Arrest Warrant for Defense Minister is Good. But...

President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 2, 2011


RIGHTS GROUP CALLS NEW ICC ARREST WARRANT FOR SUDAN GOVT LEADER MODEST BUT INSUFFICENT STEP Seeks U.S. Leadership for True Justice in Sudan

(Washington, DC) – United to End Genocide President Tom Andrews released the following statement today in response to the International Criminal Court’s request for an arrest warrant for Sudanese Defense Minister General Abdulrahim Mohamed Hussein, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur: “The ICC’s action is a modest but insufficient step toward holding perpetrators accountable for heinous crimes they have committed against the people of Darfur.

The fact remains that the worst perpetrators that are wanted by the ICC continue to commit these crimes with impunity and travel freely around the world.

Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir and his cronies continue to commit atrocities that have displaced more than 500,000 people from Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Abyei this year, and these attacks show no signs of slowing despite the ICC warrants against them. “Because of failure of the UN Security Council to act, only crimes committed in Darfur are allowed to be pursued by the ICC, leaving the mounting atrocities in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Abyei beyond the reach of ICC prosecutors.

“The people of Sudan deserve the true justice that will only come when the Obama administration and international community stand up to Bashir’s murderous regime.

The Obama Administration must immediately impose strong sanctions on Bashir and other leaders responsible for attacks against civilians – not just in Darfur but everywhere atrocities are being committed.

The administration must also play a leadership role to forge UN Security Council action including sanctions, the deployment of a civilian protection force, an arms embargo for all of Sudan and an ICC investigation into the atrocities still being committed in South Kordofan and Blue Nile that will make it possible for all perpetrators to be brought to justice.”

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The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network are now United to End Genocide. The organization remains committed to its work to end the crisis in Darfur and bring peace to all of Sudan as well as to end violence in other areas of mass atrocities. The merger creates the world’s largest anti-genocide activist organization, with a membership base of hundreds of thousands of committed activists, an unparalleled nationwide student movement, more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights partner organizations, and a network of institutional investors collectively representing more than $3 trillion in assets under management.

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Latest News from Darfur

Darfur - George Galloway by inet

21 Nov 2011 06:35 Africa/Lagos


Darfur / UNAMID Media Brief

EL FASHER (DARFUR), November 21, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- UNAMID Media Brief / 20 November 2011


UNAMID supports sports competition in North Darfur

In its continued efforts to engage the local community, UNAMID presented today sports equipment to five secondary schools from Abu Shouk, Al Salaam and Zamzam internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in North Darfur, which will participate in the Back to School Tournament. The kits included balls, nets, footwear and clothes for female and male volleyball and football teams.


UNAMID Director of Communications and Public Information Kemal Saiki said that “UNAMID has been very active working for the community, essentially for the youth. We are keen to see the youth engage in activities that promote competition in a peaceful way”.


On behalf of the Principals of the schools and the Umdas (community leaders) from the three camps, Ibrahim Alkheed Shekhadeen, Camp Manager for Abu Shouk and Al Salaam camps, stated that this donation will strengthen relations between the IDP community and the Mission. “We will continue to work with all youth in the camps, by uniting we build peace,” he said.


The tournament which begins on 21 November will run for three weeks between the secondary schools in Abu Shouk, Al Salaam and Zamzam IDP camps.



UNAMID patrols

UNAMID military conducted 139 patrols including routine, short-range, long-range, night and humanitarian escort patrols covering 78 villages and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. UNAMID Police advisors conducted 101 patrols in villages and IDP camps.


Source: United Nations - African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)


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The Obama Administration Must Change Policy on Sudan Now

Act of War by Sudan Requires Change Of Course For Obama Administration’s Sudan Policy

Action Not Words is Needed Now

(Washington, DC) – United to End Genocide President Tom Andrews released the following statement today condemning Omar al-Bashir’s attacks on civilians in South Sudan and calling on the United States to hold Bashir and other perpetrators responsible for their crimes:


“Omar al-Bashir has driven hundreds of thousands of people from their homes in the last six months, and now he is attacking these same men, women and children in the South Sudan villages where they have sought refuge. These attacks are not only an escalation of Bashir’s brutality against civilians, they are an act of war against a sovereign nation whose independence the United States hailed and celebrated only four months ago. What more evidence does Secretary Clinton and the Obama administration need that its Sudan policy has failed and needs to be fundamentally changed? The United States needs to be demanding accountability not offering more accommodation in light of these latest atrocities. Words are simply not enough.


