BASHIR CRACKING DOWN ON LEADERS IN DARFURI REFUGEE CAMPS - TORTURE AND ARRESTS FOR NO REASON

Reliable sources from Elfasher and internally displaced camps (IDP) around Elfasher (Capital of North Darfur) give this news:

Government of Sudan's Security Agents are cracking down on tribal leaders in the camps around Elfasher. Some were tortured, others sternly threatened by government of Sudan (GoS) security apartus, others arrested and unknown their whereabouts, here are the details:

A -Main arrests TODAY, August 9, 2009, occurred in IDP camps of Abu Shouk and Abuja, reports of arrests also in Zamzam and DarElsalam camps. Riads of the secutity forces resulted in the arrest of:

1- Omdah Hassan Ishag Sago - Chief of tribal leaders in Abu Shouk IDP camp. (took over after the slain of
Omdah Omer Adam last week).
2- Omdah Ahmed Atim Osman - Chief of tribal leaders in Abuja IDP camp.
3- Omdah Adam Yhaya Dow Albeit - Tribal leader in Abuja IDP camp.
4- Omdah Mohamed Adam Kabily - Tribal leader in Abuja IDP camp.
5- Afiz Idris Douma - Head of youth organization ( Shabab) in Abu Shouk IDP camp.
6- Omdah Abu Albashar Ali Ahmed - Tribal leader in Abu Shouk IDP camp.
7- Mohamed Gaafer Hummeidah - Activist in Abu Shouk IDP camp.
8- Sheikh Abdulrazig Abdallah Abdulrazig - Tribal leader in Abu Shouk IDP camp.
9- Sheikh Mohamed Adam - Tribal leader in Abu Shouk IDP camp.
10- Omdah Adam Haroun Idris -Tribal leader in Abu Shouk IDP camp.

B- The following tribal leaders have received TODAY direct threats from the Security Apparatus of the GoS and they may may be arrested at any moment or liquidated since there is no protection for them, as expressed by them:
1- Omdah Abdallah Salih Ishag - Tribal leader in Abuja IDP camp.
2- Omdah Adam Ahmed Abdallah -Tribal leader in Abuja IDP camp.
3- Omdah Ali Tibin - Tribal leader in Abuja IDP camp.
4- Omdah Gamar Adam Bashr - Tribal leader in Abuja IDP camp.
5- Omdah Ishag Mohamed Ibrahim - Tribal leader in Abuja IDP camp.
6- Omdah Ismail Adam Abdallah - Tribal leader in Abuja IDP camp.
7- Sheikh Alhadi Mohamed Ahmed - Tribal leader in Abuja IDP camp.
8- Omdah Adam Ahmed Ibrahim -Tribal leader in Abuja IDP camp.
9- Omdah Adam Ishag Ali -Tribal leader in Abuja IDP camp.
10 - Omdah Mohamed Abdulrahman Khamis - Tribal leader in Abuja IDP camp.

To understand the gravity of the situation and to connect the dots, please read here to understand why GoS could really harm these tribal leaders:
http://genocide.change.org/blog/view/darfur_liquidation_of_traditional_leaders_in_the_camps

Above information came in an email today from Mohamed Suleiman.
Mohamed E. Suleiman is a Darfur native currently residing in the San Fransisco Bay Area, where he is an active member of several activist endeavors, including the San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition. Mr. Suleiman translates news from Darfur for the While We Wait blog, and travels across the U.S. to advocate for the Darfur cause.

UPDATE:
An email after I posted this came which confirms the news:
"As confirmation, the news of the arrest is published here on this Sudanese newspaper ( in Arabic, but SDC, Enough or DoS can use their translators). The alarming thing the newspaper said is that the IDPs in the camps are finding out evidences that GoS security forces were involved in the murder of the leaders' chief OmDah Omer Adam of AbuShouk last Sunday. The GoS in an attempt to cover up that crime now may arrest and murder more leaders accusing them falsely that they are complicit in that murder. News of GoS intention spread through three camps in Darfur: Abushouk, Abuja, and Zamzam. The newspaper said that the arrests are occurring in these camps and may spread to other camps.
Here is the link of the newspaper:
http://www.sadaalahdas.com/news.php?action=show&id=3218

Mohamed Suleiman"

More from Mohamed:

UN: Returning (Internally Displaced Person's) Darfuris face harassment:
Friday, August 7, 2009
whilewewaitsudan.blogspot.com/2009/08/day-122-august-7th

Janjaweed militia has prevented the villagers in east of Malit to leave their homes for days now to go to their farms.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
whilewewaitsudan.blogspot.com/2009/08/day-123-august-8th

Sudan disappointed over Gration’s stance “reversal”
Sunday, August 9, 2009
whilewewaitsudan.blogspot.com/2009/08/day-124-august-9th

August 8, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government expressed disappointment over the statements made by US special envoy Scott Gration this week saying it is a “reversal” from his original position he expressed before the Congress.

Gration told Reuters in an interview that remarks he made to US lawmakers last week — that Washington could “unwind” some sanctions against Sudan — had been misunderstood and that he was only suggesting limited changes to sanctions that would contribute to the development of South Sudan.

The US official also said that he backs the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.

A Sudanese presidential official speaking to the London based Al-Hayat newspaper on condition of animosity said he was surprised by Gration’s “change of heart”.

The official accused Gration of seeking to “pacify hawks” within the Obama administration who want a “tough” approach with Khartoum.

Earlier today the head of the US bureau at the Sudanese foreign ministry Nasr Al-Deen Wali urged Washington to take a “brave” decision and remove his country from the list of states that sponsor terrorism.

The Sudanese diplomat said the designation is “baseless” saying that Khartoum has persistently pushed for the removal. He also said that the government is not concerned with the policy review underway in Washington but simply wants the sanctions lifted.

In his testimony before the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Gration said that there was “no evidence” to support that designation saying that Khartoum helped US efforts against key member of Al-Qaeda extremist group and that it was a political decision.

Today the Foreign Relations Affairs officer at the US Embassy in Khartoum, Judith Ravin, told UN sponsored Miraya FM that Gration backs economic sanctions on Sudan.

It is not clear if the US is backing away from what appeared to be imminent plans to lift sanctions as some Sudanese officials have said in press statements that it is a “matter of time”.

Washington has also been grappling with how to deal with Khartoum over violence in Darfur, where UN estimates say up to 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have fled their homes amid violence the United States has labeled genocide.
From Sudan Tribune:

See International Criminal Ccourt Judge Luis_Moreno-Ocampo

The following video of mine has spiked with viewers recently.

.........................................................

