Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Daily Update: Refugees forced from camp

Brede Eschilman

On the ground: UN officials have confirmed that hundreds of refugees were forcibly removed from the Otash camp, outside of Nyala, on Sunday.  Some refugees were forced into vehicles and many others fled.  Those who fled have not yet been found.

Diplomatically:  British lawmakers sent a letter to the Chinese Embassy in London Monday pressuring China to act in Darfur by supporting a peacekeeping force and halting the sale of weapons to Sudan.  Chinese officials responded by expressing their disapproval of the letter’s linking the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the genocide in Darfur.
President Bush, while meeting with the visiting Ugandan president yesterday, discussed his request to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for the timely deployment of the UNAMID peacekeeping force. 

Public response:  Amr Mussa, Arab League chief, has announced that an Arab conference on Darfur held in Khartoum has pledged 250 million dollars to go towards humanitarian relief in Darfur.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Talks stall as rebel leaders boycott Sirte

Simon Warren

In diplomacy- Peace talks in Sirte, Libya have been stalled by the organizers as the two largest rebel leaders have boycotted the talks. The leaders of the two largest factions, the Justice and Equality Movement, and part of the Sudan Liberation Movement, have refused to participate in the negotiations until they are guaranteed that the UN will have some way of enforcing the resolutions of the talks. They have also refused to participate because they will be forced to sit with the leaders of smaller factions, who the JEM and SLM leaders feel are to close to the Sudanese government. JEM founder and leader Khalil Ibrahim says that the smaller groups were created by the Sudanese government to dilute the validity of the larger ones, and called for a cancellation of the meetings so that the larger groups can be accounted for. Both leaders doubt the honesty of any statement signed by Khartoum, and also believe that Libya is the wrong country to host such an event.
None the less, AU special envoy Salim Ahmed Salim says the talks are positive, and will continue. Salim went on to say that “the conference should be seen as a process and not an event”.

As for the upcoming AU-UN deployment, Ireland will be sending roughly 350 troops as part of a 3,000 soldier strong force sent by the EU to defend the Chad-Sudan border.

On the ground- Rebels say that Sudanese government forces attacked a an area on the Sudan-Chad border on Monday, breaking the ceasefire declared on Sunday. While the Sudanese government denies these reports, SLM and JEM officials both say that the area was bombed and attacked. The AU has not confirmed this report.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Daily Update: Sudan Announces Ceasefire at Talks

Christina Hueschen

In Diplomacy - Sudan announced a unilateral ceasefire in Darfur today to coincide with peace talks in Libya.  The talks did open today despite the absence of two of the main rebel groups, the SLA-Unity and the Justice and Equality Movement, who decided to boycott after the UN and the AU invited other, smaller rebel groups whom the SLA and JEM claim have “little support” (from BBC News).

The Chadian government and four rebel groups signed a peace agreement Thursday that calls for an immediate ceasefire, a release of political prisoners, and an integration of rebel figures into Chadian government structures.  But despite the peace accord, Chad’s parliament voted yesterday to extend the state of emergency in its eastern regions for another 45 days.  This measure gives local governors 24-hour search and arrest powers and the authority to restrict media coverage, meetings, and the movement of people and vehicles (from Reuters).

On the Ground – The southern Sudan People’s Liberation Movement is downplaying the importance of a skirmish between Sudanese government soldiers and members of the SPLM’s military wing, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army.  The forces clashed on Thursday in the Sudanese state of Bahr el-Ghazal, but the SPLM says it was a minor incident and the focus should remain on its political crisis with Khartoum (from VOA).

As reported by Uganda’s “Monitor,” two Rwanda Defence Forces peacekeepers in Darfur have died in a fatal accident, just as Rwanda begins airlifting an additional 800 soldiers into the region to serve under the new AU-UN peacekeeping force.

Within the Activist Movement – On Thursday, the EU awarded the Sakharov Prize, their top human rights award, to Sudanese lawyer Salih Mahmoud Osman for his work in Darfur.  For decades, Osman has provided free legal help to victims of human-rights abuses in his country.  He has also catalogued crimes in Darfur at enormous personal cost – he was imprisoned for seven months in 2004, and members of his family have been driven from their homes, tortured, and even killed by militias (from the AP).

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Daily Update: Oil Workers Kidnapped

Brede Eschilman

On the ground Rebel forces kidnapped foreigners, one Canadian and one Iraqi, who worked on Sudan’s Defra Oil Field for a Chinese-led consortium, according to BBC.  Those who kidnapped the workers are asking China to stop supporting the Sudanese government.  Rebel groups have not all agreed to attend the peace talks in Libya scheduled for this weekend.

