Archive for the ‘Commentary’ Category

Mar02

Yes, the U.S. is selling Southern Sudanese ’Down the River’

Monday 1 March 2010 – By Roger Winter

February 28, 2010 — In an article published in the Sudan Tribune of May 27, 2009 I explained the American expression of ‘selling someone down the river’ and pondered rhetorically if that kind of betrayal was what the Obama Administration was doing to Southern Sudanese. I decided that, at the time, it was too soon to come to that conclusion, but there were reasons to be seriously concerned. That is now very ancient history. It has been for some time now very clear that, knowingly or not, selling-out all of Sudan’s marginalized people is exactly what President Obama’s Administration is doing. The Agent of this tragedy is President Obama’s Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration; his Controller is, obviously, President Obama himself. Read more

Mar02

Genocide in Darfur: How Sudan covers it up

By John Prendergast and Omer Ismail / March 1, 2010

Washington; and Doha, Qatar
Most governments don’t acknowledge it. The Sudanese president dismisses it. Darfurians demand that it be recognized. Academics, activists, and lawyers dispute whether it is still occurring or whether it occurred at all. International Criminal Court (ICC) judges debate standards of evidence surrounding it. The nature of recent attacks this past week by Sudanese government forces and militia allies against defenseless civilians potentially augurs its resurgence. And if a fledgling peace process continues to move forward, then any evidence of it ever happening may well be swept under the rug. Read more

Mar02

America’s Obama and Sudan’s Bashir: Let’s Make a Deal

One wonders what will be written on the pages of history about Darfur. Will it be that the world abandoned innocent people to be slaughtered while a mockery of negotiations took place in Doha and Chad? Will it be that news-agencies reported on the so called elections while the Sudanese government carried out its plan to annihilate an entire ethnic group? Will it be that the international community facilitated peace talks for their own interests with the very same group of fundamentalists that it is fighting the war on terror against? Will it be that in the 21st century long after the hard fought campaigns to end slavery that a new form of enslavement of the people of Darfur is happening under the nose of the first African American President? These questions remain to be answered.

commentary by Susan Morgan, Executive Director, Pax Communications Full article

Jan25

President Obama: Hear The Beat Of The Drums…Now

January 9 marked the fifth anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, or CPA, that ended the 20-year North-South war in Sudan. That war resulted in over 2 million deaths and 4 million displaced. It destroyed the infrastructure of the South and devastated lives, trust, and hope. Today, the CPA is at risk of collapse. Sudan is in danger of returning to full-scale war. Only President Obama’s personal involvement with world leaders can salvage the CPA. But time is running out.

Assistance by and pressure from the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, and Norway were essential to negotiating and signing the CPA, an agreement that aimed to rectify the existing center-periphery dynamic by establishing a new political, military, and economic system based on the values of justice, democracy, and human rights and creating processes to engage with marginalized populations, including elections and referenda. Unfortunately, as so often happens, the international community’s support for implementation and enforcement has been woefully insufficient.

The ruling National Congress Party, or NCP, came to power by military coup in 1989. It has continued its governing tactic of “divide and rule” despite the CPA and has successfully maintained the poverty, malnutrition, and lack of education and health care afflicting southern Sudanese. It has similarly marginalized the Beja in the east, the Nubians in the far north, and the people from the Nuba Mountains or South Kordofan. And, of course, the genocide in Darfur continues, leaving an estimated 3 million people displaced and in grave danger.

Tensions related in part to the NCP’s obstruction of the CPA have provoked renewed violence in South Sudan. Its intransigence has prevented the establishment of conditions essential to free and fair elections. An election in April rigged to legitimize the NCP and a leader accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity threatens the integrity of the referendum and could push the country into full-scale war. Millions of additional lives would be at risk. Destabilization of the entire region is a realistic possibility.

Human rights activists around the world recognized the need for immediate re-engagement with Sudan through diplomacy by world leaders. On January 9, “Sudan 365: A Beat for Peace” kicked off an international campaign urging intensive and coherent diplomatic support to prevent increased violence and provide civilian protection. Drummers (including a 12-year old in London) beat for peace at 35 events held in 26 countries to mark the anniversary. Some of the world’s most famous drummers made a global beat for peace video—viewed over 100,000 times—to launch the campaign.

Sudanese in the U.S. and concerned Americans have been calling on President Obama since his campaign to assume personal leadership in facilitating peace in Sudan. He has not heard our words. We can only hope that he will respond to the beat of the drums—long a symbol of freedom for Africans. The lives of millions of Sudanese depend on it.