.........................................................
Dear President Obama ~ A Letter Sent March 12, 2009
I had posted this video in duplicate previously in two different categories.
Now only this one is up at Youtube.
Uploaded by ilovemylifesblog

More viewers were on the video that I have removed, so the count is really more than shows on this video's Youtube page. Often, the viewers come from Sudan more than any other place. Right now, the viewers are mostly from the United States of America.

Starting with my March 12th letter, I have written President Obama five letters regarding Darfur and his virtual inaction about the Darfur crisis. Sometimes sending the same letter two ways, through his internet form and the United States Postal Service (USPS). I have received a reply now both via email and through the USPS. The email one started "Dear Sandra Hammel" and the USPS one started "Dear Friend". The USPS one has his signature stamped on it.

My Five Letters to President Obama

Letter 5
ilovemylifebrothersandsisters.blogspot.com/2009/05/letter-5-to-president-obama-will-he-be

Letter 4
ilovemylifebrothersandsisters.blogspot.com/2009/04/dear-president-obama-here-is-my

Letter 3
ilovemylifebrothersandsisters.blogspot.com/2009/04/dear-mr-president-our-best-asset-is-our-asset

Letter 2
The letter is at the bottom of this post
ilovemylifebrothersandsisters.blogspot.com/2009/03/president-obama-general-scott-gration

Letter 1
ilovemylifebrothersandsisters.blogspot.com/2009/03/we-are-gambling-lives-and-deaths

Other blogs posts of mine about this issue:

i've-never-been-to-genocide

dear-president-obama-can-you-hear-me

From the text on my page at Youtube:

The letter to President Obama was written March 12, 2009 and sent through the White House website contact form, as well as, a letter the old-fashioned way through the United States Postal Service.

Although the government of Sudan (GoS) denies it uses illegal torture, the denial doesn't makes it any less true:

2003 - through to present: Genocide of unarmed Darfuri families is supported by the government of Sudan

March 4, 2009 Judges at The International Criminal Court ordered the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir with war crimes and crimes against humanity for playing an essential role in the murder, rape, torture, pillage and displacement of large numbers of civilians in Darfur. However, the judges did not charge him with genocide as the prosecutor had requested.

The Sudanese government has long vowed to resist the court, and it summoned several humanitarian organizations to a meeting almost immediately after the warrant was announced.

The British charity Oxfam said that the government had revoked its license to operate, a decision the group said could affect more than 600,000 people. Doctors Without Borders from Holland, which provides health care in one of the worlds biggest camps for displaced people, in South Darfur, was ordered to leave the country.

One aid official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity, because of negotiations to persuade the government to back down, said the following; It happened right after the announcement. The connection was clear.

The government of Sudan began expelling humanitarian aid agencies from Darfur (March 4, 2009). Thirteen to sixteen agencies have been forced out of the region. This expulsion leaves one million Darfuris without water, food and medical assistance.

Obama chooses Sudan envoy, to announce Wednesday
Tue Mar 17, 2009

March 18, 2009
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama is set to name retired Air Force General Scott Gration as his special envoy to Sudan, where he has warned of a worsening crisis following the expulsion of foreign aid organizations.

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We Are All the Keepers of Justice.

In Sudan, there is an emergency.

Silence kills in its complicity to killing by treachery.

Meningitis is spreading through Darfur IDP camps. Now more than ever immunization is needed in all camps.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Write President Obama
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

You can also call or write to the President:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Comments to President Obama:
202-456-1111
or
1-800-GENOCIDE

The White House comment line is available
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. weekdays

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Call the USA Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
202-647-6575

The USA State Department public comment line
7 days a week, 24 hours a day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Find USA elected politicians contact information at this link:
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

More Information

whilewewaitsudan.blogspot.com
www.stopgenocidenow.org
www.enoughproject.org
www.savedarfur.org

WHAT DO THE PEOPLE OF DARFUR HAVE TO DO TO GET OUR ATTENTION?

ALL DIE? That is what is happening as we wait. They die of thirst, starvation, sickness, rape, cruelty.... and lack of a world's interest.

COULDN'T WE DO BETTER, MR. PRESIDENT?

UNITED NATIONS PULLED GEORGE CLOONEY'S SECURITY DUE TO FEAR HE MIGHT CRITICIZE GENOCIDE

"When the people relegated to doing good 'run' from doing good, the rest of us need to pick up the slack." Sandra Hammel
See below *

"The United States has a moral obligation anytime you see humanitarian catastrophes..." Barack Obama
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Barack Obama answers the Save Darfur Coalition about his plan to end the genocide in Darfur
Posted on November 26, 2007 by savedarfurcoalition

"...And when you see a genocide whether it's in Rwanda, or Bosnia or in Darfur - that's a stain on all of us, that's a stain on our souls...

I think the level of commitment and the way that I've spoken out on this issue indicates not only knowledge but also passion in bringing an end to this crisis.

It's very encouraging to see activism based not on self interest but on a moral imperative. And it's especially heartening to see the young people engaged in expressing their idealism through this movement.

We can't say 'never again' and then allow it to happen again. And as President of the United States, I don't intend to abandon people or turn a blind eye to slaughter."

A mother and her child crossing a river. They are among the thousands of displaced people seeking refuge in Dogdoré, Chad. Nicholas D. Kristof/The New York Times

"HERE IN A DARFUR REFUGEE CAMP"
posted by Ann Curry February 18, 2009
Source
................................................

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Link to video at MSNBC
1:32

Clooney, Curry keep hope for Darfur

Look for more of George Clooney's videos this weekend on www.nightly.msnbc.com

EN ROUTE TO DARFUR AND THINKING OF THE VICTIMS

Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 1:41 a.m. by Daily Nightly Editor

by Ann Curry, NBC News

SOMEWHERE IN CHAD -- Our NBC News team has landed in Africa and is again heading to the edge of Darfur, gearing up to report a pivotal moment in this tragedy.

Anytime now the International Criminal Court will announce whether to issue an arrest warrant for the President of Sudan for the atrocities in Darfur, a region of Sudan.

About six years after a war between the government of Sudan and a rebel group unleashed systematic rapes, mass killings, and the burning of hundreds of villages, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions are still waiting in camps in Sudan and Chad, waiting for hope and justice.

As our news team moves from planes to vans toward this world of desperation, I think of a woman named Myriam, who survived the burning of her village called Tamajour, just two days before we found her under a tree. Her 5-year-old daughter was traumatized and refusing to eat. When we took her back to her village to salvage what she could, it was still smoldering. The only life she had ever known was in ashes.

