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Darfur: We Won't Get Fooled Again from Darfur on Vimeo.
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Monday, July 20, 2009
Day 104 - July 20th
- The Special Envoy of the President of U.S.A., General Scott Gration, visited IDP camp in Kass area (West Darfur). He met with some refugees in the camp. A leader said to Radio Dabanga that the American Special Envoy asked them to return to their original villages and catch up with the rainy season to farm their lands. The refugees told the Special Envoy that the janjaweed who drove them from their villages are still there occupying their lands, the Leader told Radio Dabanga.
- In Kalma the day before ( Saturday 18th), Gration heard the same message.
From Sudan Tribune:
Darfur IDPs tell US envoy no peace without security
Tuesday 21 July 2009 04:30.
July 20, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Darfur internally displaced persons (IDPs) told the US envoy to Sudan they consider peace in Darfur could not be achieved without a lasting solution for the security issue.
Scott Gration who is visiting Sudan currently, met with 48 IDPs representatives of Darfur camps in Kalma on Saturday July 18. The US official sought to hear their claims and points of view on the Doha peace process.
According to the UN estimations there are some 2.7 million residents in Darfur camps who fled their homes after indiscriminate attacks breaching the laws of war by the pro-government militias.
"We told him (Gration) that as long as these militias are not disarmed there would be no peace in Darfur even if a peace agreement is concluded because we are not sure they would lay down their arms after peace," said Hussein Abu Sharati, the IDPs spokesperson.
Since the end of the nineties, the increasing attacks by the armed militias against the farmers triggered the affected people to accuse the government of supporting the janjaweed attacks and decided to hold arms against government in 2003.
The founder of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) Abdel Wahid Al-Nur who defends the IDPs position and refuses to take part at Doha talks before the disarmament of the government backed militias is seen by the displaced as their unique representative.
Hussein said that Gration asked them about their positions and demands for the peace talks.
"The IDPs delegates told him the government is negotiating with movements that do not represent us and not mainly concerned by our demands," said Abu Saharti.
"We also stressed the need to see the expelled aid groups back in Darfur and we particularly insisted on MSF’s return because they were taking care of the health of our people." However we also welcomed the arrival of new US NGOs because we need more than 13 aid groups," he added.
Following the International Criminal Court arrest warrant against President Omer Al-Bashir, the Sudanese government evicted 13 aid groups and banned two Sudanese NGOs in Darfur. The decision affected the humanitarian situation but Khartoum pledges to allow new US aid groups to replace them.
- In Kalma the day before ( Saturday 18th), Gration heard the same message.
From Sudan Tribune:
Darfur IDPs tell US envoy no peace without security
Tuesday 21 July 2009 04:30.
July 20, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Darfur internally displaced persons (IDPs) told the US envoy to Sudan they consider peace in Darfur could not be achieved without a lasting solution for the security issue.
Scott Gration who is visiting Sudan currently, met with 48 IDPs representatives of Darfur camps in Kalma on Saturday July 18. The US official sought to hear their claims and points of view on the Doha peace process.
According to the UN estimations there are some 2.7 million residents in Darfur camps who fled their homes after indiscriminate attacks breaching the laws of war by the pro-government militias.
"We told him (Gration) that as long as these militias are not disarmed there would be no peace in Darfur even if a peace agreement is concluded because we are not sure they would lay down their arms after peace," said Hussein Abu Sharati, the IDPs spokesperson.
Since the end of the nineties, the increasing attacks by the armed militias against the farmers triggered the affected people to accuse the government of supporting the janjaweed attacks and decided to hold arms against government in 2003.
The founder of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) Abdel Wahid Al-Nur who defends the IDPs position and refuses to take part at Doha talks before the disarmament of the government backed militias is seen by the displaced as their unique representative.
Hussein said that Gration asked them about their positions and demands for the peace talks.
"The IDPs delegates told him the government is negotiating with movements that do not represent us and not mainly concerned by our demands," said Abu Saharti.
"We also stressed the need to see the expelled aid groups back in Darfur and we particularly insisted on MSF’s return because they were taking care of the health of our people." However we also welcomed the arrival of new US NGOs because we need more than 13 aid groups," he added.
Following the International Criminal Court arrest warrant against President Omer Al-Bashir, the Sudanese government evicted 13 aid groups and banned two Sudanese NGOs in Darfur. The decision affected the humanitarian situation but Khartoum pledges to allow new US aid groups to replace them.
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TOWARD A COMPREHENSIVE
STRATEGY FOR SUDAN
Hearing before the
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
Thursday, July 30, 2009
10:00 A.M.
Place: 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Presiding: Senator Kerry
PANEL 1
General Scott Gration, USAF (Ret.)
Special Envoy to Sudan
Department of State
Washington, DC
Earl Gast
Acting Administrator for Africa
U.S. Agency for International Development
Washington, DC
PANEL 2:
The Honorable David Shinn
Adjunct Professor
Elliott School of International Affairs
The George Washington University
Washington, DC
Mohammed Ahmed Eisa, M.D.
Physician
2007 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
Award Laureate
Sudan Organization for Rights and Peace-Building
Washington, D.C
Source: foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2009
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Lyrics
Tell me why the grass was greener
Years ago I swear it used to grow here
But no more here
Tell me why on this hill
All the birds they used to come to fly here
Come to die here
And tell me why I need to know
Sometimes I wish i didn't have to know
All you've shown me
Hey world what you say?
Should I stick around for another day or two?
