet to receive assistance.

No time for business as usual

Jennifer Smith — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 18:56:40 +0000

Someone recently said to me, as we were talking about upcoming events in Sudan, that it seems like the international community is “planning for the worst, while programming for the best.” I have just gotten back from Sudan where I was examining how prepared humanitarian agencies are to respond to new crises that may arise in 2010 and 2011. Unfortunately I discovered that humanitarian agencies are so beleaguered by responding to crisis after crisis in Sudan that they have not even made a proper plan yet for dealing with what may hit the communities in Sudan in the next two years. Many people expressed the attitude that dealing with humanitarian problems is just “business as usual” in Sudan. But the next two years will not be business as usual and our belated recognition of this will not only cost us, but will cost those the humanitarian community aims to help. In April, Sudan will hold national elections, the first genuine multi-party elections in 24 years. In January 2011, south Sudan will hold a referendum on whether to secede from the north, while the Three Areas of Abyei, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile will hold a referendum and popular consultations. Although nobody can prejudge the results of the referendum, all indications at the moment suggest that southern voters will overwhelmingly support independence. On Refugees International’s recent trip to south Sudan and Southern Kordofan, we interviewed a number of communities all of whom expressed fear and uncertainty about the upcoming elections and referendum. There were fears that competition between electoral candidates would spill over to exacerbate existing inter-community tensions, in an environment where many civilians are armed. In Southern Kordofan, which will not have a referendum and will remain part of the north, Nuba communities expressed fear that they might be targeted and driven from their land in the event of southern independence. Many people were concerned about the fate of southerners displaced in the north if the south secedes, i.e. whether their rights would be protected, or whether they risked statelessness. Now more than ever, the uncertainty of the political situation means that the international community must remain vigilant, keep a close eye on events, and prepare to respond if the situation deteriorates. Refugees International is calling for the international humanitarian community to engage in a robust contingency planning process involving UN agencies, NGOs, donors and the UN peacekeeping mission UNMIS, in case conflict erupts again on a large scale. Although such planning has begun in south Sudan, a whole-of-Sudan approach is needed, with coordination between the north and the south (so that places like Southern Kordofan do not fall through the cracks). The planning also needs to move beyond theoretical discussions of different scenarios to putting concrete plans on paper. And it must involve consultation with communities who are at the moment facing their fears with little support from outside. Making plans for people without consulting with them is just poor planning. There are those who say contingency planning is pessimistic, that it is “preparing for war.” But this is false. Being prepared for all possibilities (including the worst case scenario) is not pessimistic, it’s just good sense. As one international observer in Juba said, it is no more pessimistic than buying house insurance. When RI spoke with government officials in Juba, Upper Nile and Southern Kordofan, they were open about saying that if conflict happened, they would expect the international community’s support. War in Sudan is not inevitable. The international community must still do all it can to help facilitate agreement between the north and south on key outstanding issues related to the full implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. But it must also be realistic and practical, and ultimately, be prepared to assist if things don’t go as well as we programmed. Jennifer Smith is an Advocate with Refugees International.

Developments in "Major Milestone" Elections

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:31:37 +0000

According to news sources, Yasir Arman, the SPLM's candidate in the upcoming presidential elections, has withdrawn. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="232" caption="Arman after his arrest in December after elections-related protests"][/caption] Arman, a northern Sudanese politician running with the predominantly southern SPLM, was widely considered the strongest challenger to Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir. Reuters is reporting:

"We decided that Yasir (Arman) should end his campaign for the presidency of the Republic," the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) vice-chairman Riek Machar told reporters. Machar cited continued conflict in Darfur and electoral irregularities, adding the party would also boycott all levels of elections in Darfur.

Andrew Heavens has further analysis, including:

The decision by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) is a gamble that could win the party its ultimate prize -- a guaranteed referendum on the independence of south Sudan -- but could also backfire and alienate supporters at home and abroad.

Laura Heaton at Enough has a run-down of Arman's decision and other recent related in-country elections developments that's well worth checking out. Also today, the U.S., U.K. and Norway issued a joint statement in the lead-up to the elections. These 3 countries - the "Troika" that served as international guarantors of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in 2005 - called the elections "a major milestone" in the CPA and "an important opportunity for the people of Sudan to participate in the political process." The joint statement "urged all parties in Sudan to work urgently to ensure that elections can proceed peacefully and credibly in April."

We are deeply concerned by reports of continued administrative and logistical challenges, as well as restrictions on political freedoms.

Election Chaos in Sudan: Politics or Principle?

Robert — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:05:24 +0000

Cross posted on the Huffington Post. Late Wednesday night in Khartoum, the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) announced that it was withdrawing its candidate for national president of Sudan, Yasir Arman, reportedly because the SPLM was convinced the elections were too flawed to move forward and they did not want to legitimize a process that led to the re-election of President al-Bashir, an indicted war criminal. Today, three of the major Northern parties, the Umma Party, the Democratic Unionist Party, and Communist Party joined the boycott of the presidential election. The SPLM also announced that it would suspend its campaigns for national legislative seats in Darfur, where it likewise says that free and fair elections cannot take place. This week, a report from the International Crisis Group highlights just how heavily Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP) is depending on Darfur to deliver votes for it and the lengths to which it has gone to ensure that those results are delivered. We at Save Darfur have long said we do not believe free and fair elections are possible given the oppressive political environment that has preceded them. But the SPLM’s decision was curious for two reasons. First, the timing: the SPLM made its decision a day before all the opposition parties were to meet to decide whether they would likewise boycott the presidential election (which 3 of the major 4 now have). They, however, claim to have been blindsided by the SPLM’s announcement and one opposition leader said they had been “betrayed” by the SPLM. So this does not look like it was a coordinated decision intended to completely undermine the (already badly flawed) electoral process. The second reason the SPLM’s decision is intriguing is that they have decided to participate in legislative elections for the national legislature (except in seats in Darfur, and perhaps some northern seats). One would think that if the SPLM felt the process was as flawed as they argue, that the legislative elections would be just as corrupt. However, here the SPLM is stuck between a rock and a hard place. First, earlier this week, Bashir threatened to cancel the referendum on southern independence (scheduled for January 2011) if the SPLM boycotted the elections; second, the SPLM wants to ensure it receives at least 26.5% of the seats in the national legislature, which would be enough to prevent the NCP from unilaterally changing the constitution ahead of the referendum. So while the SPLM may want to make a political statement about the fairness of the elections, they clearly want to hedge their bets. One rumor which, if true, would be wildly explosive is that the SPLM cut a deal with the NCP to withdraw Yasir Arman (the competitor most likely to bring Bashir into a runoff vote), in exchange for Bashir’s promise not to interfere with next year’s referendum. It may not be as far-fetched as it seems: the SPLM has always been lukewarm about competing for the presidency — if they won, it would be their responsibility to make national unity attractive and with the SPLM intent on turning Southern Sudan into an independent state, this would be at the least an inconvenient situation. Second, the fact that they nominated Yasir Arman, a capable politician, but an SPLM member from northern Sudan, may underscore the fact that they never truly wanted to compete in the national election for president — all the more well known SPLM members are running for posts in the Government of South Sudan. This is not to say that the SPLM is off base on its position that the elections will not be free and fair; in fact, they’re quite on point. But it’s too simple to say that this is a position simply of principal, when the SPLM clearly wants to have it both ways — participate where they need to; make a political statement (and perhaps a political deal) where they don’t. As Special Envoy for Sudan Scott Gration undertakes shuttle diplomacy within Khartoum in the coming days, the U.S. must take the position that any boycott by the SPLM and other opposition parties only underscores the inherent inequalities in the electoral system which favor the NCP. Thus, any results from a boycotted election and/or an election that takes place in the current oppressive environment should not be allowed to legitimize the winner; in this case, President Omar al-Bashir.

SPLM Withdraws Presidential Candidate

Allen Combs — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:01:06 +0000

With less than two weeks before Sudan's first multi-party elections in almost 25 years, the primary challenger to President Omar al-Bashir has withdrawn from the race. The Sudan People's Liberation Movement announced that their presidential candidate, Yasir Arman, would not stand for election and that the party would boycott elections in Darfur all together. The SPLM cited election irregularities and ongoing instability in Darfur as the reasons for the move. Here is a quick video report from Al Jazeera reporter Mohammed Adow:

Elections in Sudan: In Whose Interest?

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 22:13:55 +0000

A statement from the Sudan Democracy First Group on the recent elections-related turmoil in Sudan:

Elections in Sudan: In Whose Interest? “Even America is becoming an NCP member. No one is against our will”, President Omer Albashir in Sinar , Blue Nile State City rally, 3 April 2010 Earlier this week the African Union, under the leadership of former Ghanian President John Kufuor, dispatched the final members of its 50 person strong team to monitor the elections in Sudan which are scheduled to begin on April 11th. The big question, however, today is whether there will be any elections to monitor. Over the last days the major Sudanese political opposition parties have said that they are withdrawing from the Presidential elections and boycotting the parliamentary ballot—to varying extents. Declaring that the “election lacks the minimum fundamental requirements of a free and fair election” the main opposition parties on Thursday, speaking as the Sudanese National Consensus Forces (SNCF), laid out a set of demands for their continued participation in the process. Central to them is the postponement of elections until November 2010. Among the key conditions they have identified are: finding a just and comprehensive solution to the Darfur crisis and the full participation of its peoples in the election; fulfillment of the major pillars of the Comprehensive Peace agreement (CPA); review of the Electoral Act and formation of a new National Election Commission; and conduct of the self-determination referendum for Southern Sudan in January 2010. As sections of the international community engage in strenuous lobbying to reverse this position and ensure that the elections go ahead as planned, the question must be asked: in whose interests is it to hold these elections now? § The suggestion that those who support the CPA must support these elections to maintain the CPA timeline at all costs bear little scrutiny: arguments relating to the sanctity of the CPA schedule and its integrity ring hollow when set against the litany of CPA violations cited in the SNCF’s comprehensive statement. As the international non-governmental organization Crisis Group said starkly last week in a report published on the election process, “the Khartoum government is rigging the 11-13 April elections in Darfur to return an indicted president and his party to power with catastrophic consequences for Sudan”. The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) “has manipulated the census results and voter registration, drafted the election laws in its favour, gerrymandered electoral districts, co-opted traditional leaders and bought tribal loyalties.” The opposition parties on the ground have confirmed this assessment. They have come to the same conclusion: elections now would be a travesty. So what about the ordinary people of Sudan? § Is an April vote in these circumstances in their interest? Does it promote their rights under the CPA and the democratic transition process? Certainly a critical issue for the people of Southern Sudan is whether a postponement of the election might delay the long awaited self-determination vote. The Government of South Sudan is particularly concerned about the creation of any new obstacles real or perceived to allowing their people to exercise their rights in the referendum on unity or independence. The circumstances surrounding the details of achieving independence are already deeply complex with issues such as border demarcation, security, and structures still not clarified. § On Thursday the opposition forces said clearly that they believed that in the event of a postponement of elections to November the referendum should and could go ahead as scheduled in January 2010. It is vital that this guarantee is fulfilled. The attempts to put pressure on the opposition political parties led by the NCP and the international community is not legitimate as it reflects efforts to isolate and fragment the Sudanese people at such a critical times. (On Thursday in front of the Umma party headquarters Sudanese citizens were demonstrating urging the political parties to completely withdraw from the elections under the current oppressive circumstances ). § The people in Darfur have been particularly subject to denial of their right to exercise a free and fair vote. As Crisis Group has said, the election violations by the NCP have been committed “most dramatically in Darfur, where it has greater freedom and means to carry out its strategy because of the ongoing conflict.” § The only party pushing for the vote in April is the National Congress Party (NCP), desperate to affirm legitimacy of its Presidential candidate who is subject to an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. Its chief international ally appears to be the United States (US), which, despite the occasional bombastic rhetoric for internal consumption by President Bashir, has been a staunch ally of Khartoum in recent months. As Bashir said on Wednesday about Special Envoy Gration’s emergency mission to Sudan to try to put the elections back on track: “Even America is becoming an NCP member. No one is against our will”. § The policy of the US and its allies towards Sudan is rapidly losing its neutrality and credibility in the eyes of the people. Despite the warnings from all domestic parties and independent international experts from the Carter Centre to the United Nations over the last weeks about the torture, the rigging and the fundamental unfairness of the election process, the Special Envoy Mr Gration only arrived for a whirlwind of crisis meetings earlier this week when it seemed like the farce would not go ahead after all as planned. What does this say to the people of Sudan? The fact that the Envoy has now thrust himself deeply into manipulation of the internal political dynamic, unabashedly attempting to influence the outcome of the debate in a way which supports the position of the ruling party is quite extraordinary. The fact that he is in substance walking hand and hand with a discredited and repressive regime must be highlighted. § President Obama in his policy and positions towards Africa regularly reflects on the need for respect for the autonomy of African people in making decisions and taking responsibility. His current policy in Sudan is diametrically opposite to that position. His Envoy to Sudan is playing the old game, obviously comfortably, his statements, positions and engagement with a regime that has been condemned locally and internationally reflects poor consideration for Sudan autonomy and the rights of the citizens of the country. US support for maintaining the status quo is creating fear and division another major factor in hindering Sudan overcoming its crisis. To move out of this dark period towards democratic transformation the sovereign will of the people of Sudan must be recognized and respected. This involves free and fair elections at home and an international community supportive of the exercise of democratic principles. The Sudanese people have said NO to these elections at this time. Why is the US saying YES? Sudan Democracy First Group is a coalition of and for Sudan activists, trade unionists and academic men and women representing Sudan different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The main agenda of the initiative is to voice the concerns of the voiceless Sudanese people across the country at the current critical moment the country is going through. The initative is connected to other initiatives formed by Sudanese people in different centers across Sudan. For more information: Mubarda4democracy@gmail.com

US Diaspora Vote Will Have No Impact on Sudan’s Election

Jimmy Mulla — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:10:38 +0000

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="175" caption="Jimmy Mulla"][/caption]Votes of Sudan’s Diaspora community in United States will have no bearing on Sudan’s upcoming national elections. Sudan embassy records show that only 807 Diaspora community members registered for the upcoming elections before registration closed in December. In the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, 303 members of the Diaspora community registered out of approximately over 20,000. The next highest turnout was in Phoenix, Arizona, where 189 are registered, followed by Dallas, Texas’s 102 registered voters. In North Carolina, where an estimated 3,000-5,000 Sudanese reside, only 27 registered. In April, Sudan will hold its first national multi-party election in 24 years. The election is a major milestone, as part of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the 22-year long North-South civil war. According to Angelos Agok, a member of the Sudanese Diaspora residing in the D.C. area, Sudan embassy officials made it difficult for the Sudanese community in the Washington metropolitan area to register for 2010 general elections by changing venue for registration three times on the day of it was set to take place. Agok received similar complaints from other parts of the United States. Initially, the proposed voter registration centers in the U.S. were in Washington D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles. After concern was raised by Sudanese Diaspora and the South’s ruling party, the National Election Commission expanded the registration locations to include cities in nine other states. Diaspora members in the new locations and nearby states were given short notice of this option, and had one day to register when the Sudanese Embassy delegation arrived. Among those who visited registration centers, many reported being turned away because embassy officials demanded that Sudanese passports and birth certificates were the only acceptable forms of identification. Having fled the country during times of conflict, often settling in countries such as the U.K., Netherlands, Kenya, Egypt, and others countries, members the Diaspora community often do not have official Sudanese documentation such as passports and other national identification. How do these obstacles affect the April elections? Not only does the scenario I described mean that many Sudanese voters who have the right to have their voices heard will be disenfranchised; the inability of members of the Diaspora to participate in the election is advantageous for President Omar al-Bashir’s National Congress Party, which does not draw a large following among the Diaspora community in the United States. Sudan’s ruling regime, which is widely expected to win re-election, has been in power since 1989 and has orchestrated the violence that forced many people to flee Sudan’s marginalized areas, including Darfur. So it’s no wonder that the Sudanese government would see it in its interest to create obstacles for this community to participate in the elections. In United States, where opposition groups could draw a lot of support from Sudanese exiles, no credible competition is expected to emerge to challenge the ruling party. Although Sudan formed a coalition Government of National Unity after the signing of the CPA in 2005, the NCP continues to maintain absolute control over affairs of the nation and such vital assets as the media. State institutions that would have played a vital role before, during, and after the election are not neutral, as evidenced by the well-documented crackdown against opposition groups and NCP manipulation of preparation for the election. In essence, the low numbers of registered voters outside of Sudan is an illustration of the NCP’s dominance even beyond Sudan’s borders. Jimmy Mulla is the President and a founding member of Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom. He moved to the United States in 1996 from Egypt.

Sudan Democracy First Group Calls On Election Observers To Pull Out Of Sudan

Allen Combs — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:48:37 +0000

The Sudan Democracy First Group released a second statement yesterday, calling on international election observers to leave the country. In the release, SDFG argues that "the threats and harassment suffered by international observer missions have undermined their ability to honestly report on the continued violations," and that their continued presence in Sudan only lends "the appearance of legitimacy to what has been proven to be a deeply flawed elections process." SDFG's full release:

Observer Missions Must stop Lending their Credibility to Sudan Elections April 6, 2010, (Khartoum/Juba) International elections observer missions should immediately pull out of Sudan. These groups appear to no longer be able to fulfill their mandate and serve only to legitimize a deeply-flawed elections process. International observer missions have so far been subject to severe government intimidation. The Sudanese government harshly criticized the Carter Center after publication of its report on March 17th which detailed significant violations in the elections process throughout all stages including fraud and repression of speech and other freedoms. The report also described the uneven playing field for political parties and unequal access to media suggesting technical advises to enable National Election Commission (NEC) to handle the electoral process. Since then the Sudanese government has on multiple occasions threatened all international observer groups more broadly. On March 22^nd President Omar al Bashir publicly threatened to cut off the noses and fingers of internationals who “intervene in internal affairs” and endorsed any delay of elections. He repeated this threat on April 5 in Jazeera State. Threats to international actors who intervene to oppose any postponement of the poll—such as for example, the United States Special Envoy— are conspicuously absent. Rather than publicly disclose the extent of the program of harassment and intimidation which has accompanied these public threats of violence by the President and his aides, international observer missions have been cowed into silence or inside doors in bilateral discussion with the same NCP. They have not spoken out about the harassment and intimidation they are suffering—including the arrest and interrogation of their local staff and unlawful search of private homes—, expelling out one of their international staff and other obstacles to their operations such as denial of visas and bureaucratic obstacles to deployment. Some reports even suggest that the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), which spearheaded the expulsion of humanitarian organizations last year is ready to step in this campaign of harassment against both national and international NGOs involved in elections observation activities. The threats and harassment suffered by international observer missions have undermined their ability to honestly report on the continued violations—in effect to carry out their basic missions. The Carter Center and the European Mission, for example, have already made it clear in different conversations that they will not release any statements until after the elections are over. Ironically, a senior NCP officer told journalists that they will not hear from election observers before the results of the elections. Furthermore, Khartoum press quoted the Deputy NEC Chairperson that they agreed with Carter Center not to issue such reports that harm the electoral process. Absent capacity to acknowledge the current environment of threats and intimidation being faced by those who voice concerns about election process violations, the continued presence of international elections observers in Sudan does not serve the function intended, that of observing and analyzing the electoral process and contributing to improvements through constructive engagement with the authorities. This inability also renders naught the public guardianship role which is envisaged for international and domestic observers in how their mandate is described in the National Electoral Act. Further, the President’s violent threats to those international observers who express reservations about the process de facto violate the memoranda of understanding and other bilateral accords which are the basis upon which international missions have been permitted to access the territory and, in return, to exercise the mandate given to them by their relevant inter-governmental or non-governmental controlling organs. This silent acquiescence by international observer missions in the face of increasing repression also undermines the attempts of local domestic observers to monitor the process. Today, for example, a number of local organisations, all of which have been internationally recognized as independent civil society experts, were summarily informed they would not be permitted to participate as election monitors by the NEC. The NEC refused to provide either a copy of this determination in writing or reasons for the decision. The silence is contributing to the climate of fear and insecurity which is unfolding around the elections, adding to both the apprehension and probability of violence and greater repression. To date, there are a large number of observer missions in Sudan: The Carter Center, European Union, African Union, IGAD countries, Arab League, Great Lakes group and individual country missions such as Egypt and Japan. Except for The Carter Center, all of these missions arrived only recently, and were not on the ground to witness the majority of the rigging and fraud and other violations that have been documented by The Carter Center and other international groups including the International Crisis Group, Human Rights Watch and Save Darfur. The utility of these short term observers is highly dubious in the context of an election process which has been determined by many of the main opposition parties to be so fundamentally flawed that they have withdrawn their candidates or are urgently seeking a postponement of the vote. Indeed, many Sudanese are questioning the role of some regional groups as being solely supporting the perpetuation of status quo. In this environment, the presence of international observers appears to serve only one interest -- the political interest of the ruling National Congress Party. By remaining as a part of the process, these missions lend the appearance of legitimacy to what has been proven to be a deeply flawed elections process and the presumed re-election of a man who is internationally wanted for war crimes in a vote that is neither free nor fair. As tense political dynamics unfold and possibly turn violent in coming weeks, loud and forceful comment is needed. Unless there is a change in the will and capacity of international observer missions the record shows that their fearful silence will in effect render them complicit in what unfolds. If they cannot challenge threats to the integrity and safety of their own missions and personnel what kind of defense of the rights to democratic participation of the people of Sudan can be expected? International election observer missions must stop lending their credibility to this process. Sudan Democracy First Group is: A coalition of democrats and Sudan activists, trade unionists and academics men and women representing Sudan different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The main agenda of the initiative is to voice the concerns of the voiceless Sudanese people across the country in the current critical moment the country is going through. The initiative is connected to other initiatives formed by Sudanese people in different centers across Sudan. For contact: mubadra4democracy@gmail.com

Al Jazeera's Inside Story Reports On Sudan's Elections

Allen Combs — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 06:03:11 +0000

Al Jazeera English's Inside Story takes an in depth look at the problems surrounding next week's elections in Sudan:

Destabilizing Darfur: The Spread of Violence

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 03:33:21 +0000

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="352" caption="Rebels with the SLA in Darfur (Photo: Reuters)"][/caption] While no new reports of clashes have emerged from Jebel Marra—the site of recent bitter fighting between the Sudanese Liberation Army-Abdul Wahid (SLA-AW) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)—instability has inundated neighboring areas to the south and west, where apparent tribal hostilities have greatly increased the region's displaced population. Although there has been greater insecurity in Darfur over the past month, coverage of Sudan's national elections has overshadowed the surge in violence and the resulting silence "is itself a condemnation of the lack of peace in the region." Jebel Marra Spillover Tens of thousands of displaced civilians from Jebel Marra have sought refuge in villages such as Nertiti and Thur as well as in the town of Kass, which is 40 kilometers to the south. The increased number of displaced combined with clashes between Nuwayba and Misseriya have created a very unstable situation in Kass State. On March 22nd, tribal fighting in the villages of Tourggoung, Delibayah and Duwair broke out, leaving 25 dead and dozens injured. Another 23 people were killed on March 24th in Kass state during raids conducted by Nuwayba and Misseriya, increasing regional volatility in an already conflict prone area. According to Radio Dabanga, an aid worker from the Humanitarian Aid Commission estimated that there were 14,000 displaced households and 43,000 individuals in 16 locations throughout Kass state, most of which came in two waves - the first in the beginning of March and the latter within the past week and a half. The spread of conflict is undeniably evident since violence has not only broken out south of Jebel Marra in Kass state but also directly west in Zalingei state, where UNAMID reported on March 9th that inter-tribal clashes occurred in Khorramla, a village East of the town of Zalingei, displacing over 600 people. Curiously, on March 31st, Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein, the Sudanese Minister of Defence, appointed an investigation committee to determine the role of the SAF behind the Misseriya and Nuwaybaw fighting in Darfur. The outcome of this investigation, if credible, will be quite interesting since in the past rebel and government forces have allegedly waged proxy warfare by supporting opposing groups during tribal clashes. Renewed Violence in the West The once hopeful peace talks in Doha between the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Government of Sudan (GoS) have become more strained as promises for peace have been paralleled by a return to violence. JEM accused the SAF of bombing positions in Furawiyah in North Darfur, Abu Gamrah, and Jebel Moon in West Darfur beginning Sunday night and lasting into Monday. According to JEM spokesman Ahmed Hussein Adam, 10 civilians were killed after aerial bombardments using Antonov and MiG warplanes. Hostility in Jebel Moon between JEM and SAF forces is not an isolated occurrence with similar aerial bombardments taking place in January. Additionally, Sudanese Liberation Army-Minni Minnawi (SLA-MM) claimed that they had clashed with JEM on Monday in Abu Gamrah and Furawiyah, two of the villages that were subject to the SAF bombing the day before. Destabilizing Darfur While there have been many claims that the crisis in Darfur has been resolved these are yet more examples of how easily conflict can reignite, spread, and redefine itself, often according to the political and military aims of the main belligerent parties as they manipulate civilian communities. The rise in hostilities has caused essential aid organizations to pull out of certain regions within Darfur, such as Jebel Marra in early March. The European Union announced today that it had decided to withdraw its election observers due to increasingly unstable and hostile conditions in the entire region, stating that "in some parts of Darfur the violence is terrible. The humanitarians cannot access this area. And if aid cannot access, we cannot access." The increase in violence, which has prevented monitors and aid agencies from remaining in Darfur, is yet another clear indication that elections in Sudan cannot be free and fair. We cannot overlook the sustained violence and must not let events such as the election or the referendum overshadow human rights violations in Darfur. Rather, these national events must be viewed in the context of the continuing crisis in Darfur with the realization that it is impossible for elections to be free and fair in the region while violence between rebel groups and and the government continues. Until a comprehensive peace can be reached between the GoS and rebel groups, conflict will continue to re-emerge and expand, destabilizing the region and threatening both the lives and livelihoods of Darfuri civilians.

