HOTEL RWANDA, HOTEL DARFUR: Ending Violence and Death in Sudan: HOTEL RWANDA, HOTEL DARFUR: Ending Violence and Death in Sudan ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH
NEW YORK, NY
APRIL 26, 2005
Slide3: * El Geniena LRA Zaghawa/
Janjaweed Beja
Overview of Sudan and Darfur: Overview of Sudan and Darfur Geography: 2.376 million sq. km. – 25% the size of United States
Darfur: Size of France – 3 States: North, South, West
Population: over 38 million; 6 million in Darfur
Life Expectancy: 58 years
Religions: 70% Sunni Muslim; 22% Indigenous Traditional; 8% Christian
Ethnic Groups: 62% Black African; 29% Arab; 6% Bejan; 2% Foreigners
Economy: 80% of Sudanese work in Agriculture; oil production equals 250,000 barrels/day; $2 billion in oil revenue per year
Major Oil Players: China, Malaysia, India, Russia, other minor players
Gum Arabic: Coke; other companies
Prospects for Peace between North – South : Prospects for Peace between North – South More than 21 years of civil war – southern Sudan completely devastated
Over 2 million people died
Over 4 million people were forcibly displaced within Sudan or fled to neighboring countries (refugees)
Multiple factions in south, Government-backed militias
Naivasha Comprehensive Peace Accords: 4 Protocols dealing with:
Peace/Security
Autonomous (regional) governance and National Assembly/Government representation
Revenue sharing from oil proceeds
Right to Self-Determination after interim period of 6 years
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5. Special arrangement for 3 Contested Areas: Abeyei, Nuba Mountains, Southern Blue Nile
6. Shari’a Law Code and Status of Khartoum
United Nations Peace-observing Mission to North/South: 10,715 strong, with mandate to monitor ceasefire violations and protect their own staff (UNSC#1590)
CRISIS IN DARFUR: CRISIS IN DARFUR February 2003 – Black African farmers conduct an attacks on police and military headquarters in El Fashir.
Government in Khartoum conducts air and ground strikes against villages throughout Darfur’s three provinces.
Government forces incapable of stopping the two rebel movements: Sudan Liberation Army (SLM) – Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)
Government arms Arab militias and employs them against rebels and civilian populations [Janjaweed, Popular Defense Forces –PDF, other armed groups].
CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLENCE: CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLENCE More than 300,000 people have died in Darfur as result of fighting, displacement, disease and hunger (British Parliament Report – 300,000; E. Reeves – 400,000+)
140,000 deaths through violence (Hagan, NU)
300-500 deaths per day
**Secretary Rice/State Department: downplaying numbers and emergency!
More than 2.4 million Internally Displaced.
2.7 - 3 million in need of food assistance in 2005.
200,000 Refugees in Chad.
“We’re getting nowhere with respect to Darfur. We’ve tried everything. We’ve tried the carrot approach, we’ve tried the stick approach and we’re getting nowhere…” (Amb. Danforth, December 7, 2004)
Slide10: REBEL MOVEMENTS IN DARFUR SUDAN LIBERATION ARMY/MOVEMENT (SLM/A)
Comprised of Fur, Zaghawa, Masaleit and other tribes
Agenda: Regional development, protection of citizens,
participation in Sudanese political life and share in oil proceeds JUSTICE AND EQUALITY MOVEMENT (JEM)
Comprised of Zaghawa Fur, and other tribes
Agenda: Concerns larger than Darfur; suspected of collaborating withTurabi’s political group in Khartoum
NATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR REFORM AND DEVELOPMENT (NMRD) [Secular/Local]
Splinter group of JEM
Zaghawa tribe – probable support from forces inside Chad
Attacking Arab villages only (support from either Chad or GOS)
AL SHAHAMAH MOVEMENT (ASM)
Western Kordofan regional movement
Political agenda: not clear
UNITED STATES’ ROLE IN SUDAN: UNITED STATES’ ROLE IN SUDAN
Key Role in Promoting Naivasha Peace Negotiations and in securing Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed on January 9, 2005 in Nairobi.
Providing 50% of food/non-food aid.
State Department: $40 million for AU (logistics, transport, technical support)
FY2005 Appropriations:
$200 million for Darfur, Chad
$75 million for African Union
$111 million for Sudan, contingent on the signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement
“Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act 2004”
FY2005 Emergency Supplemental:
Additional $90.5 million for
AU mission - $50 million
Emergency Assistance (food aid/non-food aid) - $40.5 million
Passed by Congress May 10, 2005
DARFUR ACCOUNTABILITY ACT EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENT - RESOLUTION: DARFUR ACCOUNTABILITY ACT EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENT - RESOLUTION End the violence in Darfur
Hold accountable those who have committed acts of genocide, crimes against humanity and international law, war crimes.
Coordinate and increase U.S. diplomatic efforts to achieve effective implementation of UNSC Resolutions and implement Targeted Sanctions.
Accelerated Assistance to AU
Presidential Envoy for Darfur
Extend current UN Arms Embargo to cover Government in Khartoum
Military No-Fly Zone
Asset Freeze/Travel Bans – those responsible for Genocide/War Crimes
UN ICI list of ’51’
AFRICAN UNION: AFRICAN UNION Mission: Monitor Ceasefire Agreements
Strength: 2,000+ (Observers and Protection Forces (of monitors)
3,320 Promised by AU for Darfur
Logistical problems
Lack of Qualified Soldiers
Lack of Political Will on part of Khartoum
8,000-10,000 (Pronk/Egeland)
45-50,000 (Dallaire)
AU/UN: Troops to be increased to over 7, 000 – Annan calls for 12, 000
‘Modified’ Chapter VI mandate:
Right to actively protect civilians
Right to intervene and prevent violence, disarm aggressors
Increasing likelihood that AU will work closely with UNMIS – sharing of assets.