I think of Khamis, 13-year-old orphaned when his mother was killed and his father was lost in an attack. When we last saw him, he was a boy alone, surviving on his wits and the kindness of others in a refugee camp. Still he was able to be a good student in the camp's school.

I think of Aziza, raped as a virgin at 17, by an Arab wearing a Sudanese uniform. She said he first wanted to know what tribe she belonged to. He told her, "You are black. You have no place here. We will push you out of here. This land will remain for us." Then he grabbed her tightly and raped her, biting her arm and neck to mark her a victim of rape.

In the hospital, we found elderly Gida Zakaria, severely burned when her thatched roof was set on fire. White gauze was wrapped around her slender body. She told us her husband couldn't move fast enough and was burned to death.

Caption for photo just above: Six-year-old Khalid (left) recovers at a hospital after a Janjaweed attack, flanked by his mother and sister. Click here to see more photography by the NBC News team and Ann Curry during a 2006 trip.

In a nearby room, a young man lay motionless, both his eyes bayoneted. At his side, his wife was weeping and his children sat stunned.

The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has argued Sudan's President Omar al Bashir masterminded genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur and should be brought to justice.

What will the court decide? And what do the victims have to say about it?

Who more deserves a voice than the victims of atrocities?

Ann Curry will be filing reports for Nightly News, TODAY, and msnbc.com this week. Click here to read her 2006 blog entries.

Source: nightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/02/17

Ann Curry on twitter

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Op-Ed Columnist

Trailing George Clooney

Nicholas D. Kristof/The New York Times

Children playing in a lake outside Dogdoré, Chad. This town on the Darfur border has become a refuge for thousands of people fleeing violence in the area.

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

Published: February 18, 2009

I was going to begin this column with a 13-year-old Chadian boy crippled by a bullet in his left knee, but my hunch is that you might be more interested in hearing about another person on the river bank beside the boy: George Clooney.

Mr. Clooney flew in with me to the little town of Dogdoré, along the border with Darfur, Sudan, to see how the region is faring six years after the Darfur genocide began. Mr. Clooney figured that since cameras follow him everywhere, he might as well redirect some of that spotlight to people who need it more.

It didn’t work perfectly: No paparazzi showed up. But, hey, it has kept you reading at least this far into yet another hand-wringing column about Darfur, hasn’t it?

So I’ll tell you what. You read my columns about Darfur from this trip, and I’ll give you the scoop on every one of Mr. Clooney’s wild romances and motorcycle accidents in this remote nook of Africa. You’ll read it here way before The National Enquirer has it, but only if you wade through paragraphs of genocide.

The Darfur conflict has now lasted longer than World War II, but this year could be a turning point — provided that President Obama shows leadership and that the world backs up the International Criminal Court’s expected arrest warrant for Sudan’s president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

The stakes are evident in this little market town of Dogdoré, whose normal population of just a few thousand has swelled to 28,000 desperate, fearful people driven from smaller villages. They don’t think it’s safe here, but they find some reassurance in numbers — and leaving town isn’t an option, either, because flying out from the dirt airstrip is the only way to avoid rampant banditry on the roads.

Aid workers were pulled from Dogdoré in the fall because of violence in the area, leaving people on their own. Aid workers have just returned, but the entire town remains on edge.

One of the first persons we met was Qatri Ibrahim, a young woman who fled her village when the Sudanese janjaweed militia attacked and shot her 5-year-old and 8-year-old sons. “I’m afraid,” she said grimly. “But there are other people here, so I stay.”

Nicholas D. Kristof/The New York Times

Children at a refugee camp near the town of Goz Beida, Chad

In Darfur and eastern Chad, you can randomly approach any group of people and find heartbreaking stories. Mr. Clooney was clowning around with a group of boys bathing in the river — taking their photo and showing it to them digitally — and that’s when we met the 13-year-old boy with the bullet in his knee.

He’s Suleiman Ahsan, and he was wearing a pair of blue shorts — the only clothes he has. He also has a machete scar on his forehead; both it and the bullet date from a janjaweed attack on his village two years ago that killed his father.

Last year, Suleiman joined a militia and became a child soldier to avenge his father. “Recruiters come to the camps looking for boys like me to fight,” Suleiman told us. “Boys of 10 or 12 are old enough.”

Suleiman said that he learned to shoot but found the soldier’s life too grueling, so he deserted. Now he’s back to struggling to find food.

The International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for President Bashir — widely expected in the coming weeks — has the area particularly on edge, for fear that Mr. Bashir could retaliate by using a proxy force to invade Chad.

The fact that Sudan’s state-sponsored slaughter of civilians goes on, year after year, in and out of Darfur, is a monument to the fecklessness of the international community. A spasm of that same fecklessness intruded on this trip with Mr. Clooney, who is traveling unofficially but is a United Nations goodwill ambassador.

* Apparently concerned that Mr. Clooney might say something strongly critical of Mr. Bashir — perhaps come down hard on genocide? — the United Nations called me on Wednesday to say that effective immediately it was pulling Mr. Clooney’s security escort as he traveled these roads along the border. Now that did seem petty and mean-spirited. A Frenchman working for Save the Children was murdered on such roads last year, and the U.N. requires a military escort for its own vehicles here.

If the U.N. is too craven to protect its own goodwill ambassadors — because they might criticize genocide — it’s not surprising that it and the international community fail to protect hundreds of thousands of voiceless Darfuris.

Oh, and now for the juicy truth about all of Mr. Clooney’s wild romances and motorcycle accidents. Darn — out of space. Wait for my next column from this trip on Sunday ...

I invite you to visit my blog, On the Ground. Please also join me on Facebook, watch my YouTube videos and follow me on Twitter.

A version of this article appeared in print on February 19, 2009, on page A27 of the New York edition.

Source: www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19

End of NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF article

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On the Ground

Nicholas Kristof addresses reader feedback and posts short takes from his travels.

Go to Blog » Go to Columnist Page »

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Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

................................................
Nightly Newscast from February 19, 2009
which includes a report from Ann Curry about Sudan

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Genocide Ends

When Enough of Us

Stand Up Against It

JOIN US
1-800-GENOCIDE
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.standnow.org

www.miafarrow.org


Write President Obama
www.whitehouse.gov

You can also call or write to the President:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Comments to President Obama:

202-456-1111

or

1-800-GENOCIDE

The White House available 9 AM - 5 PM EST weekdays

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Call your Senators and Representative Today!