“The Bashir regime’s actions – terrorizing and killing civilians, bombing refugee areas and signaling its willingness to go to war with South Sudan – must be met with action by the Obama Administration, not its current tepid policy of holding out normalization as a reward for Sudan’s good behavior.


“The Obama Administration must immediately impose strong sanctions on Bashir and other leaders responsible for attacks against civilians, and play a leadership role to forge UN Security Council action including sanctions, the deployment of a civilian protection force, an arms embargo for all of Sudan and an investigation into the atrocities still being committed in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.”


Background:

On Tuesday, the Sudanese military bombed the town of Gaffa in South Sudan where approximately 400 civilians from Blue Nile had taken refuge. Two days later, Bashir’s forces bombed Yida, a refugee camp in South Sudan where over 15,000 civilians from South Kordofan and Blue Nile have fled. Today, according to the South Sudan army, Bashir’s forces attacked a military base in the South killing at least 18 and wounding another 73. This week’s attacks are the first military assaults on South Sudan since its independence and represent a serious breach of international law and could lead to a renewal of conflict. Since the beginning of the year, Bashir’s regime have forced over half a million civilians to flee their homes in Darfur, South Kordofan, Abyei and Blue Nile.



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The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network are now United to End Genocide. The organization remains committed to its work to end the crisis in Darfur and bring peace to all of Sudan as well as to end violence in other areas of mass atrocities. The merger creates the world’s largest anti-genocide activist organization, with a membership base of hundreds of thousands of committed activists, an unparalleled nationwide student movement, more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights partner organizations, and a network of institutional investors collectively representing more than $3 trillion in assets under management.

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Human Rights Leader Faults Obama Administration for Failure In Sudan

Human Rights Leader Faults Obama Administration for Failure In Sudan – Could Cost Thousands Of Lives

Rejects Current “Normalization” Approach for Tough Sanctions against Indicted War Criminal

(Washington, DC) – United to End Genocide President Tom Andrews today urged policymakers to mandate increased U.S. sanctions and other actions to help halt escalating ethnic-based attacks on civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile by forces backed by Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir. Andrews testified at a House of Representatives’ Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing, “Sudan: The Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis in South Kordofan and Continuing Human Rights Violations in Darfur.”



Omar al-Bashir


“Omar al-Bashir is repeating the targeted ethnic attacks of Darfur in South Kordofan and Blue Nile where his forces have already killed thousands and left hundreds of thousands displaced with little food and no access to humanitarian aid,” stated Andrews. “Unfortunately, the Obama Administration, by failing to demand accountability and leaving the option open for normalized relations with Sudan, is allowing Omar al-Bashir to get away with murder.”

In his testimony, Andrews called on the Obama Administration to:

• Expand current sanctions on Bashir and other individuals responsible for atrocities throughout Sudan, as current sanctions are specific to Darfur alone;

• Make saving live in Sudan a high priority in dealings with China and other nations that can exert leverage on Bashir and his regime; and

• Expend political capital necessary to pass a United Nations Security Council resolution that would expand individual sanctions for perpetrators, expand the existing arms embargo on Darfur to incorporate all of Sudan, expand the mandate of the International Criminal Court to cover the entire country, and authorize an international civilian protection force with the mandate and capacity to accomplish its mission.

Andrews thanked the Lantos Human Rights Commission for helping to raise the alarm about ongoing atrocities in Sudan. “The American people need to know the truth about Omar al-Bashir and the atrocities he continues to commit, and this hearing is an important step,” stated Andrews. “I urge your leadership in considering legislation that would mandate increased U.S. sanctions and other actions to hold Omar al-Bashir accountable for his heinous actions and protect the millions of men, women and children in South Kordofan and Blue Nile whose lives are at risk right now.”
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The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network are now United to End Genocide. The organization remains committed to its work to end the crisis in Darfur and bring peace to all of Sudan as well as to end violence in other areas of mass atrocities. The merger creates the world’s largest anti-genocide organization, with a membership base of hundreds of thousands of committed activists globally, an unparalleled nationwide student movement, more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights partner organizations, and a network of institutional investors collectively representing more than $2 trillion in assets under management.


