IN NEED OF KEEPERS OF JUSTICE

SINCE NOT ONE GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD . . .

has no stains, how will justice have an advocate that will command respect?

For me, I think it is up to the people within countries to force their own governments to do the right thing. And for those of us who have freedom of speech, it might be our most vital obligation ... to use our freedom for justice to hang around. Justice doesn't just happen. And we don't all have the same same idea of what justice is. We don't all have the same idea of what compassion looks like.

Genocide Will End When Enough of Us Decide It Will End

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Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Craig Ferguson March 4, 2009 - Part 1 of 3
At 7:29 Archbishop Tutu talks about being in Darfur

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Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Craig Ferguson March 4, 2009 - Part 2 of 3
This is very good.

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Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Craig Ferguson March 4, 2009 - Part 3 0f 3
Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Above 3 videos uploaded by Phillyfinale

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We're not well until we're all well.
Mary Sanger
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Link to video regarding President Bashir's Arrest Warrant from the ICC
Uploaded by AlJazeeraEnglish
Text with the video

For information:

http://www.enoughproject.org/news

The Blog at the Enough Project

www.france24.com/en

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UN warns `irrevocable damage' in Darfur expulsions
Source: http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=500&sid=1617453

By EDITH M. LEDERER
Associated Press Writer

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that Sudan's expulsion of 13 major aid groups will cause irrevocable damage to humanitarian operations in Darfur and called on the government to urgently reconsider.

Ban said the agencies' operations "are key to maintaining a lifeline to 4.7 million Sudanese people who receive aid in Darfur," according to U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas.

U.N. officials said Sudan ordered 13 of the largest aid groups expelled after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Sudan's government has accused the non-governmental organizations of cooperating with the court and offering "false" testimony. Al-Bashir accused the groups of trying to disrupt peace efforts in Darfur. Read the full article: http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=500&sid=1617453

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We Are Humanitarians, Not Activists, says NGO

Source:
http://www.france24.com/en/20090305-sudan-aid-agencies-darfur-expel-durand-doctors-without-borders-medecins-sans-frontieres-humanitarian

Thierry Durand, head of operations in Sudan for the French section of Doctors Without Borders (known by its French initials MSF), is protesting the Sudanese government's decision to expel 10 nongovernmental organisations.

"They have not recognised the difference between aid organisations like MSF and human-rights activists who have campaigned for years for justice and provided information to the international justice system," Durand said on FRANCE 24 television.

"We've tried to differentiate ourselves from human-rights activists, but the government hasn’t recognised that and expelled 10 NGOs, a strong political sign from Sudanese government."

Sudan's president, Omar al-Bashir, accused NGOs of breaking the country's laws on Thursday.

"We have expelled 10 foreign organizations after monitoring activities that act in contradiction to all regulation and laws," said Bashir in a cabinet meeting in which he confirmed the execution of the sentence.

"We will deal responsibly and decisively with anybody who tries to target the stability and security of the country," he added. The meeting was Bashir's first public speech since the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest on Wednesday.

Ten international NGOs were expelled: Britain's Oxfam and Save the Children; US-based CARE, CHF and the International Rescue Committee; the French Solidarités and Action Contre la Faim; and Mercy Corps, MSF’s Dutch section and the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Durand says the government's reaction is unacceptable. "They have not explained the decision and have not responded to the questions from MSF members," he said.

The organisations that have been expelled are involved in a number of areas, including distribution of water, food and medicine, explained Durand.

"Four other MSF sections will try remain in Darfur, but the expulsion of hundreds of NGOs has left no aid workers at all in certain places," he said.

The humanitarian situation in Darfur has been stable since May 2004, and according to Durand, there is no major emergency there presently. Nevertheless, he added, two million people there are "completely dependent" on international aid.

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Link to the article: SUDAN: Aid agencies react to expulsions
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UN Calls on Sudan to Reverse NGO Expulsion Order

Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-05-voa55.cfm

By Margaret Besheer
United Nations
05 March 2009

U.N. deputy humanitarian chief Catherine Bragg in Harare, 25 Feb 2009

A senior United Nations official says that more than a million people in Darfur will be left without food aid, health care and drinking water as a result of Sudan's decision to order the 13 largest aid groups out of the conflict zone. The expulsion order came after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant Wednesday for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

U.N. deputy humanitarian chief Catherine Bragg said Sudan's decision to expel 13 aid organizations in north Sudan will have immediate effect on the ability to deliver humanitarian assistance in the whole country, but especially in Darfur, where 4.7 million people receive aid.

"We are deeply concerned about the decision of the government of Sudan which will have devastating effect on their own citizens in Darfur," she said. "These agencies are vital implementing partners for the United Nations and account for at least half of the humanitarian capacity in Darfur. It removes 40 percent of the aid workers in Darfur - roughly 6,500 national and international staff."

