SANDRA HAMMEL HAS A MESSAGE FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA USING HIS OWN WORDS

Portsmouth Resident Sandra Hammel to Spotlight Darfur Genocide at Compassion Film Festival

Posted April 8, 2011, 9:30 a.m. in the Portsmouth Patch

Written by Kirsten Ferguson

Sandra Hammel, retired music teacher and activist, who is trying to raise awareness about the Darfur genocide, has been selected to show her film this Friday at the Compassion Film Festival

Activist Sandra Hammel Credit Kirsten Ferguson
April 6, 2011

My addition: I don't like the picture, but then I don't like any picture of me taken in the last year. I have decided to like being old. However, I wouldn't say that I have totally succeeded. But I am working on it. Young old, but here I am in the years that are no longer even close to young.

The article~

How do you explain a catastrophic event and move an audience to action in five minutes?

Sandra Hammel of Portsmouth will attempt just that this Friday, when she debuts her film “Darfur The Abandoned Genocide” at the Compassion Film Festival at Jane Pickens Theater in Newport.

Hammel, a retired music teacher, became an activist for the cause in 2004 after watching a powerful documentary on the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. "I knew very little about what was happening in Rwanda at the time, but after seeing the film, I decided to educate myself,” said Hammel. “When I heard what was happening in Darfur, I knew I couldn’t be silent anymore.”

Since 2004, Hammel has been extremely proactive about the cause and has volunteered in two major rallies both in Washington, DC, and New York to bring more awareness to the troubles overseas, but in the past few years, the Darfur conflict has not been settled.

“In the last several months, bombing from Sudan has escalated in Darfur, yet we don’t hear about it anymore,” said Hammel. “We are inundated with news daily, yet somehow this entire conflict has dropped out of circulation. The only reason I know what is going on is because I am actively looking for updates on what is going on.”

As for expectations on Friday, Hammel is looking to get the attention of her audience and motivate them to get involved.

“The change starts with us,” said Hammel. “Until we, as people, ask and pressure our leaders to do something, they are just going to let it go.”

As for getting her message down to a five-minute film slot, it wasn’t an easy task but she has faith that it will get through to the audience by the time the ending credits come on.

“I think so many of us, myself included, are so busy and now people are losing jobs and have their own issues so it takes a lot more to move people,” said Hammel. “I completely understand that but it is still so important to get involved.”

The Compassion Film Festival, is a benefit event for Looking Upwards, a local non-profit organization and will consist of a juried collection of short films submitted by local and regional film artists that are all based around the theme of compassion.

If you are interested in checking out the event, you can join the group on April 8 at 6 p.m. at the Jane Pickens Theater in Newport.

For more information about the film series, click here.

Source: portsmouth.patch.com/articles/portsmouth-resident-sandra-hammel-to-spotlight-darfur-genocide-at-compassion-film-festival

Credit Kirsten Ferguson

Volunteers in the News

Portsmouth Resident Sandra Hammel to Spotlight Darfur Genocide at Compassion Film Festival

By Kirsten Ferguson

(16 hours ago April 9, 2011 at 1:40 a.m.)

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Unfortunately the lips and audio became out of snyc due to compression of uploading here at Vimeo. Fortunately, the DVD for the Compassion Film Festival of this video was in sync.

I always put credits at the end and couldn't because of the limit I had to get my message across.

Here are more complete credits:

❧ Special thanks to ❧
Eric Reeves for Open Letter excerpts
Mohamed Suleiman for Darfuri sayings
Photos ~
Mia Farrow
Gabriel Stauring
Sandra Hammel
♫ Music ♫
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Performed by Eva Cassidy
Available at itunes
Krista Powell
Presented by Sandra Hammel

Genocide flourishes when there is no accountability.
It has been flourishing in Darfur since February 2003.

One voice won’t stop a genocide,
but that is no excuse to be silent.

Please, use your voice to call upon our leaders
to do what is right about something
that is very wrong.
1-800-GENOCIDE for President Obama,
U.S. Senators and Representatives

Updated news
Radio Dabanga

Eric Reeves
sudanreeves.org

Mia Farrow photos of Darfur Refugee Camps
miafarrow.org/​images

Terry Nickelson ~ OUR HUMANITY IN THE BALANCE
ourhumanityinthebalance.org

Where there is a will there is always a way,
where there is no will there is never a way.