Destabilizing Darfur: The Spread of Violence

While no new reports of clashes have emerged from Jebel Marra—the site of recent bitter fighting between the Sudanese Liberation Army- Abdul Wahid (SLA-AW) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)—instability has inundated neighboring areas to the south and west, where tribal hostilities have greatly increased the region’s displaced population. Although there has been greater insecurity in Darfur over the past month, coverage of Sudan’s national elections has overshadowed the surge in violence and “the resulting silence is itself a condemnation of the lack of peace in the region”.

Jebel Marra Spillover

Tens of thousands of displaced civilians from Jebel Marra have sought refuge in villages such as Nertiti and Thur as well as the town of Kass, which is 40 kilometers to the south. The increased number of displaced combined with clashes between Nuwayba and Misseriya have created a very unstable situation in Kass State. On March 22^nd, tribal fighting in the villages of Tourggoung, Delibayah and Duwair broke out leaving 25 dead and dozens injured. Another 23 were killed on March 24^th in the Kass state during raids conducted by Nuwayba and Misseriya, increasing the volatility of an already conflict prone region. According to Radio Dabanga, an aid worker from the Humanitarian Aid Commission estimated that there are 14,000 displaced households and 43,000 individuals in 16 locations throughout Kass State, most of which came in two waves the first in the beginning of March and the latter within the past week and a half.

The spread of conflict is undeniably evident since violence has not only broken out south of Jebel Marra in Kass State but also directly west in Zalingei State where UNAMID reported on March 9^th that inter-tribal conflict occurred in Khorramla, a village East of the town of Zalingei, displacing over 600 people.

Curiously on March 31^st, Abdel Rahim Mohaed Hussein the Minister of Defence appointed an investigation committee to determine the role of SAF forces behind the Misseriya and Nuwayba fighting in Darfur. The outcome of this investigation, if credible, will be quite interesting since in the past rebel and government forces to have had proxy fights by supporting opposing groups during tribal clashes.

Renewed Violence in the West

The once hopeful peace talks in Doha between Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Government of Sudan (GoS) have become more strained as promises for peace have been paralleled by a return to violence. JEM accused the SAF of bombing positions in Furawiyah in North Darfur, Abu Gamrah, and Jebel Moon in West Darfur beginning Sunday night and lasting into Monday. According to JEM spokesman Ahmed Hussein Adam, 10 civilians were killed after aerial bombardments using Antonov and MiG warplanes. Hostility in Jebel Moon between JEM and SAF forces is not an isolated occurrence with similar aerial bombardments taking place in January. Additionally, Sudanese Liberation Army- Minni Minnawi (SLA-MM) claimed that they had clashed with JEM on Monday in Abu Gamrah and Furawiyah, two of the villages that were subject to the SAF bombing the day before.

While their have been many claims that the crises in Darfur has been resolved these are yet more examples of how easily conflict can reignite, spread, and redefine itself, often according to the political and military aims of the belligerent parties. The rise of hostilities has caused many aid organizations to pull out of certain regions within Darfur such as Jebel Marra in early March. The European Union announced today that it had decided to withdraw its election observers due to increasingly unstable conditions in Darfur stating that, “In some parts of Darfur the violence is terrible. The humanitarians cannot access this area. And if aid cannot access, we cannot access”. The increase in violence which has prevented monitors and aid organizations from remaining in Darfur is yet another clear indication that elections in Sudan cannot be free and fair.

We cannot overlook the sustained violent situation and must not let events such as the election or referendum overshadow human rights violations in Darfur. Rather, these national events must be viewed in the context of the continuing crisis in Darfur with the realization that it is impossible for elections to be free and fair in the region while violence between rebel groups and the government continues to ensue. Until a comprehensive peace can be reached between the Government of Sudan and rebel groups, conflict will continue to reemerge and expand.

US Mission To The United Nations Comments On Sudanese Elections

Allen Combs — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 18:39:11 +0000

At a press briefing earlier today Ambassador Susan Rice discussed Sudan's upcoming elections, telling reporters that the circumstances on the ground were "quite disturbing." Here is an excerpt of today's briefing:

Ambassador Rice: Good morning everyone. I just want to say a few words about the briefing that we received today from Undersecretary-General Le Roy about the electoral process in Sudan. He gave a very comprehensive and detailed summary of the circumstances on the ground, much of which we find quite disturbing. He underscored and reinforced what have been our longstanding concerns about serious government restrictions on political freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of association, the opportunity for all political actors to campaign without impediment, harassment of the media, limitations on access to polling stations for many of the people of Sudan, in particular in Darfur as we have highlighted in the past, large segments of the population, particularly the internally displaced population will not have the opportunity to participate in this polling process. And indeed, the decision by the European Union to withdraw its observers, announced yesterday, from Darfur underscores just how insecure and problematic the electoral process is in that portion of the country, as well as elsewhere. We are going to remain focused on this. We had seen these elections as many did, as meant to be an important milestone in the implementation of the CPA. Unfortunately, the trends on the ground are very disturbing, and we will and we are judging these elections on the basis of whether they provide an opportunity for the people of Sudan to fully and adequately express their political will, and whether they meet international standards and regrettably, the trends in this regard are not encouraging. ... Reporter: Scott Gration has said that he thought the elections would be as free and fair as possible, can you explain, I guess, what that means, whether that is being kind of retracted in light of what you said? Do you think that the UN, both UNAMID and UNMIS should be more, they said very little about as these events are taking place at least publically, what is their role for trying to secure a free and fair election without incident? Ambassador Rice: Well I think, as we heard from Undersecretary-General Le Roy, UNMIS is playing an important role in trying to support both logistically and from a security point-of-view, preparations for the elections. The primary responsibility, however, for the conduct of these elections lies with the government and the national electoral commission and indeed the parties themselves. So, UNMIS is playing a supporting role. With respect to the characterization of the elections, I think as we heard from Undersecretary-General Le Roy this morning, and as we have said repeatedly at this mike and various other places, the trends are not encouraging. There have been some significant impediments on the ground, restrictions on civil liberties, harassment of the media, reduction in the number of polling places, insecurity, an inability, of many of the people, particularly in Darfur, to be able to register and participate. So, we have overtime expressed our concerns, those concerns are mounting as the election approaches, and we are certainly underscoring the importance of steps being taken immediately to try to mitigate, to the greatest extent possible, in the time that remains, these very serious infringements on free political activity. Reporter: Should there be a delay? Ambassador Rice: I think our view has been that if a very brief delay were decided to be necessary, and we thought that a brief delay would enable the process to be more credible, we would be prepared to entertain that. That’s obviously up to the authorities themselves, but the larger picture is that much is awry in this process, and that is a real concern. Thank you.

Parliamentarians from 12 countries warn conditions for free and fair elections in Sudan not in place

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 06:54:31 +0000

Parliamentary members from a dozen countries in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa released a letter today expressing their concerns about the upcoming elections in Sudan Here is the full text:

To Guarantors of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement: As Parliamentarians from 12 countries, we are deeply concerned about the inadequate level of preparation for the upcoming elections in Sudan and the threat of violence and intimidation to civil society. The building blocks of a free and fair election – from legislation to logistics – are not in place. We know first-hand that elections can hold great promise but they can be vulnerable to manipulation and seldom come without risk. We are concerned at reports that the National Security Law is still being used to intimidate those involved in campaigning and monitoring. We fear that domestic and international monitors will not be granted freedom of movement to monitor the elections or freedom to report on election related activities. And we are alarmed by reports at inadequate planning to provide protection for civilians in the case of violence. The elections will take place in a volatile situation. A resolution to the Darfur conflict has not yet been found and there is increasing violence in Southern Sudan. At present, we fear that there will be inadequate opportunity for Darfuri participation in the elections. If this is the case, elections will intensify feelings of marginalization, frustrate attempts to secure a peaceful resolution to Sudan’s crises and could breed further conflict. The conduct of legitimate elections is vital to the process of democratic transformation, as promised to the people of Sudan by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). This process involves elections, popular consultations and finally a referendum for southern Sudan on whether to secede from the North. These defining moments should be an opportunity for all sectors of Sudanese society to shape their collective future. The guarantors of the CPA – those governments and organisations that witnessed the signing of the CPA and committed to support enact it – have a duty and obligation to set and uphold high standards for its implementation. This requires resolute calls for standards of free and fairness and a commitment to expose any misconduct or human rights abuses that occur. The elections are the first test of your commitment and resolve. We urge you to stand by your obligations by:

Upholding international standards for free and fair elections and issuing joint condemnations for breaches of these standards

Taking swift action in the event of any violence around the elections

Supporting swift planning for legitimate and peaceful popular consultations and southern referendum

Sudan is at a turning point. Only the people of Sudan – both Northerners and Southerners – can decide what future they wish to see for their country and their children. Our duty is to support them through the process of making that decision. If peaceful and legitimate, this process should help build a better future. But, if marked by violence and abuse, it will only perpetuate the trauma and suffering that has scarred Sudan for too long. As parliamentarians from around the world, we believe it is important to provide international support to Sudanese parliamentarians, to enable them to fulfill their democratic mandates and work for a peaceful resolution of conflicts in Sudan. We stand ready to support them through the critical year ahead. Yours sincerely,

Australia Janelle Safgin

Afghanistan Ghulam Hassan Gran

Afghanistan Sayed Ahmad Farid Kazimi

Bahrain Mr. Ali Qasem Rabeia

Bahrain Mr. Jasem Murad

France Jean Louis Christ

France Serge Janquin

Egypt Mr. Salah Alsayik

Egypt Dr. Saber Atta

Germany Angelika Beer

Germany Christoph Strässer,MP

Italy Gianni Verneti

Italy Pietro Marcenaro

Kuwait Dr. Rola Dashti

Mauritania Mr. Mohamed Wald Mohamed Al-Amin

Mauritania Mr. Wan Sao

Morocco Mr. El –Hassan Fatahallah

UK Lord Alton

UK Earl of Sandwich

UK Lord Steel

UK Paul Flynn

UK David Drew

UK Baroness Cox

UK Lindsay Northover

Yemen Mr. Shawqi El-Qadi

Yemen Mr. Sultan Hezam

Yemen Mr. Mohamed Nagi Allao

Yemen Dr. Abdel Qadous Al-Mudwahi

Yemen Mr. Sakhr Al-Wageeh

Yemen Dr. Abdel Bari Al-Dughaish

Yemen Dr. Aydarous Al-Naqeeb

Yemen Dr. Mohamed Saleh Al-Qoubat

Parliamentarians from 12 countries warn conditions for free and fair elections in Sudan not in place

Letter warns lack of participation in Darfur could breed further conflict

(City Friday 9^th April) Dozens of parliamentarians from 12 countries have today come together to express their concern about the upcoming elections in Sudan and call on the guarantors of Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement to expose any electoral misconduct or human rights abuses that occur. The elections are scheduled to take place from Sunday 11^th to Tuesday 13^th April.

The parliamentarians, from Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, have written a public letter (full text below) to the guarantors of the peace agreement – African Union, Egypt, European Union, Italy, Kenya (IGAD), League of Arab States, Netherlands, Norway, UK, Uganda (IGAD) and US - to say they are ‘deeply concerned about the inadequate level of preparation for the upcoming elections in Sudan and the threat of violence and intimidation to civil society’ and to call on guarantors to condemn breaches of international standards.

The elections were intended to be a milestone in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that was signed in 2005 and brought an end to one of Africa’s longest civil wars in which over 2 million people died. This public statement comes amid growing reports of harassment and intimidation of opposition activists, the withdrawal of major opposition groups from significant parts of the election and the EU’s decision to withdraw its Election Observation Mission from Darfur.

The parliamentarians – over thirty from Afghanistan to UK, France to Morocco, Kuwait to Australia - have warned that ‘the building blocks of a free and fair election – from legislation to logistics – are not in place.’ The parliamentarians say that they ‘know first-hand that elections can hold great promise but they can be vulnerable to manipulation’. The parliamentarians express fears that:

- The National Security Law is still being used to intimidate those involved in campaigning and monitoring.

- Domestic and international monitors will not be granted freedom of movement to monitor the elections

- There is inadequate planning to provide protection for civilians in the case of violence.

- There will be inadequate opportunity for Darfuri participation in the elections which could intensify feelings of marginalization, frustrate attempts to secure a peaceful resolution to Sudan’s crises and breed further conflict.

The letter states that ‘the guarantors of the CPA – those governments and organisations that witnessed the signing of the CPA and committed to support enact it – have a duty and obligation to set and uphold high standards for its implementation’. It calls the elections the ‘first test of [their] commitment and resolve’. The parliamentarians urge the guarantors to stand by their obligations by:

- Upholding international standards for free and fair elections and issue joint condemnations for breaches of these standards

- Taking swift action in the event of any violence around the elections

- Supporting swift planning for legitimate and peaceful popular consultations and southern referendum

The parliamentarians end the letter by warning that ‘if peaceful and legitimate, this process should help build a better future. But, if marked by violence and abuse, it will only perpetuate the trauma and suffering that has scarred Sudan for too long’ and pledging to support Sudanese parliamentarians work for a resolution of crises in Sudan.

Editors Notes:

For further information, please contact Crisis Action on +44 207 269 9450 or +44 7951 244362.

Full letter and signatories (for publication):

To Guarantors of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement

As Parliamentarians from 12 countries, we are deeply concerned about the inadequate level of preparation for the upcoming elections in Sudan and the threat of violence and intimidation to civil society. The building blocks of a free and fair election – from legislation to logistics – are not in place.

We know first-hand that elections can hold great promise but they can be vulnerable to manipulation and seldom come without risk. We are concerned at reports that the National Security Law is still being used to intimidate those involved in campaigning and monitoring. We fear that domestic and international monitors will not be granted freedom of movement to monitor the elections or freedom to report on election related activities. And we are alarmed by reports at inadequate planning to provide protection for civilians in the case of violence.

The elections will take place in a volatile situation. A resolution to the Darfur conflict has not yet been found and there is increasing violence in Southern Sudan. At present, we fear that there will be inadequate opportunity for Darfuri participation in the elections. If this is the case, elections will intensify feelings of marginalization, frustrate attempts to secure a peaceful resolution to Sudan’s crises and could breed further conflict.

The conduct of legitimate elections is vital to the process of democratic transformation, as promised to the people of Sudan by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). This process involves elections, popular consultations and finally a referendum for southern Sudan on whether to secede from the North. These defining moments should be an opportunity for all sectors of Sudanese society to shape their collective future. The guarantors of the CPA – those governments and organisations that witnessed the signing of the CPA and committed to support enact it – have a duty and obligation to set and uphold high standards for its implementation.

This requires resolute calls for standards of free and fairness and a commitment to expose any misconduct or human rights abuses that occur. The elections are the first test of your commitment and resolve. We urge you to stand by your obligations by:

- Upholding international standards for free and fair elections and issuing joint condemnations for breaches of these standards

- Taking swift action in the event of any violence around the elections

- Supporting swift planning for legitimate and peaceful popular consultations and southern referendum

Sudan is at a turning point. Only the people of Sudan – both Northerners and Southerners – can decide what future they wish to see for their country and their children. Our duty is to support them through the process of making that decision. If peaceful and legitimate, this process should help build a better future. But, if marked by violence and abuse, it will only perpetuate the trauma and suffering that has scarred Sudan for too long.

As parliamentarians from around the world, we believe it is important to provide international support to Sudanese parliamentarians, to enable them to fulfill their democratic mandates and work for a peaceful resolution of conflicts in Sudan. We stand ready to support them through the critical year ahead.

Yours sincerely

Australia

Janelle Safgin

Afghanistan

Ghulam Hassan Gran, Secretary General, Wolesi Jirga (House of Representatives), National Assembly of Afghanistan

Afghanistan

Sayed Ahmad Farid Kazimi, Chief of Staff, General Secretariat, Wolesi Jirga, National Assembly of Afghanistan

Bahrain

Mr. Ali Qasem Rabeia

Bahrain

Mr. Jasem Murad

France

Jean Louis Christ

France

Serge Janquin, Member of the foreign affairs commission in the national parliament

Egypt

Mr. Salah Alsayik

Egypt

Dr. Saber Atta

Germany

Angelika Beer, Former MEP and Co-chair Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention and Human Security

Germany

Christoph Strässer,MP

Italy

Gianni Verneti, President of 'Italia - Darfur', a special committee of Italian Parliament

Italy

Pietro Marcenaro, President of Human Rights Commission of Italian Senate

Kuwait

Dr. Rola Dashti

Mauritania

Mr. Mohamed Wald Mohamed Al-Amin

Mauritania

Mr. Wan Sao

Morocco

Mr. El –Hassan Fatahallah

UK

Lord Alton

UK

Earl of Sandwich

UK

Lord Steel

UK

Paul Flynn

UK

David Drew

UK

Baroness Cox

UK

Lindsay Northover, Liberal Democrats Spokesperson on International Development, House of Lords

Yemen

Mr. Shawqi El-Qadi

Yemen

Mr. Sultan Hezam

Yemen

Mr. Mohamed Nagi Allao

Yemen

Dr. Abdel Qadous Al-Mudwahi

Yemen

Mr. Sakhr Al-Wageeh

Yemen

Dr. Abdel Bari Al-Dughaish

Yemen

Dr. Aydarous Al-Naqeeb

Yemen

Dr. Mohamed Saleh Al-Qoubat

Election Roundup -- April 9, 2010

Robert — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:22:27 +0000

Sign up for our Election Alerts to stay informed throughout this critical time for Sudan. With less than 48 hours to go before polls are scheduled to open in Sudan on April 11, ominous trends continue to underscore that the election will not meet international standards of credibility. On Wednesday, the major opposition party in northern Sudan, the Umma party, announced it was withdrawing all of its candidates, dealing another critical blow to the election’s credibility following the decision of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to withdraw its presidential candidate and parliamentary candidates in Darfur late last week. Additionally, many SPLM parliamentary candidates in northern Sudan have withdrawn, apparently against the wishes of some of the SPLM leadership in Juba. Yesterday, US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice expressed concern about the situation on the ground in Sudan and suggested that a slight delay in the election could be supported by Washington. However, there is no sign that the National Electoral Commission expects to delay the elections (although a decision could come as late as the evening of April 10). Former President Jimmy Carter arrived in Khartoum on Thursday to head the Carter Center’s election observation mission, expressing his regret that a number of parties were boycotting and that he “hope[d] that the elections would be fair and honest, at least for the participants [still] in it.” Finally, there have been reports that two opposition party leaders in Darfur have been detained, but were later released. One of them reports that the security agents targeted them for signing a statement urging all Darfuris to boycott the elections.

TAKE ACTION

Please call Secretary of State Clinton today and encourage her to ensure that the upcoming Sudanese elections do not legitimize a genocidal, corrupt government and instead reflect the true will of the Sudanese people.

Call her today at: 1-800-GENOCIDE

ELECTION LINKS

Analysis/Opinion

Already Stolen, A visit to Sudan makes clear: The election is going to be a sham – Sean Brooks at The New Republic
Sudan’s Rigged Elections – International Crisis Group
Let those people go – Economist
Why Sudan's vote can't be trusted – Los Angeles Times
ACJPS Denounces Flawed Elections Process and Urges Postponement – African Center for Justice and Peace Studies
Sudan: Multi-Party Elections with Only One Winner – Rob Crilly at Huffington Post
US seal of approval is useless for Sudan – Maggie Fick at The Guardian
Parliamentarians from 12 countries warn conditions for free and fair elections in Sudan not in place
Sudan’s Elections and Credibility Challenge (Arabic) – Emad Abdul Hadi at Al Jazeera

Summaries and Facts about Elections

Hunt the missing voter – Economist
FACTBOX: Sudan's main presidential candidates – Reuters Alertnet
FACTBOX: Potential flashpoints in Sudan – Reuters Alertnet
"Media abuse" concerns cloud Sudan elections – Al Jazeera English
Sudan's elections roller coaster – Al Jazeera English
Sudan's historic election own-goal – BBC News
Polling Day and A Complex Election – Hafiz Mohamed at “Making Sense of Sudan”

Headlines from Last Two Days

U.S. may support brief delay in Sudan elections – Washington Post
Election fever hits Sudan amid fears of vote rigging – BBC News
EU pulls Darfur poll observers over safety fears – Reuters
Former U.S. President Carter to Monitor Sudan Vote – Voice of America
Sudan's Umma party declares election boycott – BBC News
US appears indecisive on supporting delay to Sudan vote – Sudan Tribune
UNAMID chief to discuss Darfur elections with Carter and Kufuor – Sudan Tribune
Sudan Journalists Lament Lack of Civic Education in Upcoming Polls – Voice of America
Two opposition politicians arrested in Nyala – Radio Dabanga
Washington would accept a brief delay in the elections (Arabic) – Al Jazeera
Bashir: the elections will be without impurities (Arabic) – Al Ray Al Aam
Constitutional challenge rejected to postpone the elections (Arabic) – Al Ray Al Aam
Taha: the elected government will consult with the SPLM on the referendum (Arabic) – Al Ray Al Aam
Southern Sudan High Election Committee warns against electoral violence – Miraya FM
Bashir warns of attempts to create a rift between the two partners (Arabic) – Al Ray Al Aam
Sudan’s Bashir stops short of apology to Carter Center, EU withdraws Darfur poll observers – Sudan Tribune
Wali of Southern Darfur fears of low voter turnout (Arabic) – Al Sahafa
Sudan Armed Forces: We will deter anyone who tries to impede the electoral process – Al Sahafa

ACJPS Denounces Flawed Elections Process and Urges Postponement

Shannon Orcutt — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:02:27 +0000

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studieshas called for a postponement of the Sudanese elections until changes are made to ensure the creation of an atmosphere conducive for free and fair elections. Here is the full relesase:

(8 April 2010) The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies today denounced the litany of violations of the electoral process and the systematic human rights violations that have accompanied the elections process in Sudan, calling for elections to be postponed in order to allow time for key reforms to be implemented. The elections process had been eroded by many factors; including a flawed legislative framework, problematic registration, obstruction of peaceful political activities, and the harassment, arrest and torture of political activists. The withdrawal of important opposition forces from the elections last week underscores the extent to which these violations have destroyed the possibility of credible elections. Further undermining the process, a number of national election observation organisations which had previously been accredited to monitor the elections were summarily informed that they would not be allowed to participate by the National Election Commission (NEC). The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies feels strongly that if elections are to take place in this environment they will not only not be free and fair, but will not be credible and will undermine rather than support progress towards democratisation and respect for human rights in Sudan. If elections are to take place in such compromised environment, conflicts about the legitimacy of the results might spark violence. The National Congress Party (NCP) has threatened that postponement of the elections will derail the referendum on independence in the South, but in fact, failure to postpone the election in order to ensure that they are free and fair could equally undermine the referendum. If the election is allowed to go forward despite clear indications that it is not a credible contest, then this will erode confidence in the referendum. If the NCP is allowed to rig the results of the elections, then what is to stop it from rigging the referendum? A postponement should be called immediately and critical faults in the process should be rectified including: • Ensuring the independence of the NEC – As the Centre has previously noted in its analysis of the National Elections Act (see Sudan Human Rights Monitor (August-September 2009)), the current legislative framework facilitates the domination of the NEC by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) by allowing only the President to put forward the names of candidates. There have been reports that in some constituencies local leaders of the NEC are NCP party officials and that NEC materials encouraging voting have used NCP symbols or slogans, undermining the credibility of the NEC as a neutral arbiter. The NEC as currently constituted should be abolished and should be replaced with a NEC which is appointed by consensus of all political parties. • Rectifying problems with registration – As detailed by the Centre in its February 2010 report, “Building on a Cracked Foundation”, the registration process suffers from a number of serious flaws. Most notably, access to registration was restricted in areas which are perceived to be strongholds of opposition, particularly Darfur. Recognising that a repeat of the entire registration process may not be feasible, postponement of elections would allow for measures to be taken to remedy inadequate access to registration – including areas currently controlled by armed movements. • Ensuring political space – Elections cannot be credible in a context of political repression. Over the past few months, the Centre has documented numerous instances in which peaceful political gatherings were blocked and the arrest, harassment and torture of political activists occurred. In order to ensure credible elections, urgent steps must be taken to open up political space. Although ensuring openness is a long process, repeal of the National Security Act, which has been instrumental in the repression of political opposition, would be a welcome signal of commitment. The African Centre for Justice and Peace studies calls on the government of Sudan to postpone the elections, and on the international community to provide support for a dialogue amongst all political parties to create a roadmap for reform.