Mohamed E. Suleiman, a native of North Darfur and a member of the Zaghawa tribe, is currently a resident of Northern California, President of the San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition and a member of the Darfur Leaders Network. His village, Umbarow, was burned and destroyed by the Government of Sudan and Janjaweed. Mr. Suleiman lost members of his family in the Darfur genocide; his mother and siblings still reside in Darfur. Mr. Suleiman is the author of the blog While We Wait.

Martina Knee is a member of the Executive Committee of the San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition. She is also a 2009 Carl Wilkens Fellows of the Genocide Intervention Network.  Read Full Article >>

Nov02

New U.S. Sudan policy, one small step…for mankind?

On October 19, the Obama Administration announced its long-awaited Sudan policy. The policy’s priorities include: an end to the Darfur genocide, implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 (CPA) that ended the North-South war, and ensuring that Sudan does not provide a safe haven for international terrorists.
Responses to the policy offer varying perspectives:

On October 19, the Obama Administration announced its long-awaited Sudan policy. The policy’s priorities include: an end to the Darfur genocide, implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 (CPA) that ended the North-South war, and ensuring that Sudan does not provide a safe haven for international terrorists.

Responses to the policy offer varying perspectives:

  • The policy took too long to issue. Ten months is not acceptable when millions of lives hang in the balance, when an election will take place in 2010, and when the referendum determining whether South Sudan will separate is scheduled for 2011.
  • The policy is only new rhetoric; proof will be in its execution.
  • The policy’s “all-Sudan” approach is a reason for optimism. The Administration acknowledged the interdependence of peace in Darfur and realization of the CPA’s goals, as well as Sudan’s sharing of intelligence with the US in support of the “war on terror”. The policy takes a balanced approach. Decisions regarding incentives and disincentives for the Government of Sudan will be based on verifiable changes in conditions on the ground.
  • The policy appears to settle the debate within the Obama Administration on whether genocide in Darfur is ongoing: it decided that the Government of Sudan’s genocidal campaign continues. Indeed it does, with fewer bombs and burned villages than in past years but absolutely by means of withheld and obstructed humanitarian aid. More Darfuris die from malnutrition, starvation, thirst, disease, and lack of hygiene than from direct attacks.

The relentless pressure from concerned citizens and Members of Congress resulted in the policy’s roll-out by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, along with the US Special Envoy to Sudan, Maj. Gen Scott Gration (Ret.). The White House and State Department held an informational teleconference for activists. The press received a background briefing.

Let’s hope the policy is neither too little too late nor merely an attempt to silence critics.

In part, this remains in the hands of the American people. The policy is an opportunity to hold the Obama Administration accountable for leading the international community in facilitating and supporting peace in Sudan.

Individuals who care about Sudan and the stability of the Horn of Africa need to continue to monitor developments both in Sudan and in the US response. They must make their voices heard if implementation of the policy does not expeditiously achieve its goals.

How?  Send emails and make calls to The White House, call and text the Secretary of State, and respond to the Special Envoy’s blog. Use Facebook and Twitter. Fax a letter to your Congressperson and Senator.

The policy alone is not enough. It is a step forward.

Looking optimistically into the future, let it be a small step for all of mankind. In that future, humanity will not tolerate the intentional slaughter of “others”.

Let us start today in helping to create a world free from genocide – make sure the first one of the 21st century ends.

Oct26

Engaging with a Hostage-Taker: Humanitarian help cut by two-thirds, 3 million people live in misery

Obama’s administration finally, on Monday, October 19, unveiled its new Sudan policy As a policy, on paper, it sounded like there is something for everybody.

Many dictators in Africa had a good sleep that night. They never had such relaxing sleep since they saw on television some years back, one of their own fellows handcuffed and shipped to The Hague to stand trial on war crimes and crimes against humanity.
by Mohamed E. Suleiman Read more>

Fugitive wanted by international justice

Fugitive wanted by international justice

Sep25

Misleading Information Is Causing Confusion—Stay Informed

A lot of misleading information is causing confusion about the situation in Darfur and Sudan.

The Government of Sudan (GoS) is stepping up the suppression of free speach and the media, making it ever harder to find out what is really happening. It hopes that if we don’t know the truth, we will stop urging our leaders to help the Sudanese people.

But, you can help. Disseminate the truth about the current situation in Darfur and Sudan. Today and in the next few days, please tell at least three others that in the last week:

- The GoS has resumed aerial bombing of Darfur villages and towns, including in the Korma area. A father of eight young children reported that his family has run out of food and has little water, the Janjaweed are occuping all of the wells, they can see Antonov planes dropping bombs on villages, and he lost ten relatives in just this last round of violence.
- The Janjaweed is again burning and looting villages, including Gefafil in North Darfur, raping women, and causing survivors to flee to already overburdened camps and to the mountains.
- The GoS security agents are targeting teachers, asking for “Mudarressein” (teachers), and shooting them on sight. Darfuris report this is part of the GoS plan to keep uneducated Darfuris illiterate.
- AND, the number of conflicts in South Sudan grow with increasing numbers of deaths. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/ybmttqa for a September 23 report.