The list of aid groups ordered out include Action Contre La Faim (ACF), Care International, CHF International, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, both the French and Dutch branches of Doctors without Borders, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, PADCO, Solidarités, and both the British and U.S. branches of Save the Children.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also expressed his concern about the action. In a statement, he urged the government of Sudan to reconsider its decision, saying it if it is implemented, it will cause "irrevocable damage" to humanitarian operations there.

Catherine Bragg said some aid groups were given only 24 hours to leave. She said the United Nations is now working to assist these agencies in bringing their staff members back from the field to Khartoum, where they will get exit visas to leave the country.

Also troubling is the way in which the government has gone about expelling the charities.

"Sudanese officials also requested some agencies to hand over a list of their assets, and in some cases have begun to gather banking details and confiscated office equipment such as computers, communications equipment and vehicles," she said.

Bragg said the United Nations is deeply concerned about the safety and security of the aid workers and that the government's actions are contrary to the assurances the United Nations received that humanitarian operations would be protected and assistance would continue. More worrying, she said is the situation of those who need their help.

"This will have profound implication on the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Darfur and in Sudan," said Bragg. "We are even more deeply concerned about the welfare of the 4.6 million conflict affected people in Darfur. With loss of these NGOs, 1.1 million people will be without food aid, 1.1 million will be without health care, and over 1 million without potable water."

Bragg said the United Nations is looking into contingency plans on how to fill the gaps, including asking the remaining aid groups and the Sudanese government to help, in addition to stepping up its own humanitarian operations.

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Just hours after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al Bashir yesterday, he expelled six humanitarian organizations from Sudan – including Doctors Without Borders, Care International, International Rescue Committee and others Click Here to read the CNN article.

Jewish World Watch will be hosting a conference call tomorrow morning with David Kaye, Executive Director of the Center for Human Rights Law at UCLA, who will help us understand the legal implications of the warrant, and Naama Haviv, Assistant Director of Jewish World Watch, who will discuss the action that our anti-genocide community needs to take in order to support the goals of Peace and Protection for the people of Darfur, and Punishment for the perpetrators.

Because of the high number of expected participants on the call, please email your questions in advance to ari@jewishworldwatch.org.

Call-in information:

Friday, March 6

11:00a.m. (Los Angeles, CA time probably)

Dial-in: (866) 213-1863

Access code: 6316927

www.jewishworldwatch.org

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Here is the Darfur coverage for March 4, 2009:

THE WHITE HOUSE

The press briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs had the following about Darfur:

Q Does the President support the arrest warrant issued today against President Bashir of Sudan? And how is the administration planning for the possibility of retaliation as a result of this against Darfurians, a possible collapse of the peace in the south, and international workers in Sudan?

MR. GIBBS: Let me -- without getting specifically into this, the White House believes that those who have committed atrocities should be held accountable; that as this process moves forward, that we would urge restraint on the part of all parties, including the government of Sudan; that further violence against civilian Sudanese or foreign interests is to be avoided and won't be tolerated. The President and this White House are determined to support the pursuit of an immediate cease-fire and long-term peace in the region. Obviously there are many efforts that are ongoing in the region to help those that have been displaced, and the President believes those efforts should and must continue.

Q So he does support the ICC's --

MR. GIBBS: I'm not going to go farther than what I just said.

The U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

The March 4, 2009 daily press briefing had the following about Darfur:

MR. DUGUID: Good morning, everyone. I’d like to read a statement to begin this morning’s briefing.

The United States is strongly committed to the pursuit of peace in Sudan, and believes those who have committed atrocities should be held accountable for their crimes.

We urge the Government of Sudan, armed rebel groups, and all others – all other concerned parties to exercise restraint in responding to the ICC arrest warrant that was issued today and to ensure the safety and security of vulnerable Sudanese populations, international civilians, and peacekeepers on the ground.

The United States will continue to support efforts to ease the suffering of the Sudanese people and to promote a just and durable peace. We remain committed to the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that brought an end to the conflict between North and South Sudan. We will also continue to support the UN-AU mediator Bassole’s efforts to achieve a permanent cessation of hostilities and a political settlement that will end the humanitarian crisis and bring a lasting peace to Darfur.

With that, I shall take your questions.

QUESTION: Are there any American personnel still in Darfur? What’s the situation at the Embassy? Are there any concerns that – even though you’re not a member of the ICC, that there might be some kind of a – there might be some kind of disturbance around your facilities?

MR. DUGUID: I checked just before coming out, so my information is as recent as I could have it, that the Embassy was open and functioning, that all American citizens were safe and accounted for. There had been protests in Khartoum, but there has been no violence that I am aware of at this particular point.