PRESIDENT OBAMA IS OFF IN THE DITCH REGARDING DARFUR ~ FEBRUARY 2011

The House of Representatives is expected to vote TOMORROW on unprecedented humanitarian aid and disaster assistance cuts.

Just how much is at stake? $1.7 billion of life-saving humanitarian aid are on the chopping block -- funding that directly impacts the lives of millions of Sudanese and Darfuri people.

Contact your representative TODAY and urge him or her to vote against these drastic cuts.

My email to my Congressman ~

February 16, 2011

Dear US RI Representative Cicilline,

I organized the Rhode Island Torch Relay which was one of many around the country and the world. The Rhode Island Torch Relay took place October 27, 2007. I was grateful that you as Mayor of Providence agreed to and spoke at this event in the Ceremony portion that took place at the Rhode Island State House on a rainy afternoon. The t-shirts for that day were made and read “I Carry the Torch for Darfur”. I have posted some of this Ceremony on youtube. I know your heart is in the right place regarding preventing and ending genocide and ask you to vote against the cuts of humanitarian aid that assist in saving lives of Darfuri people that have lived in refugee camps since 2003 trying to escape a Sudanese government-sponsored genocide against the unarmed people of the Darfur region. This aid impacts lives of millions of Sudanese, Darfuri people.

Violence in Darfur is on the rise. We simply cannot afford to cut aid for millions of refugees in one of the world’s most volatile regions at this time.

Proposed cuts in programs that provide life-saving aid to Darfur and all of Sudan include:

$431,000,000 in International Disaster Assistance
$582,000,000 in Migration and Refugee Assistance
$687,000,000 in the Food for Peace Program

These severe reductions run counter to the United States’ commitment to peace in Darfur and Sudan. Funding should be restored to these critical accounts that support Sudan. I ask you, US RI Representative Cicilline, to vote NO on passage of House Bill 1.

Thank you for your making decisions based upon principle.

I look forward to your reply and would like to sit down to talk with you about this defining issue.

Sandra Hammel

Use Your Voice to Stop Genocide RI

Genocide will only stop with us demanding it - Our leaders have taught us this

"The most important things belong first, not last or never."

Words of the Earth by Cedric Wright

If you want peace, work for justice
إذا كنت تريد السلام ، أعمل من أجل العدالة

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

Another action you can easily

take:

Join me in urging the Obama administration to ramp up its effort in support of peace in Darfur.

Read Sudan Now’s Roadmap for Peace in Darfur.

Third action - a VERY important action:

Targeting: The President of the United States
Started by: Operation Broken Silence

The information about this petition ~

The White House announced on February 10, 2011 that U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration has been elected to become the new U.S. Ambassador to Kenya. The removal of Gration from Sudan will leave the special envoy post vacant. Seeing a dramatic rise in violence and genocidal attacks against civilians in Darfur as well as months worth of work remaining in south Sudan to ensure a democratic, secure, and peaceful transition for the world's newest nation, a seasoned diplomat needs to...

The White House announced on February 10, 2011 that U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration has been elected to become the new U.S. Ambassador to Kenya.

The removal of Gration from Sudan will leave the special envoy post vacant. Seeing a dramatic rise in violence and genocidal attacks against civilians in Darfur as well as months worth of work remaining in south Sudan to ensure a democratic, secure, and peaceful transition for the world's newest nation, a seasoned diplomat needs to immediately replace current Special Envoy Gration to help put Sudan back on the road towards peace.

This petition calls for the following:

1. President Obama to appoint a new, U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, one who is seasoned diplomat experienced in conflict prevention/resolution, African affairs, as well as Sudan itself.

2. The new U.S. Special Envoy to enforce the abandoned U.S. Sudan policy of a balanced approach regarding pressures and incentives. Implementation has been largely incentives-based and rewarded a regime which is guilty of genocide.

3. The new U.S. Special Envoy to immediately focus on ensuring peace negotiations for Darfur take place outside of Sudan, reinvigorating Darfur peace negotiations, engaging civil society in both south Sudan and Darfur so that their voices may be heard concerning peace efforts and the issues which plague them, fight to empower UNAMID to better protect civilians in Darfur, and heavily push for a democratic, secure, and peaceful transition of southern Sudan into a sovereign state.