UNITED NATIONS AND SUDAN: UNITED NATIONS AND SUDAN Problems of Consensus within UN Security Council (UNSC)
Economic and Political concerns of UN Security Council Members:
China: 25% of domestic oil from Africa; major investments in Sudan
Russia: major supplier of arms to Sudan
Pakistan, Algeria: concerns about Arab League and ‘united front’
France: not played helpful role in UNSC (long history with Chad) UNSC Resolution 1564, par. 14:
“shall consider taking additional measures as contemplated in Article 41 (Chapter VII) of the Charter of the UN, such as sanctions to affect Sudan’s petroleum sector and the GOS or individual members of the GOS, in order to take effecting action to obtain full compliance or full cooperation.” (Sept. 18, 2004)
International Commission of Inquiry January 25, 2005 Report: International Commission of Inquiry January 25, 2005 Report Mandate of ICI: (UNSC Resol. 1564 – Sept. 18, 2004)
Investigate Reports of Violations of International Humanitarian Law/HR Law in Darfur;
Determine whether acts of Genocide have occurred;
Identify Perpetrators of Violations
Suggest Means to ensure those responsible will be held accountable
UN Referral to ICC passed UNSC on March 31, 2005
Findings of ICI: (176 page report)
Government of Sudan and the Janjaweed (armed Arab militias) are responsible for violations of International Human Rights/Humanitarian Law amounting to International Crimes (killing of civilians, torture, kidnapping, destruction of villages, rape and other forms of sexual violence, pillaging, forced displacement)
Government of Sudan has not pursued a policy of Genocide – but the ICI report also states that “international offences such as the crimes against humanity and war crimes that have been committed in Darfur may be no less serious and heinous than genocide.” (Jan. 25, 2005, p. 4, section III)
International Commission of Inquiry (2) January 25, 2005 Report: International Commission of Inquiry (2) January 25, 2005 Report ICI Findings (cont’d.):
Identification of Perpetrators: List includes –
Officials of the Government of Sudan
Members of Militia Forces
Members of Rebel Groups
Certain Foreign Army Officers
Second Category of ‘Perpetrators’:
Senior Government Officials
Military Commanders
Member of Rebel Groups suspected of participating in joint criminal activities to commit international crimes
UN SANCTIONS – March 29, 2005 Resolution # 1591: UN SANCTIONS – March 29, 2005 Resolution # 1591 Travel Ban: no travel to countries who are members of UN
Assets Freeze (funds, financial assets, economic resources; bank holdings, other assets)
30 day delay: all parties must comply with all previous commitments (ceasefire agreements, previous UN Sec. Council Resolutions)
Condemns the Government in Khartoum for its continued attacks (air, ground), further support of Janjaweed armed militia groups, failure to arrest and bring to justice those Janjaweed, their associates, and others who are responsible for crimes against international law and crimes against humanity
Create a Committee of the Sec. Council (all members of the Council) to monitor implementation of measures, report every 90 days on progress achieved, create Panel of Experts
GOS must cease all offensive military flights in/over Darfur region.
POLICY PRIORITIES/OPTIONS: POLICY PRIORITIES/OPTIONS US Special Envoy – President should name High Level Person as Special Envoy:
With well-developed and fully supported mandate
Maintain sustained, coordinated US engagement:
North-South Implementation of Peace Agreement
Darfur Political Solution
Opposition Groups in North – regular dialogue
Northern Uganda (LRA)
Maintain close contacts with IGAD, European Partners
*Pressure UN Security Council members (esp. China, Russia, France)
Western Darfur: IDP Camp
WHAT YOU AND I CAN DO: WHAT YOU AND I CAN DO Write President Bush and ask that:
Sudan be at top of US international agenda
A Special Envoy be named for *Darfur (with full support of Administration, relevant government departments)
Express concern that US not downplay number of victims and seriousness of crisis in exchange for GOS cooperation on Terrorism
B. Further diplomatic pressure be put on Khartoum to end its
attacks against innocent civilians (both government and
militias)
C. Greater support be given to the African Union in Darfur
including the possibility of an international peacekeeping force
(e.g. UNMIS, NATO) to join with African Union
D. LEGACY of President Bush – can he/we live with the same
burden as after Rwanda?
Write Members of Congress and ask that:
A. Support President’s budget for Sudan in 2006, the
Supplemental for Sudan; Darfur Accountability Act
B. End to Impunity – support for Referral to ICC Prosecutor
C. Express support for the naming of a Special Envoy to Darfur
Catholic Bishops of Sudan February 26, 2005: Catholic Bishops of Sudan February 26, 2005 In Darfur the continued military action makes us mindful of the suffering of the thousands of innocent civilians. We call upon the Government of Sudan to do all in its power to bring the conflict to a speedy end.
We further call upon the Government of Sudan and local authorities to prevent armed militias and nomads in other parts of the country from causing further upheaval to the people and destruction of their homes and livelihoods, thus contributing to the humanitarian crisis.
Slide21: Loving God, rewarder of the humble,
you blessed St. Josephine Bakhita
with charity and patience.
May her prayers help us,
and her example inspire us
to carry our cross and to love you always.
Pour upon us the spirit of wisdom and love
with which you filled St. Josephine Bakhita.
By serving you as she did,
may we please you by our faith
and our actions.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
St. Bakhita Josephine
Born in Darfur
USCCB Resources on Sudan: USCCB Resources on Sudan Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, A Milestone for Peace in Southern Sudan, A Call for Peace in Darfur (1/13/2005)
Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, Cry of the People of Darfur (11/17/2004)
Sudan Update (2/2005)
Sudan Update (4/2005)
Websites: www.usccb.org/sdwp/international; www.catholicrelief.org