Cross-posted at MyDD & DailyKos
Many of you may have heard about Bill Richardson’s successful trip to Sudan last month. He pulled a rabbit out of the proverbial hat and got the Sudanese government to agree to a 60 day cease-fire. We celebrated this accomplishment and it really got the place buzzing with talk of a run for the White House for Richardson.
If only that cease-fire had held. The Sudanese government broke the agreement when they attacked a village just 10 days later.
Now it seems, the man recently appointed to head lead the US effort to stop this genocide has unilaterally decided that what’s happening in Darfur is no longer genocide. A recent email from Africa Action tells us that…
At the end of last week, in a presentation at Georgetown University, U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios claimed that the crisis in Darfur no longer constitutes “genocide”.
So much for “not on my watch”. No longer interested in stopping genocide? Hell it’s easy – just call it something else!
In a recent press release on this matter, Africa Action says the following:
Ann-Louise Colgan, Director of Policy Analysis & Communications at Africa Action, said today, “Reports from the United Nations, the African Union, and human rights groups confirm that the Sudanese government continues its attacks on civilians, and has stepped up its support for Janjaweed militias in Darfur. The genocide is ongoing, and this reality must be confronted, not denied, by the Bush Administration. Natsios’ statement represents a further step backward in the U.S. response to this crisis.”
Natsios has just decided that if they no longer give a shit about stopping this genocide, all he has to do is change a few words around and – Viola! – the problem’s solved. No more genocide! Africa Action goes on to describe Natsios’ speech in more detail…
Despite the fact that he spent the majority of his speech giving personal witness to several of the violent acts described in the Genocide Convention, Natsios concluded, “The term genocide is counter to the facts of what is really occurring in Darfur.” This statement contradicts Natsios’ own testimony, numerous statements from the White House and State Department over the past two years, and recent reports coming out of Darfur. As recently as last week, reports from the United Nations, the African Union and human rights groups confirm that the Sudanese government continues its attacks on civilians. Even in the same Georgetown speech where he denies the genocide in Darfur, Natsios said, “The place is littered with mass graves.” After describing how the Sudanese government-sponsored Janjaweed militia has destroyed homes, and confiscated land and animals, Natsios acknowledged, “Without property in Darfur, you will die…You cannot go back to your homes because you have nothing to live off of.”
Africa Action’s put together a great FACT SHEET on just what constitutes genocide. What’s happening in Darfur is a clear act of genocide and we’ve got to speak out now if we’re to head off this change in policy. Bush is clearly more interested in saving his own ass where Iraq’s concerned – we have to make sure he doesn’t walk away from the mass murder that’s taking place in the Sudan. This conflict has already spread in to Chad and we don’t put pressure on the UN to send in those peacekeepers, it’s just going to get worse.
The press release by Africa Action goes on to say:
Nii Akuetteh, Executive Director of Africa Action, said today, “Natsios’ declaration that genocide is no longer occurring in Darfur denies the reality on the ground, and conflicts with numerous statements from the White House and State Department over the past two years. This is more than a semantic change. Natsios’ claim represents a calculated attempt to re-characterize the crisis, undermine its urgency, and obviate the need for new U.S. action to address it.”
The SAVE DARFUR COALITION issued a press release regarding it’s recent letter to Bush, urging him to continue working toward an end to this genocide.
The letter lists 8 steps that must be taken now to end this genocide and is at the bottom of the above linked press release. Those 8 steps are…
Immediate enactment and enforcement of targeted sanctions against the leadership of the regime in Khartoum, including sanctions against the companies used by the leadership to finance the genocide.
Immediate implementation of all sanctions and measures for which you were given legal authority when Congress enacted, and you signed, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, including blocking from U.S. ports those ships that have transported Sudanese oil.
Immediate engagement at the United Nations and with world leaders to enact the strictest targeted worldwide sanctions regime against Sudan’s leadership.
Immediate development and implementation, with our NATO allies, of a no-fly zone covering Sudanese military flights over Darfur. This could be accomplished by immobilizing Sudanese planes known to have taken part in illegal bombing missions.
Immediate and assertive engagement with the United Nations to prepare and deploy a protection force for civilians in eastern Chad and the Central African Republic.
Immediate preparation for the deployment of a credible and effective international force to Darfur to protect vulnerable civilians and ensure conditions for effective humanitarian aid. This should include a request to Congress to pay the U.S.’s full share of UN peacekeeping dues.
Immediate production of a military contingency plan to respond to the potentially cataclysmic collapse of security and humanitarian aid networks in Darfur
Immediate commencement of the building of camps and barracks for phase II of the AU-UN hybrid force, for which $50 million has been included by Congress within the soon-to-be-passed FY07 Continuing Resolution.
Personally, I would have left the “honorable” out of the letter addressed to Shrub but hey – that’s just me.
These are all achievable goals. We may not be able to do this alone – we’ll need the help of other nations. Africa Action maps out how in it’s recent paper on leveraging new international action on Darfur.
So here’s the thing… this is an action diary you guys. I want you all to go to Africa Action’s page HERE and send an email to the White House and to Natsios. Let them know this is unacceptable and that we expect action on their part to stop this genocide. The slaughter of innocents cannot be tolerated any longer. Four years, and 400,000 to 600,000 dead men, women & children is more than enough.
Then get on the phone to the WH at 202-456-1111 and tell them to make this a priority.
THEN call your CongressCritters (toll free!) at 1-800-828-0498 and ask them to do whatever it takes to get those UN Peacekeepers on the ground – protecting the civilians who have long ago run out of options, food, clean water, housing…
It’s the least you can do. Send the email – make the calls. Don’t you DARE tell me you don’t have the few minutes time it’ll take to help.