CONTACT:
Ann Brown, abrown@annbrowncommunications.com, 301-633-4193

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GI-NET/SDC Welcomes Presidential Directive on Mass Atrocities

GI-NET/SDC Welcomes Presidential Directive on Mass Atrocities

(Washington, DC) – Tom Andrews, President of Genocide Intervention Network/Save Darfur Coalition issued the following statement welcoming today’s release of the Presidential Directive on Mass Atrocities:

“President Obama is exactly right – preventing mass atrocities is very much a core moral responsibility of our nation while also being in our national interest. We welcome the release of the Presidential Directive on Mass Atrocities and steps outlined by the administration to strengthen our nation’s capacity to prevent mass atrocities and genocide. These include ensuring that vital early-warning information about a possible mass atrocity or genocide is able to get from the ground to the highest levels of government decision making.”

“Strong action to stop mass atrocities is needed now more than ever. President Bashir of Sudan, wanted for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, is now attacking the people of Sudan’s South Kordofan region. Swift action by the United States and its allies is literally a matter of life and death for civilians who are being attacked because of their identity. In Syria, more and more lives are being lost at the hands of government forces. It is imperative that the United States act expeditiously to build and leverage a whole of government response to the world’s worst crimes. Presidential leadership, interagency coordination and high-level prioritization are welcome steps forward.”
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The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network merged to create a more powerful voice dedicated to preventing and stopping large-scale, deliberate atrocities against civilians. The organization remains committed to its work to end the crisis in Darfur and bring peace to all of Sudan as well as to end violence in other areas of mass atrocities such as Congo and Burma. The merger creates the world’s largest anti-genocide organization, with a membership base of hundreds of thousands of committed activists globally, an unparalleled nationwide student movement, more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights partner organizations, and a network of institutional investors collectively representing more than $2 trillion in assets under management.


CONTACT:
Ann Brown, abrown@annbrowncommunications.com, 301-633-4193

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Another woman journalist jailed for reporting rape allegations in Sudan

Sudan Tribune Sudanese female journalist in a protest against censorship (FILE)

25 Jul 2011 16:01 Africa/Lagos

Sudan / Another woman journalist jailed for reporting rape allegations

PARIS, July 25, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Amal Habani, a woman reporter for the daily Al-Jarida, was today sentenced to a fine of 2,000 pounds (600 euros) or a month in jail for reporting a woman activist's claims that she was raped by members of the security forces. As Habani refused to pay the fine, she was immediately taken to Omdurman women's prison, northwest of the capital, to begin serving the jail sentence.


Photograph of women protesting against rape in war torn Sudan.Credit: Rights Monitoring Organization.

Habani was convicted by Judge Modather Al-Rasheed of the Khartoum media court, who fined her editor, Saadeldin Ibrahim, 5,000 pounds (1,500 euros). Agence France-Presse quoted her lawyer as saying they were found guilty of publishing false information and violating journalistic ethics.


She is the second woman journalist working for Al-Jarida to be tried in the past three weeks for reporting human rights activist Safia Ishag's rape allegations. Fatima Ghazali was convicted on 5 July and was taken to Omdurman prison the same day. She was released two days later after paying her fine.


Seven other journalists and media contributors are due to be tried or are still the subject of judicial investigations for the same reason. They are Faisal Mohamed Salih, Babikir Omer Al-Garrai, Abdalla Al-Shaik, Mohamed Latif, Faiz Al-Selaik, Mohamed Osman and Dr. Nahid Al-Hassan.


More information: http://en.rsf.org/sudan-ten-journalists-hounded-and-18-06-2011,40485.html


Source: Reporters without Borders (RSF)


26 Jul 2011 07:40 Africa/Lagos


Regional Conference On Migration In Africa Promotes Circular Labour Migration

GENEVA, July 26, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Migration experts are meeting this week in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, to discuss how Africa and the European Union can benefit from organized labour migration.


The conference which opened yesterday, 25 July, 2011, has been organized by the IOM through funds from the EU's AENEAS 2006 programme, which provides financial and technical support for countries on migration and asylum. It is attended by officials from EU, Africa and Canada as well as major international bodies, such as the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Southern African Development Commission (SADEC)


The conference builds on a previous event which took place in 2008, during which IOM with funds from the AENEAS 2006 programme, launched a Labour Migration Project for West Africa (LAMIWA). The project aimed at reversing the negative trends of increased irregular migrations from Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal to Europe, with Libya as the main transit country.