QUESTION: And in terms of Americans who might be in Darfur --

MR. DUGUID: In Darfur, I’ll have to check on that for you. I don’t have those particular figures. If we have anybody on the ground at the moment, it’s --

QUESTION: Apparently, all of the international NGOs have been called in and asked to leave. Do you have anything on that?

MR. DUGUID: I don’t. That would be something that the UN perhaps had organized. I don’t have any information on it. Our Embassy is, as I said, open and our people are at work.

Yes.

QUESTION: Since the United States is not a signatory to the ICC, if for some reason President Bashir were to be on U.S. soil, would the U.S. be under any obligation to arrest him and turn him over to international authorities?

MR. DUGUID: That’s a speculative question. I don’t expect President Bashir to be here anytime soon, so I will defer that question until it actually happens.

QUESTION: Well, it’s not a speculative question.

MR. DUGUID: Yes, the --

QUESTION: Forget about Bashir.

MR. DUGUID: Yes.

QUESTION: If there’s – if the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for someone who then turns up on U.S. soil --

MR. DUGUID: The United States expects all parties to the conflict in Darfur to cooperate fully with the ICC and its prosecutors called upon by the relevant UN Security Council resolution. The question of whether or not someone charged by the ICC shows up on U.S. soil, what is the U.S. response for that, I’ll have to ask our lawyers to provide me with an answer..

QUESTION: Okay. Can I – because I don’t know if there is any obligation at all, but it’s not incredibly hypothetical to think that Bashir might come to the United States. I mean, a lot of world leaders go to the UN.

MR. DUGUID: The UN would be a different case as the diplomatic organization there.

QUESTION: They have to land at an airport on U.S.. soil.

MR. DUGUID: They also have special arrangements for them. Let’s ask the lawyers to get us an answer on this so we are not speculating.

Yes.

QUESTION: I heard you in your statement say that you remain committed to the process, but I didn’t hear you say that you welcomed this step by the ICC. Can you say whether you do or not?

MR. DUGUID: Well, what the United States does is we expect all parties in Darfur to cooperate with this. We want to see an end to the violence in Darfur, we want to see an end to the violence in Sudan, and we want to see those who have committed atrocities held accountable for their actions and their crimes.

QUESTION: Would you count President Bashir among those?

MR. DUGUID: We would refer you to what the ICC has said, what the international community said, what we have supported in the UN on Sudan; and it is evident that the Government of Sudan has the brunt of the responsibility for what has happened in Darfur, and he is the head of that government.

QUESTION: So you would welcome President Bashir being taken to The Hague and placed on trial?

MR. DUGUID: We would welcome an end to the conflict and violence in Darfur and a peaceful resolution to the differences between the conflicting parties.

QUESTION: So this is a helpful step, then, toward that?

MR. DUGUID: This is a helpful – this is – can be a helpful step. We will see how it proceeds from here.

QUESTION: What is the status, though, of the U.S. – of diplomatic contact with President Bashir at all? Do you still – obviously, you still recognize him as the head of state, but you know, will U.S. diplomats meet with Bashir if the opportunity arises?

MR. DUGUID: We already carefully consider contact with Sudanese Government officials based on a need to try and help resolve the crisis. For example, the United States does not maintain full diplomatic relations with Sudan. We only have a charg� in place at the Embassy. But because we take the court’s actions very seriously, any official contacts with President Bashir would have to be carefully reviewed on a case-by-case basis, very mindful of the indictment.

QUESTION: Well, can – I know that this is a new Administration, but the Bush Administration had called the atrocities in Darfur genocide.

MR. DUGUID: And I think you’ll find that Ambassador Rice did so --

QUESTION: Okay. So --

MR. DUGUID: -- just a few moments ago in the UN.

QUESTION: So I mean, if you could – you know, just to pick up where Kirit was about whether you welcome the decision and what cooperation did the United States have with the court in providing information to get the indictment?

MR. DUGUID: This was taken by the ICC, to which we are not a party and not a signatory; therefore, I am stating what our position is. Things that then run from the ICC’s own train of events, I have to refer you to the ICC.

QUESTION: Well, but I mean, were you – did you cooperate with the court? Did you provide the court information? You’ve always said that even though you’re not a party to the court, you can still cooperate with the court on --

MR. DUGUID: I’m not at liberty to discuss whatever diplomatic communication we may have had with the court. We do see this as a step that the Sudanese Government should take seriously and respond to in a positive manner in order to try and end the violence in Darfur.

Yes.

QUESTION: Whether or not you cooperate with the court, does the United States have independent evidence that Bashir and his aides have committed war crimes?

MR. DUGUID: As it’s now a matter for a court, I think I should refrain from making a statement on what might influence that court’s decisions.

Yes.

QUESTION: Can I go back to the Bashir thing for one second?