Find your elected politicians contact information at this link:

www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To call the USA Secretary of State

202-647-6575

The USA State Department public comment line

works 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sample of what to say:

* I'm calling to ask President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and Ambassador Rice to protect innocent civilians in Darfur in the wake of Bashir's arrest warrant. Please issue immediate warnings to Bashir and the government of Sudan specifying consequences of attacks on civilians. Please also prepare an emergency response plan to address further violence and appoint a full-time senior level envoy. Lastly, please stand firm in support of the ICC indictment and veto any delay in the prosecution of Bashir.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IF NOT,

THEN,

YOUR SILENCE

CONTRIBUTES

TO

ANOTHER

GENOCIDE.

www.savedarfur.org/content

CONTACT PRESIDENT OBAMA NOW PLEASE - ESCALATION IN DARFUR, SUDAN

In coordination with the Massachusetts Save Darfur Coalition, I forwarded the email text below to my Darfur list just now:

My suggestion: do make the call or email/write our President and add contacting the Secretary of State as well. But I suggest to make your message personal and maybe don't just read the text provided word for word.

Genocide Ends

When Enough of Us

Stand Up Against It

JOIN US

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Write President Obama
www.whitehouse.gov/contact
You can also call or write to the President:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Comments to President Obama: 202-456-1111

or

1-800-GENOCIDE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Secretary of State Clinton

Main Switchboard: 202-647-4000

Email:
Select the topic: Secretary of State

contact-us.state.gov

Main address:
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is the State Department's Sudan page link:
www.state.gov/p/af/ci/sudan

Sudan

Ambassador: Vacant

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* This weekend the Government of Sudan escalated its attacks on civilians. Please take this urgent and easy action to help Darfur.

On Monday or Tuesday, 9 AM - 5 PM EST,
call the White House at either 202-456-1111
or 1-800-GENOCIDE, with a version of this message:

I'm calling to ask President Obama to quickly and decisively address the escalating violence in Darfur. Omar al-Bashir has threatened and is now escalating attacks against civilians. The potential for massive loss of life is enormous. President Obama, please issue immediate warnings to Bashir and the NCP specifying consequences of more attacks and prepare an emergency response plan to address further violence.

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GENOCIDE STOPS WITH US - LET'S MAKE IT PAST HISTORY

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This is an email text received Sunday from
Stop Genocide Now

Dear friends and family:

Disturbing news is coming out of Darfur. Attacks on innocent civilians have increased, and threats of more violence are coming from the Government of Sudan.

President Obama and his new administration must act decisively and immediately to save innocent civilians from violence and displacement. Although many members of the new administration have spoken strongly on Darfur, we cannot take anything for granted. Our leaders must be pressured--and given the backing--to take strong action that goes beyond words. As President Obama has made it clear over and over again, it is us, regular people, that must take an active role in demanding change.

This week, Call the White House, between 9 AM and 5 PM EST, at either 202-456-1111 or 1-800-GENOCIDE, with this message (or with your own words):

"I'm calling to ask President Obama to quickly and decisively address the escalating violence in Darfur. Omar al-Bashir has threatened and is now escalating attacks against civilians. The potential for massive loss of life is enormous. President Obama, please issue immediate warnings to Bashir and the NCP specifying consequences of more attacks and prepare an emergency response plan to address further violence."

Call every day, and ask many friends and family to do the same. Those innocent civilians that are dying are no different than your friends and family. They deserve and have the right to a peaceful and dignified life.

Peace,
Gabriel and the Stop Genocide Now Team

P.S. We at SGN strongly believe that individuals, groups, and organizations must step up activism and go beyond traditional advocacy actions. Phone calls and letters are still needed, but we must do more and demand more from our leaders. We will continue to explore ways to push harder and would greatly appreciate your input in to how we can do this together. Let us know at iact-info@stopgenocidenow.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And this email text came from a Sudanese expatriate:

Dear ALL,

1- South Darfur:
- In Muhagiriah area: GoS bombing heavily with
Antonoves, Migs, and new Sokhois. Many homes burnt,
many civilians dead, losses among rebel groups (
mainly JEM).

- Village of UmSaona: Compltetly destroyed and burned
down by GoS troops, Janjaweed, Airplanes, and for the
first time massive Tanks raids on civilian villages.
Reports of unknown death tolls.

2- North Darfur:
-Heavy bombing in Goz Har area ( near Anka and Bir
Mazza). Antonove airplane raided water wells area.
Many animals killed. Civilian casualties not known
yet, but people were fleeing in panic to the
mountains.

- Janjaweeds are attacking villages of Ain Siero and
Hashaba areas, terrorizing the civilians, killing
owners of livestock and steeling them.

3- New trends in the latest attacks:

a- The Aerial Bombardment is stepped up in
quantities, frequencies, duration. People are saying
that many people are killed by night bombings. They
said that these planes fly now by night without lights
and alot of people are caught off guard. They suspect
that the airplanes use night vision because where
gathering of people and/or animals are targeted.

b- The Janjaweeds steeped up their raids. People say
lately they use threating words like" you peole are no
longer muslims because you chose the side of the
infidels" or " Al-Bashir told to get ready to clean
Darfur of you the agents of the infidels".
Few days ago Al-Bashir stated publicly that " Darfur
problem is 100% Zionist conspiracy".


Mohamed Suleiman

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PLEASE MAKE A COMMITMENT TO TAKE THIS ACTION

PEOPLE'S LIVES DEPEND UPON IT

www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.standnow.org

www.miafarrow.org

DARFUR AND OUR NEW PRESIDENT ~ YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY SIGNING A POST CARD

Responsible Citizens Need Responsible Journalism

I don't know how the majority of USA citizens feel about the news coverage for our consumption and knowledge. I know how I feel. I think we are fed pabulum. Stories that we are provided with on television often fall on a scale of importance of 1 to 10 near the 1 mark. Time that could be spent on real stories is given to entertainment ticklings, irrelevant stories instead of what is important and the mind-numbing repetition of the same sentence - sometimes just after it has been said the second before. Example? The plane in the Hudson River today. And the news stories from outside our borders are slim to none. That seems wrong. In this age of the internet, it would be relatively easy to find stories from around the world and put them on our TV screens.

An example of lack of substance and continual loop reporting is the dog choice for Malia and Sasha. It gets way too much air time. Malia and Sasha are adorable and I hope they are safe, healthy and happy, but priorities of the stories that we are fed are needed. The dumbing down of the USA citizens is not a good thing. Not good for our emotional health, our economy or our cultural possibilities. And our journalism, print and televised, plays a huge part in dumbing us down.

Personally, I have been an activist for the cause of ending genocide since 2004. I know that may not sound like a long time to some (except to those directly affected), but during this time, I have watched our government do very little toward ending genocide in Darfur. And I have not seen the news coverage give the weight to this story that it so warrants.