For more details, please visit www.whilewewaitsudan.org and www.radiodabanga.org.

Don’t let the statement of outgoing UNAMID Commander Agwai that the war in Darfur is over fool anyone – help set the record straight.

Please tell your friends to tell a friend.

Sep23

Childrens’ Drawings Tell The Darfur Story

When we see childrens’ art we traditionally see colorful scenes with sunshine and trees, a family portrait perhaps with the dog, a child’s school, or a fire engine showing a dream of becoming a fire-fighter. But what would a child who experienced the atrocities in Darfur draw?

The BCC reported earlier this year that the International Criminal Court is accepting childrens’ drawings as supporting evidence of the alleged crimes committed in Darfur.

Looking at these scenes, I am overwhelmed by the matter-of-fact detail, heart-breaking stories, and portraits of specific incidents that no child should ever experience. These children saw it all! What our kids might draw in this country is a very different scene from what these children have drawn. And the hardships continue despite this artwork and additional genocide evidence. 

The following sketch by Abdul Maggit depicts a typical scene of destruction. See the story and additional drawings on BBC News >>. Please also visit www.whilewewaitsudan.com

Darfur refugee child's drawing

Sep02

Were Darfur promises for real?

Commentary: Were Darfur promises for real? – CNN.com

“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…” Read More

Jun19

“Violations of the rights of Darfuris and Sudanese are not confined to the political borders of Sudan…”

Stevie Thacker is currently a junior at Amherst College, and is spending the summer interning at the San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition after spending six months studying and volunteering in Cairo, Egypt.


When I first walked into the African Hope School, a faith-based school set up using private donations to assist the refugee population in Cairo, Egypt, I was overwhelmed by a seeming paradox: the vibrancy and energy of the 400 students, in contrast to the crumbling, sparse building that housed their school. My job was to help students from first to eighth grade develop their English skills.

The students’ knowledge of English varied greatly, and teaching them was an uphill battle. But as frustrated as they would get, I was always impressed by each of them, as they continued on. If a student became visibly frustrated and upset, I would offer them the option to leave our group and go back to their class. Never once was I taken up on that offer. Their entire lives seemed to be of perseverance. As they told me their stories of leaving Darfur and Sudan, they conveyed accounts of arrests and violence as though these were just facts of life.

That vibrant and upbeat atmosphere was shattered on May 9th, when the results of the final examinations cam. On this day, my group of eighth graders came to the classroom full of tears and looks of defeat. They told me that of their class of 35 students, only three had passed the examination. For these kids, failing this exam meant moving forward with their education wasn’t possible.

Violations of the human rights of Darfuris and Sudanese are not confined to the political borders of Sudan. The Sudanese refugees who flee Sudan to avoid persecution are subject to violations of their basic rights outside of Sudan as well. In addition to the nearly 5 million Sudanese who have become internally displaced people, the United Nations has confirmed there are over 560,000 refugees from Sudan who have fled to seven neighboring countries. While these refugees may be relatively safe from the atrocities that are occurring in Sudan, they are continually denied basic rights as outlined in the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

Although Egypt is a signatory to this convention, there are no guarantees to education for Sudanese refugees in Egypt. The Egyptian government denies Sudanese refugees access to their public schools, as mandated by the Convention, effectively forcing Sudanese refugees to enroll in expensive private schools. As they are also often denied the appropriate work visas, and so have no legitimate income, private schools are not an option for Sudanese refugees. Instead, they are forced to rely on a network of schools established by non-governmental organizations and faith-based organizations.

These schools do not offer an adequate solution. The Egyptian government refuses to accredit these schools, meaning any education received is invalid and will not be certified or documented. Consequently, there is no opportunity for higher education for Sudanese refugees. In an attempt to reconcile this situation, in the 2008-2009 school year the African Hope School became the first school for refugees to implement a Sudanese curriculum, rather than Egyptian. The aim of this initiative was to have refugees take Sudanese examinations and receive a certificate from Sudan acknowledging their education, a certificate which would allow them access to higher education.

As the talks commence on how to provide Sudan with peace immediately following UN World Refugee Day on June 20, focus should also be on enforcing international treaties in countries with Sudanese populations, so that when peace is achieved there is a population of well-educated Sudanese to build upon the peace, and not a repatriation of a generation of Sudanese with limited education and opportunities.