ACJPS Denounces Flawed Elections Process and Urges Postponement

(8 April 2010) The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies today denounced the litany of violations of the electoral process and the systematic human rights violations that have accompanied the elections process in Sudan, calling for elections to be postponed in order to allow time for key reforms to be implemented.

The elections process had been eroded by many factors; including a flawed legislative framework, problematic registration, obstruction of peaceful political activities, and the harassment, arrest and torture of political activists. The withdrawal of important opposition forces from the elections last week underscores the extent to which these violations have destroyed the possibility of credible elections. Further undermining the process, a number of national election observation organisations which had previously been accredited to monitor the elections were summarily informed that they would not be allowed to participate by the National Election Commission (NEC).

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies feels strongly that if elections are to take place in this environment they will not only not be free and fair, but will not be credible and will undermine rather than support progress towards democratisation and respect for human rights in Sudan. If elections are to take place in such compromised environment, conflicts about the legitimacy of the results might spark violence. The National Congress Party (NCP) has threatened that postponement of the elections will derail the referendum on independence in the South, but in fact, failure to postpone the election in order to ensure that they are free and fair could equally undermine the referendum. If the election is allowed to go forward despite clear indications that it is not a credible contest, then this will erode confidence in the referendum. If the NCP is allowed to rig the results of the elections, then what is to stop it from rigging the referendum?

A postponement should be called immediately and critical faults in the process should be rectified including:

· Ensuring the independence of the NEC – As the Centre has previously noted in its analysis of the National Elections Act (see Sudan Human Rights Monitor (August-September 2009)), the current legislative framework facilitates the domination of the NEC by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) by allowing only the President to put forward the names of candidates. There have been reports that in some constituencies local leaders of the NEC are NCP party officials and that NEC materials encouraging voting have used NCP symbols or slogans, undermining the credibility of the NEC as a neutral arbiter. The NEC as currently constituted should be abolished and should be replaced with a NEC which is appointed by consensus of all political parties.

· Rectifying problems with registration – As detailed by the Centre in its February 2010 report, “Building on a Cracked Foundation”, the registration process suffers from a number of serious flaws. Most notably, access to registration was restricted in areas which are perceived to be strongholds of opposition, particularly Darfur. Recognising that a repeat of the entire registration process may not be feasible, postponement of elections would allow for measures to be taken to remedy inadequate access to registration – including areas currently controlled by armed movements.

· Ensuring political space – Elections cannot be credible in a context of political repression. Over the past few months, the Centre has documented numerous instances in which peaceful political gatherings were blocked and the arrest, harassment and torture of political activists occurred. In order to ensure credible elections, urgent steps must be taken to open up political space. Although ensuring openness is a long process, repeal of the National Security Act, which has been instrumental in the repression of political opposition, would be a welcome signal of commitment.

The African Centre for Justice and Peace studies calls on the government of Sudan to postpone the elections, and on the international community to provide support for a dialogue amongst all political parties to create a roadmap for reform.

Election Intimidation and Delusions in Darfur

seanbrooks — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:22:37 +0000

Cross posted on the Huffington Post. In scanning the news on Sudan early this morning, I came across a short item on Radio Dabanga’s website “Two opposition politicians arrested in Nyala” about a government security raid on the local headquarters of two national political parties. As I wrote in an article at The New Republic today, this type of incident has been fairly common place during the two-month election period in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan. And then I realized that I had actually met one of those detained, Dr. Nour Al Sadiq. She is currently an appointed member of National Parliament representing the Communist Party. Along with her party, she chose not to contest the elections in Darfur. In a few days, therefore, she will lose her seat – and, as these arrests may signal, her limited protection from harassment by the Sudanese regime. To check up on Dr. Nour—who in addition to her parliamentary responsibilities works with women in internally displaced camps—I called Salih Mahmoud Osman. Also from Darfur, he serves with Nour in the Parliament as one of two other appointed members from the Communist Party. Salih has received many awards for his legal and human rights advocacy since the beginning of the crisis in Darfur, and for these efforts endured a prolonged period of detention in 2004. From Khartoum, Salih confirmed the arrests and that the security agents stormed their office in Nyala yesterday and seized documents and computers. It seems that the authorities targeted her and the other leader, Abdul Rahman Ahmed Hassan of the Umma Party for Reform and Renewal, for signing a statement with others this week urging Darfuris to not participate in the elections. Fortunately after four hours, Nour was released, but only after repeated threats and intimidation to stop these activities. In our conversation, Salih expressed his profound frustration with current US policy toward Sudan. He said, “People are really really sad and they are asking themselves why President Obama and his administration have set such low standards for the elections.” When I asked him about the US Special Envoy’s last minute efforts to salvage the elections after a number of parties announced their boycotts, Salih brushed them aside saying, “He has lost the respect of most individuals in Sudan – except for maybe the National Congress Party [Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir’s ruling party].” Salih, Nour and others right now fear what will come after the elections. In the week before the polls open, they have heard rhetoric from NCP leaders like Nafie Ali Nafie that begin to reveal the regime’s plans for a new painful chapter in Darfur and Sudan. At a rally this week, Nafie declared that overall participation of Darfuris in the election process will be high, and stated (article in Arabic):

“Darfuris will vote for the NCP to express their special relationship to the Salvation [the name for the Revolution of Salvation that seized power via military coup in 1989],” adding that Darfuris have sent clear signals to those trying to target the project of Sudan and the Salvation.

Nafie also promised the crowd that “Darfur will find salvation after an NCP victory.” Perhaps what Nafie means by ‘salvation’ is what the International Crisis Group just predicted for post-election Darfur:

[T]he consequences for Darfur are catastrophic. Disenfranchising large numbers of people will only further marginalize them. Since the vote will impose illegitimate officials through rigged polls, they will be left with little or no hope of a peaceful change in the status quo, and many can be expected to look to rebel groups to fight and win back their lost rights and lands.

In addition, the report notes how “[w]inning big is…central to the NCP’s hopes of capturing enough votes in northern Sudan to ensure its continued national dominance.” It documents the numerous ways the NCP has cooked the books to achieve this objective. The delusions of Nafie and the harassment yesterday of Nour and Abdul Rahman paint a bleak picture for Darfur and the rest of Sudan after the elections. It is clear that despite all of their protestations to the contrary the NCP and the Bashir regime have not changed. It is therefore vital that President Obama see these elections for what they really are: just a new device to maintain control across Sudan and avoid real peacemaking in Darfur.

Voting Begins in Sudan

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:07:22 +0000

Today marked the start of the Sudanese elections. Voting is scheduled to run from April 11-13, with results expected to be announced on the 18th. The BBC and Reuters have good run-downs of the complexities of these elections, including the logistical and political challenges surrounding them and a helpful Q&A. To stay up-to-date on elections developments: 1) sign up for Save Darfur's regular elections alerts at http://action.savedarfur.org/campaign/electionalerts 2) follow developments on Twitter - through our Twitter list on the elections or by following and using the hashtag #sudanelections 3) watch www.sudanvotemonitor.com, a project led by the Sudan Institute for Research and Policy (SIRP) , in collaboration with Sudanese Civil Society Organizations (CSO), and supported by eMoksha.org and Ushahidi.com (technical partners). 4) read the blogs & web publications: the Enough Project's Enough Said, with updates from Maggie Fick in South Sudan; Sudan365 with news and events from around the world; the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies; The Sudan Tribune; Change.org's Human Rights blog. --- Photo of a campaign billboard for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir taken by Mark Lotwis for the Save Darfur Coalition. More photos here.

Legitimising Khartoum

seanbrooks — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:18:46 +0000

Cross posted from Al Jazeera English. "Things will be different after the elections," asserted Ghazi Salahuddin, Sudan's presidential advisor and chief interlocutor with the US, at the end of a meeting with a delegation from the Save Darfur Coalition of which I was part in February. He expressed confidently to us that the national elections - the first multi-party elections in Sudan since 1986 - would fundamentally change Sudanese politics for the better. Since that day, the credibility of the elections has been called into question by the withdrawal of candidates and the boycott of a number of opposition parties. Rather than serving as a step forward in the long road to peace and democracy, many Sudanese now fear what a newly emboldened regime in Khartoum may mean for the country. South Sudan Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese president, and other leaders of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) have already begun to hint at their post-elections plans - and these signals spell trouble. Yesterday, on the last day of campaigning, al-Bashir revealed the results of a confidential poll of southern Sudanese. This survey, he said, found that 30 per cent of Southerners would opt for secession in the referendum scheduled for January 2011, while 40 per cent would choose unity. Such findings staggeringly contradict every other assessment of public opinion in South Sudan, which shows overwhelming support for secession. This assertion and al-Bashir's ardent pledge at the rally to campaign vigorously after the elections for unity should raise eyebrows. Darfur Campaign statements made by al-Bashir and senior NCP officials about Darfur are even more disconcerting. At numerous rallies, including some in Darfur, al-Bashir has asserted that the seven-year-old crisis is over and that peace and security are at hand. From a recent week in Darfur, I know that such statements contradict the dangerous realities in Darfur today. The withdrawal of European Union election monitors from the three states of Darfur this week due to security concerns points to the true state of the situation. Nevertheless, Ali Osman Taha, the second vice president and a long-time NCP stalwart, yesterday repeated his party's projections that the participation of Darfuris in the elections will amaze everyone. As the International Crisis Group revealed in a recent report, this will only be the case if the NCP is allowed to get away with mass vote rigging in Darfur - a project that began with a deeply-flawed census in 2008 and registration irregularities late last year. International acquiescence The confidence of al-Bashir and the NCP is made possible by the acquiescence of the international community to hold these elections to a higher standard. Most governments, including those in the Arab world and the US, seem ready to accept non-credible - and possibly even stolen - elections in exchange for al-Bashir's promises to allow the referendum next year and to make peace in Darfur. In short, stability seems preferred to safeguarding and promoting human rights and democracy in Sudan. Over the last few months, numerous Sudanese have expressed their deep frustration with such short-sighted policymaking. Many Darfuris, for instance, worry that a newly elected al-Bashir will abandon the peace process and act with even more defiance toward the United Nations/African Union peacekeeping force and International Criminal Court - which has charged him with seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Likewise, many Southerners fear that, once the election is over, al-Bashir will use violent and non-violent means to delay, disrupt, or undermine the referendum. In addition to these regional issues, political parties, civil society organisations, and independent media throughout the country fear continued government repression and intimidation. Democratisation These concerns point to what I heard repeatedly on my recent trip to Sudan: Stability and peace cannot be secured without the complete dismantling of the security state in parallel with true democratisation. In fact, the African Union Panel on Darfur led by Thabo Mbeki, the former South African president, reached similar conclusions, citing the inequitable distribution of wealth and power as the chief cause of not only the conflict in Darfur but decades of conflict in Sudan. As such, it called for "nationwide legal and security conditions to allow political activity to be freely conducted". Unfortunately, the international community missed its opportunity to press Khartoum to truly open up political space in advance of these elections. Instead of acknowledging this fact, which is underscored by the withdrawals of most opposition parties, diplomats are going out of their way to salvage these elections without concern for the long-term consequences for human rights and democracy. Given the stakes for Sudan and the region, it is past time for the international community to listen to the appeals of Sudanese who now see the elections as just another device by the regime to maintain control across Sudan and to avoid real peacemaking in Darfur. If fraudulent results are not challenged but ignored or even affirmed, these elections will legitimise and reward a governing mentality in Khartoum responsible for heinous crimes throughout the country over the last two decades. Even worse, this emboldening of an unreformed, autocratic regime could well set the stage for continued fighting in Darfur, as well as future deadly conflicts in Sudan. Sean Brooks is a policy analyst with the Save Darfur Coalition. He returned recently from a month-long trip to Sudan.

Election Roundup - April 11, 2010

Robert — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 19:49:31 +0000

Sign Up For Election Alerts! After months of speculation and intrigue, polls opened across Sudan on Sunday morning. Many Sudanese turned out to exercise their right to vote, despite the opposition boycotts and precarious security situation. News reports variously described voter turnout as light in south Sudan to surprisingly high in El Fasher in Darfur. President al-Bashir voted, as did the president of the Government of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, who arrived at the scheduled poll opening time only to be told to wait a half hour for the polls to be finished being set up. As was expected, a number of polling stations opened late, there have been reports of significant confusion about the multiple ballots (8 in the north; 12 in the south); in fact, Salva Kiir is said to have placed one of his ballots in the wrong ballot box. Numerous other logistical challenges have presented themselves, not atypical for an election in a developing nation. Electoral irregularities, particularly problems with the voter lists have been widely reported. There have been no major reports of significant or organized violence thus far. Meanwhile, President Jimmy Carter, leading the Carter Center's election observation mission warned that "if some violence or disruption occurs here in Sudan it might very well spill over into a large part of Africa." Asked what specifically could trigger such a conflict, Carter answered: "I think a breakdown in the entire electoral process that results in violence on both sides ... I would say that that could happen only if the process envisioned in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was disrupted completely which I certainly do not anticipate." ELECTION LINKS Analysis/Opinion

Legitimising Khartoum - Sean Brooks at Al Jazeera English
Absurd Sudan elections are preparing the tomb of democratization process - Sudan Democracy First Group
Voters Are Confused, and So Is the Sudan People's Liberation Movement - Maggie Fick at Change.org
Sudanese differ over elections - Al Jazeera English
Sudan's elections raise fears of violence and instability - Alex Thurston at Middle East Channel
When is an election boycott not an election boycott? - Africa News Blog - Reuters
National Congress Party gets most media coverage ahead of elections - Norwegian People's Aid

Summaries and Facts about Elections

Sudan's challenging national elections explained (Video) - BBC News
The Sudan Election Countdown - Institute for Security Studies
How to hold a vote with an illiterate electorate and 12 ballot papers to fill - Times Online
In pictures: Sudan votes in key poll - BBC News

Headlines from Last Two Days

Sudan set for historic vote, security tight - Reuters AlertNet
Bashir: The only choice left in Sudan elections - Christian Science Monitor
South Sudan votes for first time in a generation - Associated Press
South Sudan president race has eye on independence - Reuters - AlertNet
Darfur key for al-Bashir in Sudan elections - Associated Press
Sudan starts historic vote amid confusion, delays - Reuters
Sudan deal collapse could spark faith war: Carter - Reuters AlertNet
Sudan elections highlight north-south divide - Los Angeles Times
Sudanese polls must be peaceful and credible, UN chief stresses - UN News Service
Sudanese women strive for change - Al Jazeera English
Sudan candidate sings another tune (includes video) - Al Jazeera English
Juba Declaration Alliance asks international community to reject elections' results (includes audio of former president Jimmy Carter) - Miraya FM
Sudan opposition criticizes international election observers - Sudan Tribune
Southern Sudanese in Jonglei are eager to vote for the first time - Sudan Tribune
Sudanese say frustrated by Arman withdrawal from presidential race - Sudan Tribune
Angeline Teny reports widespread irregularities in Unity State - Sudan Tribune
Kenyans Flee Juba Ahead of Election - Daily Nation (Nairobi, Kenya)
Distant War Drums Sounded in Sudan - Sunday Monitor (Kampala, Uganda)
Bashir: Only 30% in the South are in favor of secession (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Taha calls for parties to accept election results (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Ghazi: the US interested in the elections because of the upcoming referendum (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam

ACJPS Condemns Violations of Electoral Procedure in the First Day of Voting

Shannon Orcutt — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:48:22 +0000

ACJPS released a statement this morning criticizing electoral irregularities including misprinted ballots and voter rights violations. Here is the full release:

(12 April 2010) As the polls closed on the first day of voting in Sudan, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) denounced reported violations of electoral procedure and incidents of irregularities committed by the National Elections Commission (NEC) and officials present at polling centres. The following violations were documented: • The NEC reportedly closed the voting centre of constituency number 8 at Albogaah Sabeel Street in Omdurman area, as the name of the National Congress Party’s (NCP) candidate, Mohamed Abd Allah Jah Alnaby, appeared in a total of 3 constituencies – 5, 7, and 8, when he was only a candidate in constituency 8. • In White Nile State, the NEC closed all voting centres because polling cards printed in Sudan included repeated symbols of candidates. Some voting cards had been printed domestically in a print house in Khartoum owned by the state, after the NEC decided that there was not sufficient time to have the whole of the ballots printed abroad. After the errors in the initial polling cards were rectified and delivered to Kosti by plane at 4 PM, only two hours were left for general polling to occur. • In Khartoum, voting centre number 5 in constituency 27 at Kanab Ibn Zouhair School, polling only began at 1:00 PM, in clear contravention to the guidelines set forth by the NEC. • In the Alklakla Alguoba voting centre in Abo Kasawi in geographical constituency number 43, voters were encouraged to vote for a certain candidate and not allowed to vote privately – they were monitored by elections officials as they cast their ballots. Residency certificates were issued to voters as proof of their identities. • In half of North State, the secret numbers verifying the individuality of ballots were ripped from each separate ballot. • In Atbara Naher, Elniel State, observers were prevented from entering the voting centre and asked to present a letter from the state electoral commission. • In Barbar, there was reportedly a mistake in the polling papers in which the symbols of the two candidates Ahmed Suliman and Abobakr, whose symbols are a bicycle and an ear of corn, respectively, were exchanged. • At Almahas in Aburgieg, the head of the voting centre violated voters’ right to privacy by entering the polling room with voters. • A voting centre at UmAlhassan was transferred to Aldabba without previous notice. Modawi Abd Alkhalig, the candidate of the Islamic Solidarity Party in Sinar constituency number 2, found that his name and symbol, a teapot, were missing from the ballot papers. • In the Ausar area in east Sudan, five centres didn’t receive voting materials. • In the Haya area of East Sudan, 12 representatives of candidates reported that they had been kidnapped by an assistant police officer and that elections on state levels had not yet begun. • In White Nile State, in Jalabeen constituency, a Sudanese National Party legislative candidate named Najim Aldein Alharith reported that his name and symbol were not included on the ballot papers. • In Alhaj Yousif, in Helat Koko, in constituency number 32, six voting centres (Alsamier, Alshakha, Um Almoamenien, Allehedin, Alfalah, and Old Haljah Yousif School) were closed because the correct voting materials had not been delivered. Rather, the ballots for another constituency were delivered. In all, these irregularities showed that the NEC was not well prepared for the elections. Serious flaws in electoral procedure were noted, including in areas that had been problematic during the registration period. These same issues – such as lack of materials and publishing and abiding by the hours of voting centres – remained inconsistent and illusive to local communities. Many centres did not receive the correct materials vital to accurately holding elections, and went without ink, voting cards, and voters’ lists. The particular type of ink used in the ballots printed within Sudan is easily removed, and many candidates found that their names and symbols were not included on ballots. Candidates’ symbols are necessary for a fully inclusive electoral process for illiterate voters. Some centres were delivered voting cards from other constituencies and used those as an alternate. Though an audit of the voter’s lists following registration was undertaken, the results were never publicised and many political parties and communities have yet to view these lists. Additionally, many centres did not publish a voter’s list, which is public information and was to be displayed at polling centres in accordance with electoral law. Indeed, many voters were unable to find their names on the NCP’s lists, but not the registration list itself – during registration, many NCP representatives had collected the unique receipts of newly registered voters for safekeeping. Many voters were not afforded the opportunity to inclusively participate, due to lack of materials and manipulation of the operation of voting centres. Entire areas remained marginalised from the process, including vast areas of Darfur which had not been registered due to insecurity and the presence of Sudanese armed security agents in towns and IDP camps. The African Centre has previously called for a postponement of the elections in order to allow them to proceed in conditions that are free and fair. Though it would be possible to blame these procedural violations on the lack of technical experience by Sudan in democratic, international observer missions that could have assisted were intimidated into silence in the preceding period and could not fulfil their mandates. National groups that had been previously accredited were told that they could not participate at the last moment. The elections lack the legitimacy of an open and democratic space for Sudanese to participate and decide on their leadership in a transparent, free, and positively inclusive way. These violations of electoral procedure undermine further the credibility of elections already marred by a litany of violations during registration and the pullout of major opposition candidates.