I wrote a letter to the editor of my local newspaper last July about this point. To enlarge it, click on it

Images of Darfuris

Mia Farrow's Darfuri photo ~ Abu Shouk camp

News from a Sudanese expatriate

Dear All,

- Yesterday (Wednesday 1/14) there were
demonstrations in the camp of Abu Nbag,
refuge for over 2000,protesting lack of
food and medical supplies. A convoy
of food from WFP is moving from Libya
boarders across the desert. The convoy
is not expected to reach the
camps in Eastern Chad before the end
of the month (unpaved roads through
the Desert).

- Yesterday (Wednesday 1/14)GoS airplanes
bombed the village of Hashabah in North
Darfur. No reports yet of casualties.

and

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LE347055.htm


A relative in Elfasher lives near the
Airport says the GoS Military planes
are busy taking off and landing
for weeks. He says 2 large airplanes
(I guess Antonoves) take off in the
wee hours of the day and land back by
night. 3 small jets ( I guess Migs 29 )
continously take off and land during
the day, for many
many days.

Mohamed Suleiman

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This email came today:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: press@savedarfur.org

January 15, 2009

Allyn Brooks-LaSure

Ashley Roberts

SAVE DARFUR NOTES RICE’S ‘STRONG’ DARFUR TESTIMONY, PRESSES FOR SWIFT ACTION TO END CRISIS

WASHINGTON – The Save Darfur Coalition today applauded U.N. Ambassador-designate Dr. Susan Rice’s continued commitment to end the Darfur genocide, following her testimony today before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Coalition president Jerry Fowler, in a statement, urged the Obama administration to swiftly begin acting on this commitment, particularly by identifying the high-level official who will have day-to-day ownership of Sudan policy and responsibility for actions to end this genocide.

“The Save Darfur Coalition was heartened by Dr. Rice’s continued commitment to end the Darfur genocide. It is imperative that the U.S. Mission to the United Nations lead efforts to expand protection of Darfuri civilians and establish a viable peace process for Sudan. We recognize that the UNAMID civilian protection force is a critical component to providing on-the-ground security for the millions of internally-displaced persons in Darfur. UNAMID alone, however, will not deliver a just and lasting peace for the people of Sudan. The United States should pursue other options to bring peace to the region, including a sustained diplomatic initiative.

“The coalition urges President-elect Obama to identify the high-level official who will have day-to-day ownership of Sudan policy and responsibility for actions to end this genocide – on or before Inauguration Day. At the same time, Dr. Rice and her team in New York must maintain American support for UNAMID, the International Criminal Court’s war crimes investigation, and full implementation of all U.N. resolutions pertaining to Sudan. Also, the United States must be prepared to lead a strong international response when the ICC judges issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Bashir, which will likely come in the first weeks of the Obama administration.”

###

About the coalition – The Save Darfur Coalition – an alliance of 180 faith-based, advocacy and human rights organizations - raises public awareness about the ongoing genocide in Darfur and mobilizes a unified response to the atrocities that threaten the lives of people throughout the Darfur region. The coalition’s member organizations represent 130 million people of all ages, races, religions and political affiliations united together to help the people of Darfur. For more information on the coalition, please visit www.SaveDarfur.org. To obtain footage from the Darfur border region, coalition events, various interviews, and more, please visit the Save Darfur Coalition media gallery at http://media.savedarfur.org. All footage may be previewed in non-broadcast quality and may be purchased in broadcast quality by filling out the purchase request form provided on the site.

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This email was sent to 96 members of Darfur Activist Leaders

This also came today:

Dear Sandra,

The ICC is expected to issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir in the coming weeks—creating a chance for either great progress or great peril for the Darfuri people.

We must ensure that President Obama and his team hit the ground running to capitalize on this unique opportunity for peace, or we could see a dramatic resurgence in violence against civilians.

It's up to us to build public support for Day One action. That's why we're introducing the 10 in 10 for Darfur Challenge, asking our strongest supporters to get ten friends to sign a postcard to President-elect Obama.

Inauguration Day is less than a week away, so click here to get started now. Get ten friends to sign our postcard to President Obama within the first ten days of his administration, and you'll be entered to win a Save Darfur Inauguration Apparel collection, including our limited-edition Inauguration Day t-shirt.

You've already sent a postcard yourself—thank you. But ending the genocide will require a nationwide grassroots movement demanding leadership on Darfur, so we need your help again. It couldn't be easier to recruit your friends:

1. Click here to join the 10 in 10 for Darfur challenge
2. Enter the email addresses of friends and family members, asking them to join you in signing the postcard.
3. Use our tool see who's responded to your invitation and track how close you are to your goal.
4. When you reach ten, you'll automatically be entered in our contest to win Save Darfur Inauguration gear, including a limited-edition t-shirt (otherwise available only to Inauguration Day volunteers!), Save Darfur hat, and set of "Be A Voice for Darfur" stickers.

And there's no reason to stop at ten! Recruit even more people and increase your chances of winning. You get one contest entry for every ten people you bring on board. But the deadline is January 30, ten days into the Obama presidency.

Last month, ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo bluntly told the United Nations that nearly six years after the violence first erupted, "the genocide continues." At her confirmation hearing Tuesday, Hillary Clinton promised to "sound the alarm" on Darfur. And today Susan Rice, a strong voice for Darfur and nominee to be the next ambassador to the United Nations, decried the "deficit of determination" to resolving crises like Darfur during her confirmation hearings.

This is a potential moment of promise or peril—so we need your help. Get 10 friends to ask President-elect Obama to show leadership on Darfur. You could win limited-edition inauguration apparel.

We could never have gotten this close to a major breakthrough without committed supporters like you. We can't afford to let up now. Thank you for all you've done.

In solidarity,

Allyn Brooks-LaSure
Save Darfur Coalition

Donate to Help Save Darfur
Help build the political pressure needed to end the crisis in Darfur by supporting the Save Darfur Coalition's crucial awareness and advocacy programs. Click here now to make a secure, tax-deductible online donation.

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I don't need another Darfur t-shirt. I have something around 50 Darfur t-shirts now. And I don't like to wear t-shirts, though I will wear one of my many Darfur t-shirts just because of the reason. Won't you use your sense of justice, your freedom and your voice and sign the post card? add your voice

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Daily News: Thursday, January 15, 2009

Reuters: Darfur rebels say clash with militias near key town. Rebels and government-backed militias clashed close to a strategic town in Sudan's South Darfur state on Thursday, insurgents and peacekeepers said, leaving an unknown number dead. The latest outbreak of fighting stoked tensions in the region ahead of a decision by the International Criminal Court on whether to issue an arrest warrant against Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for alleged war crimes in Darfur. The rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) told Reuters militia fighters loyal to a former insurgent leader attacked its forces close to the south Darfur town of Muhajiriya, a town 80 km (50 miles) from south Darfur's capital, Nyala.

