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| February 23, 2009 |
| February 22, 2009 |
The conflict in eastern Congo, the deadliest in the world since World War II, is being fueled by a multi-million dollar trade in minerals that go into our electronic products from cell phones to digital cameras.
•Tin – used inside your cell phone and all electronic products as a solder on circuit boards. 53% of tin worldwide is used as a solder, the vast majority of which goes into electronics. Armed groups earn approximately $85 million per year from trading in tin.
•Tantalum (often called “coltan”)– used to store electricity in capacitors in iPods, digital cameras, and cell phones. 65-80% of the world’s tantalum is used in electronic products. Armed groups earn an estimated $8 million per year from trading in tantalum.
•Tungsten – used to make your cell phone or Blackberry vibrate. Tungsten is a growing source of income for armed groups in Congo, with armed groups currently earning approximately $2 million annually.
FACTS ABOUT CONGO
400,000 Congolese have fled their homes due to violence in 2008.
500,000 Number of Congolese that die each year as a consequence of war.
1,100 Number of rape cases reported every month.
46 The average life expectancy for a woman living in the DR of the Congo.
22 Number of armed groups involved in the 2008 ceasefire agreement.
1 Number of times women are mentioned in the ceasefire agreement.
0 Number of times sexual violence and rape is mentioned in the ceasefire agreement.
$144 million Yearly profits by armed groups from trade in Congo minerals.
Suad and Halima-Darfuri heroes
Goz BeidaAlmost 2 years ago, two young sisters, Suad and Halima were in the fields near the refugee camp gathering firewood when the Janjaweed attacked attacked the two. Halima was just 9 at the time. In order to spare her little sister, Suad ordered her to run while she led the attackers in the opposite direction. Suad was gang raped. Nicholas Kristof and I separately found Suad two years ago in a refugee camp in Goz Beida. She was still suffering from injuries to her body and trauma. But Halima was safe. For the time being.
Nick found Suad again on his recent trip to the Darfur/Chad borderland. But Halima was not there. Now eleven years old, Halima had left the relative safety of the camp to try to find their parents, back in Darfur. Suad does not know what became of her or even whether she is still alive. To see the video included on Nicks site click below.
Nick writes;
"My Sunday column is about one of my Darfuri heroes, Suad Ahmed, and her extraordinary (and possibly dead) sister, Halima. I admire them so much because for year after year in covering Darfur, I've met with presidents and prime ministers and foreign ministers and ambassadors, and mostly I've heard excuses. And then you find real moral leadership coming from two unknown sisters in a refugee camp.
The story also moves me because I have an 11-year-old daughter, the same age as Halima when she struck out alone across the desert to try to rescue her parents. And the thought of such a little girl undertaking such a dangerous mission sends chills down my spine. You can also see a video that Shayla Harris, the Times videographer with me, took of Suad here.
I truly believe that with the ICC arrest warrant of President Bashir coming down soon, we have a chance to end the slaughter in Darfur. But that will take real resolve - rather than just excuses- from officials and world leaders, and I hope that the example of Suad and Halima can build a little spine in those world leaders who will have to respond to the arrest warrant.'
| February 20, 2009 |
Elderly artist of the Berti tribe
I was told that grandmothers gathered children at dusk and told them stories. There were two kinds: about animals-especially lions and elephants, and monsters .
An off topic moment;
Now that it has been made public by others, I can say that I met George Clooney In Chad. What a lovely guy! We sat, with Nick Kristof and Ann Curry under the African sky. I was at the end of my four week journey and they had just arrived, planning to be there for the week.
Suleiman Jamous
| February 19, 2009 |
Heading home
I left Chad less than 24 hrs ago.I'm not home yet.
The past four weeks have been intense, extraordinarily productive, magical and unforgettable. Things came to me as if by magic. People are crazy about this project and went out of their way to offer help and support. I have about 45 hrs of unedited tape- a trove of traditional treasures from 7 different Darfur tribes.
I also began photographing and collecting artifacts. A secure place to store them ( along with my camera equipment) was offered to us in NdJamena.
The refugees were eager to offer many items including farm tools, containers of all kinds, spears, an old cotton ''machine", drums, camel and donkey saddles and more. Now that they can have a temporary home, I will be able to collect more and (somehow) bring them to NdJamena.
Already I am missing Chad and the remarkable people I spend time with there. What a privilege it has been!
I am filled with gratitude to the Darfuri refugees who, with full hearts, laughter and tears, brought forth their most treasured memories, childhood stories, songs and celebrations.
I am grateful to the aid workers-you are without question the finest people I have ever met or ever will meet. You embraced this project with untempered enthusiasm and provided essential support. You are far from your families and life in Chad is challenging, but I never heard anyone complain.