Don't give up on me, I won't give up on you
Just believe in me like I believe in you
Tell me why on the corner
All the kids that used to come to run here
Load their guns here
And tell me why it's OK to kill in the name of the Gods we pray
Tell me who said it's OK to die in the name of the lies we say
Tell me why there's child soldiers
Tell me why they closed the borders
Tell me how to fight disease and
Tell me now, won't you please
The only thing I want to do
Is to be in the arms of someone who believes in me
Like I believe in you
And I say
Hey world what you say?
Should I stick around for another day?
Hey world what you say?
Should I stick around for another day?
Hey world what you say?
Should I stick around for another day or two?
Don't give up on me, I won't give up
And I try, I try, I try, I try
I try, I try, I try, I try
For you
Don't give up on me
And I cry, I cry, I cry, I cry
I cry, I cry, I cry, I cry
For you
Just believe in me like I believe
Hey world what you say?
Should I stick around for another day?
Hey world what you say?
Should I stick around for another day or two?
Don't give up on me, I won't give up on you
Just believe in me like I believe in you
Don't give up on me
Hey world what you say?
- Refugees from the village of Shattayah (West Darfur) who are now in IDP camps in Kass ( West Darfur) said the Government of Sudan (GoS) is lying about their voluntary return to their original villages. Two women and a man spoke to Radio Dabanga and said that they heard Radio Omdurman ( GoS state radio) saying that the Shattayah people are back to their villages and farming their lands. The refugees said that is a propaganda from GoS to decieve the international community. They said that Shattayah now is occupied by Janjaweed (pro GoS) and their fertile lands are given to the supporters of GoS.
STRATEGY FOR SUDAN
Hearing before the
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
Thursday, July 30, 2009
10:00 A.M.
Place: 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Presiding: Senator Kerry
PANEL 1
General Scott Gration, USAF (Ret.) Special Envoy to Sudan
Department of State
Washington, DC
Earl Gast Acting Administrator for Africa
U.S. Agency for International Development
Washington, DC
PANEL 2:
The Honorable David ShinnAdjunct Professor
Elliott School of International Affairs
The George Washington University
Washington, DC
Mohammed Ahmed Eisa, M.D. Physician
2007 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
Award Laureate
Sudan Organization for Rights and Peace-Building
Washington, D.C
Contact information:
U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6225
Majority Phone: (202) 224-4651
Minority Phone: (202) 224-6797
Source: foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2009
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Hey World - Don't Give Up On Darfur from Darfur on Vimeo.
..................................................
Music: "Hey World, Don't Give Up" - by Michael Franti & Spearhead
Lyrics
Tell me why the grass was greener
Years ago I swear it used to grow here
But no more here
Tell me why on this hill
All the birds they used to come to fly here
Come to die here
And tell me why I need to know
Sometimes I wish i didn't have to know
All you've shown me
Hey world what you say?
Should I stick around for another day or two?
Don't give up on me, I won't give up on you
Just believe in me like I believe in you
Tell me why on the corner
All the kids that used to come to run here
Load their guns here
And tell me why it's OK to kill in the name of the Gods we pray
Tell me who said it's OK to die in the name of the lies we say
Tell me why there's child soldiers
Tell me why they closed the borders
Tell me how to fight disease and
Tell me now, won't you please
The only thing I want to do
Is to be in the arms of someone who believes in me
Like I believe in you
And I say
Hey world what you say?
Should I stick around for another day?
Hey world what you say?
Should I stick around for another day?
Hey world what you say?
Should I stick around for another day or two?
Don't give up on me, I won't give up
And I try, I try, I try, I try
I try, I try, I try, I try
For you
Don't give up on me
And I cry, I cry, I cry, I cry
I cry, I cry, I cry, I cry
For you
Just believe in me like I believe
Hey world what you say?
Should I stick around for another day?
Hey world what you say?
Should I stick around for another day or two?
Don't give up on me, I won't give up on you
Just believe in me like I believe in you
Don't give up on me
Hey world what you say?
....................................
Write to President Obama
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
You can also write to the President at:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
President Obama can be called:
202-456-1111
or
1-800-GENOCIDE
The White House comment line is available
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. weekdays
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find USA elected politicians contact information at this link:
www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mohamed Suleiman's blog: while we wait sudan
The Purpose of Mohamed's blog:
On April 8, 2009, it was reported that General Scott Gration, the US Special Envoy to Sudan, proposed a resolution to fill the gap left by the Government of Sudan's decision to expel 16 aid groups from Darfur. The purpose of this blog is to provide daily updates on how Darfuri lives are affected as they wait for aid to be restored.
Updates and comments about the crisis are provided by Mohamed Suleiman, a US-based Darfuri with a broad network of Darfuri contacts from the Diaspora and from IDP camps in Sudan and refugee camps in Chad.
Post from his blog: Saturday, July 25, 2009
- A leader in the Internal Displaced People (IDP) camp of Kassab (North Darfur) said the camp is facing serious living conditions. He told Radio Dabanga that there is acute shortage in food and shelter materials. He added that for 70 days they have not recieved any food supplies and last time they received shelter material and tents was 6 months ago. He further said the national NGOs came one time since the expulsion of the 13 NGOs and never came back.
- Refugees from the village of Shattayah (West Darfur) who are now in IDP camps in Kass ( West Darfur) said the Government of Sudan (GoS) is lying about their voluntary return to their original villages. Two women and a man spoke to Radio Dabanga and said that they heard Radio Omdurman ( GoS state radio) saying that the Shattayah people are back to their villages and farming their lands. The refugees said that is a propaganda from GoS to decieve the international community. They said that Shattayah now is occupied by Janjaweed (pro GoS) and their fertile lands are given to the supporters of GoS.
More Information:
www.stopgenocidenow.org
www.enoughproject.org
www.savedarfur.org
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