Sign the petition to tell President Obama to appoint the right diplomat to Sudan who will implement the right policy

Spread the word, post to Facebook/Twitter, and help speak out for those in Sudan who should be oppressed no more.

Click the post title for Our Humanity in the Balance website

JUSTICE FIRST . . . PEACE WILL FOLLOW

Moved by Faith: A Call for Peace in Sudan

Current events in Sudan are dire, and it is critical that the faith community revive engagement with Sudan not only in their local community, but also internationally. This summer clergy of all denominations will unite in prayer for the people of Sudan. Together, we can keep loud the drumbeat for engagement on peace and security for all of Sudan.

Join other faith leaders in signing the letter calling on President Obama to continue his work for lasting peace in Sudan.

Signing the letter is only the first step. The weekend of August 28^th-30^th, just before the U.S. takes the Presidency of the UN Security Council in September, communities of faith will unite in prayer and action for Sudan. Sign up as a Congregation of Conscience for forthcoming details.

Resources

• Visit our Faith Outreach page for additional resources and materials please.

• Moved By Faith Button:

• Download the petition to collect signatures from members of clergy in your local community.

Sudan Interfaith Working Group

The Sudan Interfaith Working Group is a network of U.S-based faith organizations that work to support peace in Sudan through coordination of advocacy efforts and other initiatives that engage the faith community. The working group is comprised of representatives from many denominations and beliefs, including Christian, Jewish, and Muslim advocacy and humanitarian organizations.

Thank you for standing for justice and peace
and being a voice for this defining issue

GENOCIDE WILL STOP WITH US

No More Empty Promises

"The Most Important Office is That of Private Citizen"
Louis D. Brandeis

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

Dear President Obama - A letter sent March 12, 2009

Join the Fast for Darfuris

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed people could change the world.
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead

JUSTICE DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN ~ GENOCIDE ENDS WHEN ENOUGH OF US STAND UP AGAINST IT

From the www.enoughproject.org website:

The People Speak

Posted by John Norris on Jan 22, 2009

We are pleased to announce that we have just delivered a petition to President Barack Obama – signed by more than 39,000 concerned Americans – asking him to take action on Congo. This is the largest ever call to action in the United States on Congo and underscores the growing strength of the Congo activist movement. You can read the press release here. This tremendous effort would not be possible without our friends and allies, including Oxfam America, Amnesty International, Bureau pour le Volontariat au Service de l’Enfance et de la Santé (BVES), Campus Progress at the Center for American Progress, Congo Global Action, CONGO/Women, Genocide Intervention Network, HEAL Africa, Human Rights Watch, Family Violence Prevention Fund, PAIF (Promotion et appui aux initiatives feminines), STAND, Synergie des Femmes pour les Victimes de Violences Sexuelles, The United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society, V-Day, and Women Thrive Worldwide.

The thousands and thousands of individuals who signed their name to the petition are testament to the fact that the movement to end to the world’s deadliest war is growing in strength and numbers. Learn more and visit our RAISE Hope for Congo website.

Day Three

Posted by John Bagwell on Jan 22, 2009

Today marks Day Three of Barack Obama’s presidency. Enough is partnering with the Save Darfur Coalition, Genocide Intervention Network, and STAND for a new campaign to ensure that President Obama makes Darfur a top priority in his first days and weeks of office. In the midst of a financial crisis and wars on multiple fronts, it is more important than ever that we, as activists, make our voices heard on this issue – keeping the new administration’s feet to the fire to bring peace to Sudan, by immediately appointing a special envoy and launching a “peace surge.” A new day has undoubtedly dawned in Washington. Let’s work to make sure Sudan sees a new day as well. Check out more information on the campaign and a short video from STAND student activists below:

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WRITE A LETTER TO CONGRESS

Take just a few minutes to make your message heard on genocide and crimes against humanity.

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

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

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

PRESIDENT OBAMA ~ WE DON'T WANT TO BE DEFINED BY COMPLICITY REGARDING DARFUR

President Obama's Immediate Sudan Challenge

One of the issues that will demand United States President Barack Obama's immediate attention is the widely expected issuance of an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of crimes against humanity in Darfur and the possibility that President Bashir's response to such a warrant will greatly exacerbate the crisis in that war-torn country.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is likely to issue an arrest warrant for President Bashir next month, and President Obama must respond firmly to Sudan's threats to escalate its violent campaign against civilians and humanitarian workers. At the same time, the Obama - Biden administration must maintain an unyielding focus on two strategic goals: brokering a peace deal for the Darfur region of Sudan, and implementing the existing Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended Sudan's North-South war.