Reuters: Sudan Army Bombs Darfur Rebels. Sudan's army said on Wednesday it had bombed rebel positions in Darfur, a rare admission of air attacks in the western region. A statement said planes bombed near Muhajiriya in south Darfur, targeting rebels who had rejected a 2006 peace agreement and the unconditional ceasefire declared by Bashir last year. No one was immediately available from Sudan's government to comment on whether the attacks broke the ceasefire or other agreements. Bombing is forbidden under terms of the 2006 deal and U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Reuters: UN council authorizes force to replace EU in Chad. The Security Council authorized on Wednesday a 5,000-strong U.N. military force to take over peacekeeping duties in turbulent eastern Chad from European Union troops who have been there for the past year. A Security Council resolution said the new force, whose mandate will initially run for a year, would contain a maximum of 5,200 military personnel and 300 police. It will take over from the 3,300-strong EUFOR on March 15 and, like the EU force, operate in part of the neighboring Central African Republic, which has also been affected by spillover from the Darfur conflict.

Reuters: Sudan detains opposition leader after Bashir remarks. Sudanese security agents arrested an influential opposition leader late on Wednesday, his family said, two days after he called on Sudan's president to hand himself into the International Criminal Court. Hassan al-Turabi, the first significant political figure to urge Bashir to surrender, was taken from his Khartoum home just after 11 p.m. (2000 GMT) his son Siddig al-Turabi told Reuters. "He is being arrested now. It may be for interrogation. It might be for long term internment," he said, adding the security officials had not explained the reason for the arrest.

Gurnee Review: Darfur Hero. Ethan Barhydt was honored recently by The Save Darfur Coalition as a "Darfur Hero" for his efforts organizing youth to raise awareness about the ongoing genocide. Barhydt's recent endeavor helped organize a benefit concert for a Sudanese Community Center in Chicago that featured the nationally acclaimed band State Radio. The event raised more than $3,000 for the community center and collected hundreds of pounds of school supplies for local Sudanese refugee children.

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Daily Press Briefing: Wednesday, January 14, 2009

WHITE HOUSE

The press briefing by Press Secretary Dana Perino did not mention Darfur.

STATE DEPARTMENT

The January 14, 2009 daily press briefing did not mention Darfur.

UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations noon briefing contained the following announcement about Darfur:

UNMIS

Daily Media Monitoring Report can be found at http://www.unmis.org/english/2009Docs/mmr-jan14.pdf.

DOWNING STREET

The morning press briefing from the Prime Minister’s Spokesman did not mention Darfur.

Richard M. Stazinski

National Outreach Coordinator

Save Darfur Coalition

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Dear Sandra,

A new feature on Change.gov lets you bring your ideas directly to President Obama.

It's called the Citizen's Briefing Book, and it's an online forum where you can share your ideas, and rate or offer comments on the ideas of others.

The best-rated ones will rise to the top, and after the Inauguration, we'll print them out and gather them into a binder like the ones the President receives every day from experts and advisors. If you participate, your idea could be included in the Citizen's Briefing Book to be delivered to President Obama.

Visit the Citizen's Briefing Book now and share your ideas:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Genocide Ends

When Enough of Us

Stand Up Against It

JOIN US
1-800-GENOCIDE
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.standnow.org

www.miafarrow.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHILE WE DELAY ~ GENOCIDE CARRIES ON

DARFUR UPDATE

Sudan President al-Bashir's repeated threats to escalate violence against, and completely cut off humanitarian aid to, Darfuris and other marginalized people of Sudan if the International Criminal Court issues the arrest warrant against him, remain unanswered by the US, other nations, and the UN.

The ICC arrest warrant may be issued as early as January 15, 2009. We cannot wait for the Obama administration.

Please address an email to President Bush at comments@whitehouse.gov and to US Special Envoy to Sudan Richard Williamson at williamsonRS@state.gov with the subject Heading "Need Your Urgent Attention on Darfur" and copy and paste the following as the message:

"Dear Mr. President and Mr. Williamson:

I respectfully urge you to use all diplomatic means available to prevent Sudan President Al-Bashir from carrying out his threats to escalate violence against, and cut off all humanitarian aid to, Darfuris and other marginalized populations of Sudan if the ICC issues the arrest warrant against him. As you know, the warrant may issue as early as January 15, 2009; your immediate attention is needed. Please ensure that an emergency response plan is in place if the GoS follows through on its threats."

and sign your name and indicate your state of residence.

Feel free to use the above text or make your own personal message.

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Press Release

Investors Against Genocide

Draw the line at investing in genocide

Susan Morgan – Investors Against Genocide (001) 617-797-0451, susan@paxcommunications.org
Phillip Honour – Act for Darfur - +44 7979 541520, philhonour@googlemail.com

PETROCHINA ACCUSED OF COMPLICITY IN GENOCIDE BY OVER 80 CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
Groups ask UN Global Compact to remove PetroChina as a participant unless it acts to help end genocide

Boston, MA – January 7, 2009 - Today, over 80 civil society organizations including human rights, corporate accountability, and religious groups from 25 countries, as well as government officials and actor, Mia Farrow, submitted an open letter to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) in support of a formal complaint against PetroChina, a Global Compact participant. (See letter at investorsagainstgenocide.org/ungcandpetrochina2.) PetroChina, the publicly traded arm of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), is Sudan's largest oil industry partner and has financial links to the regime perpetuating the six-year humanitarian crisis in Darfur which many consider to be genocide.

The UN Global Compact’s founding principles call for businesses to support and respect human rights, and its “Integrity Measures” define steps to safeguard the reputation, integrity and good efforts of the Global Compact and its participants. The complaint, which was submitted under these Integrity Measures, asks the UNGC to use its “good offices” to influence PetroChina to engage with the government of Sudan on behalf of the Darfuri people. If, after three months, there is no satisfactory resolution of the issues raised, the group requests that the Global Compact “consider PetroChina’s participation to be detrimental to the reputation and integrity of the Global Compact and remove the company from the list of participants.”

“The UNGC must take a strong stand against the abuse of its founding principles,” states Eric Cohen, Chairperson of Investors Against Genocide. “PetroChina is in violation of UNGC principles for its failure to respect human rights, its lack of due diligence in avoiding human rights violations, its continuing refusal to correct the abuses and the widespread recognition that it is a major contributor to the conflict in Darfur.”