MR. DUGUID: Yes.

QUESTION: You said that any contact with Bashir would have to be considered very carefully on a case-by-case basis --

MR. DUGUID: That’s correct.

QUESTION: -- considering the indictment --

MR. DUGUID: That is correct.

QUESTION: Considering the arrest warrant?

MR. DUGUID: Yes.

QUESTION: Well, does that mean that you will or you won’t meet with him?

MR. DUGUID: That means that should that opportunity present itself, we would have to consider that very, very carefully in light of our – of any obligations that might be laid upon us due to the ICC warrant; also, any possible ramifications that it would present, given the situation on the ground at the time.

QUESTION: Well, that – your answer seems to suggest that there may be obligations that you have to the ICC, but you’re not a signatory.

MR. DUGUID: As I indicated earlier, we will take the question on --

QUESTION: Thank you.

MR. DUGUID: -- our obligations and find out what they are. But I’m unaware of any, so I don’t want to rule any in or out.

QUESTION: Okay. Can you make sure when you ask for the obligations that you might have if he steps foot on U.S. soil, if he comes to the United States, also ask them, you know, what obligations there might be for anyone – any American official seeing him?

MR. DUGUID: We will – we will --

QUESTION: Thank you.

MR. DUGUID: -- ask the full range of the question.

Thank you. Yes, please.

UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations noon briefing had the following related to Darfur:

BAN KI-MOON CALLS ON SUDAN TO CONTINUE TO COOPERATE FULLY WITH ALL U.N. ENTITIES

• The International Criminal Court (ICC) has today issued a warrant for the arrest of President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, for his alleged responsibility for crimes committed in Darfur.
  
• Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recognizes the authority of the International Criminal Court as an independent judicial institution.
  
• The Secretary-General trusts that the Government of Sudan will address the issues of peace and justice in a manner consistent with Security Council resolution 1593 (2005).
  
• The United Nations will continue to conduct its vital peacekeeping, humanitarian, human rights and development operations and activities in Sudan.
  
• The Secretary-General calls on the Government of Sudan to continue to cooperate fully with all UN entities and their implementing partners, while fulfilling its obligation to ensure the safety and security of the civilian population, UN personnel and property, and that of its implementing partners.
  
• The Secretary-General calls on all parties to work in good faith toward a political solution to end the conflict in Darfur. He also calls on the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to recommit themselves to the full and timely implementation of the Agreement, which remains the basis for the long term peace and security in Sudan.

ICC ISSUES ARREST WARRANT FOR PRESIDENT OF SUDAN

• According to the ICC, the Sudanese President is suspected of being criminally responsible, as an indirect (co-)perpetrator, for intentionally directing attacks against an important part of the civilian population of Darfur, Sudan, murdering, exterminating, raping, torturing and forcibly transferring large numbers of civilians, and pillaging their property. This is the first warrant of arrest ever issued for a sitting Head of State by the ICC.
  
• According to the Judges, the above-mentioned crimes were allegedly committed during a five year counter-insurgency campaign by the Government of Sudan against the Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and other armed groups opposing the Government of Sudan in Darfur.
  
• According to the ICC, a core component of that campaign was the unlawful attack on that part of the civilian population of Darfur – belonging largely to the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa groups – perceived to be close to the organized armed groups opposing the Government of Sudan in Darfur.
  
• The Court says that his status as a sitting head of state does not grant him immunity against prosecution. If arrested, he will be tried on five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes. He has not been indicted on charges of genocide, the Pre-Trial Chamber said.
  
• ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said at the press conference in The Hague a few hours ago that he has "strong evidence" to prove that President Bashir, has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.

BAN KI-MOON VOICES CONCERN AS SOME NGOs SEE THEIR REGISTRATION REVOKED IN SUDAN

• The security situation in Darfur today was reported as relatively calm.
  
• The Government of Sudan this morning conducted a ground and aerial show of force in El Fasher, North Darfur and Nyala, South Darfur.
  
• Peaceful demonstrations took place in El Fasher, Nyala and El Geneina, West Darfur, following the ICC announcement that it has issued an arrest warrant for the Sudanese President. More demonstrations have been scheduled tomorrow.
  
• The African Union-United Nations mission in Darfur (UNAMID) reports that UNAMID police and peacekeepers continue to carry out their normal patrolling activities and are closely monitoring developments throughout the region, particularly in and around the IDP camps.
  
• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that of 12 NGOs summoned by the Sudan Government Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), six have already confirmed that their legal registrations have been revoked, a list of assets must be produced for seizure, and that they must leave North Sudan with immediate effect.
  