Election Roundup -- April 12, 2010

Robert — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:53:39 +0000

Sign up for Election Alerts! In response to calls from the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and other parties, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) agreed to extend the voting period an extra two days - so voting will now conclude on Thursday, April 15^th. The SPLM had requested a four-day extension over concerns that the first day of voting was a "wasted day" due to logistical and electoral challenges, which led to NEC to acknowledge "mistakes." The second day of voting in Sudan proceeded much as the first, although reports indicated it was somewhat more organized. Fuller reports came out about the depth of the difficulties facing voters and the electoral process, including ballots arriving late to polling stations; insufficient numbers of ballots; polling stations opening late; typographical errors or omissions on ballots; incorrect party symbols on ballots; missing names on voter registration lists; political parties unable to monitor voting in some locations; same-day registration of voters (which is illegal); and problems with the ink designed to prevent voters from voting multiple times. Shamseddin Dawalbeit, the deputy head of Tamam, an alliance of more than 100 civil society groups monitoring the polls said, "it's quite clear that these violations were very serious ones . . . these violations are being repeated systematically." There have been no major reports of violence, although there have been some reported incidents of voter intimidation by security forces. Election Links Analysis/Opinion

ACJPS Condemns Violations of Electoral Procedure in the First Day of Voting - African Center for Justice and Peace Studies
Sudan vote fiasco - Hoda Abdel-Hamid at Al Jazeera English
A wasted first day in south Sudan - Hoda Abdel-Hamid at Al Jazeera English
Sudan's "foolproof" elections - Africa News Blog - Reuters
Why I wont vote (warning: graphic language) - The Sudanese Thinker
Open Elections in Sudan? Hardly - Michelle at Change.org
The NEC and the First Day of Polling - Mohamed Hafiz at Making Sense of Darfur
This is not an election - Gigglingbob
Sudan elections: the First day of elections in 24 years - Sudanese Guardian

Summaries and Facts about Elections

Summary: First Day of Sudan Elections - Sudan Vote Monitor
Polling begins and Omar Al Bashir Votes (Video) - UN Mission in Sudan
Salva Kiir Votes in Juba, Sudan (Video) - UN Mission in Sudan
PHOTOS: First day of Sudan's general elections - Sudan Tribune
FACTBOX: List of irregularities reported by opposition in Sudan's first day of elections - Sudan Tribune

Headlines

With Outcome Foretold, Sudanese Elections Begin - New York Times
Sudanese call for voting extension after poll delays - Reuters AlertNet
Sudan extends voting for two days after delays - Reuters AlertNet
Snags hit first day of voting in Sudan - Agence France Presse
Sudan vote smoother on second day after chaotic start - Agence France Presse
Chaotic scenes in historic Sudan election - CNN
Confusion as Sudan voting continues (with video) - Al Jazeera English
Sudan's landmark polls off to an uncertain start - BBC News
Sudan Vote Begins as South Seeks Autonomy - Wall Street Journal
Poll Observer: First Day of Sudan Voting was Peaceful - Voice of America
Sudan election: Voters savor a tiny taste of democracy - Christian Science Monitor
Confusion, chaos marks first day in Sudan elections, opposition allege fraud - Sudan Tribune
Few voters in Darfur, first election day in Sudan very quiet - Radio Dabanga
UNAMID: Darfur is calm as voting begins (with audio) - Miraya FM
SPLM accuses Sudan electoral board of incompetence, partiality - Sudan Tribune
Ink is easily removed - Al Ayyam (via UNMIS)
"We have noted problems on the first day of polling" - NCP - Al Sudani (via UNMIS)
Three candidates withdraw over voting irregularities - Rai Al Shaab (via UNMIS)
Chaos Mars Sudan Elections - The New Vision (Kampala, Uganda)
NEC recognizes mistakes in 26 polling stations (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Arman: results of the elections will exacerbate the national crisis (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Turabi: confusion and irregularities in the voting process (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Civil Society organizations call for the postponement of elections (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Six candidates, including three independents, pull out of the race (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Presidential candidate could not find a card to vote at his center (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Alier alludes to the possibility of reviewing the time of voting(Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
5 cases of fainting at polling stations (in Khartoum State) (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Large number of voters in first day of voting (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Turabi: the current election is not perfect or ideal (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam

April's Darfur Hero - David Rosenberg

David Rosenberg — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:45:23 +0000

[caption id="attachment_3613" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="David Rosenberg at the 2010 Sudanese Diaspora Summit in Pittsburgh. Photo Courtesy of PDEC"][/caption] The Darfur Heroes program is a way for the Save Darfur Coalition to honor individuals and groups who have done inspiring and important work in an effort to end the violence in Sudan. This April, Save Darfur Coalition is proud to honor David Rosenberg. David Rosenberg helped organize “The Way Forward in Darfur and South Sudan,” a Sudanese Diaspora Summit held on March 19 - March 21, 2010 in Pittsburgh. The summit focused on promoting dialogue, a unified Diaspora voice and recommendations on advocacy, capacity building, and the elections in Sudan. David Rosenberg has been a longtime activist in the Sudan movement, and below are his words about his passion for the people of Sudan.

I co-founded the Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition (PDEC) in the summer of 2004 after seeing news accounts of the genocide in Darfur. I served as volunteer coordinator of the organization during my last two years as an archivist at the University of Pittsburgh and continued in this role after retiring. Already experienced in other community campaigns, I had been able to bring together diverse constituencies (students, retirees, religious and nonprofit organizations) in signature citywide campaigns which successfully impacted political leaders and media. PDEC has supported Save Darfur Coalition initiatives in a number of ways. For the “Million Voices” campaign -an initiative to deliver 1 million signed postcards to President Bush demanding his support for a stronger multilateral force to protect Darfuris; PDEC collected more than 15,400 postcards with help from student and religious organizations from Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania and Ohio. PDEC collected an additional 15,000 postcards for the “Be a Voice for Darfur” campaign targeting President Obama, which called for the protection of civilians, sustainable peace, justice for victims, and accountability for perpetrators. The PDEC cards included 4,704 signatures collected at President Obama's Inauguration by more than 150 Pittsburghers who were part of the Save Darfur Coalition call to service around the Inauguration and Martin Luther King Day. When actor and activist George Clooney delivered PDEC’s postcards and 235,000 others to President Obama, he urged the president to appoint someone to work on Sudan full-time, an initiative which was influential in the appointment of U.S. Special Envoy Gen. Scott Gration. In 2008, to underline the magnitude of the Darfur genocide, PDEC conceived the idea of creating professionally printed signs each bearing the name of one of the destroyed villages in Darfur. These signs, representing 610 of more than 3,300 Darfur villages destroyed or severely damaged since 2004, have been carried in marches in Pittsburgh and Washington D.C., displayed on college campuses, and exhibited on Flagstaff Hill in Pittsburgh in sight of the G-20 delegates and world leaders who met in the city in September 2009. [caption id="attachment_3639" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Activists with destroyed villages sign. Photo courtesy of PDEC"][/caption] David Rosenberg, Ph.D., is the co-founder of the Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition and a scholar of the French Wars of Religion. He previously worked on community campaigns which focused on memorializing the Holocaust, racial and religious discrimination, and the right of workers to organize into unions.

Sudan Domestic Election Monitoring and Observation Programme

marissa.glauberman — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:06:41 +0000

Please see below for a press release from the Sudan Domestic Election Monitoring and Observation Programme:

The Sudan Domestic Election Monitoring and Observation Programme (SuDEMOP) congratulate the citizens of Southern Sudan for turning up in large numbers to vote on the first day of the historic 2010 Sudan General Elections. We commend women for their notable participation. SuDEMOP appreciates the cooperation that the National Election Commission has accorded to domestic and international observers. SuDEMOP observers deployed in a various polling stations across Southern Sudan have reported that voters are very enthusiastic and eager to exercise their right to vote. Voting began peacefully and calmly. While SuDEMOP acknowledge the massive work done by the National Elections Commission to ensure the start of the three day voting process, we are expressly concerned about the myriad logistical, procedural and administrative constrains that caused seriou delays in the setting up, the opening of polling centers and the beginning of voting. In most polling stations in Southern Sudan voting began slowly due to crowding and the inability of voters to quickly identify their names on extracts from the voters register which were posted outside the polling centers for voters to confirm their names before queuing to vote. Delays were also caused by insufficiency of voting materials in most polling stations. One of the shortcomings that seriously affected voting on the first day of voting was the mix-up of voter’s registers from various polling stations. The extracts of the voters register which were posted outside polling stations shortly after opening of polling stations did not necessarily have the names of registered voters in the particular polling stations where they were posted and many voters had to move from one polling center to the other searching for their names. Many polling stations opened after 10 AM. A very few polling stations observed opened just slightly later than the stipulated time which is 8:00AM. SuDEMOP appeals to NEC to ensure the timely opening of all polling stations during the remaining two days of voting. We are concerned that if this situation is not addressed promptly, the period of voting might not be sufficient and many voters may not be able to vote by the last day of voting. In some polling stations, voting could not start because the ballot papers that were received by NEC officials were not for those specific polling centers. SuDEMOP observers established that voting had to be postponed in six polling stations in Maridi, two in Malakal and one in Bentiu because the voters register did not correspond to the names of voters who turned up to vote in those polling stations and the ballot papers received by NEC officials belonged to other constituencies. We encourage the National Election Commission to ensure a smooth administration of voting during the remaining period of voting. SUDEMOP also highly encourage voters to continue voting on the second and third days of voting despite the difficulties. For Further Information Contact SuDEMOP Secretariat on Tel: 0955 057 002, Email: sudemop.electionmonitors@yahoo.com, sudemop.electionmonitors@gmail.com

ACJPS Records Continuing Violations in the Second Day of Voting

Celeste Robinson — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:47:39 +0000

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies released the following statement today, documenting electoral abuses and irregularities observed during the second day of voting:

(13 April 2010) Following the second day of voting, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies noted that the National Elections Commission (NEC) had failed to solve many of the technical and procedural problems reported in the first day of voting. Although the NEC attempted to portray problems as isolated incidents, admitting problems in only 26 polling centres, reports from national observers and representatives of candidates indicate that the problems are widespread. ACJPS has documented a number of abuses, including: [further details on each item can be found here]

Delays in opening the polling centres,

Irregularities in voters’ lists,

Inconsistent voting requirements,,

Irregularities in ballot papers,

Denial of access by representatives of political candidates from the polling centres,

Irregularities in handling ballots, and

Security harassment and arrest.

While the ACJPS welcomes the decision by the NEC to extend voting for two days to address logistical problems, it underscored that these procedural violations are not the only indicators of that the elections are not free and fair. Restrictions on peaceful political activity in the run up to the elections, manipulation of the census and registration processes, and lack of opportunity for meaningful participation by opposition political parties are all issues that need to be urgently addressed. The Centre reiterates its call for reforms in the voting regime in order to facilitate political participation, reform the National Elections Commission, and rectify problems in the registration process. All of these factors have severely circumscribed access for some voters, and must be rectified in order to allow for elections in which the will of the Sudanese people can be clearly heard. ACJPS has documented a number of abuses, including:

Delays in opening the polling centres: A polling centre in Aldaim Area was opened at 12:00PM rather than 8:00AM as stipulated by the NEC.

Irregularities in voters’ lists: The Osman Abashar Tayba Falatah Centre in constituency number 16 of Jazeera state had still not been provided its voter’s list on the second day of voting. In geographic constituency number 39, a polling centre at Alshaheed Altahir School, the voter’s list was missing all names starting with the letter L. In geographic constituency Um-Doum Al-dalang in South Kordofan, the voters list at the polling centre was completely different from the NEC approved list. In Kadguli in the Nuba mountains where the SPLM and other political forces have majority support, the number of voters on the list dropped from 38,000 at the end of the registration to 29,000 at the opening of the polls. Meanwhile, the Alrashad Area in South Kordofan, believed to have majority NCP support, had the number of the voters increased by 63,000 from the closing date of registration. In the Kalbos and Seriya constituencies in West Darfur, 200 names on the voter rolls were identified by local observers as individuals who had died years before the registration had taken place.

Inconsistent voting requirements: In constituency number 2 in central Omdurman, the director of the voting centre refused to permit individuals to use residency certificates as proof of identity, despite NEC’s position that these should be accepted. Although the use of these certificates has been controversial, it is important that standards be consistently applied.

Irregularities in ballot papers: The independent candidate Dawod Ahmed Eltahir, running in geographic constituency no 2, South East Elfashir Centre 19, Altaahiel Altarbawi area reported that he could not find his name or symbol on ballot paper and the NEC suspended the voting. In Soba and Albgogaa Alula constituencies, the symbols of candidates were incorrect. The SPLM and the Justice Party of Maki Ali Balayil believe that they have strong support in these constituencies. In addition, political party representatives were not allowed to watch ballot boxes at the voting centres, as provided for in the electoral procedure. In Alobied, centre number 16, the list of political parties list was not received at all. In geographic constituency number 34 of Umbada in Omdurman, the symbol of the independent candidate did not appear. In Wasat, constituency number 3, in Nyala, the symbol of the Popular Congress Party was missing from the ballot papers.

Denial of access by representatives of political candidates from the polling centres: In Touti centre, in geographic constituency number 27, an electoral official dismissed Nahla Sluiman Alameen and Mohamed Salih Rafai, representatives of the independent candidate for the national assembly seat Suliman Alameen. These two had objected to many violations to the rules of voting (these objections had included permitting mentally incompetent persons to vote and the granting of residency certificates without provision of identification or registration numbers), and their camera was broken. In the same centre, two representatives of political parties had been arrested on 11 April, including Mohamed Isam of the Popular Conference Party. 12 Beja Conference representatives were kidnapped in Haya, in eastern Sudan. The Beja candidate today filed a complaint with the Port Sudan police.

Irregularities in handling ballots: Polling boxes were not delivered to polling centres in Kawda and Buram in South Kordofan. In Constituency 8 of Jabra in south Khartoum, boxes were observed being handed over the wall of the polling centre by army officers who were not charged with elections duties. The Democratic Unionist Party candidate, Wagie Alla Mohamed Alhaj, withdrew from the race because of this incident, claiming that it was a clear attempt to rig the vote. The NEC acknowledged the incident, but described it as a mistake saying that the door was closed, which is why the boxes were moved over the wall of the centre. In El Geneina, a car without license plates carried away ten boxes of ballots without being accompanied by election officers or observers. The NEC claimed that this was a mistake.

Security harassment and arrest: Badr Aldein Abd Allah Alemam, a nationally accredited observer in Khartoum State, geographic constituency number 32 in the Suba Alazhary Alsalamah area was prevented by national security officers from entering the polling centre and beaten. The NEC later intervened and he was allowed to enter. Two female candidates from the Popular Congress Party in Jazeera State named Amira Elsir Hassan Ahmed and Alniamah Awad Shararah in constituency number 5 of Alhasahisa Central in the Wad Bahai area were arrested to prevent them from observing the voting, despite prior authorisation. Two political activists were arrested in West Darfur, Mohamed Bahar Aldin and Mohamed Abd Alfaraj. Bahar Aldin had reportedly participated in an interview with BBC three days earlier in which he was critical of the election and NEC. On Touti Island in central Khartoum, the Popular Congress Party reported that two of its observers were arrested by security forces.

Election Roundup -- April 13, 2010

Robert — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:46:44 +0000

Day three of voting continued much as that of the first two days. As noted yesterday, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) extended voting an extra two days so polls will now close on Thursday, April 15. There were continued reports of serious flaws in the balloting process, particularly as it relates to the voter registers, where many voters are finding it difficult to locate which polling place they are registered at. This appears to be particularly true in South Sudan, where by some estimates, some polling locations have had less than ten percent turnout. According to one report by Reuters, at one polling station in the southern town of Torit, there were 1,323 registered voters, but only 29 (or 2%) successfully made it to the poll on the first day. Opposition leaders such as Sadiq al-Mahdi, of the Umma party described "what is happening now [as] ... chaos," and stated that the election has turned from a celebration into a funeral. Along the same lines, Yasir Arman, who withdrew as the presidential candidate of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) called for the dissolution of the NEC citing "huge mistakes." Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, heading the Carter Center election observation mission, said that "there will be serious faults in the election, there is no doubt about that, which we'll assess later on," and described the election as an "unavoidable step in [the] process," towards the referendum on southern independence. The State Department described the elections as an "important milestone," as Special Envoy for Sudan Scott Gration is on his way back to Washington. Both Carter and Gration were sharply rebuked yesterday for their supposed support of the elections in a press conference by opposition parties boycotting the elections. For the third consecutive day, there were no significant reports of major violence, although four UNAMID peacekeepers have gone missing in Darfur, highlighting the continued lack of security in that region.

ELECTION LINKS

Sudanese Voices

Statement from Sudan Domestic Election Monitoring and Observation Programme
ACJPS Records Continuing Violations in the Second Day of Voting - African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies
Is credibility of this election an issue? - Isaiah Abraham at Sudan Tribune
In Anticipation of More - Abraham Awolic at The Mantle
Is Salva Kiir Ready to Work with "Independent" Governors? - John Akec
2nd Day Sudan Election - Mary Boyoi
Elections May Jeopardize Unity, Says One Sudan 'Lost Boy' - Voice of America

Analysis/Opinion

How Sudan's Election Got Messy - Maggie Fick at Foreign Policy
Good for Sudan - Alex de Waal at Making Sense of Sudan
What is 'Good for Sudan' to the election monitor Alex de Waal? - Hildebrand Bijleveld at Radio Dabanga
Sudan's Protest Vote - Fatima Naib at Al Jazeera English
The Ballot Boxes of Sudan - Ghassan Charbel at Al Hayat
Better late than never - Economist
Sudan's election boycott: the underside - Julie Flint at The Daily Star
Sudan's election will change little - Harry Verhoeven at The Guardian
Elections in Sudan Are A Cause for Concern: Statement by Dan Glickman, President, Refugees International - Refugees International

Pictures, Summaries and Facts about Elections

Pictures of the Day: Voting in Sudan - New York Times
Eyewitness: Voting in Juba, Sudan - The Guardian
South Sudan: Voting for the Future (Video) - UNHCR
Sudan's Fractured Internal Politics - Council on Foreign Relations

Headlines from Last Two Days

Ex-President Carter cites problems in Sudan - Associated Press
Carter Says Sudan Vote Is Key to Southern Referendum - Reuters
Sudan opposition accuses US of backing flawed poll - Associated Press
Sudan vote errors hit southern turnout - officials - Reuters AlertNet
Sudan extends landmark elections after ballot mix-ups - BBC News
'No rush' to vote in Sudan after polling extended - Agence France Presse
Second polling day in Khartoum calm - United Nations Mission in Sudan
Voters increase on third day of polling - Miraya FM
US Calls Sudan Elections 'Important Milestone' Despite Flaws - Voice of America
Rights Groups Condemn Sudanese National Election Conditions - Voice of America
Sudanese president likely to be re-elected - Washington Times
Sudan election: Is Khartoum stealing South Sudan's oil? - Christian Science Monitor
Sudan votes - 12 times over - The Guardian
Family not party ties sway voters in Beshir's home village - Agence France Presse
Sudanese in US watch elections back home - PRI's The World
Irregularities during second elections day in Sudan; head of polling station in Darfur 'casts 250 votes' - Radio Dabanga
SPLM boycott preserves social peace in Sudan: Arman - Sudan Tribune
N. Bahr el Ghazal arrests election worker accused of fraud - Sudan Tribune
Allegations of intimidation in W. Equatoria balloting - Sudan Tribune
Polling enter second day in Jonglei - Sudan Tribune
Akol: GoSS and SSHC are rigging the elections - Miraya FM
Peaceful demonstration for ballot boxes - Miraya FM
Arman: NEC should be dissolved due to "huge mistakes" - Miraya FM
Thrill of Elections: Sudan Voters Hold Their Heads High - Africa Review (Nairobi, Kenya)
Opposition critical of US intervention in "shameful" elections; accuse it of doing so for separation of the South (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Mahdi: What is happening now is chaos (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
72 complaints filed against NEC (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Sheikhs of the IDPs boycotting the elections (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Political forces participating in the elections threaten a boycott (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Doubts about vehicles carrying ballot boxes in West Darfur (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Tamam calls for re-run of elections in some constituencies (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Mahdi discuss with Mbeki the possibility of convening a summit of heads of political parties (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Polling stations closed in South Darfur (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Mutrif: the referendum will be on schedule (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Attack on driver of truck carrying voters near Abu Garba (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
National network to monitor a shortage of ballot papers and damage in inks (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Carter: Election proceeding in normal way, turnout at around 60% (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Clashes and scuffles at voting center in South Darfur (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Khartoum: the security situation is stable (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Bona Malwal withdraws from elections in the South (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Abd al-Aziz Khalid [presidential candidate of Sudan Alliance] calls for delaying the elections (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Juba forces criticize Carter and Gration (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Gambari inspects IDPs in Darfur (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Sudan's Opposition: "Election Celebration Turned into a Funeral" - Al Hayat (Lebanon)

A Darfuri Perspective on Sudan’s Dubious Elections

Niemat — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:29:54 +0000

Cross posted from Sojourners' God's Politics blog. As a Darfuri, I recognize the fact that this presidential and parliamentary election in Sudan is an important milestone for the implementation of the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in 2005. Unfortunately, as people of Darfur, we are too familiar with the man controlling these elections; Omar al-Bashir is an indicted war criminal, a brutal dictator who seized power in a coup, and he has oppressed his own people for his entire ruling period of over two decades. There will never be a free and fair election in Sudan while Omar al-Bashir is in charge. Since last year, there has been widespread opposition to how the population census was conducted. In Darfur, serious flaws with the electoral process led to organized boycotting by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other war-affected communities. Darfuris who have fled to other parts of Sudan have also been excluded from the count - the Geneva-based Darfur Relief and Documentation Center found that over 95% of Darfuri IDPs in certain parts of Sudan were intentionally excluded from the Sudanese census. Darfuri students have been consistently harassed, threatened, and killed in Khartoum by the ruling government. The people of Darfur - who make up approximately 20% of Sudan’s population - have been excluded from these elections entirely. Instead al-Bashir is telling the international media that his party, the National Congress Party, has the full support of the population in Darfur. The suggestion that the people of Darfur support Bashir after he led a campaign designed for Darfur’s destruction is beyond offensive. Meanwhile, people in other parts of Sudan, members of the international community, and UN officials are prepared to leave the Darfuri constituency behind in order to get these elections over with. And why not? UN officials have stated that “the war in Darfur is over,” and they are clearly ready to wash their hands of “the Darfur problem.” These statements are divorced from the reality on the ground. Last month, an attack on Jebel Marra in Western Darfur took as many as 400 lives, displaced 100,000 citizens, and left the population with no access to humanitarian or peacekeeping assistance. Last week, Yasir Arman, the leader of the South’s main political party (the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement), pulled out of the election, concluding that it had been rigged. Most of the other opposition parties have joined him in boycotting Bashir’s manipulated election. This is a critical time for our people in Sudan, and it’s time for the international community to honor the promises they have made. The U.S. Government can choose to stand with the people of Sudan or to remain silent and move forward, legitimizing the rule of this genocidal dictator. History will judge us for our actions, and it is up to the American people to tell their leaders what they expect from them - a genuine commitment to democracy and human rights. People of faith have been active since the beginning of the crisis for the rights of the people of Darfur. Emphasizing morality, mutual responsibility, and social justice, the faith community has refused to be silent and has insisted on truth and action. When they speak, the world listens. Now more than ever before, the people of Sudan need your voices. We are asking you to speak with one united voice to say that these elections will not be free and fair, that their result will not take into account the desires of the Sudanese people, and that their winning candidate has paid for his victory in blood. Please pray for the people of Darfur, and encourage your Congressional leaders to act now. Niemat Ahmadi is a native of North Darfur and is the Darfuri Liaison Officer at the Save Darfur Coalition.

Two Election Videos From Sudan

Niemat — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:44:32 +0000

In this video from Al-Hurra, an Arabic news journalist reports from a polling site in Khartoum. He says that a person from Omar Al Bashir’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has brought a lot of women to the site that are not registered to vote and who don't hold ID cards. The women, he states, only have their resident certificates which are against the electoral laws. The head of the voting center in the video, then, admits that this kind of fraud has happened a lot and promises to prevent it, but the journalist then notes: "It dose not seem like she can do anything to stop it." The journalist also says that he has heard many reports from their sources of similar cases at different centers throughout the city of Omdurman as well. He concludes his piece by saying, “[This type of fraud] is not a surprise in a country ruled by a totalitarian government for this period of time. It’s very much expected.” In this second video from Girifna, a man discusses the ink used at the polling sites to mark voter’s thumbs to confirm that they have voted:

Here by, I am testifying that I voted at the Abu Hamad center the Constituency No 17. The ink used by the electoral commission to mark voters fingers is removable. I voted at 3:00pm and now after 4 hours my finger is very clean. I used only tap water and soil to wash it, and its now clean like my face after 4 hours. I informed the National Electoral commission immediately that this ink is removable and not reliable.

The Arabic writing above the video makes reference to the “Gration commission ink” – an apparent jab at the U.S. Special Envoy who is seen has having supported of the national elections.

