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World rallies for peace in Darfur
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| EvilTree |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5353332.stm
| quote: | Protesters demanding an end to conflict in Sudan's Darfur region are staging a day of demonstrations around the world.
Activists are rallying in several capital cities, calling on the government in Khartoum to allow United Nation peacekeepers into Darfur.
Khartoum has dismissed the protests, saying those taking part have been misled by the international media.
Tens of thousands of people have died and up to two million have been displaced in three years of conflict.
The US and France have both said a genocide is taking place in Darfur, with the US directly accusing Khartoum of responsibility.
On Saturday UK Prime Minister Tony Blair wrote to leaders of the European Union, calling the situation in Darfur "unacceptable" and urging them to take a common stand on the issue.
'Misunderstanding'
Protests in London began with a rally outside the Sudanese embassy.
Demonstrators then marched to Downing Street, where religious leaders offered multi-faith prayers for a peaceful solution.
Blair urges EU Darfur unity
Quick guide: Darfur
Rallies are expected to take place in some 30 cities around the world.
Among those involved are the South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Canadian General Romeo Dallaire, who headed the UN peacekeeping force in Rwanda during that country's genocide in 1994.
In Cambodia, devastated by the Khmer Rouge genocide in the 1970s, a candle-lit vigil was held in the capital, Phnom Penh.
Speaking ahead of the protests, Sudan's junior foreign minister, Ali Karti, insisted the demonstrators were misunderstanding the situation in Darfur.
"Unfortunately, the people there in the West, in Europe and the United States are moved by the media and the media is unfortunately moved by political agendas," he said.
The BBC's Mark Doyle says the government in Khartoum says it is defending the territorial integrity of Sudan against rebels backed by neighbouring Chad.
Peacekeeper threat
But Steve Ballinger, a spokesman for Amnesty International, rejected Mr Karti's interpretation of events.
"The situation is dire already in Darfur, and it is only going to get worse when the African Union troops leave at the end of this month, unless the UN peacekeeping mission is allowed back in."
Seven thousand African Union peacekeeping troops are due to leave Darfur at the end of August, but Khartoum has refused to allow UN peacekeepers to take their place.
The government has stressed that any UN troops entering Darfur would be met with armed resistance.
On Saturday 1,000 volunteers from a pro-government militia marched through the streets of Khartoum threatening to kill any uninvited UN visitors, the BBC's Jonah Fisher reports from the city.
Violence in the region is reported to be rising again, drawing criticism from figures as diverse as the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and actor George Clooney, who this week implored the UN Security Council to act. |
The entire Sudanese govt deserves a throat punch.
Why isn't the Sudanese govt being tried for crimes against humanity? |
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| EvilTree |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5316306.stm
Quick guide: Darfur
Darfur is a semi-arid western province of Sudan - Africa's largest country. Darfur alone is the size of France.
In an Arab-dominated country, Darfur's population is mostly black African.
WHAT IS A QUICK GUIDE?
Quick guides are concise explanations of topics or issues in the news.
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For years, there have been tensions between the mostly African farmers and the mostly Arab herders, who have competed for land.
Opposition groups in Darfur say the government neglects their province, and discriminates against black Africans.
Conflict
The conflict began in 2003, when rebel groups began attacking government targets.
In retaliation, the government launched a military and police campaign in Darfur.
More than 2m people fled their homes.
Many spoke of government aircraft bombing villages, after which the Arab Janjaweed militia would ride in on camels and horses to slaughter, rape and steal.
The refugees and some western observers said there was a deliberate attempt to drive black Africans out of Darfur.
The government admits mobilising "self-defence militias", but denies links to the Janjaweed and says the problems have been exaggerated.
Refugees
Those who fled the violence are now living in camps across Darfur. About 200,000 refugees have crossed the border into Chad.
Those living in camps now depend on food aid from international donors.
Aid agencies have repeatedly warned that continuing violence is making it difficult, or impossible, for them to provide the displaced people with the help they need.
Peace deal
Attempts by the African Union (AU) - a grouping of African states - to end the conflict resulted in a peace deal being signed in 2006.
The Sudanese government backed the deal, but only one rebel faction - Minni Minawi's faction of the Sudan Liberation Army - signed up.
As part of the deal, the government agreed to disarm the Janjaweed, but there is little to suggest that this has happened.
At the same time, Minni Minawi's men now seem to be fighting on the side of the government against the other rebel groups.
All this means that violence has actually increased since the peace deal was signed.
Peacekeepers
The AU has sent 7,000 soldiers to try and monitor a ceasefire.
The Sudanese government agreed to allow this force to operate.
But this relatively small force has not managed to end the violence.
Britain and the US have been pushing for the United Nations to take over the peacekeeping mission and the AU is happy to stand aside.
Sudan, however, says it will not allow a UN force on its territory. |
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| Pixiechick |
You beat me to the punch! Just posted this on the Montreal board :cool:
There is a rally taking place TODAY in Toronto, at 2:00 p.m., At Ramsden Park, on Yonge Street across from the Rosedale subway station so come on out and learn more about what is going on in the region and to voice your concerns about the impending withdrawal of African Union troops at the end of September. Lucky you guys - General Dallaire will be present as the keynote speaker!
Another excellent website for more info about the rallies:
www.dayfordarfur.org
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Peace,
Erika |
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| 7-4-7 |
| that is incredibly excellent of you to post this...I will now be there. |
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| Pixiechick |
| Shameless bump |
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| EvilTree |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5358342.stm
| quote: |
Sudan calls for Darfur investment
Sudanese ministers say water resources are vital
The Sudanese government has said war-torn Darfur needs investment rather than United Nations peacekeepers.
The Sudanese finance minister said Darfur had a "development problem", requiring humanitarian aid and investment in basic infrastructure.
At least 200,000 people are estimated to have died and more than two million been displaced during the three-year conflict in the northern region.
The government, accused of stoking the conflict, has rejected UN intervention.
'Resources needed'
Attending an international financial conference in Singapore, Sudanese Finance Minister Lual Deng said the government was working with bodies such as the World Bank to assess Darfur's economic needs.
He said the UN should spend its money on meeting Darfur's basic social and economic problems rather than launching a peacekeeping mission.
"What Darfur needs most is resources for water, resources for schools, for hospitals," he said.
"These resources, if they could be used in order to develop Darfur, it would be much better."
Many Western leaders and aid bodies believe a further humanitarian catastrophe is likely if UN troops are not allowed into the region.
The US government has said genocide has occurred in Darfur, accusing the government of supporting local Arab militias in the killing of thousands of people. |
Translation: My govt want your money but don't stop us from continuing to kill black Sudanese.
Obviously he didn't get the memo saying that the Janjaweed militia is making humanitarian efforts difficult by various NGOs.
Funny thing is, Luol Deng I believe is a basketball player for Chicago Bulls. |
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| ShadoWolf |
| Did the protesters head over to the Chinese (and/or Russian) consulate? If not, they just wasted their time (with all due respect). |
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