• In response to a question at the noon briefing about the reported expulsion of NGOs by Sudan, the Spokeswoman later said the Secretary-General is concerned to hear that between six and ten humanitarian NGOs have had their registrations revoked, and some of their assets seized. He notes that this represents a serious setback to lifesaving operations in Darfur, and urges the Government of Sudan to act urgently to restore these NGOs to their full operational status.
  
• NGOs affected include Oxfam, Solidarit�s, and Mercy Corps. They were informed today by the Sudan Government Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) that their legal registrations have been revoked, a list of assets must be produced for seizure, and that they must leave North Sudan with immediate effect. The United Nations was notified that officials from the Sudan Government HAC have insisted on accompanying some INGO staff members into their offices and taking lists of assets and staff.
  
• Affected NGOs are the main providers of life-saving humanitarian services, such as water, food, health and sanitation. Their departure will have an immediate and serious IMPACT on the humanitarian and security situation in North Sudan, especially in Darfur.

UNMIS

The Daily Media Monitoring Report is available at http://www.unmis.org/english/2009Docs/mmr-mar03.pdf.

DOWNING STREET

The morning press briefing from the Prime Minister’s Spokesman had the following about Darfur:

Asked about the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision on whether or not to indict the Sudanese President, the PMS said that we would continue to call on the Government of Sudan to cooperate fully with the ICC. The ICC continued to have our full support for its activities.

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Full transcripts of the daily briefings are available online at:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing_room/PressBriefings/ (White House)

http://www.state..gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2009/index.htm (State Department)

http://www.un.org/News/ossg (United Nations)

http://www.unmis.org/english/m-monitoring.htm (UNMIS)

http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/press-briefings (Number 10)

1-800-GENOCIDE

YOUR COMPLICITY HELPS OMAR AL-BASHIR PERPETUATE GENOCIDE

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Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, speaks on the role of activists in bringing to justice perpetrators of the crime of genocide.

Help Promote Justice

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir:

The Record Speaks for Itself

1-800-GENOCIDE

HOW TO BE AN OLYMPIC ATHLETE AND BRING THE DREAM TO DARFUR

Introducing Team Darfur

The buzz is building for this summer’s Olympics. There are many records set to be broken and many athletes will establish themselves as the future of their respective sports. However, some athletes have another thought in the back of their minds - the suffering men, women, and children in Darfur. Most of those athletes have joined with Team Darfur to raise awareness about Darfur and to encourage China, the Olympic host, and all nations of the world to take responsible actions to alleviate the suffering of so many Darfurians.

Team Darfur is an international coalition of athletes committed to raising awareness about and bringing an end to the genocide in Darfur, Sudan...

...Team Darfur now has over 380 athletes representing 63 countries from around the world, and the numbers continue to grow. Team Darfur athletes have shown their support for the people of Darfur by wearing Team Darfur gear, expressing their concerns to the media, participating in awareness-raising events, and recruiting their fellow athletes and competitors to join the movement. Many well-known athletes have joined the cause including Philip Dunn, an Olympic racewalker, who will be competing in his third straight Olympic Games for the United States. Doug Lennox II, an Olympic swimmer from Puerto Rico, has also served as an active voice for Darfur. Both athletes have signed the open letter that asks the international community to call for an Olympic Truce for Darfur.

...To date, athletes have participated in press conferences on Capitol Hill and at the Chinese Mission to the UN, met with members of Congress and members of the International Olympic Committee, and testified before the Senate. Team Darfur athletes were also instrumental in reversing a trend practiced by Olympic Committees in which they attempted to gag their athletes on human rights issues. The United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Belgium all made early attempts to ban political speech by athletes at the Olympics. This news quickly made its way to the press who were anxious to speak with Team Darfur athletes. The attention given to this issue has led both the UK and New Zealand to weaken or reverse their ban on athletes’ right to free speech...

...In just a few short weeks, over 60 Team Darfur athletes will be competing in Beijing. We hope you’ll join us in cheering on their efforts in their sports, and their efforts for the people of Darfur. You can show your support by wearing a Team Darfur tshirt or sweatband during the games, and by following Team Darfur’s athletes at www.TeamDarfur.org.
To read the full article

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China is providing Sudan with military assistance in the troubled Darfur region, A BBC Panorama investigation suggests. The UN has imposed an arms embargo against Sudan which requires nations like China to stop their military equipment from going to Darfur. Hilary Andersson reports from Darfur. See the video at this link.

WE ARE ALL THE KEEPERS OF JUSTICE

Without our diligence to work toward justice, justice will not happen.

We are all the keepers of justice.

Niemat Ahmadi Addresses the International Criminal Court

Niemat Ahmadi, Darfuri Liaison Officer at the Save Darfur Coalition today addressed an open meeting of the States Parties to the International Criminal Court at UN Headquarters in New York. The meeting comes just three days after the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, announced that he is seeking an arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir.