The Government of Sudan has a well-documented history of susceptibility to economic pressure. It is highly reliant on foreign direct investment not only to pay its debts and subsidize government expenditures, but also to fund its military and finance the conflict in Darfur. The government’s financial dependence on PetroChina/CNPC creates a unique opportunity for the company to influence events in the region.

Although PetroChina has claimed independence from CNPC, the two companies are inseparable. In a May 2007 report on the relationship between PetroChina and CNPC, KLD Research & Analytics, an independent research firm, concluded that “investors should treat CNPC and PetroChina as if they were a single entity.” Comprehensive research by the Genocide Intervention Network reaches the same conclusion. The Multinational Monitor named CNPC as one of the worst companies of 2008 as a result of its role “fueling violence in Darfur”.

This request for the UN Global Compact to engage with its participant, PetroChina, follows the UN’s year-long campaign in 2008 to recognize the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UN Global Compact derives the first two of its ten principles from the UDHR. The first principle of the UN Global Compact states that businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights. The second principle requires that businesses ensure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

In his remarks on December 15, 2008 to the Global Compact Board at a meeting in New York, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, “When we met for the first time in this room more than a year-and-a-half ago, I called on you to ensure that the momentum of the Global Compact is not lost on the slippery slope of the lowest common denominator. This is now more urgent than ever. In particular, I will be relying on you to further refine the good measures that have been taken to strengthen the quality and accountability of the corporate commitment to the Compact. As we move forward, it will be critical that the integrity of the initiative and the credibility of this Organization remain beyond reproach.”

In order to follow up on this request by the Secretary-General, the UNGC must address the allegations made against PetroChina using the processes defined by its own Integrity Measures.

In an April 2008 report, John Ruggie, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative for business and human rights, specifically addressed the issue of financial support for genocide. The report states, “The Global Compact also suggests that businesses establish clear safeguards to ensure that if financial or material support is provided to security forces it is not used to violate human rights.” Similarly, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has written, “A company is complicit in human rights abuses if it authorizes, tolerates, or knowingly ignores human rights abuses committed by an entity associated with it.”

The Global Compact is currently the world’s largest and most widely known voluntary corporate responsibility initiative, with nearly 5,000 corporate participants. It is often criticized by civil society organizations because of its purely voluntary nature. Bart Slob, a senior researcher at the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), said: “Unfortunately the Global Compact has admitted companies with dubious humanitarian and environmental records. These records are in stark contrast to the principles advocated by the Compact. Those Compact participants, such as PetroChina, who merely pay lip service to the principles, will inevitably be denounced by civil society organizations and will have to abandon the UNGC. The public image of the UN should not be used by companies to cover up irresponsible behaviour.”

Today’s open letter follows an earlier letter (available at investorsagainstgenocide.org/ungcandpetrochina) sent May 12, 2008, which was also signed by numerous civil society organizations. Since May, representatives of Investors Against Genocide (IAG) and Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), have privately engaged with representatives of the UNGC in an effort to address the concern. On December 15, 2008, after more than seven months and with still no response from PetroChina, IAG and SOMO submitted a formal complaint (available at investorsagainstgenocide.org/ungcandpetrochina2) against PetroChina to the UNGC of “systematic or egregious abuse” of the Global Compact’s overall aims and principles.
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Investors Against Genocide is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending investment in genocide. The organization works to build awareness of this problem and to advocate for investment firms and companies to change. The ultimate goals are that the Government of Sudan ends its deadly genocide in Darfur and that companies and investment firms avoid investing in genocide. For more information, visit www.investorsagainstgenocide.org.

The Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) is a Dutch non-profit research organization. Established in 1973, SOMO undertakes research on the impact of multinational enterprises and the consequences of the internationalization of business, particularly for developing countries. For more information, visit http://somo.nl/

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January 7, 2009 I received the following email from an expatriate of Sudan

Dear All,

1-I got many calls from North Darfur - Area of Anka
and Donkey Housh. They said Antonov plane is dropping
bombs for hours. Itis circulating an area where many
villages are there. One eye witness said he could see
fire all over around Donkey Housh. He said he is
afraid that there may be casualties because the
bombing is around a water source (wells) where natives
come with their animals to get water.

Another source said his place is far from the ;ocation
of bombings but he can hear and feel the loud
explosions.

The last caller said the Antonov kept making rounds of
bombings while circulating for hours.

2- Sources in 2 camps ( Kassap in North Darfur and
Shangel Tobai in central Darfur) said the Government
troops made mock raids on the camps ( stayed outside
the camps but took pictures), 2 days ago. In Shangel
Tobai a gunship Helicopter flew over the camp and kept
criss-crossing over the camp for close to an hour.

3- I am trying to have Radio Darfur to broadcast these
news to alert UNAMID and other NGO's in North Darfur.

This evening I will be travelling ( family emergency)
but I will keep you posted.

Mohamed Suleiman

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Editorial - Action in Darfur

Los Angeles Times

January 7, 2009

After years of standing on the sidelines and making ineffective threats about punishing Sudanese leaders for slaughtering the people of Darfur, the Bush administration finally took concrete action this week. Its decision to airlift vehicles and heavy equipment to an undersupplied United Nations peacekeeping force was a welcome, if largely symbolic, gesture, but more interesting was the timing of the move.

In his announcement of the airlift Monday, National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley took pains to point out that it was "further evidence that Nicholas Kristof's portrayal last week of this administration's response to the genocide in Darfur was inaccurate." Hadley was referring to a Dec. 28 column in the New York Times in which Kristof cited a leaked memo by Ambassador Richard Williamson, the U.S. special envoy to Sudan, that laid out three possible military responses aimed at the Sudanese regime: The U.S. could jam all communications in Khartoum, the nation's capital; it could blockade Port Sudan, from which the country exports its oil; or it could destroy Sudan's air force.

Kristof reported that these options were ruled out by Hadley and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Hadley acknowledged Monday that military responses had been considered and rejected, but he said the decision was driven by pleas from leading church, advocacy and humanitarian organizations that feared such actions would only make things worse for Darfuris. That came as news to the Save Darfur Coalition, an umbrella organization for Darfur advocacy groups that has long favored a tougher response by Washington, and whose spokesman told this page on Tuesday that the coalition hadn't been consulted by the administration.