Ettie, my friend for life, you are awesome. Laurette, Maurzio, Cornelia -omg- thank you for your inspiration, your committment to improving peoples lives, your kindness and generosity. Irina, Serge-dear friend and all at UNHCR we could not have done this project without you! Thank you Annette. Thank you UNHCR in Koukou- you made me feel at home at your compound where I could, most days, get on line, Lanik thank you! and Benedetta grazi for your good heart (and for letting my laundry get washed with yours), Hias, you were our home, office and more! Thank you Gaele for your friendship and EVERYTHING. Thank you everyone at Intersos -for letting me use your shower, do my emailing and for walking to the hill with me that beautiful evening. Nellie and Duccio thank you!
David- you already know how grateful I am.
Joan and Pam, so much gratitude.
This poem, by an anonymous Somali refugee, was just send to me. But it should really be for all of you. I shudder to think what this world would be without you.
"Tribute to a Humanitarian"
If you see a world torn by famine and war and feel in some way responsible, you know the meaning of love.
If you see people with little or no hope and believe their survival is somehow linked to your own, you know the meaning of brotherhood.
If you feel those of us who have been blessed with abundance should share with those less fortunate, you know the meaning of charity.
If you can travel to the end of the world to bring hope to those who would otherwise never know it, you know the meaning of courage.
And if you can see a smile in the faces of those who should have no reason to smile, you know that there is still time."
| February 14, 2009 |
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| February 13, 2009 |
When I first arrived, the leaders of the tribes told me they didn’t want to dance and sing and tell old stories- because ’we are suffering” . Yes-they are in mourning. They have lost many, many loved ones. They have witnessed terrible things. They have lost their homes and villages and everything they had. They have been stuck in this camp for nearly 6 years—and the camp has been attacked. I know this. But the people here know me. I have visited this camp many times—they know I care, they know that I have been fighting for them—for their protection, for justice. For their safe return home. They know I come here in solidarity, and in respect. So, as we talked, and I said if we do not preserve the old traditions, the songs and stories and the ways of their grandparents, they will be lost forever. Omer Al-Bashir and co will have destroyed everything. But we cannot allow this. Let us do this together, for their children, and their children’s children. For the children of Darfur who do not know their homeland and their heritage. We will operate the camera, but this is for them. The museum will be theirs. Whatever they feel is important, they can bring it to us and we will preserve it.
And they came-tribe by tribe they came. Each day they arrived at the place we selected at the edge of the camp. They came in the thousands. Every day day they brought forth their treasures. Time and time again we were thanked for “reminding us to remember”. The little children were wide eyed. People laughed and wept. Honestly I have never known anything like it. The trust. And I will not let them down. Ever.
Note the goat skin tied to his back— it’s for carrying water
(My guess is that the NYT had a reliable source and they jumped the gun.)
Disappointing is hardly the word
Yesterday I reached Goz Amir as news of the long awaited ICC 'indictment' spread through the camp. You could hear singing and the sound of drums. To say the refugees were happy is an understatement. They laughed, they cheered, they wept, they danced and sang. Huge gatherings celebrated throughout the camp. I wanted to spend the night in the camp and party through the night, and the Oumda Af-Fatih said I could stay at his home. I asked but security regulations do not permit that.I was still elated when I returned to Koukou and got on line. I saw the ICC statement, denying they had reached a decision.
I'm glad I wasn't in the camp.
| February 12, 2009 |
ICC contradicts earlier press reports
No decision concerning possible arrest warrant against President Al Bashir of Sudan
ICC-CPI-20090212-PR389 عربي
Situation: Sudan
Following press articles published today, the International Criminal Court (ICC) wishes to inform the media that no arrest warrant has been issued by the ICC against President Omar Al Bashir of Sudan. No decision has yet been taken by the judges of Pre-Trial Chamber I concerning the Prosecutor's application of 14 July 2008 for the issuance of such a warrant.
Court Approves Warrant for Sudan’s President
By MARLISE SIMONS <http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/marlise_simons/index.html?inline=nyt-per> and NEIL MacFARQUHAR
Published: February 11, 2009, NYTimes
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/world/africa/12hague.html?_r=1&hp
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/world/africa/12hague.html?ref=world
| February 11, 2009 |
They told us the history of the Zaghawa people. We also learned that the true name for the Zaghawa people is’Beri.’
“In North Darfur the Beri-or Zaghawa depended on camels, sheep and cows. North Darfur is desert, water is ‘valuable and difficult to find,” Mastura Ahmed told me today. “When we went to the wells, we would stay there for 2 or 3 days. The wells are very very deep. And its is difficult to get the water out. While the animals are watering there is no food, just milk (from the camels) making flour is impossible because it requires stones to grind with. We ate the seeds of the grass-people would hit the grass with sticks to gather the seeds. Then , when we are finished, we bring water back in ‘jirabs’-goat skins.