Sudan church leader says elections too flawed to be free and fair

Celeste Robinson — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:09:16 +0000

A new article from Frederick Nzwili at the Ecumenical News International (ENI) on the Sudan Council of Churches:

Nairobi, 14 April (ENI)--The general secretary of the Sudan Council of Churches - an Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic grouping - has said that current national elections in Africa's biggest country do not qualify as free and fair. The Rev. Ramadan Chan Liol, said, however, that the elections should continue since they are a key step in the implementation of the country's Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The 2005 accord was signed in Nairobi between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army, ending 21 years of civil war, fought mainly in the south. The poll, which started on 11 April, has been labelled as the first multi-party elections in Sudan since 1986. In the Islamic-majority north, however, only small opposition parties are running against President Omar al-Bashir and his party. "The view of the Church is that the whole exercise is one that cannot be described as free and fair," Chan, a Baptist, told Ecumenical News International in a telephone interview from Khartoum on 14 April. "There are too many challenges. Peoples' names are missing from the registers. They are scattered in different rolls in different towns." He spoke as the elections entered their fourth day. The polling began facing complaints of delays, confusion over names and symbols, as well as the withdrawal of some candidates. Voting ends on 15 April after a two-day extension by the National Election Commission. Churches had mobilised people to vote in the presidential, legislative and local elections, according to Chan, but some voters said they were frustrated by boycotts and withdrawals. The SPLM withdrew its presidential candidate Yasir Arman from the poll, while the Umma Party and Popular Congress Party from the north also said they are boycotting the election. "The boycott has brought down the morale among the people. They are no longer excited about the elections," said Chan. Chan was asked if the situation may be repeated in a scheduled 2011 referendum to determine whether the south will remain united with the rest of the country or it will become independent. He said, "That will be a different scenario from the elections where people will chose yes or no." As he cast his vote on 12 April, Catholic Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro of Juba told journalists, "This preparation for the people of southern Sudan for the referendum next year." BBC television later quoted as the archbishop as saying in Juba. "If the people chose to secede… they must go." Many church leaders in southern Sudan support the independence of the region saying it can help the mineral-rich region where Christianity and African traditional religions predominate.

SuNDE Condemns Detention of Nonpartisan Observers

Celeste Robinson — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:09:55 +0000

Statement from the Sudanese Network for Democratic Elections (SuNDE), a non-partisan coalition of over 75 Sudanese civil society organizations. SuNDE is observing in all ten states of Southern Sudan and is deployed in 52 out of 78 counties:

(Juba) - Today, Sudanese Network for Democratic Elections (SuNDE) observers were removed by security personnel from polling stations in Hai Jalaba, Youth Trading Center, and Saint Theresa in Juba East and Kator South Constituencies. This continues a troubling trend in Juba of observers being obstructed from carrying out their right to observe the election process. This trend started yesterday when 19 domestic observers were removed from three polling centers in Kator South Constituency by unknown security personnel and taken to the Public Security office and eventually detained at the Police of the Public Order office near Konyo Konyo market. The polling stations observers were removed from include Comboni South School (PC #10), Bakietha School (PC #2), and Lologo Reformatory School (PC #3). Fourteen of the nineteen observers were from SuNDE. One SuNDE observer was assaulted by the security personnel. SuNDE representatives were told that security personnel were given orders to remove all domestic observers from NGOs from polling stations. The security personnel entered the polling stations without authorization from any election official, which is a violation of the rules and procedures set forth by the National Election Commission. NEC guidelines and rules only allow security personnel to enter polling stations at the request of an election official. These incidents are an obstruction of SuNDE’s right to observe the electoral process and impairs the transparency of the voting process at the polling stations where the SuNDE observers were observing. Moreover, the unjustified arrest and removal of accredited observers may heighten a sense of intimidation in certain areas. SuNDE will continue to actively monitor the safety of their observers in Kator South, Juba East and other constituencies in and around Juba for the remainder of the electoral process. SuNDE encourages election officials and other law enforcement agencies to investigate these incidents and hold the persons responsible accountable. SuNDE would like to thank the members of the Central Equatoria State High Election Committee, UNMIS officials, and representatives from USAID for working with SuNDE to secure the release of the observers. SuNDE particularly appreciates the concern shown by the Central Equatoria SHEC members who personally escorted the observers back to their polling stations yesterday.

Election Roundup -- April 14, 2010

Robert — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:27:55 +0000

Numerous reports continue to come from Sudan on the fourth of five days of voting. Nearing the end, many Sudanese are beginning to focus on the next stages of the process. The National Elections Commission (NEC) announced yesterday evening that counting would begin on Friday and that it expected to be able to announce results on Tuesday, April 20. The NEC also gave initial estimates of voter turnout, although these have been questioned on the basis of anecdotal accounts from observers and journalists. The general secretary of the Sudan Council of Churches - an Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic grouping - has said that current national elections do not qualify as free and fair. Former South African president Thabo Mbeki, chair of the African Union High Level Panel on Darfur, said from Juba that the first days of the elections have been marred by technical problems. Meanwhile, predicting an overwhelming 'victory,' Omar Al Bashir's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) stated that it would invite opposition parties into a unity government. Sudanese Voices

A Darfuri Perspective on Sudan's Dubious Elections - Niemat Ahmadi at Sojourners' God's Politics blog
Two Election Videos from Darfur - Neimat Ahmadi at Blog for Darfur
Sudan church leader says elections too flawed to be free and fair - Ecumenical News International
Interview with Sudan Vote Monitor - Technology for Transparency Network
“Ushahidi” in Sudan: A Step Towards Citizen-Monitored Elctions - Ibrahim El Badawi
The test of democracy in Sudan - Justin Laku at The Sudan Tribune
Mary Boyoi, Parliamentary Candidate, Arrested in Pibor - Mary Boyoi

Analysis/Opinion

"VOTING" IN DARFUR - Laura Jones and Amanda Hsaio at the Enough Project
Sudan votes - millstone or milestone? - Andrew Harding at BBC News
A Travesty, a Logistical Nightmare, Irrelevant, Democracy - Dan Morrison

Pictures, Summaries and Facts about Elections

Indecision 2010 - Slideshow at Foreign Policy

Headlines from Last Two Days

Sudan Electoral Official Pleased With Voter Turnout - Voice of America
Sudan elections marred by technical problems, Mbeki - The Post (Zambia)
African Union praises Sudan vote - Agence France Presse
Sudan Elections Show Up Deep Divides - Reuters
Bashir's party asks rivals to join Sudan government - Reuters
Sudan elections face logistical problems, not fraud: Carter - Agence France Press
Carter to VOA: Sudan Vote Key for Peace - Voice of America
Scam mars Darfur polls - Al Jazeera English
For Sudanese dissidents, path to peace is social media - Globe and Mail
Women Voting in Large Numbers in Southern Sudan - Voice of America
Sudan election: Can art keep the country together? - Christian Science Monitor
Dial 606 for your Sudan voting complaints(Video) - Agence France Presse
U.N. backs voting extension in Sudan - CNN
Sudan mulls limited re-runs over election errors - Reuters
Sudan says voter turnout improving, election count to start Friday - Sudan Tribune
Lam Akol says two SLPM-DC members killed in Unity State - Sudan Tribune
Darfur rebels reject Sudan elections as illegitimate - Radio Dabanga
Jonglei electorates voting at 5 hrs walk stations - Sudan Tribune
SPLA: Bona Malwal's withdrawal had nothing to do with harassment - Sudan Tribune
WES authorities up in arms over voters' intimidation allegations - Sudan Tribune
Turnout is declining in Khartoum and continuing complaints from parties (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Interior Minister: Fears of violence have no basis (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Lam Akol accuses SPLM of rigging elections in the South (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
NCP send formal protest to First Vice President on election irregularities in the South (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
IDPs in Zamzam camp boycott the elections - Radio Dabanga (Arabic)
Stopping of vehicle belonging to NCP carrying ballot boxes in El Geneina - Radio Dabanga (Arabic)
Umma Party for Reform and Renewal: Two vehicles eyeing house of Mubarak al-Fadil (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Political party agents in Nyala threaten to boycott elections and reject results (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
16 centers in Darfur has not received voting cards (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
4 candidates withdraw from races in Port Sudan (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
DUP to announce its position after the election results; rejects demands to stop process or boycott (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
PCP candidate calls for halt of voting (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Southern Sudan elections body admits polling mistakes (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Voter stabs himself after realising he did not vote for Al-Bashir (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
NCP official: 7 million pounds is cost of the national campaign in Khartoum (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
10 parties freeze participation at some voting centers in the South (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Independent candidate for the post of governor of North Darfur says he has documentation of fraud in the state (Arabic) - Radio Dabanga
Polling stations in Darfur provided ballot samples only mentioning NCP(Arabic) - Radio Dabanga
Smooth Polling after Voting Period Extension(Arabic)- Al Ahram (Egypt)
Third Day Characterized by Low Election Participation and Washington Says It Is an Important Step Forward(Arabic)- Asharq Al Awsat (UK)
Women Are the Fastest Way to the Presidency(Arabic) - Asharq Al Awsat (UK)

Sudan Domestic Election Monitoring and Observation Programme (SuDEMOP) Update

Celeste Robinson — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:42:02 +0000

SuDEMOP press statement after observation for 4 polling days of the Sudan General Elections 2010:

Sudan Domestic Election Monitoring and Observation Programme (SuDEMOP), is a Civil Society Network and one of the largest domestic observer groups in southern Sudan. We acknowledge that the Sudan General election is a great challenge to a country which is holding elections for the first time in 24 years. Without fear of contradiction, SuDEMOP observed a number of irregularities which requires immediate corrective action from NEC and political parties in order to improve the polling process and ensure confidence of voters for the remaining polling period. There have been rampant cases of political party agents imposing themselves to help voters which lead to unprecedented incidents; for example in Northern Bahar El Ghazel where a police officer was killed. These cases of party agents assisting voters has been a cross-cutting issue in all the ten states of southern Sudan. It has been evident that political parties have chosen to extend their campaign activities in to the election period which is a violation of the electoral law. This has manifested itself in incidents where strong candidates organize for transportation of voters from one location to another and instructing voters to vote in their favor. SuDEMOP observers have reported cases of harassment and intimidation of domestic observers, voters and polling officials by local authorities and unauthorized security personnel in Western Bahar el Ghazel, Central and Western Equatoria, Northern Bahar el Ghazel, and Unity states. We express deep concern over these incidents as a violation of the electoral law and direct attack against human rights and citizens’ freedom. In as much as the extension of the polling period created room for voters to locate their names, lack of clarity of instruction on extension of contracts of polling station staff for the two days (April 14th and 15th), many polling stations throughout southern Sudan opened late thus preventing voters to exercise their rights to vote. SuDEMOP continues to observe the elections.

See SuDEMOP's April 12 press statement here.

ACJPS: Fourth Day of Voting is Accompanied by Violence, Intimidation, and Irregularities

Celeste Robinson — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:46:23 +0000

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies released the following statement earlier today:

Fourth Day of Voting is Accompanied by Violence, Intimidation, and Irregularities (15 April 2010) The fourth day of elections in Sudan showed a continuation of the same tactics employed systematically by the National Elections Commission (NEC), accompanied by a spike in violence. Though it cannot be verified due to lack of capacity for comprehensive analysis, observers have noted that voting has slowed across the country. NEC officials believe that the decreasing rate of voting is due to the extension of the voting period, implying that most people have already voted. However, observers have also noted that obstacles to voting, including the exclusion of registered voters from the voter rolls and the fact that some voting centres have run out of ballots, may have contributed. In addition, observers have continued to note instances where the transfer of ballot boxes has not been secure, candidate’s names have been dropped from the ballot or their symbols misrepresented. There is no evidence that the NEC has investigated any of these incidents. Below, some of the instances from 13 and 14 April [see full article for further details on each of these]:

Irregularities in voters’ lists;

Inconsistent voting requirements;

Irregularities in ballot papers;

Irregularities in handling ballots;

Security harassment and arrest;

Politically-motivated violence; and

Violations of freedom of information

Irregularities in voters’ lists: On 14 April in Constituency 2 of Omdurman, it was noted that a portion of the voter rolls had been transferred from the Alemam Alboukharry voting centre to the School 17 Centre. In the Alemam Alboukharry centre a copy of the registration rolls replaced the original voter roll (on which the names of those who had been marked),suggesting that individuals could vote twice. A candidate of Constituency 3, Alsadig Ali Hassan, attempted to make a complaint on this matter, but was ignored under the pretext that election officials did not have the necessary form. Inconsistent voting requirements: In Alosharah Centre Number 3 of Constituency Number 37, an elderly blind woman requested that the Director of the Centre cast her vote for the Democratic Unionist Party. Assistance in voting is allowed by NEC guidelines for the blind. However observers noted that he cast her vote for the National Congress Party (NCP). When the woman realised this, she struck the Director. The police intervened and beat her. The Centre was closed briefly and only reopened after the woman had been removed. Irregularities in ballot papers: On 14 April, voting centre 23 at Ashari District School for Girls in Constituency 23 of Kosti City, 500 ballots were cancelled after the NEC discovered that the ballot cards used for the National Assembly repeated symbols of political parties. Voters were informed via microphone in the voting centre, and told to re-vote. In Aldabah Nahr Elniel State, Constituency 18, a NEC officer distributed ballots for the Legislative Council with portions missing. The ballots for Legislative Council are made up of three cards, consisting of candidates for the constituency, women, and political parties, respectively. The NEC officer only distributed three cards from the women’s list, but did not inform the voters or NEC. At least 28 voters cast the wrong ballots. When a voter discovered that the wrong ballots had been used, a request to close the ballot box was made to the political parties representative, a member of the National Alliance. A NEC official was contacted and arrived accompanied by police and security services, which surrounded the Centre and engaged in skirmishes with voters. Voting continued without cancelling the initial misused ballots, though the incident was reported. Irregularities in handling ballots: In Halfa in North State, Constituency 12, a book of 100 ballots and 10 empty ballot boxes was found at the home of a NEC officer. The ballots and boxes were removed, and the incident was reported to the local Police Department. In Aldain town, South Darfur, the election box was moved from the main room to another, where no political party observers were present. In Port Sudan, eastern Sudan, Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Mukhtar from Beja Congress reported to NEC damage to the polling box in Constituency 9, Centre 2. Security harassment and arrest: On the 13 April in Alghaba, Constituency 14, North State, the police arrested six supporters of the independent candidate Abas Sultan Kejab, and filed a criminal case against them as a public nuisance. They were tried on the spot, and sentenced to 15 lashes per person. Two members of Girifna were arrested by NISS officers in Ombada, Khartoum. In South Darfur, the Centre of Khour Abashi, which was to serve 2,848 people, has not yet opened. A candidate of Constituency 17 complained to the NEC that access had been denied to these voters. In Abu Shouk IDP camp in North Darfur, members of the NCP threatened IDP women to vote for the NCP and Omar al Bashir for President in the voting centre. In Al Salaam IDP camp in North Darfur, border guards threatened the IDPs in close proximity to Centre 4 inside the camp. Politically-motivated violence: On 13 April, a voter in Raja, Southern Sudan, stabbed a police officer. In a suburb of Raja, Altomsah, in Bahr el Ghazal, nine members of the NCP were murdered, including Hamadoun Jamaon, the locality’s NCP chairman. On 14 April, Najlaa Sieed Ahmed, a coordinator of elections observers and a well-known activist for the freedom of expression, was monitoring voting centres in Oumorman Oumbada area. She observed a fight wherein NCP members were threatening voters and people near the voting centre, and an order was given for the security forces to beat the voters. A National Security Officer holding an NCP card by the name of Najm Elein Khojali got into Ms. Ahmed’s vehicle, and beat her and Bakri Alagami, who was accompanying her. He ordered Ms. Ahmed and Mr. Alagami to take him to Oumbada Alsabeel Alhara police station in Constituency 18, where he accused them of being journalists and kidnapping him. Lawyers from the African Centre are following the case closely. On 14 April at the Fodasy Voting Centre of Constituency 11 in Central West Wad Medani, Mohamed Alamei Hamdan, a representative of the Democratic Unionist Party, was assaulted and beaten by anonymous attackers. In Constituency 18 of Al Gezira state, Sheikh Abd El Baky School Centre, a member of the NCP was spotted entering the election room repeatedly during the first three days of voting, and was expelled by the head of the Centre. On the 4^th day of voting, he came back to the Centre accompanied by six members of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS). Two members threatened the head of the voting centre at gunpoint to allow the NCP member access. The voting centre was closed for two hours. In southern Sudan, in Kaka City, three observers from the Sanad Charity were arrested. In eastern Sudan in Haya Constituency, the candidate of the Beja Congress complained that their supporters were receiving threats from NCP members. Three polling centres were attacked Wednesday morning in South Kordofan State and a group called the Sudan Liberation Army Front has claimed responsibility. In a press statement to Radio Miraya, the commander of the group, Abu Bakr Mohammed Kadu, said that the attacks targeted the areas of Danffara, Heigleig, and Al Demulowiya in Al Deab municipality. Violations of freedom of information: The website Sudan Vote Monitor, an independent civil society monitoring initiative, was blocked in Sudan. Entering the last day of voting, it is clear that the electoral process has been marred by procedural flaws and irregularities, corruption, violence, and severe restrictions on civil and political freedom. The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies is dedicated to promoting human rights and the rule of law in Sudan through ongoing monitoring of human rights violations in the country, promotion of legal reform and the understanding of legal challenges facing Sudan and national and international advocacy on these issues.

Election Roundup — April 15, 2010

Robert — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 23:16:02 +0000

On the last of five days of polling in Sudan, reports from across the country continued to document technical problems, electoral irregularities, and unfortunately violence and intimidation. News was dominated by reports that nine members of Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP) were killed in South Sudan three days ago. The NCP blamed the Sudan People's Liberation Army - but SPLA leaders denied the violence was coordinated and described the incident as an isolated, individual crime by one of its soldiers. In other news, the youth movement Girifna reported on its website that two of its members had been detained in Khartoum yesterday. The Committee to Protect Journalists called on the Sudanese authorities to immediately drop criminal charges against prominent journalist and opposition party member Al-Haj Ali Warrag. Authorities charged Warrag on Sunday with "waging war against the state" in connection with an article that he published on April 6. The National Election Commission yesterday estimated the voter turnout ranged widely from 63% to 82% in each state, though these figures have been questioned. With polling now complete, all eyes turn to the announcement of results and the reaction of world leaders across the globe. Vote counting will begin tomorrow and the National Elections Commission plans to begin releasing results next Tuesday, April 20. Many Sudanese fear the possibility of post-election violence. ELECTION LINKS Sudanese Voices

Sudan elections turned into a lie that cannot live - Hala Al Karib at Sudan Tribune
Rigged elections boxes should be disqualified - James Okuk at Sudan Tribune
Sudan elections provide lessons for 2011 referendum - Justin Ambago Ramba at Sudan Tribune
SuNDE Condemns Detention of Nonpartisan Observers - Statement
Statement from Sudan Domestic Election Monitoring and Observation Programme (SuDEMOP) - Statement
NEC Inconsistencies and Suppression Persist on the Third Day of Voting- African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies
Interview with Osman Hummaida of the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies - All Africa

Analysis/Opinion

Obama's Sudan Fumble - John Norris at Foreign Policy
Half horrid, half hopeful - The Economist
Too poor to vote - Mohamed Adow at Al Jazeera English

Pictures, Summaries and Facts about Elections

Photos: Children vote in Khartoum North - Radio Dabanga
State by State Reports - Miraya FM

Headlines from Last Two Days

Sudanese vote on last day of tense elections - Agence France Presse
Sudan president asks opposition to join government - BBC News
Elections spark new fears in Darfur camps - Reuters
Killings, harassment mar last day of Sudan vote - Reuters
Sudanese journalist charged with 'waging war' against state - Committee to Protect Journalists
Sudan poll shooting 'kills nine' - Al Jazeera English
Sudan's Growth Buoys a Leader Reviled Elsewhere - New York Times
Sudan Election Should Not Legitimize Bashir, Says Ambassador Frazer - Voice of America
Rights Activists Describe Sudanese Elections as Rigged, say U.S. Not Tough Enough
The UN Provides Logistical Support for Elections, Security in Sudan - Voice of America
Elections in Sudan Ending - Voice of America
Live-music organizer trumpets change in Sudan's political tone - The Globe and Mail
Security forces beat Independent candidate agent in Western Equatoria - Sudan Tribune
Arman's Withdrawal from Sudan's elections and popular uprising scenario - Sudan Tribune
Fears that Western Equatoria on the brink of election violence - Sudan Votes
Over 1,000 university students studying in North Sudan will not vote - Sudan Votes
Independent candidate urges calm when results are announced - Miraya FM
NCP candidates now wanted fugitives for Darfur market scam - Radio Dabanga
NEC employee arrested for keeping ballot boxes in his house - Miraya FM
Public holiday announced to increase voter participation - Miraya FM
Carter satisfied with the elections and the African Union does not see big problems (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
SPLM and PCP refuse invitation to join national government (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Ghazi: the forces that refuse to participate in the government will isolate themselves (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
35 agents of Bashir in South kidnapped (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Khader [NCP official]: No need for NCP to steal elections (Arabic) - Al Ray Al Aam
Turabi: elections did not see egregious fraud, but reprehensible errors (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Mbeki: the elections will reflect positively on Darfur peace (Arabic) - Al Sahafa
Arrest of NCP member for fraud in voting center in El Fasher (Arabic) - Radio Dabanga
Relocation of a number of polling stations in south Zalingei without the knowledge of voters (Arabic) - Radio Dabanga
PCP accuses officers of rigging the elections and calls for extending the period three more days (Arabic) - Radio Dabanga
Failure to include nomads in voting process in South Darfur (Arabic) - Radio Dabanga
Majority of citizens in Kass boycotting the elections and the NCP resorting to exploiting IDPs (Arabic)- Radio Dabanga
Court sentences 10 supporters of SLA-AW in Khartoum on charges of disrupting the elections (Arabic) - Radio Dabanga
Scuffle between the candidates of political parties and police at a polling station in Ardamata, West Darfur (Arabic)- Radio Dabanga
Displaced people in Abu Shouk deny in the presence of Gambari that they participated in the elections (Arabic) - Radio Dabanga

Sudan Democracy First Group Open Letter to President Carter

Shannon Orcutt — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:32:25 +0000

Yesterday Sudan Democracy First Group issued an open letter to President Carter calling for the withdrawal of his elections monitoring mission.

