OurPledge

Today saw a flood of news analyses, press releases, editorials, blog posts, and action alerts in response to the International Criminal Court’s issuance of an arrest warrant against Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir for crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.

What follows is our roundup of and our take on today’s developments.

GENOCIDE IN ONE OF ITS MOST CHARACTERISTIC FORMS

In response to the warrant, the Sudanese Government immediately revoked the aid licenses of a number of major humanitarian organizations operating in Sudan, including Oxfam, CARE, Mercy Corps, International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, MSF-Holland, Norwegian Refugee Council, and CHF International.

These are the organizations that do the majority of the lifesaving food distribution and medical work in Western Sudan.

Make no mistake about it: Millions of lives are at grave risk right now because of Khartoum’s blanket action. This is genocide in one of its most characteristic forms — genocide through forced starvation and disease.

Oxfam’s International Director has confirmed: “…[The Government of Sudan's decision] will affect more than 600,000 Sudanese people whom we provide with vital humanitarian and development aid, including clean water and sanitation on a daily basis. 400,000 of them are affected by the ongoing conflict in Darfur — where people continue to flee from violence and the humanitarian needs remain enormous.”

STOPPING GENOCIDE IMMEDIATELY

Ending the genocide in Darfur and bringing peace to all of Sudan are huge undertakings. These aren’t impossible tasks, however, namely because the U.S. and other powerful actors already know what to do in order to stop the dying and promote peace, protection, and accountability in Sudan. The policies below were first advocated at least two years ago — in some cases they were formulated and championed by Africa experts now in the Obama administration, including UN Ambassador Susan Rice.

1) Historically, the Khartoum regime has been sensitive to heavy economic pressure. Therefore, why not tighten the screws and impose targeted multilateral sanctions (including asset freezes and travel bans) against its top leaders?

2) Why not destroy Sudan’s military aircraft on the ground in Darfur? The U.S. can do this from its base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. Why not launch a full-court and aggressive diplomatic offensive within NATO and the United Nations in order to ensure that UNAMID has the resources it needs — including weaponry and attack helicopters — to protect Darfur effectively?

3) On the U.S. diplomatic front, why not appoint a full-time Presidential Envoy for Sudan? And why can’t President Obama himself issue a public warning to Sudan’s genocidaires, in order to send the strong signal that the U.S. will not allow genocide to continue?

HEARD AND WRITTEN ELSEWHERE

Human Rights Watch: “”The Security Council and concerned governments should impose targeted sanctions against Sudanese officials responsible for any retaliatory violence, and consider other measures such as further banking restrictions or a widening of the arms embargo,” said [Richard] Dicker, [HRW's International Justice Program Director].”

The Justice for Darfur Campaign: “The UN Security Council should make clear to Sudanese authorities that threats or attacks against UN peacekeepers, humanitarian workers, or civilians in Darfur or elsewhere in Sudan in retaliation for the ICC’s decision to issue an arrest warrant are not acceptable.” (This quote is taken from a statement signed by Americans Against the Darfur Genocide and a number of other NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, Human Rights First, and Amnesty International.)

Congressman Donald Payne: “For far too long we have allowed Khartoum to get away with state-sanctioned genocide. This move by the ICC gives hope that the world will no longer look away…I hope the Obama administration uses this opportunity to push for justice and peace in Sudan.”

The Save Darfur Coalition: “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.”

Michelle at Change.org: “We cannot let Bashir own the board — to put it quite simply, he’s gotten away with murder for far too long now, and he’s pushing the envelope again, taking his chances that the world’s warnings of consequences and accountability will once again prove empty.”

John Norris, Executive Director of the Enough Project: “I hope other tyrants and warlords around the globe are taking note. Slobodan Milosevic, Charles Taylor, and now, President Bashir were only willing to learn the hard way. 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.”

A CONCRETE PLAN OF ACTION FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA

The Enough Project has specified some crucial next steps for President Obama:

- Work with the U.N. Security Council to support targeted sanctions against those most responsible for violence in Sudan and impose a comprehensive arms embargo against the Government of Sudan;
- Make UNAMID effective with a robust force on the ground in Darfur with a competent lead nation and a clear command-and-control structure;
- Work closely with interested parties with leverage in Sudan and the region, especially China, the United Kingdom, France, and key African countries, to coordinate efforts on peace efforts, the protection of civilians, and accountability;
- Counter continued violations by Sudan on the UN ban on offensive military flights in Darfur; and
- Appoint a senior Special Envoy to not only address the situation in Darfur, but Sudan’s multiple conflicts and their regional dimensions.

WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW

Call the White House Hotline at 202-456-1111 and deliver the message below to the person at the other end. Email 5 of your friends and ask them to call as well.

“President Obama, please use all means necessary to impose targeted multilateral sanctions against the Government of Sudan’s senior leaders. These perpetrators of genocide have revoked the aid licenses of almost every major humanitarian organization working in Sudan. Because of this, millions of lives are now at grave risk. This must not stand. We can’t allow genocide to continue on our watch. Thank you.”