WATCH a webcast about President Obama's Immediate Sudan Challenge with policy experts from the Enough Project at the Center for American Progress and from the Save Darfur Coalition.

In a letter to President Barack Obama released today - the second in a series of letters to President Obama spelling out a practical roadmap to end the crisis in Sudan - Enough Project Co-Chair John Prendergast, Enough Project Executive Director John Norris, and Save Darfur Coalition President Jerry Fowler address President Obama's immediate policy imperatives in Sudan.

"President Obama should not wait until the arrest warrants are issued, but rather task a senior official to immediately inform the Sudanese regime of the dire consequences that would result from any disruption of humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts. Beyond that, President Obama should lead an international peace surge for Sudan, aimed at ending the war in Darfur and implementing the North-South peace deal," said Mr. Prendergast.

READ the letter. READ the activist brief.

"The Obama administration's reaction to an arrest warrant against President Bashir will be seen as a key indicator not only of its approach to Sudan, but of its approach to international justice, the responsibility to protect, and efforts to diplomatically resolve major conflicts," said Mr. Norris. "Sudan is an important test, and it is vital to get it right from the beginning of the administration."

READ the letter and LISTEN to Enough's Executive Director John Norris discuss the letter in this podcast.

Source: www.enoughproject.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Check out Enough's new blog
- While World Watches Washington, Rwandan Troops Enter Congo
- "African of the Year"


Read the first letter in a series of recommendations to the new Obama-Biden administration
Letter to President-Elect Barack Obama: A Peace Surge for Sudan

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

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.enoughproject.org

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

HOW LONG IS TOO LONG FOR GENOCIDE TO GO ON?

YOU WOULD THINK THAT ONCE GENOCIDE IS IDENTIFIED,
our sense of morality would impel us to act in ways to end it.

But as Darfuri people have been targeted for over 5 years to be extinguished, that has not happened.Perhaps the latest move by the International Criminal Court (ICC) will make a difference for the better of the Darfuri people.

ICC calls for arrest of Al Bashir

July 14, 2008

Ocampo: "His motive was power, control, but his intent was to commit genocide."
Bashir is accused of: 3 counts of genocide; 5 counts of crimes against humanity; and 2 counts of war crimes committed in Darfur.

He is accused of masterminding and implementing a plan to partially wipe out ethnic groups (Fur , Masalit, Zaghawa ) that were producing the rebels that were challenging his rule in Khartoum..
"This was no counterinsurgency", Ocampo says, "The alibi of the president was 'a counter insurgency'. His intent was genocide."

This is the first time a sitting head of state has been accused of genocide.
UN currently has evacuation plans in place, in case aid workers or peacekeepers are again attacked.
Source: www.miafarrow.org/

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir: The Record Speaks for Itself

Article link: www.enoughproject.org

by David Sullivan

“I gave the army a free hand to move out in all directions, to use all of its weapons, with no restraints, no restrictions, whatsoever” – Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, in Agence France-Presse, September 3, 2002

With indications that the International Criminal Court will move against Sudanese President Bashir for crimes against humanity, we here at the ENOUGH Project thought you might like to be reminded of some of his past comments and behavior:

• On June 30, 1989, led fellow officers in a mutiny against the democratically elected Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi. General Bashir announced “Your armed forces have come to carry out a tremendous revolution for the sake of change after suffering” and said in a televised communiqué that the coup was “to save the country from rotten political parties.”
• From 1991 through 1996, hosted Osama bin Laden and turned Sudan into the world headquarters for international terrorism. Bashir later said of bin Laden, “He is a very normal person and he is very religious.”
• In 1992, declared jihad against the people of the Nuba Mountains, launching a massive offensive targeting civilian populations. During this genocidal campaign, the government forced conversions to Islam, displaced populations into government controlled ‘peace villages,’ and denied access to humanitarian aid.
• Beginning in 1994, became the only government sponsor of the Lord’s Resistance Army, as it abducted thousands of children in its campaign of terror in northern Uganda. According to a 13-year old child who spent two years in LRA captivity in Sudanese government-controlled territory: “I saw Sudanese Arab soldiers deliver weapons to the commanders of the LRA. The guns were brought to the LRA camp by airplane, and the soldiers unloading the guns were Arabs. They were big guns, machine guns.”
• Continually used arbitrary detention, disappearances, and torture to stifle political opposition. In 1995, a notorious “ghost house” located near a Citibank branch in Khartoum was used to torture dissidents. On civil liberties, Bashir has said: “When we talk of handing power to the people, we mean the people will be within certain limits but no one will cross the red lines which are aimed at the interest of the nation.”
• In the 1990s, revived the practice of slave raids against the people of southern Sudan. NGOs have suggested that as many as 200,000 southern Sudanese have been enslaved, and a UN report stated slavery there was “deeply rooted in Arab and Muslim supremacism.”
• In 1998, engineered a famine in the Bahr el-Ghazal region of southern Sudan that killed hundreds of thousands of people. The lethal combination of militia attacks on civilians and systematic denial of humanitarian aid transformed a drought into a crime against humanity.
• From 2000-01, systematically depopulated the oil fields of western Upper Nile. According to the United Nations: “government bombers, helicopter gunships, tanks and artillery were used against unarmed civilians to clear a 100-kilometer area around the oils fields. Witnesses reported that over 1,000 government soldiers swept through Ruweng county, wreaking human and material destruction, including destroying 17 churches.”
• Continually used aerial bombing of women and children, aid workers, and hospitals. Among the hundreds of air strikes from 2000-01 were a World Food Program airlift, a church school, a hospital, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
• In 2003, organized the creation of the Janjaweed militias to commit genocide in Darfur. On the Today Show, Bashir claimed: “I would confirm that we have never targeted civilian citizens and we can never target citizens.” Of Musa Hilal, the notorious Janjaweed commander, Bashir said: “He has contributed to peace and stability.” Also: “The so-called Darfur conflict is an invention by foreign interests.”
• Orchestrated insecurity, rape, and malnutrition against displaced Darfuris. In August 2006, more than 200 women were sexually assaulted in five weeks in Kalma camp, South Darfur. But according to Bashir: “It is not in the Sudanese culture or people of Darfur to rape. It doesn’t exist. We don’t have it.” On the humanitarian conditions: “The food and health situation in Darfur is acceptable for me, because it is comparable to situation in the rest of the country” and "any talk of a humanitarian crisis is not true."

Watch Bashir assert “all figures about the deaths in Darfur are fabricated” on Al Jazeera on YouTube here.

The above report is originally posted as a guest blog on the Wonk Room.

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David Frost speaks to President Omar al-Bashir June 20, 2008

Sudan's President being charged with genocide. It is the first time the International Criminal Court issued charges against a sitting head of state. it isn't likely Omar al Bashir will face the charges. Sudan doesn't recognize the war crimes court. The U.N. estimates 300,000 people have been killed in darfur. Two and a half million people have been displaced. View this Headline News report

China asked the criminal court to rethink its arrest warrant for sudan's president. and on monday they filed 10 charges against Omar al Bashir and they accuse his government of waging a campaign of genocide and terror in darfur. And China buys two-thirds of Sudan's petroleum exports and is also accused of violating the arms embargo against Sudan. View this Bloomberg report

• Sudanese President Charged With Genocide - The Washington Post
  July 14, 2008
• President Bashir and Genocide - The New York Times
  July 14, 2008
• Sudan Leader Accused of Genocide - New York Times
  July 14, 2008
• Sudan's president charged with genocide - Los Angeles Times
  July 14, 2008
• Human Rights Groups Applaud Charges Against Sudanese Leader - VOA News
  July 14, 2008

Above links from www.enoughproject.org

Another news link at Aljazeera

YOU
CAN HELP TO END GENOCIDE:

www.savedarfur.org

www.aegistrust.org
Aegis is an independent, international organisation, dedicated to eliminating genocide.
How you can help


Wanted for War Crimes

IF YOU ARE FROM DARFUR ~ YOU NEED HELP DESPERATELY

Getting Away With Genocide Is Way Too Easy

Justice is an Essential Precondition for Peace

By Amjad Atallah
Senior Director of International Policy and Advocacy, Save Darfur Coalition

The International Criminal Court's Chief Prosecutor, Moreno Ocampo, will update the U.N. Security Council this week on indictments issued for two alleged war criminals: Sudanese Minister for Humanitarian Affairs Ahmed Haroun and janjaweed militia leader Ali Kosheib. Both were charged with multiple counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including targeted sexual violence and wide scale rape. Today, both remain at large in Sudan.