Sudan Democracy First Group An Open Letter to President Carter
April 15, 2010 Dear Mr President, It is with regret that we find ourselves compelled to write this letter to you on the eve of the close of polling in the Sudanese “elections”, three days before the expected declaration of victory for the National Congress Party (NCP) and its indicted President. Once more we are writing to ask you to withdraw your observer mission from Sudan and salvage your own personal reputation and that of the Carter Center. Your mission is based on the Declaration of Principles for International Observation and Code of Conduct for International Observers which defines democratic elections as, “an expression of sovereignty, which belongs to the people of a country, the free expression of whose will provides the basis for the authority and legitimacy of government”. It further recognises that, “the rights of citizens to vote and to be elected at periodic, genuine democratic elections are internationally recognized human rights”. As you will be aware over the last 5 days there have been hundreds of reports of inference with the right to vote from domestic sources, including the media, party agents, and independent civil society groups. The election has been riddled with massive irregularities and fraud not only with respect to matters relating to the voting itself such as the absence of candidates from ballot papers, the rigging of voter registration, and the use of non-permanent voter ink, but also commission of crimes such as the burning of election centers, the beating of voters, forced voting based on violent threats, summary trials of citizens in Khartoum, arrest of candidates, attacks on domestic monitors and so on. Indeed even Mr Alhaj Warrag, a prominent journalist and co founder of SDFG was charged under the Sudanese Penal Code with “waging war against the state” simply on the basis that he wrote an article on April 6th which called for a boycott of the already rigged elections. It may be as a result of language and cultural barriers that you do not comprehend these incidents, but it is astonishing to us that your public statements since your arrival completely run counter to the on-the-ground reports and realities, seeming to only echo the pronouncements of the NCP and officials from the National Election Commission (NEC). In fact despite your Center’s declared policy of not making public statements during the course of voting, you appear to have judged it necessary to continually speak to the media and to make statements about the election. For example on the 13th of April you told AFP that the problems being reported were “administrative problems” that there was “no evidence of fraud so far as I know." These statements not only completely ignored the facts and realties on the ground during the polling days, but also jeopardise the efforts of your own staff to monitor the elections fairly and prepare an accurate and credible report. Your statements also undermine the positions of the major political forces and only serve to inflame the fragile political and security context. The boycott of the elections by the majority of the Sudanese in fact helped to prevent the threat of violence, contributing to maintaining the fragile social stability. If there had been a real choice could you imagine the reaction of millions of Sudanese encountering the massive irregularities and fraud which have unfolded during the polling days. You should indeed thank those who boycotted the elections for saving Sudanese lives by preventing bloody confrontation. Our belief as SDFG is that the opening of the polls was simply the second phase of the well prepared rigging process for this election. The pre-polling prerequisites for legitimising the victory of the NCP and its President were already in place well before April 11.th As our latest public statement put it, “the census results were manipulated, constitutionally inconsistent laws were deployed restricting basic freedoms, electoral constituencies were delineated to suit the interests of the NCP, the voter register was maneuvered around predicable and determined outcomes (places and votes), and State resources were monopolized, including access to the media and corrupt and unlimited expenditure during the campaign.” The Carter Center had already reported on these major violations of the pre-election process: indeed the assessment of the Center was one of the main bases upon which the major political parties made the decision to boycott the elections. You will be very aware that Center itself was also a prime target of this intimidatory violence with its staff suffering harassment, arrest, interrogation and expulsion. We are completely at a loss to understand why your public statements contradict not only those of independent Sudanese voters and major political and civic forces of Sudan but also the findings and assessments—and experience—of the Carter Center. Your latest statements have given rise to distrust on the part of Sudanese people towards the Carter Center that will certainly overshadow its impartiality. In Darfur after issue of the arrest warrant for President the violent threats and attacks by the NCP on the international aid community and Sudanese civil society went largely unchallenged by the international community. Forced submission to the power of the NCP paralysed the Darfur region, creating an increased state of fear. Once again in the context of these elections the vicious threats and attacks against the international community – this time against election observers –have been swallowed with little protest, let alone withdrawal and refusal to lend legitimacy. Sudanese people watch as the international community once again abandons the civic and political rights of the citizen and the future of democracy to the ascendency of the NCP. The international community already failed when they sacrificed justice in Darfur for an illusory peace with the Darfur Peace Agreement, and they achieved neither. Now with the current elections internationals need to learn that peace and democracy are also inter-related and interdependent: there is no room for further failure that costs more Sudanese lives. We note with appreciation that European Union observers pulled out of Darfur: yet you did not, relying on an inexperienced UNAMID assessment. UAMID officers were kidnapped in the last days as a statement against their complicity in these elections. Was Mr Ibrahinm Gambari the head of UNAMID the appropriate authority to give the go ahead to the Carter Centre to deploy and monitor elections in the war zone of Darfur? The internally displaced communities, Darfurian civil society, rebel groups, and major political parties had all said elections in Darfur were impossible—whether in terms of their very conduct, fairness or appropriateness. The Carter Center’s deployment and monitoring of polling in Darfur is only adding to the political and security fragmentation of Darfur. We are sorry to see now that your judgement about elections in Darfur only adds to the questions which were raised about your statements in 2007 on the scale of the atrocities in Darfur when they were used indirectly to support NCP propaganda at that time. As a civil society Sudanese coalition including representatives from a range of communities, farmers, workers, displaced people and activists, we appreciate the international community’s acts of solidarity and support towards Sudan. We are committed to the rules and principles of international instruments and institutions. We will however openly reject any paternalism or neo-colonial attitudes towards the will of the people of Sudan. Mr. President: As a leader coming from a country which has progressed thorough a long heritage of democratic principles and practices, we expected you to respect and observe that human beings, regardless of their wealth, colour of skin or geographical location are entitled to exercise their political will safely, freely and fairly. This is the only sustainable means for peace and stability. We are deeply disappointed Mr President that despite your avowed independence as observer and your profile as a leader of democracy in your country you appear to have become part of the recent invasion of conservatism and international and regional actors to pressurise Sudanese political forces to not boycott the elections. SDFG and many advocacy groups have reported and documented the orchestrated efforts led by the US Special Envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, to bring on board leaders such as former South African President Mbeki, organisations such as the Arab League, individual countries, and pro government regional NGOs. As we noted in our last statement which challenged such kinds of international interference, the right of self determination for the people of South Sudan, and popular consultation for the people of Blue Nile and South Kordofan, must be protected and implemented on time with international support, "without any compromise or connection with the current corrupted electoral process”. The Carter Center’s reputation is on the line in Sudan, with the imminent reproduction of a regime with a history of two decades of repression and violence and the future of peace, stability and democracy in Sudan in the balance. We ask you to consider your position very carefully and withdraw prior to the announcement of the already known results of these “elections”. Yours sincerely, Sudan Democracy First Group Sudan Democracy First Group is: A coalition of democrats and for Sudan activists, trade unionists and academics men and women representing Sudan different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The main agenda of the initiative is to voice the concerns of the voiceless Sudanese people across the country in the current critical moment the country is going through. The initiative is connected to other initiatives formed by Sudanese people in different centers across Sudan. For contact: mubadra4democracy@gmail.com

Peacekeepers Abducted in Darfur

Celeste Robinson — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:41:27 +0000

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="405" caption="UNAMID peacekeepers on patrol in Regel El-Kubri, Sudan (UN Photo/Stuart Price)"][/caption] Most Sudan-related news this week has understandably focused on the country’s historic elections, which came to a close yesterday after a generally peaceful but deeply flawed process. Many journalists documented electoral irregularities, the opposition boycott, and even a few incidents of violence and intimidation. In Darfur – which EU observers declared too insecure for monitoring – another story has gone largely under the radar of the international press. Just as the nationwide polls were underway, four South African peacekeepers went missing in near Nyala, in South Darfur. On Tuesday—the third day of voting—the joint United Nations African-Union mission (UNAMID) confirmed their abduction at gunpoint. The kidnappers are allegedly part of a new militia in the region, which calls itself the People’s Democratic Struggle Movement. Jubril Bukhari Abbas, the group’s head, is reported to have acknowledged its members were responsible, but were not acting under the movement’s instructions. He reportedly said the abductor “was unaware of an agreement which was concluded between the government and [the movement], which has joined the peace march.” UNAMID spokesman Nouredine Mezni said mission representatives have spoken with the kidnapped peacekeepers, and they are in good health. Although Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir has declared the war over, impunity and insecurity persist in the form of both direct clashes and unrestrained lawlessness. Recent fighting in Jebel Marra and in Jebel Moon has resulted in up to 400 deaths and has displaced an estimated 100,000 civilians, leaving the local populations without access to humanitarian assistance or military protection. Darfur’s peacekeepers and aid workers have been increasingly targeted, resulting in kidnapping, banditry, and even killings. This week’s incident is only the latest of many that highlight how the “calm but unpredictable” security environment in Darfur in reality means it is safe for no one, least of all those trying to alleviate the crisis. It is little wonder, then, why the more than two million displaced people in camps and members of other war-affected communities generally boycotted the registration process in this year’s elections. Opposition politics remains a dangerous and nearly impossible pursuit in Darfur. Intimidation prevails, and the region remains under a state of emergency. There is no evidence that any of the various armed groups have Darfuri interests in mind as they try to gain leverage amid faltering ceasefires and ongoing peace talks, and the election results will no doubt have implications for their tactics. Even if one accepts Bashir’s declaration that the war in Darfur is over, the brutal consequences of the crisis on a daily basis confront the vast majority of its citizens. Without the opportunity to choose leadership other than Bashir and his ruling party, Darfuris were understandably hesitant to take any part in a sham that seeks to legitimize a regime that has directly contributed to their ongoing grievances.

What Path Next for the Sudanese Regime?

seanbrooks — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:55:18 +0000

Cross posted from the Huffington Post. On a recent pre-election trip to Sudan, a knowledgeable analyst told me that President Omar Al Bashir's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) is not a monolith but a broad church. Like other aging autocratic regimes, the NCP has largely exhausted its ideological fervor. Rather than incessantly extolling the virtues of an Islamic state as in the first years of the 1989 coup, most energy is now focused on devising the best ways to remain in power. The multiplicity of spokespeople – some moderates and some hardliners – within the party actually serves it quite well, as it is able to project different and oftentimes conflicting narratives to serve its core overriding objectives. Statements on the closing days of Sudan's first multiparty elections in 24 years offer an insight into differences within the NCP on the best ways to handle public messaging. They also forecast that the “good cop, bad cop routine” specialized by the regime over the last two decades is likely to continue. On Wednesday, headlines trumpeted that Dr. Ghazi Salahuddin, a presidential advisor and chief interlocutor with the West, issued an invitation to opposition parties to join the NCP in a unity government after the elections: “If we are declared winners in the election…we would extend the invitation to all parties even those who have not participated in the elections because we believe this is a critical moment in our history.” He also pledged that the new government would immediately tackle the critical issues of Darfur and border demarcation between the North and the South in advance of the referendum for South Sudan scheduled for January 2011. Ghazi's invitation also carried with it a threat that, if the parties did not accept the invitation, they would only isolate themselves further in Sudanese politics. Nevertheless, his words were nothing like the warnings yesterday from Nafie Ali Nafie, another presidential advisor:

“(The opposition groups) are not going to recognize the outcome of the elections and they are going to go to the streets and try to change the regime . . . through conflict, riots...If you have any explanation for this other than chaos and trying to change the regime through popular revolution . . . I don't have any other explanation.”

Nafie apparently cannot conceive of any other explanations for why opposition parties might challenge the results of the elections (such as the unfair political environment before and during the elections, and mass electoral irregularities during the polling period this week). It is therefore likely that he might advise the Bashir government to use once again the strong arm of the state to silence dissent in the coming days with violence and intimidation. As in the past, such brutal behavior would override the more diplomatic dialogue of those within the regime like Ghazi. If this is the chosen path, what will be the reaction of the international community and specifically the Obama administration? In a poignant letter yesterday to former President Jimmy Carter, who is leading the Carter Center’s monitoring mission, a number of Sudanese activists pleaded with him and the international community to not “once again abandon…the civic and political rights of the citizen and the future of democracy to the ascendency of the NCP.” Meanwhile yesterday, Nafie also gave his advice on the matter. He argued that a Bashir victory will prove that the allegations against him are false and that the Sudanese, especially the people of Darfur, reject the International Criminal Court’s case against him (article in Arabic). Furthermore, he predicted that China, India and African countries would now push for the cancellation of the ICC’s arrest warrant for Bashir. There is no question that millions of Darfuris would be horrified with such an outcome, as they continue to hope for both peace and justice. In the coming days and weeks following the elections, it will be critical for the Obama administration and the international community to listen to all voices in Sudan. Sweet words from the NCP should not overshadow its threats and, more importantly, ongoing repressive policies and human rights violations. As the Sudan Democracy First Group wrote, “internationals need to learn that peace and democracy are also inter-related and interdependent: there is no room for further failure that costs more Sudanese lives.”

Election Roundup -- April 16, 2010

Robert — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 22:22:08 +0000

Vote counting has begun in Sudan and the National Elections Commission expects to announce results as soon as Tuesday, April 20. The Carter Center and other official monitors of the elections will also begin to release their preliminary reports on the elections in the coming days. To close this week’s coverage, I want to share with you a passage from a poignant letter from the Sudan Democracy First Group:

Sudanese people watch as the international community once again abandons the civic and political rights of the citizen and the future of democracy to the ascendency of the NCP. The international community already failed when they sacrificed justice in Darfur for an illusory peace with the Darfur Peace Agreement, and they achieved neither. Now with the current elections internationals need to learn that peace and democracy are also inter-related and interdependent: there is no room for further failure that costs more Sudanese lives.

In the days ahead, we will keep you updated.

ELECTIONS LINKS

Sudanese Voices

An Open Letter to President Carter – Sudan Democracy First Group
Fourth Day of Voting is Accompanied by Violence, Intimidation, and Irregularities – African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies
Sudanese views on elections – Fatma Naib Al Jazeera The Africa Blog

Analysis/Opinion

What Path Next for the Sudanese Regime? – Sean Brooks at Huffington Post
When an Indicted War Criminal is Elected Leader of Sudan, How Will the Obama Administration Respond? – UN Dispatch
Electoral Violence as Sudan Polls Close – Amanda Hsiao at Enough Project
Election Lesson for South Sudan's Referendum – Maggie Fick at Enough Project
From Sudan to Zimbabwe, Sham Elections Protect Criminal Regimes – Michelle at Change.org
Not Standing For Sudan's Fraudulent Elections – Charlotte Hill at Change.org
Women’s Votes – Alex de Waal at Making Sense of Sudan
Sudan: Genocidaire set to remain president – The Daily Caller

Pictures, Summaries and Facts about Elections

Pictures: How to vote twice in Sudan’s election – Radio Dabanga
Sudan Elections in pictures – Christian Science Monitor

Headlines from Last Two Days

Sudan Starts Ballot Count as Bashir Heads for Likely Victory – Bloomberg
Sudan's Flawed Vote: Re-Elect an Indicted Ruler – Time
Sudanese president ahead in early election results – Associated Press
Sudan official says opposition plotting revolution – Reuters
Sudanese make their mark in landmark poll – BBC
Sudan’s first female candidate campaigns for president (Video) – Al Jazeera English
Sudan election problems: few enough to be legitimate? – Christian Science Monitor
Sudan through the eyes of al-Turabi – Al Jazeera English
Secretary-General Congratulates Participants in Sudan’s National Elections – UN
Analysts Say Sudan Elections Have Only Losers – Voice of America
Sudan’s NCP accuses opposition of seeking to topple post-election government – Sudan Tribune
’Salvage your reputation’ a Sudan rights group tells Carter – Sudan Tribune
NEC blamed in Sudan’s Lakes for ballot errors, delays – Sudan Tribune
Fourth day of voting is accompanied by violence, intimidation, and irregularities – Sudan Tribune
ELECTIONS: A test and taste of democracy in Lakes state – Sudan Tribune
Red Crescent preparing for possible post-election violence – Radio Dabanga
Elections in Sudan ended; Darfur officials fill remaining ballots themselves – Radio Dabanga
Fraud charges on final day of Darfur election – Radio Dabanga
Election commissioner in Darfur confirms use of fake seals – Radio Dabanga
NEC announces names of candidates who won by acclamation - Miraya FM
NEC decides to rerun elections in 33 Constituencies - Miraya FM
Elections officials stage strike in south Sudan's Yei – Juba Post
Freezing of voting in 33 districts, as voting will occur in 2 months – Al Ray Al Aam (Arabic)
Dr. Nafie: Bashir win will affirm rejection of Sudanese of the criminal charges – Al Ray Al Aam (Arabic)
Agents of SPLM attacked at voting center in Kadugli – Al Ray Al Aam (Arabic)
NCP: motivation of killing of president of SPLM in Raja was personal – Al Ray Al Aam (Arabic)
90% turnout in Northern Area – Al Ray Al Aam (Arabic)
82% of the displaced voted in West Darfur – Al Ray Al Aam (Arabic)
Russian monitor: voting was free and fair – Al Ray Al Aam (Arabic)
Arman is not intending to participate in the national government – Al Ray Al Aam (Arabic)

Election Roundup -- April 18, 2010

Robert — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 17:00:25 +0000

On Saturday, April 17, both the European Union and the Carter Center election observation missions issued their preliminary evaluations of the past week’s electoral activities in Sudan. Neither found that the elections met most international standards and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, head of the Carter Center observation, said that the “expectations of the people of Sudan have not been met.” In particular, the two observer missions cited insecurity in Darfur, an oppressive pre-election political environment nationally, electoral irregularities, and voter intimidation (by both the NCP and the SPLM) as reasons for their findings. Neither group, however, called for a re-vote. Meanwhile, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) continued counting ballots, with results expected to be announced as early as Tuesday, April 20. The Islamist Popular Congress Party (PCP) led by Hassan al-Turabi, which was one of the few northern opposition parties not to boycott the elections, announced it would reject the results of the election due to irregularities.

ELECTION LINKS

Analysis/Opinion

One step forward. How many back? – Opheera McDoom at Reuters' Africa News Blog
Counting the Votes in Khartoum – Greg Carlstrom at The Maglis
Voting irregularities equal a burgeoning democracy not a failed election – Akim Mugisa at Sudan Votes

Headlines from Last Two Days

Sudan opposition cries fraud at early results – Reuters
EU says Sudan election 'failed' to meet standards – BBC
Sudan vote 'fails’ standards but should be recognised – Agence France Presse
Sudan state media report Bashir poll lead – Reuters
Turabi: 'Sudan polls fraudulent' – Agence France Presse
Observers Criticize Sudanese Elections – Voice of America
Sudan votes, and stands on the brink of splitting in two – The Guardian
AU chief hails peaceful Sudan polls – Agence France Presse
Sudan’s NCP appears heading towards a landslide victory in North Sudan – Sudan Tribune
Darfur elections do not meet national and international standards – Sudan Tribune
SPLM chairman Salva Kiir casts his vote for Bashir – Sudan Tribune
Sudan’s Turabi threatens tougher stance over ’fraudulent’ elections – Sudan Tribune
27 MPs declared winners by default in Sudan elections – Sudan Tribune
South Sudan’s ten states report successes in polling – Sudan Tribune
Unity state’s Angelina Teny leads in preliminary gubernatorial election results – Sudan Tribune
UDSF-Main Stream accuses SPLM of rigging elections – Sudan Tribune
NCP Deputy Chairman: Bashir's re-election will prove ICC wrong – Miraya FM
NEC requests media not to publish unofficial results of elections – Miraya FM
SPLM reports elections irregularities(includes audio) – Miraya FM
Man suspected of election rigging detained in Eastern Equatoria – Miraya FM
High Elections Committee: Voters in Warrap State touches 80% – Miraya FM
Central Equatoria: counting starts late as polling staff request payment of salaries – Miraya FM
Mahdi calls for elections after the referendum, and warns of renewed crisis in Darfur (Arabic) – Al Sahafa
Nafi: Bashir lead refutes the claims made against Sudan (Arabic) – Al Sahafa
PCP and DUP reject election results (Arabic) – Al Ray Al Aam
Police raise alert level for the election results stage (Arabic) – Al Sahafa
Bashir sweeping voting centers in America, UAE, Cairo, Qatar, and Oman (Arabic) – Al Ray Al Aam
Bashir is leading his rivals in the first day of the count (Arabic) – Al Ray Al Aam
The Communist: NCP won without fraud (Arabic) – Al Ray Al Aam
Al Mahdi: some of the observers saw nothing (Arabic) – Al Ray Al Aam
NCP refused to accuse any party of killing an agent of a candidate in Kassala (Arabic) – Al Ray Al Aam
Independent candidates call for the avoidance of violance during announcement of the results (Arabic) – Al Sahafa
NCP loses two districts in Red Sea State (Arabic) – Al Ray Al Aam
Mirghani: Sudan's problems will not be resolved except through national reconciliation (Arabic) – Al Ray Al Aam
Akol: I surpassed Salva Kiir in Unity and Upper Nile States (Arabic) – Al Ray Al Aam
Arab Parliament praises the conduct of the elections (Arabic) – Al Ray Al Aam
Cordoba Initiative: the elections were conducted according to international standards (Arabic) – Al Ray Al Aam
Arman ahead of al-Bashir in 5 southern states (Arabic) – Al Sahafa
NCP talk with Mirghani and Communist leaders about avoiding violence during the announcement of the elections (Arabic) – Al Sahafa
DUP is Kassala will not recognize results of the elections (Arabic) – Al Sahafa
Khader: NCP worked on elections since the signing of Naivasha (Arabic) – Al Sahafa
Opposition pledges not to go out to the street commits to calm (Arabic) – Al Sahafa

Carter Center Releases Preliminary Statement

Allen Combs — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 06:03:59 +0000

The Carter Center released its Preliminary Statement

The Carter Center Election Observation Mission in Sudan Presidential, Gubernatorial, and Legislative Elections, April 2010 April 17, 2010

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

عربي > Contact:

Deborah Hakes, Khartoum until April 20: +249 909 010 573, then Atlanta: +1 404 420-5124

Graham Elson, Khartoum, + 249 907 978 505
Executive Summary The Carter Center commends the Sudanese people for the generally peaceful polling process to date and urges that the remaining stages of counting, tabulation, and posting of results be carried out transparently and accurately. In addition, the limited political opening around the elections should be expanded to ensure respect for Sudan's constitutional human rights and fundamental freedoms, and leaders from all parties should engage in genuine dialogue to address the key challenges facing Sudan. While it is too early to offer a final overall assessment, it is apparent that the elections will fall short of meeting international standards and Sudan's obligations for genuine elections in many respects. Nonetheless, the elections are important as a key benchmark in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and because of the increased political and civic participation that has occurred over the last several months. Ultimately, the success of the elections will depend on whether Sudanese leaders take action to promote lasting democratic transformation. Despite their observed weaknesses, the elections are a CPA benchmark and their conduct allows the remaining provisions of the agreement to be implemented. At the invitation of Sudanese authorities, The Carter Center began assessing the electoral process in 2008 and deployed 12 long-term observers in late 2009. During the voter registration period in November and December 2009, the Center deployed an additional 20 observers, and for April 2010 polling, the Center organized an observation team with more than 70 observers who monitored the process in all 25 states in Sudan. The electoral process is ongoing with counting and tabulation likely to last for several more days, followed by the posting of results. The Center's observers will continue to monitor these processes to their conclusion. The main findings of the Center's mission to date are as follows:

The April 2010 elections in Sudan were mandated by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and were envisioned as a critical part of a broader democratic transformation.

Unfortunately, many political rights and freedoms were circumscribed for most of this period, fostering distrust among the major political parties.

In the campaign period and run-up to the 2010 elections, however, there was a limited but important political opening that provided opportunities for opposition parties and civil society to engage in the political process. After a long period of dormancy, Sudanese parties and civic groups across the country began to mobilize.

Most of the opposition parties joined together to demand the reform of laws and the lifting of restrictions of political freedoms and several major parties ultimately withdrew from the election shortly before election day. Although all candidates remained on the ballots, there was little competition in the race for the presidency and reduced competition in other races.

The polling process on April 11-15 was largely peaceful and orderly. Despite confusion and significant logistical challenges, polling staff and voters in most areas displayed remarkable commitment, patience, and tolerance. Voters turned out in good numbers to cast their ballots, but with varying levels of participation across the country. The Sudanese people are to be commended for their civic spirit, pride, and hospitality.

Notwithstanding these generally positive features, Carter Center observers noted important flaws and found that the process fell short of Sudan's obligations and related international standards in a number of respects.

Sudan's legal framework is contradictory and does not ensure adequate respect for essential political rights and freedoms prescribed in Sudan's constitution, including freedoms of expression, assembly, and association.

Although the voter registration process resulted in broad but uneven participation across the country, it was undermined by a series of critical shortcomings. Preliminary lists were not consistently posted for adequate public review, especially in the South, and the status of the final voter registry and list of polling stations remained uncertain. The Carter Center has recently received an electronic copy of the complete list and will attempt to ascertain if any of these changes were designed to assist particular political parties.

On election days, voters faced a range of operational and logistical problems: late delivery of and/or inadequate materials, incomplete or inaccurate voters lists, incorrect or insufficient ballots, ballots with inappropriate languages, and a lack of consistency in procedures. These problems were partially alleviated by the extension of voting time by two days.