The conference is assessing the overall benefits of the LAMIWA programme on the participating countries, namely Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Italy. It also aims to gain understanding of different approaches taken by regional bodies to labour mobility.


One of the key areas for discussion is circular migration - a scheme whereby migrant workers from Africa enter the European labour market for a limited period of time in line with specific country entry quotas and then return home once their contracts are over.


This scheme will benefit migrants and both origin and the host countries. The countries of origin will benefit from the skills and knowledge acquired by the migrant workers, technology transfer, unemployment reduction and the remittances. Host countries will have access to migrant workers willing to fill short-term labour market needs.


Through LAMIWA project, a pilot scheme for circular migration scheme is taking place between Ghana and Italy. As part of the scheme, an initial group of twenty selected Ghanaian migrant workers will depart later this week for Italy where they will spend three months working in the agricultural sector. IOM will provide pre-departure counselling, including information on contract and working conditions as well as return and reintegration assistance in Ghana upon completion of the contract.


Apart from initiating circular migration scheme between Ghana and Italy, the funds provided by EU's AENEAS 2006 programme, have enabled IOM to provide assistance to the governments of Ghana and Nigeria in drafting labour migration policies, and support for the two governments' efforts to reduce irregular migration in the region.


In addition, AENEAS 2006 funding facilitated IOM to conduct national assessment of labour migration policies, legislation and practices in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Libya.


Source: International Office of Migration (IOM)

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GI-NET/SDC hails South Sudan Independence and calls for end to S. Kordofan Violence

GI-NET/SDC CONGRATULATES SOUTH SUDAN, URGES STRONGER U.S. LEADERSHIP FOR PEACE IN VULNERABLE REGION

(Juba, South Sudan) – Tom Andrews, President of Genocide Intervention Network/Save Darfur Coalition issued the following statement from Juba in recognition of Independence Day for the Republic of South Sudan:

“On behalf of our organization’s activist members and partner organizations, I extend heartfelt congratulations to the Republic of South Sudan and its people as the country celebrates its independence and the world’s newest nation.

“We pay tribute to those whose actions and advocacy compelled the world’s attention and international engagement that led to the signing of the historic 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and ultimately, South Sudan’s independence. South Sudanese civil society leaders, faith organizations and individuals – joined by vibrant faith communities and activists in the United States and around the world – made it impossible for the world to continue ignoring decades of indescribable human loss and suffering.

“Activists in the United States and around the globe raised their voices again to compel U.S. and international involvement when the January referendum for independence was in jeopardy. And we must continue to speak out and call for international support for peace in this vulnerable nation and region.

“Even today, as we celebrate South Sudan’s independence, north Sudan’s military is attacking civilians in South Kordofan and blockading delivery of life-saving food, water, medicine and fuel. The Khartoum regime also continues to target civilians and block progress toward peace in Darfur. We call on the Obama administration to issue tough economic sanctions against north Sudan’s president Bashir and his cronies, to issue a call for an international investigation of the crimes against civilians that are being committed throughout in Sudan, and to declare support for an expanded UN protection force in the contentious border region to save the lives of those who are being targeted by the Khartoum regime.”

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The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network merged to create a more powerful voice dedicated to preventing and stopping large-scale, deliberate atrocities against civilians. The organization remains committed to its work to end the crisis in Darfur and bring peace to all of Sudan as well as to end violence in other areas of mass atrocities such as Congo and Burma. The merger creates the world’s largest anti-genocide organization, with a membership base of hundreds of thousands of committed activists globally, an unparalleled nationwide student movement, more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights partner organizations, and a network of institutional investors collectively representing more than $2 trillion in assets under management.




~ Ann Brown Communications

301-633-4193

IMPORTANT NOTE:

A referendum on independence for Southern Sudan was held in January 2011, with 98.83% of the electorate opting for secession. ThePresident of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, accepted the results and issued a Republican Decree confirming the outcome of the referendum.^[6]Southern Sudan will formally declare its independence from the north on Saturday 9 July 2011, creating Africa’s newest nation.

