OurPledge

Sudan government strives to force Darfur civilians out of refugee camps

The Associated Press
Wednesday, October 31, 2007

OTASH CAMP, Sudan: In a worrying sign of further turmoil, Sudan’s government is increasing the pressure on Darfur civilians to leave many refugee camps where they had fled to avoid violence. The United Nations says the government has even loaded some refugees by force onto trucks in recent days, to drag them out.

Sudanese officials insist they are forcing no one to leave, but do want to encourage refugees to return to their villages, because the camps have become too big, squalid and dangerous. The camps also make refugees unhealthily dependent on humanitarian aid, the officials say.

[Update on Peace Talks] – Chances slim for Darfur breakthrough

Reuters – Thu 25 Oct 2007, 7:59 GMT
By Lamine Ghanmi

TRIPOLI – Disarray in both government and rebel ranks makes quick progress unlikely in Darfur peace talks billed by the United Nations as a “moment of truth” to stop 4-1/2 years of violence in western Sudan.

The best that can be hoped at the gathering in Libya which begins on Saturday is agreement to meet again, this time with a wider, more inclusive array of parties to the conflict to end one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, experts say.

“If I were the facilitators I would be seeking to build down expectations for this first round,” said Larry Rossin, a former U.S. and U.N. diplomat who now represents the Save Darfur Coalition, an umbrella group.

The conference seeks to end a conflict that has sparked U.S. accusations—dismissed by Sudan—of genocide. Much of the killing, rape and looting has been blamed on a government-allied militia known as the Janjaweed.

Darfur: Recognizing a shared humanity with those suffering under genocide

By John Prendergast and Colin Thomas-Jensen
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
October 21, 2007

It is hard to imagine the human toll of four years of relentless violence in Darfur, Sudan.

Yet Americans from all walks of life recognize a shared humanity with the people of Darfur, and a vibrant, citizen-led movement to end the 21st century’s first genocide continues to grow and mature.

The movement is growing because activists can see a correlation between their efforts and U.S. policy toward Sudan. Most of the measures that elected officials have taken have come as a direct result of mounting pressure from U.S. citizens. The louder activists get, the greater the political cost for failing to act.

Right now, Americans who care about Sudan must respond to recent setbacks – a major government offensive in Darfur and a faltering peace agreement in southern Sudan – by demanding that the United States immediately ramp up diplomatic efforts to prevent a devastating new phase of Sudan’s deadly wars.

More than 2.2 million people have died as a result of the violence that has raged across the country since 1983.

When Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (formerly the National Islamic Front) seized power in a 1989 coup, the Khartoum-based government accelerated its scorched earth campaign against rebels and civilians in southern Sudan.

Pressure from U.S. citizens, particularly evangelical Christians, finally persuaded the Bush administration to work with the rest of the world to forge a peace agreement.

Press Release: Senate Banking Committee Sends Powerful Message to Sudan

[From the Genocide Intervention Network:]

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2007 — By a vote of 21 to 0, the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (SADA) passed the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. In addition, Sen. Chuck Hagel withdrew an amendment which would have rendered the bill toothless.

SADA, which now heads to the Senate floor, would authorize state and local governments to divest from companies that support the Khartoum government at the expense of marginalized populations in Sudan and would prohibit federal contracts with those companies unless they implement substantial humanitarian programs in response to the Darfur genocide. SADA is the Senate companion to the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act, authored by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, which passed the House of Representatives on July 31 with a 418-1 vote.

The Genocide Intervention Network recognizes the leadership of the bill’s authors, Chairman Chris Dodd and Ranking Member Richard Shelby, and encourages the full Senate to consider the bill before the start of negotiations between the government of Sudan and rebel groups in Tripoli, Libya on Oct. 27, 2007, to send a message to Khartoum that the government must participate constructively in the peace process and allow the full deployment of the UN-African Union peacekeeping force.

Press Release: U.S. Congress to Foreign Companies: Support Khartoum, Lose Our Contracts

[From the Genocide Intervention Network:]

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2007 – The Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (SADA), authored by Sens. Christopher Dodd and Richard Shelby, will be considered by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 10:00 AM. SADA is the Senate companion to the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act, authored by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, which passed the House of Representatives on July 31 with a 418-1 vote. SADA would authorize state and local governments to divest from companies that support the Khartoum government at the expense of marginalized populations in Sudan and would prohibit federal contracts with those companies unless they implement substantial humanitarian programs in response to the Darfur genocide.

Sudan red tape delaying UN force

BBC NEWS
Published: 2007/10/11 10:53:53 GMT

The United Nations has criticised the Sudanese government’s use of red tape to delay the deployment of the hybrid UN-African Union force to Darfur.

In a highly critical report, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accused Khartoum of failing to approve a list of troop-contributing countries.

Amnesty: Attack on North Darfur Imminent

Amnesty International Press Release
9 October 2007

Amnesty International today warned that the northern areas of Darfur are currently in the crosshairs of the Sudanese armed forces and that further deadly attacks are imminent.

Amnesty International has received reports that Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) are gathering in large numbers in at least six towns in northern Darfur, including Tine, Kornoy, Um Baru, Kutum.

Make the Call for Darfur: Impose Targeted Multilateral Sanctions Now Against Khartoum

October 2007 THE ACTION: Call the White House comment line (202-456-1111), and ask to leave this message: “President Bush, please do all you can to help impose targeted multilateral sanctions against the Government of Sudan’s senior leaders. Our country must do all it can to end the genocide in Darfur now.”

At least 40 killed in government attack on Darfur town

Tue 9 Oct 2007, 10:42 GMT By Opheera McDoom KHARTOUM (Reuters) – A Sudanese army air and ground assault killed at least 40 people in the Darfur town of Muhajiriya, where bodies littered the streets amid burned out buildings, rebels who control the area said on Tuesday. “Until now the number of dead civilians are [...]

Sudanese army and Darfur militias burned down Haskanita – UN source

(From the AP)

October 7, 2007 (KHARTOUM, Sudan)—A UN official has stated that Sudanese Army and its militias have burned down Haskanita town in northern Darfur. The international officials who inspected the town said Sunday that about 15,000 civilians had fled the area.

International aid workers and United Nations officials dismissed claims by some rebel chiefs that 100 people had died in the North Darfur town of Haskanita. The officials said the town emptied as the army moved in last Sunday, and troops started burning it on Wednesday.

A U.N. statement did not say who set fire to the ethnic African town but said Sudanese government forces took control after suspected Darfur rebels attacked the nearby base of African Union peacekeepers a week ago, killing 10 peacekeepers.

Haskanita, “which is currently under the control of the government, was completely burned down, except for a few buildings,” said the U.N. mission to Sudan.