Further, the electoral process lacked sufficient safeguards and transparency necessary to verify key steps and build confidence and trust in the process. Our observers reported problems with ink, ballot box seals, and the process of identifying voters, including the process of verifying voters' identity when registration certificates were issued by popular committees at the polling stations, as well as reports of underage voters casting ballots.

There were large numbers of illiterate voters, and some evidence of election officials deliberately misrepresenting the desires of some voters.

The elections in the South experienced a high incidence of intimidation and the threat or use of force. There were numerous instances of the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Army (SPLA) intimidating voters and being stationed too close to polling stations. State interference in the campaigns of opposition candidates was widespread in the South.

The continuing state of emergency, repression of civil liberties, and ongoing conflict in Darfur did not permit an environment conducive to acceptable elections. Given the limited participation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Darfur in the census and voter registration, much of the population was left out of the process. Carter Center observers were unable to access wide areas of the region due to the security situation. While the areas they monitored were largely peaceful, they reported serious technical and procedural violations during the polling.

In the months ahead, Sudanese political and civil society leaders from across the political spectrum should reaffirm their commitment to core democratic values. Sudan's government must ensure that the democratic opening is expanded and deepened. Full respect for human rights, democratic principles, and transparency will help to heal the mistrust that has detracted from the electoral process.

It is important for Sudan to draw lessons from this election to ensure that the upcoming referenda and popular consultations do not have the same flaws, both technically and politically. Our Center and other international observers will have recommendations to assist in reaching this goal.

Background In June 1989, the National Islamic Front (NIF) and forerunner of the present ruling National Congress Party (NCP) overthrew the democratically elected government headed by Prime Minister Sadig Al-Mahdi and for a period banned all political parties and political activities. In the following 16 years, fundamental civil and political freedoms were curtailed and civil society was restricted, while the civil war being fought between North-South hampered both the political and economic development of Southern Sudan. On Jan. 9, 2005, the National Congress Party-led Government of Sudan signed the CPA with the SPLM, thus ending a 22-year conflict. The CPA stipulated the holding of national elections in Sudan to cement the country's democratic transformation and to put in place accountable governments in northern and Southern Sudan to oversee the January 2011 referendum on self-determination for the people of Southern Sudan. While there have been tentative steps at political liberalization, the CPA's promise of democratic transformation has not been fulfilled. The conflict in Darfur and an ongoing failure to address marginalization in South Kordofan, eastern Sudan, and other regions have also weakened the dividends of peace promised by the CPA. The Carter Center election observation mission has been in Sudan since February 2008 following an invitation from the leaders of the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan. Twelve long-term observers were deployed throughout Sudan in advance of the election to assess election preparations. The Center deployed an additional 20 medium-term observers in November and early December 2009 to assess voter registration. In early April 2010, the Center augmented its long-term observer presence with the deployment of more than 70 short-term observers to observe the balloting, counting, and tabulation processes for April's national elections. The Carter Center observation mission was led by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter; former Algerian Foreign Minister and member of the Elders Lakhdar Brahimi; Justice Joseph Sinde Warioba, former prime minister of Tanzania, former judge for the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and former judge on the East African Court of Justice; and Carter Center President and CEO Dr. John Hardman. Carter Center observers continue to assess the conclusion of counting and vote tabulation and will remain in Sudan to observe the post-election environment. These elections were assessed against Sudan's Interim National Constitution, the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the National Elections Act, the Political Parties Act, as well as Sudan's international treaty obligations. The Center's observation mission was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct that was adopted at the United Nations in 2005 and has been endorsed by 35 election observation groups. This statement is preliminary; further statements may be released after the conclusion of the counting and results reporting period. A final report will be published after the end of the electoral process.

The Position of the Independent Civil Society Network on the Electoral Process

Shannon Orcutt — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:20:36 +0000

The Sudanese independent civil society domestic observers released a statement yesterday on election deficiencies and issued several recommendations to ensure free and fair elections in the future.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement represents an important development in the recent history of Sudan. It ended the long-running civil war, laid foundations for the Interim Constitution, and opened the doors for political participation by instilling the ideal of peaceful political change. The agreement also aimed to ensure free and fair elections through full political and civil rights. Based on these principles, independent civil society became a major and effective partner in democratic transformation with the ultimate goals of freedom, democracy and individual rights. This is why we continue to emphasize that securing a political environment conducive to free and fair elections means abolishing all restrictive laws, reforming civil service, guaranteeing the neutrality and independence of the National Elections Commission (NEC) and governmental media, and ensuring that the people of Darfur have access to safe and free participation. Throughout the electoral process, civil society organizations have remained a critical component of democratic transformation. They monitored everything from the adoption of the Elections Act to voter registration and finally the actual balloting. This was done to ensure, as much as possible, free and fair elections as outlined in the Interim Constitution, the Elections Act, and the international standards ratified by the Sudanese government. For the past week, three civil society networks and organizations have worked together in concert to deploy about 3500 independent local observers throughout the 15 northern states. These observers continuously reported back what they witnessed at various polling stations across these states. This broad coalition was composed of TAMAM, a civil society group made of 120 member organizations; the Civic Forum, an organization that coordinated the work of 56 organizations, and Justice Africa. After a thorough review of the reports that we received from field observers and after reviewing the census process, the debate around the Elections Act, the formation of the National Election Commission (NEC), the demarcation of constituencies, the voter registration period, the declarations of candidacy, the campaigning process, and, finally, the voting process, representatives of these networks and organizations outlined above have concluded that all of the above stages were characterized by major deficiencies. These deficiencies are as follows: 1. The NEC conducted the election process based on a controversial census. There were widespread accusations that the government manipulated census figures for political purpose and there were no mechanisms for verifying the final result. This affected both the credibility of the census and, ultimately, the election. 2. The NEC omitted voters’ residential addresses without any logical reason or justification for doing so. This made it impossible to audit the register to ensure whether the names it included are actual people. 3. The NEC failed to publish the Voter Register in a timely or appropriate manner, ultimately hampering the objections process. More, the objections phase was shortened, further reducing its effectiveness. Finally, the data in this Register was processed away from independent and party monitors, depriving the process of transparency. 4. The NEC failed to define a cap on campaign expenditures for both political parties and independent candidates in a timely manner as required by the Elections Act. When these caps were finally announced, they were so high as to benefit only those parties with the largest amounts of resources. This, effectively, defeated the rationale behind having a spending cap, which was, ostensibly, to minimize the role money played in these elections. 5. The NEC failed to conduct a proper voter education program for the whole nation about the electoral process. When the Commission finally launched its education campaign, it came too little too late. Furthermore, some of the voter education material produced by NEC was biased to the ruling party using its election symbol, as well as its discourse. 6. The NEC ignored the principle of neutrality and equal opportunity when it recruited state and district commissioners, elections officers, and the rest of its administrative body. 7. The NEC failed to transport elections materials and equipment to the voting centers in several parts of the country on time. Names in the voter register varied greatly between various versions of the register. Also, names and symbols of some parties were left off the ballot, in some cases, ballot papers had to be replaced, and some centers received the wrong register. 8. The ink used by the NEC to mark those who had voted could easily be removed. Moreover, they allowed voters to use resident certificates when voting, though such certificates are issued by unelected bodies (i.e. the Popular Committees) that are appointed and controlled by the government. 9. The NEC and its High Committees failed to ensure that party agents guarded the ballot boxes. This is a clear violation of procedure. Furthermore, it did not protect candidates from harassment and other threats from security agencies and National Congress Party members. 10. The NEC violated its own law when it allowed the armed forces to be registered in their place of work instead of their place of residence. The impact of this breach of the law is that it made the registration for the armed forces a compulsory task, and it opened the door wide for the ruling party to employ strategic voting. All these failures led to the corruption of the election process and opened the door wide for malpractice and fraud. The overarching theme of the current elections is one of severe moral and professional failure by the NEC which impaired it to manage fair and free elections. This failure happened despite the fact that the Commission is sitting on huge financial resources never granted to an elections management body in the history of the country. For all these reasons, we believe that the voters of Sudan were unable to freely express their will and select their representatives. Based on the foregoing, we recommend the following: 1. A full review and reconsideration of the entire electoral process, including the results. The establishment of the new government should not be based on these fraudulent results. 2. The formation of a genuine national unity government agreed upon by all the political powers of the country in order to lead the country through the remainder of the transitional period. 3. The dismantling of the NEC and a formation of a new commission that can earn the public’s trust and demonstrate moral integrity and professional capabilities. 4. A second census as soon as possible that would be based on the highest possible professional standards. This second census must be free of political interventions. Further, it should be nationally and internationally monitored. Constituencies should be demarcated according to this new census. 5. A second voter registration according to international standards, and an establishment of a permanent register that is updated periodically. 6. An abolition of restrictive laws, the civil service, and the security sector so as to guarantee their neutrality and integrity. 7. Serious efforts to be exerted in order to put an end to the human misery of Darfur. 8. A reorganization of real elections as quickly as possible following Southern Sudan’s referendum on self determination, and the achievement of peace and security in Darfur. Finally, we would like to express our thanks and gratitude to the international community, and especially international civil society organizations, for their generous support of the Sudanese people in their relentless struggle for peace and democracy, and for their professional and financial help for Sudanese civil society. Without this help we would have not been able to observe the elections.

A Bureaucratic Step Towards a Genocide-Free World

AlexMeixner — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:21:17 +0000

Washington could accurately be described as a city built for the express purpose of breaking the world record for bureaucratic meetings per capita. Just about everyone who works in our nation’s capital has at one time or another uttered a variation of “if it weren’t for all of these #@%&#* meetings, I could get some real work done.” So the creation of a new bureaucratic governmental position tasked with the formation of yet another bureaucratic governmental working group would not usually be exciting news. Luckily for untold millions of potential genocide victims worldwide, President Obama’s recent appointment of the National Security Council’s first-ever Director of Genocide and Mass Atrocities Prevention was not a case of bureaucracy as usual. Following the failure of the international community to prevent or effectively respond to Darfur and the genocides of the 1990’s, the bipartisan Genocide Prevention Task Force led by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen released a detailed report in December ’08 detailing how the U.S. government should go about making itself better able to anticipate, prevent, and if all else fails, respond to genocide. One of the first recommended steps is the appointment of an NSC point-person on genocide and mass atrocities, who would in turn be tasked with the formation and coordination of a standing interagency working group on genocide prevention and response. For readers from outside the beltway, interagency working groups consist of representatives from various departments, agencies, and bureaus within the Administration, in this case including folks from the Departments of State, Treasury, and Defense, as well as the intelligence community and the U.S. Agency for International Development. The President’s creation of this new bureaucratic genocide prevention infrastructure and the appointment of former State Department staffer and George Clooney advisor David Pressman to coordinate it is therefore a big step in the right direction. That said, a beefed up genocide prevention bureaucracy is simply a means to better U.S. policy, and should not be mistaken for the desired end of that policy’s full adoption and implementation. In short, there’s a lot of work left to do, including the building of a better early warning system, the growth of bilateral and multilateral leverage to help steer troubled states away from a course towards genocide, and the building of U.S. and international civilian and military capacity to respond to new atrocities and episodes of genocide with the goal of nipping them in the bud. With the right political support and sufficient bureaucratic resources, this new NSC directorate and interagency working group could become the nucleus of a transformative government-wide effort towards creating a world as free from genocide as is humanly possible. Without enough public and political support, it could prove to be nothing more than an isolated flash in the pan. While only time will tell, one fact is abundantly clear: if we once again fail to learn the lessons of genocides past, we shall once again be doomed to repeat them.

Sudan Troika Releases Statement On Sudanese Election

Allen Combs — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:07:05 +0000

The United States, United Kingdom and Norway released a joint statement on the Sudanese Elections today:

Sudan Troika Joint Statement on the Sudanese Elections
Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC April 19, 2010
We acknowledge the conclusion on 15 April of Sudan's first multi-party elections in twenty-four years. We commend the people of Sudan for their engagement in a complex and lengthy polling process, and their increased civic participation over recent months. Last month we collectively reiterated our call for peaceful, credible elections, and expressed our deep concern regarding reports of administrative and logistical challenges, as well as restrictions on political freedoms. We note initial assessments of the electoral process from independent observers, including the judgment that the elections failed to meet international standards. We are reassured that voting passed reasonably peacefully, reportedly with significant participation, but share their serious concerns about weak logistical and technical preparations and reported irregularities in many parts of Sudan. We note the limited access of observer missions in Darfur. We regret that the National Elections Commission (NEC) did not do more to prevent and address such problems prior to voting. We strongly encourage the NEC to address in good faith any legitimate disputes effectively and impartially. It is essential to build upon the progress made so far to expand democratic space in Sudan and ensure full respect for human rights. We call on the Sudanese authorities to draw lessons from these elections and from independent assessments of them, to ensure that future elections and the forthcoming referenda do not suffer from the same flaws. The CPA remains essential for peace and stability in Sudan and the region. We urge all parties in Sudan to resume and accelerate work to complete its implementation. Urgent progress is needed on border demarcation, preparatory arrangements for the January 2011 referenda for the South and Abyei, and popular consultations in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan. In addition the parties must make it a priority to agree upon the new arrangements needed after the CPA expires in July 2011, irrespective of the outcome of the referenda. We remain firmly committed to supporting implementation of the CPA and post-CPA arrangements, and the pursuit of peace, justice, reconciliation, and accountability in Darfur. We will continue to work closely towards these goals with parties in Sudan, and with the United Nations, African Union, Assessment and Evaluation Commission and other international and regional partners.

State Department Comments On Sudanese Elections

Allen Combs — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 01:11:04 +0000

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley fielded several questions about Sudan's ongoing election at today's press briefing. Both the video and the transcript are below. The discussion about Sudan begin right around the 19:00 mark.

QUESTION: On Sudan, there are many indications that President Bashir is on his way to a strong victory. How does the U.S. view recent developments in the elections? MR. CROWLEY: Well, I think we’ll wait for later this week, where we actually see the actual results. I think we released a statement by the United States, Britain, and Norway reflecting the initial analysis by the many international observers. As they indicated, and I think as we indicated before the elections took place, we’ve had longstanding concerns about the environment leading up to the election. This was not a free and fair election. It did not, broadly speaking, meet international standards. That’s been clear in the comments that have been done by the Carter Center, the EU, and the AU over the past couple of days. That said, I think we recognize that the election is a very important step in terms of implementation of the CPA. And at this point, we will be focused on, now that this election has happened – and I should emphasize that everyone is focused on the presidency and the likely reelection of President Bashir, but there have been many, many election races for state governor, for state assemblies. These are the very institutions that are going to be vitally important from this point until early in 2010 in overseeing the upcoming referenda, further steps that have to be taken with respect to Abyei, with respect to Darfur, so that we have the – a credible referenda process that, quite honestly, is likely to yield the emergence of a new country. So while we understand that there were flaws and failures in terms of this electoral process, we still recognize that there’s a lot of work to be done. And the people who have been elected, broadly speaking, to a number of positions will now play critical roles going forward. And we, the United States, will continue to work with the government in the north, the government in the south, as we move forward with full implementation of the CPA and the vitally important referenda that’ll happen in January of next year. QUESTION: How important is that referendum? How important is its success in voicing your concerns over the elections? MR. CROWLEY: Well, again, as we said last week, we do recognize that this was the first national election in Sudan in, what, 24 years. We anticipated there would be problems and there were in fact problems. That said, we recognize the value of having millions of people in Sudan exercise their right to vote, and we will see what the actual results are. But we do expect that authorities in the north, authorities in the south – they have very specific tasks in front of them. We are going to work with them and with the international community because there’s a lot of work to do that’ll have a fundamental impact on the future of Sudan. QUESTION: It took -- QUESTION: So you’re predicting that the referendum in January is going to – they’re going to vote – the south is going to vote to secede? MR. CROWLEY: That is a very possible, if not likely, outcome. QUESTION: And what do you think of that? MR. CROWLEY: It’s not what we think of it. It’s a question of from -- QUESTION: Well -- MR. CROWLEY: If that is ultimately the decision by the people of South Sudan, then we’ve got a lot of work to do, because laid out in the CPA is the referenda, and if the referenda results in a decision to form a new country, then that timetable then ticks off from there. I think six months after that, there is a new country in what used to be Sudan. So there’s a lot of work to do. And that’s where, notwithstanding our concerns about the election, we are, in fact, focused on this very aggressive and difficult timetable. What are – coming from this, what are – what can we do to resolve remaining issues in terms of borders, in terms of sharing of energy resources, how do we begin the process of building out institutions that will be important if Sudan decides to stay together and will be critical if Sudan decides to divide in two. QUESTION: In the international community, how would you characterize the role that China is playing in Sudan? MR. CROWLEY: Well, China is pledged to devote considerable infrastructure to Sudan, North and South. I mean, Sudan has a great many needs and there is significant international cooperation underway. We would hope that these projects are done for the benefit of Sudan and – as opposed to being for the benefit of the employment rate of another country. So we will work with the international community, those who want to invest in Sudan, and try to do that collaboratively so that you have better integration, better cooperation, better collaboration, and that ends up benefitting more and more people in the country. Yeah.

White House Comments On Sudanese Elections

Allen Combs — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:28:34 +0000

The White House just released a statement regarding Sudan's ongoing elections:

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 20, 2010 Statement by the Press Secretary on Elections in Sudan The elections held recently in Sudan were an essential step in a process laid out by Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The United States notes the initial assessment of independent electoral observers that Sudan’s elections did not meet international standards. Political rights and freedoms were circumscribed throughout the electoral process, there were reports of intimidation and threats of violence in South Sudan, ongoing conflict in Darfur did not permit an environment conducive to acceptable elections, and inadequacies in technical preparations for the vote resulted in serious irregularities. The United States regrets that Sudan’s National Elections Commission did not do more to prevent and address such problems prior to voting. The people of Sudan are to be commended for their efforts to make Sudan’s first multi-party elections in over two decades peaceful and meaningful. In the months and years ahead it will be critical to continue pressing for progress for the civil and political rights of all of the Sudanese people. This priority will not expire with the CPA, and all parties should draw on this experience to improve preparations for future elections and referenda. The United States also remains committed to working with the international community to support implementation of outstanding elements of the CPA and ensure that the referendum happens on time and that its results are respected. With partners in the region and beyond, we will continue to engage in the preparations necessary to support peace and stability after the 2011 referenda, and continue to promote peace, security, and accountability in Darfur. ##

Video Shows Possible Vote Rigging in Sudan

Celeste Robinson — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:36:03 +0000

Both the BBC and the Washington Post (via Reuters) have reported on a video - now posted to the internet - that was sent to us from activists in Sudan. The footage appears to show individuals dressed as election officials stuffing ballot boxes, reportedly in Sudan's Red Sea State. While the content cannot be verified, and there are other, well documented cases of electoral irregularities, this may be the first video evidence of the rigging. It is important to note that the National Elections Commission (NEC) has dismissed this video as fake, and has decided not investigate the incident. For more information, please see either the BBC and Washington Post/Reuters reports.

Election Roundup -- April 20, 2010

Robert — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:13:44 +0000

Over the last twenty-four hours, the American government response to elections in Sudan has begun to take shape. Yesterday morning, the United States with the United Kingdom and Norway issued a joint statement commending the Sudanese people "for their engagement in a complex and lengthy polling process, and their increased civic participation over recent months." The members of the Troika, however, noted the "initial assessments of the electoral process from independent observers, including the judgment that the elections failed to meet international standards." As such, they called on the National Elections Commission "to address in good faith any legitimate disputes effectively and impartially."

Later in the day, State Department spokesperson P.J. Crowley went further asserting, "This was not a free and fair election. It did not, broadly speaking, meet international standards. That's been clear in the comments that have been done by the Carter Center, the EU, and the AU over the past couple of days. That said, I think we recognize that the election is a very important step in terms of implementation of the CPA ... So while we understand that there were flaws and failures in terms of this electoral process, we still recognize that there's a lot of work to be done."

Then this morning, the Office of the White House Press Secretary issued a statement that reiterated these points and also looked forward. It asserted that the United States would continue to work with all parties in Sudan and, that, "In the months and years ahead it will be critical to continue pressing for progress for the civil and political rights of all of the Sudanese people. This priority will not expire with the CPA, and all parties should draw on this experience to improve preparations for future elections and referenda... The United States also remains committed to working with the international community to support implementation of outstanding elements of the CPA and ensure that the referendum happens on time and that its results are respected. With partners in the region and beyond, we will continue to engage in the preparations necessary to support peace and stability after the 2011 referenda, and continue to promote peace, security, and accountability in Darfur."

ELECTION LINKS

Analysis/Opinion

Khartoum Dispatch: Assessing the Sudan Elections - Sean Brooks at Progressive Policy Institute
In Sudan, the World is Changing - Sean Brooks at Change.org
Corruption and the Election - Hafiz Mohamed at Making Sense of Sudan
Withdrawal Of Sudan Opposition Candidate Was Big Setback, Says Expert (audio) - Talk Radio News
Too Tolerant of Too Many Flaws in Sudan's Elections - Michelle at Change.org
Domestic and International Observers React to Sudan Election - Amanda Hsiao at Enough Project

Reports from Monitors

Headlines from Last Two Days"

No date set for delayed Sudan election results - Agence France Presse
Sudan state media report Bashir poll lead - Reuters
U.S. faults Sudan election but will work with victors - Reuters
Sudan ruling party rejects US polls charge - Agence France Presse
Britain, Norway and US say Sudan Elections Marred by Irregularities - Voice of America
Sudan polls 'free and fair' considering context: AU - Agence France Presse
Russia says Sudan elections fair by 'African standards' - Sudan Tribune
South Africa criticizes Sudan's rush to elections at an "inopportune" time - Sudan Tribune
Sudan press urges world not to recognise results - Agence France Presse
Fraud Suspected In Sudan Election Results - National Public Radio
Report: Sudan election 'short of international standards' - CNN
Sudan poll given a thumbs up - Al Jazeera English
We Are Proud of Sudan's Vote, Says Electoral Commission Official - Voice of America
SPLM Official Disagrees with Observers on Transparency of Northern Sudan Vote - Voice of America
East Sudan parties concede defeat, cry fraud - Reuters
Poll result delay worries Sudanese(with video) - Al Jazeera English
Credibility of Sudan's Vote Thrown into Further Doubt - Voice of America
Sudan's SPLM Says Bashir Sends Troops to Rig Key State Vote - Bloomberg
South Sudan party accuses north of troop buildup - Reuters
Sudan opposition laps up foreign criticism of elections - Agence France Presse
Al-Bashir poised for overwhelming win in Sudan poll - Financial Times
Generation Beshir: Sudan's leader holds youth vote - Agence France Presse
Sudan election observer 'beaten up' in south - BBC News
Darfur rebel leader urges Sudanese forces to rebuff NCP government - Sudan Tribune
Sudan's NCP dismisses talk of national government with parties that boycotted elections - Sudan Tribune
Taban Deng seizes NEC office in Bentiu, refuses to accept defeat - Sudan Tribune
Scary away shootings occurred in a bit to steal ballot boxes in Unity state - Sudan Tribune
US says Sudan elections 'not fair and free', shifts focus to 2011 referendum - Sudan Tribune
CES: General Gore decries elections rigging in the counting - Sudan Tribune
General Dau supports calls for cancellation of elections - Sudan Tribune
PCP candidate in South Darfur State alleges rigging and will not recognize results Sudan Election Results - Miraya FM
DUP-Mainsteam rejects electoral results and calls for a revote - Miraya FM
Nafie: boycotting parties will not be included in government - Miraya FM
Blue Nile State increases security before announce of final voting results - Miraya FM

"They will get none of it"

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:45:51 +0000

Yesterday evening the State Department addressed the Sudanese elections yet again. Most notably, State Department spokesperson P.J. Crowley said: "To the extent that the Government of Sudan was looking for redemption or legitimacy in what happened here, they will get none of it." Below is the Q&A:

QUESTION: New topic? Sudan. When the U.S. came out – when the Obama Administration came out with its policy on Sudan, it talked about incentives and disincentives in the process. And I’m wondering – I’ve seen the statements on the elections, but I’m wondering if there are any consequences for Bashir’s government for carrying out such a marred election process. MR. CROWLEY: Well, I think, Michelle, we have to put that in a little broader context. As the international monitoring groups have indicated, the recent elections – and the results are still pending – did not meet international standards. There are a number of reasons for that, some based on the fact that elections have not occurred in Sudan for some time and some because the government did not create the appropriate atmosphere and did not take the steps it should have taken to insure a free, fair, and competitive election. So – and we’ve expressed those concerns before the election and we have expressed those concerns since the election. That said, we also recognize that Sudan is facing vitally important decisions and referenda in the coming months that will shape, literally, its future. And we will work with the Governments of North and South Sudan to continue to press them to fulfill all of their obligations under the comprehensive peace agreement. They have to do – there are many things they have to specifically do with respect to different parts of Sudan from Darfur to Abyei to the south of Sudan. To the extent that the Government of Sudan was looking for redemption or legitimacy in what happened here, they will get none of it. But we recognize that there are specific things that we have to do in Sudan to prepare the country for the referenda early next year. There are very important things that need to be done to insure full implementation of the CPA and to, among other things, prevent Sudan from slipping back into conflict. So we will engage North and South on that basis and prod them, push them, support them as they take steps leading to the referenda next January.