Muhamid Sharif Rafadine Ahmed
From Tine
“In North Darfur there are more than 200 sub-tribes of Zaghawa. 120 in Kornoy alone. Zaghawa are the original camel breeders-not the Arabs. A female camel should have 8 breasts but this is very rare, so we think the Arabs stole our camels breasts.
When a camel sees a Zaghawa they are thinking, “He is here!”.
The camel is the ship of the desert. They can go long periods without drinking water. People can kill a camel and drink water from his belly.
Zaghawa can kill a camel for his guests to eat, or for a bridegroom, or for a poor man. When you give a camel to a person, this is generous.’
Yet another person told me the camel carries his power in his hump. Also-if you eat camel meat it will cure you of any illness. Unlike goat which will make you sick.
=====================================================================
*My connections in Abece have just told me that things are hotting up--in the last 2 hours, as many as 20 helicopters have landed at the Abece airport.
| February 10, 2009 |
Beautiful Masalit woman
Interesting.
The women I spoke with demonstrated how it is/was done, using a doll, the old tools-a knife, herbs a stone and some water. They sang songs, lyrics to one went, ”The blade is very painful. Don’t make noise.”
| February 9, 2009 |
Yesterday, being Sunday we stayed in Koukou. I did emails, read a book, went to the market where I sat under a tree and drank tea (they use LOTS of sugar here) and then I just wandered around. There were many camels and hundreds of donkeys. Goats were being sold and slaughtered. Yet another place was cooking hunks of meat for people to buy. The place was buzzing. You can buy vegetables and all sorts of things in tiny quantities-compared to the US.
I also saw trucks full of Chadian Army troops. I hear there are 7 right now in Koukou. I also hear they are recruiting in the IDP camps, Habile, 1,2,3 and 4- in an effort to build up their ranks for the anticipated Chadian rebel attack on the capital, NdJamena. The rebels are now on the other side of the border, not far from here. They would pass through here, hopefully not stopping for long. We shall see.
| February 8, 2009 |
Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo
Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court
New Haven
6 February 2009
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me first thank Dean Koh and President Fanton for this opportunity. The timing is perfect.
For the past 5 years massive crimes have been committed in Darfur. For the past 5 years no amount of negotiation has allowed the violence to abate. As of today, 5000 people are dying each month in Darfur.
It is indeed a crucial moment to discuss how to use the law to stop and prevent crimes. It is not about what the suspects will do, it is about what the rest of the world will do. It is about “never again”.
In a few days, three Judges of the ICC will decide on the Prosecution’s request to issue an arrest warrant against Mr Al Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Should the Judges rule in favor of the request, they will issue an arrest warrant and transmit it to the Government of the Sudan for enforcement. Are the Sudanese willing to arrest the President, now or in a few months? If not, how will the UN Security Council authority be affected? Do the States parties to the Rome Statute have a particular duty? What will be the reaction of the NGO and academic community ? What can students do?
Since 2004 the international community has been actively engaged in Darfur. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan visited the area. A massive humanitarian assistance program was established. This is the only reason why 2.5 million displaced people are surviving. In different resolutions the Council banned the use of aircraft with military purposes and demanded the disarmament of the militia/Janjaweed and the bringing of their leaders to justice. In January 2005, a UN Commission of Inquiry produced a report confirming that members of the government committed crimes against humanity and war crimes against the civilian population. In March 2005 the Security Council referred the Darfur case to the International Criminal Court. It was a landmark decision.
The global peace and security system was connected with the first permanent and independent International Criminal Court. It is a test.
I have the privilege and the responsibility to be the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. The Court’s mandate is to end impunity and contribute to the prevention of future crimes. My Office has to select situations and cases in accordance with the Statute, investigate the most serious crimes and present evidence to the Judges. I have a duty to be impartial; I have to apply the law to massive crimes. I have to do it without fear or favor.
In the Darfur situation, the jurisdiction of the Court stems from the UN charter. The Sudan is not a State party to the Rome Statute, but the Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter can refer a case to the ICC.
Since June 2005, my Office has carried out an investigation. We collected evidence from different sources, including the Government of the Sudan. We have a duty to protect the persons called as witnesses and we cannot protect those living in the Sudan. Thus we identified victims in 18 countries and we interviewed them there. For the first time, an international tribunal had to collect the necessary evidence without visiting the crime scene.
The evidence shows that since July 2002, members of the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups engaged in armed rebellion against the central government.
