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.  (more…)

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.

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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.

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.

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