The prosecutor has charged Bashir with criminal responsibility for 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Ahmadi represented the Darfuri community, many of whom overwhelmingly support the prosecutor’s decision, and made a strong claim that both peace and justice are necessary and achievable. The event also included remarks by Moreno-Ocampo and the Secretary General of the U.N., Ban Ki-Moon. The full-text of her remarks is below.

The Danger of Enabling Al-bashir

As the slaughter in Darfur is in its sixth year, conditions continue to deteriorate for civilians. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, even by the most conservative estimates. The United Nations officially puts the death toll at roughly 300,000, while Jan Pronk recently puts the number at no less than 400,000. Up to 2.5 million Darfuris have fled their homes and continue to live in camps throughout Darfur, or in refugee camps in Chad and the Central African Republic. Based on Sudan’s behavior over the past five years—indeed since al-Bashir assumed power in 1989, it is clear that unless the international community imposes massive political costs for al-Bashir’s intentional and calculated obstructionism, not to mention criminal behavior, his government will continue to buy time by accepting initiatives only to backtrack later or impose new conditions that render them useless.

Darfuris have been suffering, not only from an orchestrated campaign to eliminate them, but also from year after year of inaction by the international community. This week, Darfuris finally got a welcome bit of news: the prosecutor at the ICC charged al-Bashir with 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Let me be categorical about this: the people of Darfur wholeheartedly welcome and support this effort by Mr. Luis Moreno Ocampo!

Unfortunately, this good news is being drowned out by the many voices that insist —falsely, I might add—that justice and peace for Darfuris are incompatible and that they can only have one at the cost of the other. Unfortunately, whether they realize it or not, the intellectuals, academics, and practitioners who are advancing this claim that peace and justice are mutually exclusive are helping al-Bashir and his inner circle avoid the consequences of their crimes, and therefore are unnecessarily prolonging the suffering of innocent civilians. Let me be clear about this as well: the people of Darfur categorically reject this approach in principle! We reject it because it is inaccurate, we reject it because it is unjust, and we reject it because it flaunts centuries of traditional Darfuri conflict resolution mechanisms that have been intentionally sabotaged by Khartoum.

Let me ask you this: what does peace mean to me as a Darfuri woman who was forced to flea her home in the dark of night? What does peace mean to the many thousands of girls and women who were repeatedly raped in a calculated effort to destroy a community? What does peace mean to those that are dying a slow agonizing death in the camps while strangers have taken over their land? What does it mean to hundreds of thousands of orphaned children? What does it mean to the millions of elderly, women and children who rely on the WFP and others to not starve? Let me tell you that to those people there is NO peace WITHOUT justice. It is important to listen to the voices of the victims, and those who have argued that justice will derail a non-existent peace have not done so.

I, and millions of Darfuris and other advocates of peace AND justice, commend Mr. Ocampo for his courage and diligence. I appeal to all states and all UN organs to not undo his great work through their inaction. On behalf of those millions who have died, suffered and continue to suffer as I speak to you today, I call on the ICC, the Security Council and all other relevant actors to not engage al-Bashir in the perverse calculus of justice OR peace. We want and deserve both justice AND peace. He has not taken meaningful steps toward either of those goals for nearly six years. It would be shortsighted to give him the benefit of the doubt now. Over the past few days, as many of you have surely seen and heard, al-Bashir has made some of the most conciliatory statement with regard to Darfur in the past six years. He is also calling on his allies in the African Union and the Arab League and China, not to help resolve the crisis, but rather to provide him with the political cover that he so desperately needs now. Al-Bashir has not had a change of heart, he is reacting to increased international pressure; now is the time to demand verifiable changes in Khartoum’s behavior, changes that will further both goals of peace AND justice…actions that will have a concrete and measurable positive effect for the people of Darfur who have suffered for far too long already.

Nobody can ask the people of Darfur to relinquish their right to hold the perpetrators of mass atrocities accountable in exchange for vague promises of peace and security in Darfur. Our people have witnessed too many peace initiatives fail and too many delays in the deployment of peacekeepers who can protect the vulnerable. We understand the difficulty at hand in dealing with an authoritarian and genocidal government such as the one led by al-Bashir. However, there are no moral or legal grounds to strip the victims of their rights for political expediency.

Thank you.