It's perfectly true that implementing any of Williamson's recommendations would have dangerous repercussions. A blockade would infuriate China, Sudan's main oil buyer. Attacks on communications or aircraft could result in the expulsion of humanitarian aid workers. Yet the weak sanctions imposed so far by the U.S. have done nothing to stop Sudanese soldiers and government-backed Arab militias from murdering, raping and displacing Darfuri civilians, and it's obvious that tougher measures are needed. Fortunately, they're probably on the way.

In 2007, Susan E. Rice, President-elect Barack Obama's nominee for U.N. ambassador, advocated strong actions against Khartoum in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including a bombing campaign against Sudanese aircraft and other military assets. The fact that Obama almost certainly will take Darfur more seriously than President Bush did might explain the timing of the airlift, a last-minute attempt to show that a president whose positive legacy rests largely on his generous approach to Africa didn't entirely ignore the crisis. Too bad it's much too little, too late.

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Defusing Sudan's Ticking Time Bomb

In a matter of weeks, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is widely expected to issue a warrant for the arrest of Sudan's genocidal president, Omar al-Bashir. The ICC prosecutor has charged him with ten counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur. Bashir has openly and brazenly threatened to accelerate violence against innocent Darfuri civilians and completely block humanitarian aid if the warrant is issued. Last week, the Sudanese army unveiled new fighter planes and missiles in a "parade" seen as a show of strength aimed at critics supporting the ICC prosecution.

With 2.7 million displaced Darfuri people vulnerable in IDP camps and the UN estimating that at least 300,000 Darfuris have already been killed, threats of "more violence and blood" from Bashir are deeply concerning.

Is the world prepared? Have we established consequences that will be imposed on Bashir and his murderous sidekicks in the National Congress Party (NCP) if the violence escalates? Have we proactively communicated those consequences to the NCP as a deterrent to this unacceptable course of action? Have we developed a rapid response plan that will enable us to live up to our responsibility to protect innocent civilians if deterrence is unsuccessful?

On December 8th, the Genocide Prevention Task Force, a prestigious group co-chaired by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Secretary of Defense William Cohen, and jointly convened by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the American Academy of Diplomacy, released a ground-breaking report which makes recommendations to enhance the U.S. government's capacity to recognize and respond to emerging threats of genocide and mass atrocities.

The report states, "Even when signs of preparation for genocide are apparent, there are opportunities to alter leaders' decisions and interrupt their plans. By improving our crisis response system, we will be better prepared to mount coherent, carefully calibrated, and timely preventive diplomacy strategies."

Today in Sudan, the signs are not only apparent, but explicit. What is our "coherent, carefully calibrated, and timely preventive" strategy?

In the USIP press release announcing the report, Albright states, "We believe that preventing genocide is possible, and that striving to do so is imperative both for our national interests and our leadership position in the world." Yet as Richard Solomon, president of the USIP wisely points out , a key part of getting genocide prevention beyond a worthy goal will be stepped-up international diplomacy and more capacity for multilateral organizations like the UN to stop mass atrocities before they occur.

Omar al-Bashir has given the world loud and clear warning signs of his intent to commit more mass atrocities. Sudan is precisely the type of situation that calls out for this stepped up diplomacy and multilateral cooperation.

It is therefore urgent for the outgoing Bush administration and the incoming Obama administration to work quickly and decisively, together with the UN and other international partners, to formulate a plan to deter and prevent any actions by Bashir that would pose an immediate threat to the lives of the millions of completely vulnerable Darfuri citizens.

President Bush will host two meetings this week which present opportunities for discussion on this urgent issue. On Monday, he will meet with Salva Kiir, president of the semi-autonomous southern Sudan as well as national vice president. The White House said that the two will meet to discuss the situation in Darfur as well as the troubled Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended two decades of civil war between the north and south in Sudan and established the foundation for democracy in Sudan. On Tuesday, President Bush will have his final meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. According to White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe, the two leaders will discuss Darfur among other topics.

In the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, world leaders, including former president Bill Clinton, Madeleine Albright and Susan Rice, incoming US Ambassador to the UN, expressed remorse and regret over the failure, on their watch, of the world community to react swiftly to save hundreds of thousands of lives during the Rwandan genocide. The current and future US administrations, as well as the world community, must act now to ensure that the nightmare of Rwanda is not replayed again and again in Sudan.

Source:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-morgan/defusing-sudans-ticking-t_b_155029.html

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Sudan says indicting president would risk bloodshed

Jan 5, 2009

Source: Reuters

By Andrew Heavens

KHARTOUM, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Sudan's government accused Darfur rebels on Monday of planning to launch attacks if President Omar Hassan al-Bashir is indicted for war crimes and said that would bring a new round of bloodshed. Sudan has been trying to head off a possible International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Bashir after the court's prosecutor accused the president of genocide in Darfur, where rebels have been fighting Khartoum's rule since 2003. Foreign ministry undersecretary Mutrif Siddiq said rebels were building up forces just over the border in neighbouring Chad, ready for an attack on Sudanese cities and oil fields in South Kordofan, a region neighbouring Darfur. The international court's judges are expected to decide later this month on whether to issue a warrant against Bashir. "If this happens it is going to have a very negative impact," Siddiq told Reuters and the BBC. "The rebellion in Darfur will escalate. (The rebels) will feel jubilant... They will say they are fighting a legitimate cause against a criminal government and a criminal president." Nobody was immediately available for comment from the rebel Justice and Equality Movement but leaders have repeatedly said they were preparing to attack "anytime, anywhere" in Sudan. Siddiq said Sudan had solid information from inside Chad on the preparations for a possible attack by the rebel faction, which was driven back last May after an assault that reached the gates of Khartoum. "We are preparing for such a step -- we will never allow it to happen. Definitely it will cost us lives and some publicity," said Siddiq, referring to possible further damage to Sudan's reputation abroad. In July, the international court's chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo accused Bashir of orchestrating genocide and other war crimes in Darfur. Sudan has rejected the accusations. Siddiq said the government also suspected "political forces" in Khartoum could create instability if Bashir is indicted, adding that it might also fuel anti-western sentiment. He promised to warn westerners if there was any danger. "If at any moment we feel we are not ready or able to protect them we will tell them to leave peacefully," he said, accusing western countries of using the court case decision to try to put pressure on Sudan. Arab and African countries want any indictment for Bashir put on hold, believing it would damage hopes of peace in Sudan, but western states with permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council have the power to veto any postponement.

International experts say 200,000 have died since rebels took up arms against Sudan's government in 2003 accusing it of neglect. Khartoum puts the death count at 10,000.

Source: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L5223746.htm

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1-800-GENOCIDE
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net

GENOCIDE STOPS WITH US

Convention_on_the_Prevention_and_Punishment_of_the_Crime_of_Genocide