Diplomatically AP has reported that Jimmy Carter, former U.S. president, discussed Darfur in the context of global health with Ban Ki-Moon.  They discussed the need for UN support of a global health care system and Carter’s recent trip to Darfur with other public figures, including Desmond Tutu.  The group, known as “The Elders”, is attempting to find ways to promote world peace.

Condoleeza Rica has expressed concern over the viability of the peace process in Sudan, according to Reuters Africa.  She particularly emphasized the need for the upholding of the CPA, or Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which in 2005 ended the civil war between northern and southern Sudan.

The U.S. is considering imposing further sanctions on Sudan if Khartoum continues to slow the peace process, according to Reuters Africa.  Khartoum has hindered the peace process by refusing to accept the 26,000 UNAMID force due to the proposed composition of the forces, with 75% African overall and 90% ground troops African.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Daily Update: China’s Darfur envoy arrives in Sudan

Simon Warren

On the Ground: According to the Rwanda News Agency, the 786th US Air Expeditionary Squadron will continue to transport Rwandan troops and equipment into the Darfur. The 786th AES has been transporting Rwandan troops as part of the AU ground force for over 3 years. The AU today said that nations are still needed to provide logistical support, particularly air support, for the upcoming hybrid UN-AU force.

In Diplomacy: China’s special envoy on Darfur, Liu Guijin, arrived in Khartoum yesterday for his third visit to Sudan since his appointment in May. He will meet with officials in Khartoum to discuss issues concerning Darfur, and then will fly to the Libyan city of Sirte to attend peace talks between the Sudanese government and rebel groups. China, as Sudan’s greatest ally, is considered crucial to the peace process.

The BBC reports that at least five rebel groups will not attend the talks, saying that they have not been given enough time. In an interview with the Assosciated Press, UN undersecretary-general of humanitarian affairs, John Holmes, seconded this difficulty, but also says that he hopes once the talks have begun, other rebel groups will join in, as the talks are not a one-time only offer. Sudan has declared that once peace talks begin on the 27th, they will observe a cease-fire.

In an audio tape released recently, Osama bin Laden has called for a fresh jihad against the 26,000 member hybrid AU-UN force. He declared the UN and AU’s actions invasive, and called on Muslims in Sudan and the Arab peninsula to attack the force. UN officials do not fear attack, as many of the countries contributing to the force are Muslim themselves, although some foreign terror cells may be planning some sort of hostility.

In the activist movement: The Chicago Bulls’ player Luol Deng spoke at a 200 person strong rally in Chicago. Deng is himself from Sudan and fled the country with his family when he was 5.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Daily Update: Hamidiya: Another Refugee Camp Attacked

Christina Hueschen

On the ground - According to Reliefweb, Sudanese government forces tried twice to enter Hamidiya refugee camp in western Darfur on Saturday, and 3 Sudanese government soldiers were killed as they launched one of the attacks.  A UN spokeswoman said today that troops moved into the camp after reports that residents had killed a government intelligence officer. Some IDPs (internally displaced persons) have reportedly left the camp, fearing another attack.

In diplomacy - Khartoum called on the southern Sudan People’s Liberation Movement yesterday to rejoin Sudan’s unity government “to save the CPA” (Comprehensive Peace Accord, signed in 2005).  The SPLM rejected the appeal from Vice President Ali Osman Taha, flatly refusing to return to the government until their demands have been met.  Talks between President al-Bashir and SPLM leader Kiir failed to reach any agreement last week but will resume Wednesday (from AFP).

The UN is urgently lobbying countries to provide helicopters for the 26,000-strong UN-AU joint peacekeeping force, scheduled to deploy Jan. 1.  The UN has not yet received a credible offer to provide the 24 transport and attack helicopters necessary for the force - one of many obstacles to launching the mission by the Jan. 1 date (from Reuters).

Within the activist movement - According to BBC News, thousands attended Sunday’s Darfur charity concert at Wembley Arena, London.  The event, which was organized by Islamic Relief, featured some of the biggest pop stars of the Muslim world, including Sami Yusuf - called the “Islamic Bono.”

Also, be sure to check out Darfur activist and scholar Eric Reeves’s latest full-length analysis, “Darfur Adrift: A Skeptical Assessment of Resolution 1769” on his website.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Daily Update: Attack in Muhagiriya

Brede Eschilman

On the ground:
There is news from Darfur Daily News that there was an attack on Muhagiriya, a town previously held by rebels.  According to the report, more than 30 people were killed, some while praying in a mosque.

According to Voice of America , the AU has confirmed the attack on the Kalma refugee camp in Southern Sudan.  The source of the attacks remains unknown, though VOA suggests it is the result of rebel groups in disagreement about the peace process.