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• Darfur Investigator Finds Refugees' Voices In Tune with Sudan Indictment

  7/18/2008

  With the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo's application for an arrest warrant this week against Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, the volley of threats between the international community and the Sudan government is intensifying.
• Prosecutor looks at 3rd war crimes case in Darfur

  7/18/2008

  UNITED NATIONS -- With an arrest warrant pending against Sudan's president, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor said Thursday he was focusing on another war crime case in Darfur involving two suspected rebel commanders allegedly directing attacks against peacekeepers.
• Prosecutor to Pursue Rebels in Next Case on Darfur Crisis

  7/17/2008

  UNITED NATIONS Days after seeking an arrest warrant for the Sudanese president, the prosecutor at the International Criminal Court said on Thursday that his next case on the conflict in Darfur would focus on the rebels thought to be responsible for a deadly attack on international peacekeepers in September.
• Sudan rules out deal with ICC over Bashir warrant

  7/17/2008

  KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan on Thursday rejected a deal with the International Criminal Court to hand over two indicted officials in exchange for dropping the court's arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.
• Bush Warned He Might Send Troops to Darfur: Wade

  7/17/2008

  Filed at 5:34 p.m. ET DAKAR (Reuters) - Senegal's president said on Thursday George W. Bush told African leaders at one stage the United States might send troops to Sudan's Darfur if they did not act to halt what he saw as genocide there.
• Trying Sudanese President Poses Unique Challenges

  7/17/2008

• China boosts peacekeepers in Darfur

  7/17/2008

  KHARTOUM (AFP) - Extra Chinese engineers were en route for Sudan's war-torn western region of Darfur on Thursday, set to boost the number of UN-led peacekeeping troops to more than 8,000, a spokeswoman said.
• Prosecuting Genocide

  7/17/2008

  Many aid workers and diplomats suffered a panic attack when the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court sought an arrest warrant this week for the president of Sudan, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, for committing genocide.
• Warrant for Sudanese Is Talk of Security Council

  7/16/2008

  UNITED NATIONS Russia and China voiced concerns on Wednesday about the pursuit of Sudans president by international prosecutors, raising the possibility that the United Nations Security Council could intervene to forestall the prosecution, diplomats said.
• Another peacekeeper shot and killed in Darfur as UN debates extending the peace mission

  7/16/2008

  UNITED NATIONS (AP) _ Gunmen in Darfur shot and killed another United Nations-African Union peacekeeper Wednesday, just as the U.N. Security Council voted to condemn the killing of seven Darfur peacekeepers a week ago as a possible war crime.

Source: blogfordarfur.org/2008/07/18/ahmadi-addresses-icc-meeting

BBC Uncovers Chinese Role in Darfur

Earlier this week, the BBC found the first pieces of evidence suggesting that China has been providing Sudan weapons that are used to carry out the genocide - in violation of a U.N. arms embargo.

Read more on the Save Darfur Blog for Darfur - July 15, 2008 - Save Darfur blasts Chinas on- going military links with genocidal regime

Matthew 25:31-46

GENOCIDE ONLY CAN HAPPEN WHEN THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY

Darfuri Leaders Network: ‘We implore the U.N. Security Council to take no actions that would impede the work of Mr. Moreno-Ocampo and the ICC.’

In an effort to ensure that their voices were heard, the Darfuri Leaders Network, a broad-based alliance representing Darfur diaspora organizations across the United States, responded yesterday with a letter that was delivered to U.N. Security Council member states.

WASHINGTON –The Darfuri Leaders Network, a broad-based alliance representing Darfur diaspora organizations across the United States, today weighed in on the recent developments in The Hague – urging the U.N. Security Council not to obstruct the International Criminal Court’s action against Sudanese President al-Bashir. While many experts and opinion-makers have weighed in on the potential implications of the recent ICC actions against al-Bashir, a voice that has been utterly drowned out of the dialogue is that of the Darfuri people themselves.

In a letter delivered to the Security Council member states, the DLN expressed its appreciation for the ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo’s formal request for an arrest warrant for President al-Bashir and reiterated that the council must ensure that peace and justice move forward concurrently. The group also called on the council to make clear that reprisals against the Darfuri people following the ICC actions will not be tolerated.

“Despite the immense magnitude of suffering and unimaginable pain of our people, we have witnessed many governments and international experts condemn Mr. Moreno-Ocampo’s decision with some of the same justifications and rationales as President Al Bashir and the Government of Sudan,” the letter states. “These criticisms ignore the Darfuri voices that uniformly approve of the ICC’s efforts and view the ICC as the only available outlet to secure justice and accountability for the crimes committed in Darfur since 2003.”

The full text of the letter appears below.

July 17, 2008

Dear Members of the Security Council:

We write to you as members of the Darfuri civil society living in the diaspora. We are a network of Darfuri-led human rights and humanitarian organizations in the United States and around the world, united together to raise awareness about the genocide in Darfur and to advocate for the rights of the people of Darfur to have security, justice and lasting peace in Darfur.

We write to you today to express our appreciation for the Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo’s formal request for an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the President of The Sudan Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir. Mr. Moreno-Ocampo’s unwavering commitment to seeking justice for the people of Darfur led him to this historic decision and we sincerely thank the UN Security Council for referring the case of Darfur to the ICC and providing Mr. Moreno-Ocampo with the mandate to carry out his assigned mission.

