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Genocide in Darfur, Sudan

Summary:
     The emergency in Sudan’s northwestern region of Darfur presents the starkest challenge to the world since the Rwanda genocide in 1994.  Since February 2003, government-backed Arab militias, known as the Janjaweed, have been engaged in a systematic program of expulsion, rape and murderous violence to wipe out entire communities of African tribal farmers.  Villages have been razed, women and girls are systematically raped and branded, men and boys murdered, and food and water supplies specifically targeted and destroyed.  Government air raids have frequently preceded or followed militia attacks.  The Sudanese army and police continue to attack camps in South Darfur and forcibly relocate Internally Displaced persons (IDPs), while violating cease-fire agreements and refusing access to aid agencies.  Over 335,000 people have been killed and over 2.2 million have been internally dispaced or are now refugees in Chad. The U.S. Administration and Congress have termed the crisis in Sudan “genocide;” however, the United Nations refuses to establish such status.  For the first time in its history, the Committee on Conscience of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has declared a “genocide emergency” in  Sudan. 

     Simply put, there is no question that what is happening in Darfur is genocide.  The Jewish community has a special obligation to speak out on this issue, even if we have to speak alone!  In an effort to educate and engage our Jewish community and our state, the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council regularly distributes action alerts and actively partners with the interfaith community to ensure immediate attention to this tragedy.  JCRC is now working on a Resolution that will be heard by the Indiana Senate and House of Representatives calling for action from our Congressional delegation and expressing its outrage at the inaction of the international community. It is imperative to act now, both as individuals and as a community which has experienced genocide in its past.  You can do this by educating yourself and your friends; there is also a Passover Companion which incorporates Darfur into the Seder.  Please, contact us to get a copy of the Passover Companion on Darfur, in addition to information and details about how you can get involved in helping to bring an end to this horrific tragedy.

Background:

·   On December 23, 2004 President Bush signed the Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act   which authorized $300 million for a comprehensive peace agreement in Sudan, as well as humanitarian aid and support to the African Union mission in Darfur.  It directed the President to implement specific sanctions on senior Sudanese officials.  Economic sanctions on Sudan, including a trade embargo and assets freeze on interests controlled by persons in the U.S., have been in place since 1997.  However, the lack of an international arms embargo against the Sudanese government has enabled them to continue amassing weapons. 

·   Sudan reluctantly agreed to accept 3,000 African Union troops to monitor the April 2004 ceasefire and escort aid convoys, but they have no mandate to protect civilians.  Security across the region has deteriorated resulting in the evacuation of hundreds of aid workers from the U.N. and non-governmental humanitarian organizations since November 2004.  The limited security inhibits humanitarian access to refugees; the result will be massive famine.

·   Only about half of those forced out of their homes are receiving aid; others are in camps that are not yet served or are, literally, wandering in the desert.  According to recent estimates, some 300,000 people have died from starvation, disease, and violence since the conflict began.

·   On January 9, 2005 the government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) signed a peace agreement to end 21 years of civil war in the South, but the agreement does not address the conflict in Darfur.  Due to the lack of accountability and incentives, the Sudanese government continues to violate previous ceasefire accords, including those signed on November 8, 2004 which established a no-fly zone over the region and included promises to disarm the Janjaweed and improve humanitarian access to those in need.

·   On January 25, 2005 the U.N. Commission of Inquiry concluded that Sudanese government forces and the Janjaweed “conducted indiscriminate attacks, including killing of civilians, torture, enforced disappearances, destruction of villages, rape and other forms of sexual violence, pillaging and forced displacement, throughout Darfur.” 

·   The peace process is continually frustrated: the Sudanese government wants no international intervention; the UN wants the African Union to supervise the establishment of peace; and the AU is unable to act with any urgency because they have so little experience in peace-keeping.