In April 2011, President Omar Al-Bashir stated that he would not recognise the independence of South Sudan if its government claims theAbyei region, which is part of South Kordofan state in northern Sudan. The two sides clashed over the region in May, which resulted in its seizure by the north.

China must arrest Sudanese President

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir

17 Jun 2011 12:42 Africa/Lagos


China must arrest Sudanese President

LONDON, June 17, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Chinese government should immediately withdraw its invitation to Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, and arrest him if he travels to Beijing, Amnesty International said today.

Omar Al-Bashir is due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and other high-ranking officials as part of a visit from 27-30 June

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued two arrest warrants for Omar Al-Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur. The warrants, issued in 2009 and 2010, charge him with criminal responsibility on 10 counts, including murder, extermination, forcible transfer of population, torture and rape.

“If China welcomes Omar Al-Bashir it will become a safe haven for alleged perpetrators of genocide”, said Catherine Baber, Deputy Asia Pacific Director at Amnesty International. “China should not allow Omar Al-Bashir to enter its territory, and must arrest him if he turns up.”

Although China is not a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, it is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, which decided in 2005 to refer the situation in Darfur – since 1 July 2002 – to the ICC Prosecutor.

The resulting resolution –which China had the power to veto but did not – urges all states to cooperate fully with the ICC.

All states have a shared responsibility to ensure that persons suspected of genocide and crimes against humanity are investigated. Where there is sufficient admissible evidence, suspects must be prosecuted in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.

“If China provides a safe haven for Al-Bashir thousands of victims in Africa will perceive China as an accomplice to crimes under international law”, Catherine Baber said.

Read More

Malaysia: Arrest Sudanese President wanted for war crimes (Public statement, 13 June 2011)

Djibouti refuses to arrest Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir (Public statement, 9 May 2011)

Central African Republic must arrest Omar al-Bashir during visit (Public statement, 1 December 2010)

Kenya refuses to arrest Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir (Public statement, 27 August 2010)


Source: Amnesty International

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Human Rights Groups Condemn Recent Attacks in Darfur

Human Rights Groups Condemn Recent Attacks and Humanitarian Aid Restrictions in Darfur


Washington, D.C. – Sudan Now, a group of human rights and anti-genocide organizations, today called on the Obama Administration to condemn the Government of Sudan for conducting air strikes against civilians in Darfur and preventing humanitarian assistance from accessing the affected sites. The administration should demand that access for humanitarian groups and peacekeepers be restored immediately, the Sudan coalition said.

The air attacks were the second in three days conducted by the Government of Sudan and were followed by the denial of access for humanitarian groups and peacekeepers for nearly all of South Darfur, including two of the largest displacement camps in the world.

“The U.S. government has offered a roadmap to normalization of relations with Khartoum, with the hope that these incentives could lead to a peaceful transition to independence of South Sudan as well as progress toward peace in Darfur. The latest egregious acts of bombing civilians and denying UN access should give immediate pause to offers of normalization. President Obama should make it clear to the Sudanese government that while the United States is willing to offer a way forward, there are certain acts that are unacceptable under any circumstances.” stated Mark Hanis, President and Co-Founder of Genocide Intervention Network / Save Darfur Coalition.

“Restrictions on humanitarian access are immoral and totally unacceptable,” said Ruth Messinger, President of American Jewish World Service. “The path towards peace is undermined when violence continues to be perpetrated and vital supplies and service are not permitted to reach those who rely on them for survival. I expect the United States Government and the international community to stand firm and send a strong message that these behaviors must end.”

“Although we repeatedly hear about how the Sudanese government is increasing access for peacekeepers and humanitarians in Darfur, invariably they revert to bombing civilians and cutting off access to aid,” said Enough Executive Director John Bradshaw. “Unless the international community imposes a clear cost for this egregious behavior, it will keep recurring.”

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Sudan Now is a campaign led by a group of anti-genocide and human rights advocacy organizations committed to bringing meaningful and lasting peace to Sudan and encouraging strong American leadership and action to achieve this goal. The campaign challenges President Obama and top U.S. administration officials to live up to their promises to take strong and immediate action to help end the international crisis in Sudan and bring a lasting peace to Sudan’s people. Organizations participating in the campaign include Humanity United, the Enough Project at the Center for American Progress, Genocide Intervention Network, American Jewish World Service, Stop Genocide Now, and Investors Against Genocide.

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