Our people have cried out for justice for the last five years only to see the humanitarian and political crisis worsen in Darfur. Mr. Moreno-Ocampo’s request to examine the culpability of President Al Bashir for the genocide committed against our friends and families brings us some hope that the international community may finally match its rhetoric with actions that lead to real results in The Sudan. It is for this reason that we give our unequivocal support to Mr. Moreno-Ocampo’s decision which aims to provide much delayed accountability for those responsible for the destruction of the lives and livelihoods of Darfuris.

Mr. Moreno-Ocampo’s courageous act comes at a time when the situation in Darfur leaves our people increasingly vulnerable. Violence continues each day unabated, as the notorious Janjaweed and Government of Sudan forces attempt to intimidate the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). Indeed, we were sincerely saddened to hear reports about the deadly attack by such forces against UNAMID on July 8, 2008. We believe the Government of Sudan launched such a brazen assault as part of its on-going campaign to weaken the effectiveness of UNAMID. In addition to this attack, we are gravely concerned about the countless obstacles presented by the Government of Sudan to hinder the deployment of UNAMID.

Despite the immense magnitude of suffering and unimaginable pain of our people, we have witnessed many governments and international experts condemn Mr. Moreno-Ocampo’s decision with some of the same justifications and rationales as President Al Bashir and the Government of Sudan. These criticisms ignore the Darfuri voices that uniformly approve of the ICC’s efforts and view the ICC as the only available outlet to secure justice and accountability for the crimes committed in Darfur since 2003. Therefore, we implore the UN Security Council to take no actions that would impede the work of Mr. Moreno-Ocampo and the ICC.

We further ask the UN Security Council to provide global leadership to ensure that the campaigns for “peace and justice” in Sudan move forward together. Such an effort begins with sending a message to the Government of Sudan that the international community will not tolerate any reprisals against the people of Darfur on account of the proceedings at the ICC. Equally important, we believe that no one should ask the people of Darfur to relinquish their rights to hold their perpetrators accountable in exchange for unreliable promises regarding the establishment of peace and security in Darfur. Our people have witnessed too many peace initiatives fail and too many delays in the deployment of an effective peacekeeping mission to put all of our hope in only these two domains. We understand the difficulty at hand in dealing with an authoritarian and genocidal government such as the one led by President Al Bashir. However, there are no moral or legal grounds to strip our people – who are the undisputed victims – of their legitimate rights for justice. We have full confidence that with coordinated diplomacy and pressure from the members of the UN Security Council peace, protection, and justice can all be achieved for the long-suffering people of Darfur.

We believe that Mr. Moreno-Ocampo has greatly contributed to this effort, as he was requested to do so by the UN Security Council. It is our sincere hope that the member states of the Security Council will continue to support his efforts to reveal the truth about the genocide committed in Darfur as the proceedings of the ICC will help end the culture of impunity in Darfur and Sudan and assist all Darfuris and Sudanese in their efforts to end the Darfur catastrophe and build sustainable peace.

Sincerely,

Member Organizations of the Darfuri Leaders Network (United States)

Darfur Alert Coalition
Ibrahim Hamid
Treasurer

Darfur Association in the United States
Mahmoud Braima
President

Damanga Coalition for Freedom and
Democracy
Mohmamed Yahya
President

Darfur Association of Colorado
Ahmed Adam Ali
Secretary General

Darfur Association of Illinois
Mohamed Abdel Rahman
Secretary General

Darfur Association of Nebraska
Adam Omar

Darfur Association of Texas
Bashir Gamous Abdelrasoul
Branch Leader

Darfur Community Organization (Nebraska)
Bakheit Shata
Executive Director

World Relief Organization
Elgasim Salih
President

Darfur People’s Association of Iowa
Anwar Elnour
President

Darfur People’s Association of New York
Motasim Adam
President

Darfur Rehabilitation Project, Inc.
Elnour Adam
Projects Director

Fur Association of North America
Ishag Ahmed
President

Fur Cultural Revival
Mansour Ahmed
Secretary General

Western Sudan Aid Relief in the U.S
Abdeljabbar Seddik
President

Badawi Osman

Darfur Working Group
Philadelphia, PA

Darfur Community Development
Hamza Ibrahim
President

At-Large Members of the Darfuri Leaders Network in the U.S

Amal Allagabo
Washington, D.C.
Niemat Ahmadi
Washington, DC
Fatima Haroun
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Suad Mansour
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Marwa Salah Eddin
Portland, Maine
Mastora Bakheit
Indiana

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About the Save Darfur Coalition – The Save Darfur Coalition – an alliance of more than 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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GENOCIDE STOPS WITH US

www.savedarfur.org