Sexual violence has become far too common in Darfur. There are recorded instances of dozens of women and girls held in captivity for weeks and repeatedly raped and tortured. Many times, they are released only when they are known to be pregnant.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), for example, released a report in August that gruesomely details the abduction, systematic rape and torture of about 50 women from Deribat in South Darfur. The abductees – many of them children – were held as sex slaves for a month before they managed to escape. Several became pregnant. With no access to health care, pregnancy made some of the women severely ill. Others opted for life-threatening abortions.

Such incidents are not isolated, nor are they prosecuted or even condemned by the Government of Sudan. In many cases, the perpetrators are rewarded for these horrific acts. Often, the government will set up an "investigatory committee," thinly veiled delaying tactics it uses to shelter rapists and war criminals.

U.N. reports have consistently indicated that commanders and leaders of the Sudanese government's Popular Defense Forces (PDF) may share criminal responsibility for sexual violence. Some have authorized or even led the attacks.

Yet the perpetrators remain unpunished. Ahmed Haroun — the same man the ICC indicted on 42 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity — is the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the co-chair of a committee to investigate human rights abuses in Darfur. Chief Prosecutor Ocampo, best explained the irony of the situation: “the same man, who as Minister of State for the Interior, allegedly attacked civilians and forced people out of their homes and into camps, is today in charge of the camps, controlling the fate of his victims.”

Sudan needs justice as much as it needs peace. As the international community becomes engaged in the deployment of a peacekeeping force, the peace process, and the negotiation of an effective ceasefire agreement, there is a parallel need to raise issues of accountability. Transparent and impartial courts must address widespread accounts of rape, and they must begin breaking down the well-established walls between sexual violence and justice in Sudan.

As it stands now, Sudanese legal structure is more likely to persecute those who report incidents of rape than those who actually committed the atrocities. Further, according to a June 2007 assessment of Sudanese rape law by Refugees International, members of the military, security services, police, or border guards cannot be prosecuted for rape. Since many members of the janjaweed have been integrated into the Sudan Army Forces and PDF, they are granted the same immunity.

The attack on Deribat was not the first instance of massive sexual violence against women in Darfur, and it will likely not be the last. Too often, rape and other forms of gender-based violence are viewed as part of the landscape of war, designated as a footnote in the history books. In Darfur, as in the Democratic Republic of Congo, (or Bosnia and Herzegovina and Rwanda in the 1990s) rape is being used as a tool of war—to degrade and intimidate, and to systematically destroy communities and drive people from their land.

The women of Darfur, like women elsewhere, have a long history of cultural and civic leadership. The abduction of women into sexual slavery, the rape of women as they collect firewood, and the sexual violence targeted at young girls acknowledges this fact and aims to destroy Darfuri women’s ability to lead and rebuild their communities.

As Chief Prosecutor Ocampo speaks before the U.N. Security Council, the international community must bear in mind that rape and sexual violence used as a tool of war is a crime against humanity under the ICC. Beyond Haroun, Kosheib, and their nefarious cronies, there is a clear ringleader of these atrocities. Like the former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic before him, President al-Bashir has command and control responsibility over his forces and must be held to account.

It is our responsibility to ensure that the voices of those terrorized by rape and violence do not go unheard, and that the people responsible for their suffering are brought to justice.

This is not an act of charity for these women – it is self-defense for all of us. Impunity for such crimes encourages similar attacks elsewhere. We did not stand up soon enough against the rape camps in Bosnia and we tried to ignore the genocide in Rwanda and the mass rape that accompanied it. We cannot make the same mistake in Darfur.

Source:
justice_is_an_essential_precondition_for_peace
Posted on Sunday, 12/02/07 - 8:26 pm

www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net/

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Call 1~800~GENOCIDE
and ask your U.S. Representative and Senators
to pass the funding fully for the UN Peacekeepers
for Darfur, December 17, 2007

President Bush's Comment Phone Line
202-456-1111
He needs a push to do something right.