OurPledge

“The Obama administration can take a key leadership role right now…”

Obama, Darfur, and ICC justice
By Eric Reeves
November 24, 2008
The Christian Science Monitor

Northampton, Mass. — Of all the issues President-elect Barack Obama faces before he takes office, none is of greater moral urgency than changing the tenor of the US response to what he has repeatedly described as “genocide in Darfur.”

That’s because, before Inauguration Day, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is very likely to issue a warrant for the arrest of Sudan’s president, Omar al-Bashir, charging him with crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur.

These charges are amply justified by the evidence. Mr. Obama’s clear and effective response is needed, because the Khartoum regime has threatened aggressive violence in a calculated campaign to fend off the arrest.

Indeed, its threats are as shocking as they are underreported.

More on Khartoum’s recent bombing campaign

The perpetrators announce a paper ceasefire, and then they go on bombing as usual. From the UN’s 10/19/2008 noon briefing:

“During the past few days, the United Nations has received troubling reports of aerial bombings near Kutum in Northern Darfur, as well as reports of fighting in the area of Tine, Western Darfur and along the border with Chad.”

“Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon takes these reports very seriously and calls on all parties to refrain from hostilities…”

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UN experts urge wider arms embargo on Sudan, Chad

November 18, 2008
By Patrick Worsnip
Reuters

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 18 – U.N. experts have recommended that an arms embargo on Darfur be extended to all of Sudan as well as neighboring Chad to combat “flagrant violations” of the ban by Khartoum and Darfur rebel groups.

In a report for the Security Council, released on Tuesday, a panel of four experts said both sides in Darfur were bent on a military solution to the five-year conflict in the west Sudanese region and a peacekeeping force had so far been ineffectual.

Brazen

This comes just after the big ceasefire announcement.

From the United Nations’ 10/18/2008 noon briefing:

The UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has received reports from various sources pointing to increased military activities throughout Darfur during the past few days. These include reports of aerial bombings by the Government of Sudan in the Kutum area; UNAMID is trying to confirm these reports.

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ACTION: Laying the groundwork

Yesterday we updated our “What Needs to Be Done Now” page with a new action alert and short backgrounder for Sudan advocates.

You can read the update here. (Or, download it in PDF format and share it with your networks.)

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Russia continues to abet genocide

…Sells 12 more MiGs to Khartoum. Last year Amnesty International revealed a disturbing record of Russian and Chinese arms sales to the Sudanese government, in violation of a standing UN arms embargo. Those arms were used against innocent civilians in Darfur.

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From SDC: Sudan’s ‘Smoke and Mirrors Show in Overdrive’ Following New Peace, Ceasefire Proposals

In case you missed, a release from the Save Darfur Coalition last week:

Sudan’s ‘Smoke and Mirrors Show in Overdrive’ Following New Peace, Ceasefire Proposals

Fowler: ‘Experience has taught us that Bashir’s promises should be presumed empty until and unless they are proven true.’

WASHINGTON, NOV. 13, 2008 – The Save Darfur Coalition today cast a suspicious eye toward new promises and proposals from Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir – promises that included ending the Darfur hostilities and forging a lasting peace in the war-torn country. These promises and proposals come conspicuously close to pending action from the International Criminal Court, whose response to arrest warrant requests for the Sudanese president are anticipated in the coming months. Jerry Fowler, president of the coalition, said history clearly shows us that al-Bashir’s promises must be “presumed empty” unless proven otherwise.

“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. Hard experience has taught us, however, that Bashir’s promises should be presumed empty until and unless they are proven true.

“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.”

[End of Post]

The time for multilateral sanctions is now.

It’s time for the Darfur movement to make sure strong sanctions are imposed against the Sudanese government.

The key policy recommendation from ENOUGH, the Save Darfur Coalition, and the Genocide Intervention Network’s recent, must-read open letter to President-elect Obama:

“The new president should work through or with selected members of the U.N. Security Council to bring a larger collection of nations on board with targeted sanctions against those most responsible for violence in Sudan. If the Security Council fails to pass these broader sanctions, then the new administration should build an international coalition to bring this pressure. Along with the ICC, these instruments can create much higher legal, financial, and political costs to those who are responsible for violence against civilians. If efforts to pass targeted sanctions through the Security Council fall short, a concerted effort should be made to work with the European Union to jointly apply U.S.-EU sanctions. In addition, the possibility of capital market sanctions for oil companies contracting with the Sudanese government should be explored.”

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Countdown

So Sudan’s President and top genocidaire Omar al-Bashir just announced a Darfur ceasefire.

How long will it take for Bashir to break his word for the umpteenth time?

Apply for GI-Net’s Carl Wilkens Fellowship

This sounds like a wonderful opportunity. I’m pasting below the short description from the Genocide Intervention Network:

GI-NET is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2009 Carl Wilkens Fellowship, the first and only anti-genocide leadership development program designed for busy adults. The Carl Wilkens Fellowship provides adults with leadership training, conflict and legislative education, and the organizing tools and resources to build sustained political will to end genocide. Learn more…

Our vision of a world without genocide begins with the creation of a constituency of educated and empowered Americans who believe that protecting men, women and children from genocide is everyone’s responsibility. Become a leader in the anti-genocide constituency — apply for the Carl Wilkens Fellowship today!

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