International response:

Warren Buffet has sold the last of his PetroChina shares, though he claims it is not due to the company’s connection with Sudan.  Activist groups have encouraged divestment from companies such as PetroChina that support the Sudanese government financially.

There will be a charity concert, a Muslim version of Live 8, in London to raise awareness and money for Darfur.  Gordon Brown, the prime minister, has congratulated both the organizers of the concert and religious leaders working to end the genocide.

Three Nobel Prize winners have added their names to the list of international figures asking UBS to pull out of PetroChina.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Daily Update: Militia attacks Kalma camp

Simon Warren

On the Ground
According to Reuters Africa report, government-backed militias have attacked the Kalma refugee camp outside the capital of South Darfur. Witnesses say that six people were killed and fourteen injured today. In addition, some fifty shacks were burnt down. The UN has confirmed reports of shooting in the camps, but has not said who is responsible. The camp is home to roughly 90,000 people, and has been raided often in the past. Some reports said that the most recent raids have been happening off and on for the past month. Sudanese officials have made no comment, but were reportedly looking for six people they meant to arrest.

Three drivers for the World Food Programme have been killed in the past four days. Last Friday, one was shot on his way from southern Darfur to the north, and two more were shot and killed on Tuesday. Elsewhere in Africa, the top official of the WFP in Somalia was arrested by the government of that country. (From ABC News)

In diplomacy- Talks between the southern Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and the Sudanese government finished without resolution this week, however, may open again next week. The SPLM had demanded a reshuffle of its cabinet ministers, and this was allowed by the government in Khartoum. SPLM chairman Salva Kiir will talk with Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki in Khartoum tommorrow and then go to Jonglei for a peace conference.

On Wednesday a US Senate panel passed a bill that would give greater protection to individuals and companies that remove investments from Sudan. The bill wll now go to the Senate floor.

Similarly, Warren Buffet sold his last remaining shares in PetroChina, a state-owned oil company, which is the single largest shareholder in Sudan’s oil industry. While Buffet says that his decision was based solely on the increase of PetroChina stock’s value, the withdrawal of the company’s largest foreign stockholder comes a blow to the company.

In the activist movement-- The Save Darfur Coalition has sent a letter to Chinese president Hu Jintao, demanding that China stop arming the Sudanese government and militias. The letter came at a time when China is under increasing international scrutiny, as it will be hosting the Olypmics this summer and has pledged to uphold human rights.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Daily Update: UN and AU Investigate Muhariya Massacre

Christina Hueschen

On the ground - According to the New York Times, AU and UN officials are looking into reports of Oct. 8’s massacre in Muhariya, a small town in Southern Darfur.  Witnesses say Sudanese government troops and their allies killed more than 30 civilians, but the government has denied any involvement.  The AU is also investigating the Oct. 6 attack on the town of Haskanita, nearly all of which was burned to the ground.

The government of Chad issued a 12 day state of emergency yesterday in 3 regions of the north and east of the country.  According to a senior government official, “This measure will limit population movement and above all it will enable the security forces to search and disarm the population of these regions” (from AFP).

In diplomacy - The southern Sudan People’s Liberation Movement demanded a cabinet reshuffle at a meeting held yesterday between Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir and 3 high ranking officials of the SPLM.  The meeting was described as “cordial” by one of the officials.  Talks between al-Bashir and SPLM leader Salva Kiir are expected to take place today, 6 days after the SPLM defiantly pulled out of Sudan’s national unity government (from BBC News).

According to the International Herald Tribune, French and Irish forces are in Africa conducting reconaissance for planned EU peacekeeping troops that would help refugees along Darfur’s borders.

Within the activist movement - In a special screening tomorrow night, NYC’s Paley Center will show Theodore Braun’s new film Darfur Now, which focuses on the efforts of 6 Darfur activists.  Don Cheadle, who appears as himself in the documentary, will attend.  Darfur Now will be released Nov. 2 (from Newsday).

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Successful Rally at the United Nations

Ben Eidelson

On 9/16/07, we held our first major in-person event—a rally opposite the United Nations headquarters, where we screened video appeals we’ve collected over the past several months.  The rally was a huge success, with hundreds of people attending to demonstrate their commitment to the cause, watch video messages from around the world, and listen to moving speakers—including Darfuris living in the United States and Eugenie Mukeshimana, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide.

We’ll have video of the event, and more photographs, to post soon.  Meanwhile, you can watch the video montages we played at the rally by clicking the thumbnails below.  And if you were there in person, post a comment and share your impressions!

On September 16, 2007, we held a rally opposite the UN headquarters to call for action to bring peace and security to Darfur.  In addition to screening individual video messages, we showed six video montages highlighting themes that have recurred again and again in your video submissions.  Take a look.