Khartoum Dispatch: Assessing the Sudan Elections

seanbrooks — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:13:53 +0000

The great team at the Progressive Policy Institute published my assessment of the Sudan elections. In the policy memo, I call upon President Obama to follow through on his inaugural promise to autocrats around the world:

In his inaugural address, President Obama declared, “To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.” Unfortunately, in the case of Sudan, the hand remains extended, even as the fist remains clenched and poised to strike….It is not too late for President Obama to hold firm to his inaugural promise and declare his administration’s disapproval of politics as usual in Sudan. When the election results are announced this week, he can lead the international community in interpreting their significance. Rather than offering unearned praise, he should state that the administration still regards Bashir as an indicted war criminal on the wrong side of history. If the U.S. fails to stand up for its principles, advocates for democracy around the world will be disheartened, the Bashir government will continue to act with impunity, and the Sudanese people will lose faith in America, even as they face an uncertain and potentially dangerous future.

Read the rest of “Khartoum Dispatch: Assessing the Sudan Elections” Good timing for the report to be issued, as the administration’s response has been taking shape over the last 24 hours. My colleague, Robert Lawrence, provides a summary in our election roundup at Save Darfur. In short, the administration denounced the elections as neither free, nor fail – without assigning real blame to any actors in Sudan. The elections apparently were stolen by themselves.

Sudanese Impressions of the "Ugly" Elections

seanbrooks — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:49:47 +0000

The Sudanese people continue to wait for election results to be announced. The National Elections Commission today stated that the full picture is unlikely to emerge until next week. This delay has not stopped commentary about what the elections mean for Sudan. At Sudan Tribune, Ahmed Elzobier writes that "nothing can be learned" from this experience:

The election results in Sudan simply confirmed Collier’s assumption [in The Bottom Billion] that patronage politics in a resource-rich country that severely lacks any checks and balances will win hands down anytime, anywhere, compared to any other form of public appeal to voters. As dishonesty, corruption and fraud become acceptable they could also be valuable assets for self-serving politicians – “anyone has a price,” cynically quipped Ali Osman, the vice-president and the leader of the Islamic movement in Sudan. Elections in such an environment attract crooks and the most corrupt are always the winners, argued Collier. In stark contrast, in the first multiparty elections in Sudan in 1953, one candidate was prosecuted, although unsuccessfully, for buying tea and cakes for voters. Now you can buy a whole village and nobody will care. Also, since 1953 Sudanese public servants have organized five multi-party liberal elections with a great degree of integrity and professionalism, noted the Rift Valley Institute (the “Elections in Sudan: Learning from Experience” report). But in the 2010 elections the National Elections Commission has been accused almost unanimously by all political parties for its incompetence, corruption and lack of independence.

Similarly, Hafiz Mohamed and Abd al-Wahab Abdalla at Making Sense of Sudan write about the corrupt and ugly elections. Hafiz notes, "There is one very important issue which has not been raised by anyone, as I have listened to all reports from the election observers , until now , that is the buying and selling of votes and loyalty. According to my estimate this has amounted to not less than one billion US dollars over the last two years. " Abd al-Wahab Abdalla concurs, but argues:

Hafiz Mohammed is correct that the NCP spent vast sums on this election, preparing as far back as 2005. When its party cadres undertake their post-electoral analysis and assess their efforts, they will have good reason to be satisfied with the fruits of their labours. They have secured the election of an impressive list of ugly candidates. The sad thing is that they did not need to work so hard and spend so much money. For sure, they bought votes and (as the daily papers are now relishing informing us) even bought entire so-called “opposition” parties, whose leaders have now absented themselves from the country rather than face their disaffected loyalists, who will not be persuaded by their tales of rigging and unfair procedures. These parties are now surely due for their long overdue burials. From my observation, however, much of this vote buying was superfluous, and the fraud was redundant in its entirety, as the majority of the electorate would have voted for the NCP regardless of any immediate material inducements on offer. They voted willingly for Salah Gosh, al-Hadi Abdalla and other NCP candidates precisely because they knew which side their bread was buttered.

Finally, a Kenyan cartoonist gets at the heart of what these elections may mean for Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir: [caption id="attachment_3863" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Cartoon at the African Review "][/caption]

Sudan365: A Beat for Peace

goalawal — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:53:52 +0000

[caption id="attachment_3884" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="Sudan365 Logo"][/caption] Sudan365 is a yearlong global effort to raise awareness about preventing the catastrophe of a return to widespread violence in Sudan. Activists from around the world and in DC, San Francisco and New York on the eve of the elections Saturday, April 10 called for Sudanese parties to uphold their responsibilities to the people of Sudan. On April 11th, Sudan held its first multi party elections for over 20 years. It was an important part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement – which formally marked the end of Sudan’s twenty-two year civil war. However, there are still fears the elections will bring an increase in human rights violations and violence against civilians. See below the film footage for the Saturday, April 10, Sudan365: “A beat for peace” from DC, San Francisco and New York. San Francisco - On Saturday, April 10, The SF Bay Area Darfur Coalition and award-winning filmmaker Jared Callahan released a short film, “Sudan 365: A Beat for Peace in San Francisco,”. The film, features local citizens and artists “drumming for peace” in well-known locations throughout San Francisco. Sudan365.org presents Beat for Peace - San Francisco from Jared Callahan on Vimeo. New York - New York City Coalition for Darfur, STAND, UBUNTU: Students for a World without Genocide, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies, the Darfur People's Association of New York City and the International Refugee Rights Initiative organized the drumbeat for peace at Union Square, South Plaza, by the George Washington Statue. Percussionist Gary Fritz and members of New York area drumming circles led the drum beat. Washington, DC - Save Darfur Coalition helped organize a gathering of activists and members of the Rhythm Workers Union drumming group in drumming up a “beat for peace” for Sudan. The drum beat took place in front of the Capitol. Sudan365: A Beat for Peace in Washington, DC

Elections Roundup -- April 23, 2010

Robert — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:46:05 +0000

After repeated delays, an official from the National Elections Commission (NEC) yesterday said that the results of the presidential election will be announced on Sunday. The largest of the opposition parties have already declared that they will not accept Omar Al-Bashir’s expected victory as legitimate. Such statements have also come from key leaders of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM), which was a partner in a unity government with Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP) before the elections. In response, leading figures within the NCP have warned the opposition of creating disturbances after the elections, vowing that Khartoum will not become the next Tehran or Nairobi. In this tense environment, news over the last week has also slowly been released about other races for parliamentary, gubernatorial, and local seats – and more announcements are expected in the coming days. Earlier in the week, tensions ran high over the results of the governor’s race in Blue Nile State; however, it now appears that Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP) is ready to accept defeat to the popular SPLM candidate. The hotly contested race for governor of Unity State in the South also remains a potential flashpoint for violence. This past week, Sudanese civil society leaders accused the Sudanese government of blocking the independent monitoring site, Sudan Vote Monitor. Likewise, it was reported that YouTube was being blocked in Sudan after the posting of a video that allegedly showed vote rigging in Red Sea State.

TAKE ACTION

Send a message to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today and ask her to support democracy and human rights by holding all parties in Sudan accountable and ensuring that they live up to their obligations under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

ELECTIONS LINKS

Sudanese Voices

The Ugly Election – Abd al-Wahab Abdalla at Making Sense of Sudan
Sudan Elections 2010: Defective beyond repair! – Arman Muhammed Ahmad at Sudan Tribune
Sudan’s elections: Nothing was “learned from experience” – Ahmed Elzobier at Sudan Tribune
Sudan Elections = How to start another fight – Giggling Bob
Democracy 101: Governments shouldn’t block social media sites and … they can’t! – Ibrahim Elbadawi
Darfur's election voice (audio) – BBC

Analysis/Opinion

Obama Backs Down on Sudan – Nicholas Kristof at the New York Times
Failed Elections in Sudan: Now What? – Ruth Messinger at Huffington Post
Analysis: Dangerous divisions in Sudan – IRIN
Parsing the White House Statement on Elections in Sudan – Mark Leon Goldberg at UN Dispatch
Further Delays – Maggie Fick at the Enough Project
Observers Disagree on How to Frame the Election – Josh at Project on Middle East Democracy
Responding to an Electoral Travesty – Eric Reeves at the Enough Project
Sudan: A Rare Fix that Wasn't – Dan Morrison
Uganda should pay close attention to the 2011 South Sudan elections – Kyle Beaulieu at The Independent (Uganda)
Sudanese Elections: Music & the Vote With NasJota and Girifna – Michal Shapiro at Huffington Post

News from past 4 days

Sudan delays landmark election result – BBC
U.S. slams irregularities in Sudan election – Reuters
Human Rights Groups push for Administration Involvement in Sudan – Eve Zibel at Fox News
China Praises Sudan's Elections as 'Smooth, Orderly' – Voice of America
AU observers term Sudan polls as free and fair – The Nation- Zambia
Observers Offer Contrasting Views on Sudan’s Polls – Voice of America
SUDAN: Election observers' digest – IRIN
Critics renew charges of election fraud in Sudan – Washington Post
NCP rejects US view of "flawed" elections but warms to future cooperation with Washington – Radio Miraya
Khartoum warns against poll rioting –Agence France Presse
Sudan opposition claims video shows election fraud – BBC
Sudan parties in poll agreement – Al Jazeera English
South Sudan opposition allege poll fraud – Reuters
SPLM, opposition question legitimacy of post-election government – Sudan Tribune
Sudan post-polls govt to be illegitimate-SPLM – Reuters
SPLM Official Denies Agreement to Accept Sudan’s Election Results – Voice of America
Sudanese Government Blocks Independent Elections Monitoring Web Site – Voice of America
Sudan reportedly blocks YouTube over electoral fraud video – Sudan Tribune
Polling officials protest over unpaid incentives in South – Radio Miraya
Video: Poll workers stuff ballot boxes in Sudan’s Red Sea State – Radio Dabanga
NEC delegation arrives in Unity to resolve elections conflict – Radio Miraya
Unity –Warrap states postpones gubernatorial meeting over tribal clashes – Sudan Tribune
W. Equatoria alleges electoral fraud as the state awaits landmark results – Sudan Tribune
Taha, Kiir agree to accept elections results – UNMIS
NEC sets Sunday as date to announce results of presidential elections – (Arabic)Al Ray Al Aam
Bashir: the parties that boycotted the elections will not participate in the government – (Arabic) Al Sahafa
SPLM denies reaching an agreement with the NCP to accept the election results – (Arabic) Al Sahafa
Al Bashir: the future government will include the largest number of parties – (Arabic) Al Ray Aam
Forces of Taban (Deng) surround NEC in Unity State – (Arabic) Al Ray Aam
NCP candidate complains that fraud widespread in Blue Nile – (Arabic) Al Ray Al Aam
Op-ed by Sadiq Al Mahdi – (Arabic) Al Sahafa
Atturabi Says All Options Are on the Table Regarding Vote Rigging – (Arabic) Al Jazeera

Planet Home — Valuing People and Earth

Carl Wilkens — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 03:54:41 +0000

Carl Wilkens is part of Change.org's Changemakers network, comprised of leading voices for social change. We took off last September with this crazy idea to pedal the USA speaking with school and faith groups along the way. We can end the genocide in Darfur, we've got to challenge the "us and them" thinking plaguing our minds and our communities, that's our message! So far we have pedaled the west coast, and our country is amazing, our people amazing, a new sense of pride and understanding of our home! We're also now hooked on recumbent bikes. I can't describe the bonding with our land that this pedaling over 1600 miles (not bragging, it was spread over 7 months) did for us. Starting in the wheat fields of eastern Washington, cruising over the Cascade Mountains, gliding through the redwood lined "Avenue of the Giants", we eventually rolled out onto the beaches of California where incredibly, dolphins were showing off in the sunset. Yes there were dolphins in the sunset! Not sure if you caught my point, but having enjoyed only 14 nights in our own bed during the last 200 +/- days we feel like we really can claim this planet as our home! Then there is the generosity and hospitality that families have lavished on us while staying in their homes. We've been wowed, humbled and deeply moved and we have turned into serious experts in finding the silverware drawer first pull in a strange kitchen. Many of our conversations on this journey are about courageous Rwandans who under the threat of machetes and club stood up 16 years ago for others. These are people who refused to accept the "us and them" lies that so many others were buying into in that tiny country in central Africa! Our stories we're hoping are inspiring and equipping people to give it a try, living like you believe that you are 'your brother's keeper'. Yet this pedaling, this mixing of human rights and bonding with our land, reminds us with each gorgeous passing mile we sail through that we're not only 'our sisters keeper', but we're the keeper of each other's home, our fabulous planet earth. Both in human rights and environmental rights, and I'm a real beginner in both, but over and over both bring us face to face with the invitation to consider 'the other' before ourselves. "Come on" they challenge, "sacrifice in some way for the benefit of 'the other'". And funny enough, in sacrificing it happens, we find ourselves gaining in such unexpected ways, that which money can't buy. Ask either one of us and we'll tell you, "2 panniers and a backpack on the back of our bike is more than enough, less is definitely more!" And with less clutter in our lives it's much easier to try on the shoes of 'the other', AND sometimes it's a flat out necessity! So hey, what about celebrating this Earth Day by thinking of 2 or 3 ways you could test out the principal that 'less is more' and perhaps a little sacrifice for 'the other'? Might ride your bike to work once a week, or finally start recycling, or unplug and free-cycle.org that extra fridge in the garage this Sunday. Some are no doubt way far ahead of this, but the point is start simple, start now! Been saved from myself again and again by 2 simple principals that speak volumes to these and other movements: 1. Count and give thanks for what I have, and don't squander myself on what I don't have. (half full glass vs. not half empty) 2. Whatever I want, want it more for the other. Then there was that day in March when 25 miles north of Santa Barbara a family of 5 comes down the road towards us. That's 5 on ONE BIKE , Dad, 5 year old daughter, 3 year old daughter, mom, and lastly 7 year old daughter with a trailer in tow - all pedaling except the 3 year old... The Pedouins, 7,000 miles, you'll want to check them out. Anything is possible, we just have to decide and make our move! Don't forget, start small, start now... how about clicking on the 'Story of Stuff' next? Guaranteed you'll want to send it to a bunch of friends, and if you've seen it, they have a couple more great film clips there as well. Don't forget to grab a reusable water bottle shopping bag on your way out the door Cross posted from Change.org's Human Rights blog.

Omar al-Bashir wins

Martha Heinemann Bixby — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:54:16 +0000

The results are in: Omar al-Bashir won re-election in Sudan. Salva Kiir won re-election as president of the South. From Reuters:

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has won Sudan's first open elections in 24 years in a result that confirms in office the only sitting head of state wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes. Election official Abel Alier announced at a news conference that Bashir won 68 percent of the presidential vote, while Salva Kiir, the president of Sudan's semi-autonomous southern region, won re-election with 92.99 percent of the vote in that race. After a vote outside observers said fell short of global standards, Bashir is expected to form a coalition with Kiir as the country heads toward a 2011 plebiscite that is expected to lead south Sudan to split off and become Africa's newest state. Bashir had hoped a win in legitimate polls would help him defy the ICC warrant, in which he is accused of ordering a campaign of murder, torture and rape in Sudan's Darfur region. But the polls were marred by widespread charges of fraud, including from Kiir's Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), suggesting the new ruling coalition will be a fragile one. Bashir and Kiir's current coalition government has had a rocky five years since signing a 2005 peace deal that ended more than two decades of civil war between north and south Sudan. North-south tensions bode poorly for full implementation of the peace deal, including next year's referendum. Any major delay to that vote would be unacceptable to southerners who many analysts believe overwhelmingly desire secession.

Sudan Domestic Election Monitoring and Observation Programme Press Release

Shannon Orcutt — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:50:52 +0000

On April 24th Sudan Domestic Election Monitoring and Observation Programme (SuDEMOP) issued the following press release:

The Sudan Domestic Election Monitoring and Observation Programme (SuDEMOP) expresses stern concern over the delay in releasing the result of the elections in many constituencies. As we join other sectors of civil society and the international community in contributing towards the democratization process in Sudan, we appreciate that our beloved country has successfully managed to conduct an election after a long period of theocratic military dictatorship. We are keen to see and realize the logical conclusion of this landmark election which is indeed a milestone in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). SuDEMOP appreciates that Southern Sudanese have exhibited high level of maturity, patience and patriotism during the polling period. Generally polling was peaceful though with numerous logistical and administrative shortcomings. We note with concern that the election results have not been released thus call upon the National Election Commission (NEC) to expedite the process of vote tabulation and release of the results for all the constituencies where voting was successfully conducted. SuDEMOP’s concern is that this delay may cause anxiety and animosity among political parties. However SuDEMOP wishes to remind the NEC that the Sudan General Election is of national and international significance hence we wish to draw attention of all stakeholders in the CPA and the international community to critically consider the impact of this delay on the referendum calendar. We are further concerned that the elections and the voting processes were fairly peaceful but the delay in the announcement of results will jeopardize peace and stability in the Country hence tension build up and citizen unrest. SuDEMOP acknowledges the fact that lack of adequate and proper civic education partially contributed to the difficulties during the election; we urge that more effort be put in preparation for the referendum. SuDEMOP suggests that Southern Sudanese decision making organs considers immediate formation of the referendum commission a priority so as to avoid the mistakes made during this elections. We look forward to a country where appointments to national institutions are made on merit for the development and prosperity of the Nation. For further information contact SuDEMOP Secretariat Tel: +249 955 057 002 Email: sudemop.electionmonitors@yahoo.com or sudemop.electionmonitors@gmail.com

New Yorkers Call on International Community to Support Sudanese People during Elections

NYC Coalition for Darfur — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:06:51 +0000

Continuing its rich history as a gathering place for human rights' activism, Union Square became a hub for calling attention to the poor state of political expression and fundamental freedoms in Sudan. On 10 April 2010, the eve of Sudan’s elections, New Yorkers gathered in Union Square Park to express concern about the elections and demand that the international community take seriously its role as guarantor of the elections. Elections can be an opportunity to develop democracy, but could also become a flash point for violence and human rights violations. On a beautiful spring day, hundreds of people passing through Union Square stopped at rally headquarters under the statue of George Washington, signing postcards to President Obama and making phone calls to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton through the Genocide Intervention hotline, calling on both to lead the international community in denouncing flaws in the elections and in ensuring that the election does not legitimize President Omar al-Bashir. Individuals who made a call on the GI-Net hotline received a cookie from UBUNTU: Students for a World Without Genocide. A 6'-long letter also was addressed to Hillary Clinton, and signed by bystanders. Volunteers distributed fliers containing actions that anyone can take for Sudan and Darfur: they spoke with onlookers, explaining how international support for free and fair elections is critical to reducing conflict throughout Sudan and to encouraging an environment of civil and political freedoms imperative to a legitimate 2011 referendum on the future of South Sudan. This event formed one part of the Sudan365 global campaign, which highlights the need for urgent international attention to Sudan to ensure that international engagement is not “business as usual” during this critical year leading up to the end of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement’s (CPA) interim period, and the 2011 referendum for self-determination for South Sudan. Events were held in as about 20 countries, including Holland, Mali, Serbia, Senegal, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Israel, South Africa, Togo, the UK, Bahrain, Mauritania, the US, Norway, Burkina Faso, Italy, and Yemen. Coverage of these events can be seen on the Sudan 365 website. The event in New York was coordinated by the New York City Coalition for Darfur , the Brooklyn Coalition for Darfur, UBUNTU: Students for a World Without Genocide, the Darfur People’s Association of New York , the International Refugee Rights Initiative, and the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies. Drumming was led by Gary Fritz and Friends and the Brooklyn Drum Circle Meet-up; and a local dance class performed in front of the drummers. Speakers at the event included Sharon Silber of the New York City Coalition to Save Darfur, Olivia Bueno of the International Refugee Rights Initiative, Neiki Ullah of UBUNTU: Students for a World Without Genocide, and four Darfuri members of the Darfur People’s Association of New York. Emily Cody of the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies read a statement on behalf of Director Osman Hummaida, calling for elections to be postponed and detailing several electoral violations, including targeting of opposition groups and civil society through restrictions on the freedom of expression and speech. A leader of the Darfur People’s Association of New York spoke of the unfair nature of the elections, including political marginalization and access to voting in Darfur and the ongoing dire situation of lack of humanitarian access and violence. He reported incidents where food had been withheld to communities in order to influence voting. All of the speakers commented on the precarious stakes for elections and the end of the interim period, as has been exemplified through the tenuous environment for political opposition members and their supporters, recent attacks on the Jebel Marra region of Darfur, and ongoing insecurity in South Sudan. The event was spearheaded by the New York Coalition for Darfur a member of the Save Darfur Coalition , and DarfurMetro , which is an umbrella group of advocacy organizations focused on Sudan and Darfur throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The NYC Coalition for Darfur always welcomes new members, and encourages any interested people to attend their monthly meeting. The next meeting of the NYC Coalition for Darfur is Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 8pm at the Church of St Paul & St Andrew on West 86 Street. Many thanks to all the wonderful New York metro activists who came out and made this day a great success! Photos from the April 10, 2010 event can be seen at the Sudan365 Flickr site here.

Blogpost authored by Sharon Silber, Laura Limuli, and Eileen Weiss of the New York City Coalition for Darfur

Australia	Janelle Safgin
Afghanistan	Ghulam Hassan Gran
Afghanistan	Sayed Ahmad Farid Kazimi
Bahrain	Mr. Ali Qasem Rabeia
Bahrain	Mr. Jasem Murad
France	Jean Louis Christ
France	Serge Janquin
Egypt	Mr. Salah Alsayik
Egypt	Dr. Saber Atta
Germany	Angelika Beer
Germany	Christoph Strässer,MP
Italy	Gianni Verneti
Italy	Pietro Marcenaro
Kuwait	Dr. Rola Dashti
Mauritania	Mr. Mohamed Wald Mohamed Al-Amin
Mauritania	Mr. Wan Sao
Morocco	Mr. El –Hassan Fatahallah
UK	Lord Alton
UK	Earl of Sandwich
UK	Lord Steel
UK	Paul Flynn
UK	David Drew
UK	Baroness Cox
UK	Lindsay Northover
Yemen	Mr. Shawqi El-Qadi
Yemen	Mr. Sultan Hezam
Yemen	Mr. Mohamed Nagi Allao
Yemen	Dr. Abdel Qadous Al-Mudwahi
Yemen	Mr. Sakhr Al-Wageeh
Yemen	Dr. Abdel Bari Al-Dughaish
Yemen	Dr. Aydarous Al-Naqeeb
Yemen	Dr. Mohamed Saleh Al-Qoubat