The evidence shows that since April 2003 and 2004 the Sudanese Armed Forces and Popular Defence Forces, called “Militia/Janjaweed”, systematically conducted joint military operations directed against civilians in towns and villages inhabited mainly by these three ethnic groups.
The targets are not rebel forces, but civilians in villages where rebels are not present, and without any valid military objective. Helicopters or aircraft dropped bombs. Ground forces killed, tortured and raped thousands of women and girls. The attackers destroyed all means of survival, sources of water, and stripped the villages, destroying schools, mosques and hospitals.
As a result of the attacks, at least 35.000 people have been killed. The UN says that almost 300.000 of those who fled the attacks died of starvation and disease. The vast majority of the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa have been displaced. More than 200.000 people managed to reach refugee camps in Chad or Central African Republic. Almost 2.5 million people went to the outskirts of bigger cities that would become camps for Internally Displaced Persons.
On 27 April 2007, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC issued an arrest warrant against Ahmed Harun and Ali Kushayb for 51 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Our first Darfur case exposed the role of Ahmad Harun, then Minister of State for the Interior of the Sudan. Harun coordinated the Security Committees established in each locality to manage the massive criminal operation. He recruited, financed and incited the “Militia Janjaweed” to violence. Famous tribal leaders, such as Musa Hilal, were integrated as reservist forces within the State apparatus and coordinated by Harun, a Minister. The victims were attacked by those same officials who were supposed to protect them.
On 14 July 2008, I presented to the Judges our second case in Darfur. The evidence in this second case highlights the continuous attacks against the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups. They continue to be systematically attacked, in the few remaining villages but mainly in the camps.
The camps in Darfur are a crime scene: thousands of women and young girls are being raped; 2.5 million people, a substantial part of the three groups are subjected to conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction. The President of the Sudan, an increasingly prosperous country, is providing no meaningful assistance to those millions displaced and is hindering the humanitarian efforts of the international community. Women and girls are systematically raped in and around the camps. Mental health clinics, the last lifeline for traumatized women, are closed down by the authorities. This is a different way to commit genocide, they are not using gas chamber or machetes. Based on the evidence, and the law, the Prosecution alleges that fear, rape and hunger are the weapons to destroy Darfur communities. One victim escaping from the attack in her house, overheard one attacker say: “Don’t waste bullets, they’ve got nothing to eat and they will die from hunger”.
The Prosecution alleges that Mr. Al Bashir as President of the Republic of the Sudan and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces exercises both de jure and de facto authority on the massive military operation conducted for 5 years.
He provided directions to the operations against the civilians in Darfur, he controlled the implementation of the operation, he personally recruited “Militia/Janjaweed”, he provided impunity to those who perpetrated the crimes and he concealed the crimes, using the media and the Sudanese diplomatic machinery.
Ahmed Harun is still a critical piece in the planning and conduct of atrocities. In 2003, President Al Bashir appointed him as Minister of State for the Interior to coordinate the attacks in the villages. In 2005, as most of the Fur, Zaghawa and Masalit had fled to the camps for displaced persons, Mr. Al Bashir appointed Ahmed Harun as the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, to continue attacking his victims. The HAC, Humanitarian Aid Commission, within the Ministry of Humanitarian affairs, works in close association with the intelligence and security apparatus; they block the delivery of aid, expel relief staff, deny visas and travel permits to aid workers.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On 20 November 2008, I presented a third Darfur case against three rebel commanders who led 1,000 soldiers in an attack against an African Union peacekeeping base in Haskanita in September 2007. They killed 12 peacekeepers, injured at least 8, looted the equipment and destroyed the installations. It is a serious crime under the Statute.
The Judges will also rule shortly on this case. All the parties in the conflict have to respect the law.
For all those cases, my Office would not have jurisdiction if the Sudanese judiciary had conducted national proceedings. It is the principle of complementarity. Over the past years, my Office analyzed the existence of national proceeding related to the crimes committed in Darfur. The Government of the Sudan announced the creation a special court on 7 June 2005 to deal with the problem. Regularly, new announcements are made. However, in September 2008, an official Report of the Government of the Sudan transmitted to the UN Security Council settled the question: the report describes the only seven cases completed by the Darfur Special Court. Ordinary cases. The gravest case is a student shot by the police during a demonstration, without any connection with the systematic crimes committed in Darfur. In fact, only the military officers who refuse to be part of the crimes, the human rights defenders or persons suspected of providing information about crimes committed in Darfur to the ICC are detained and prosecuted. One man was recently convicted to 17 years in prison. They believe he is an ICC spy.
In spite of the efforts by a number of international organizations to encourage national proceedings, there are no relevant Sudanese proceedings. This confirms that the crimes are ordered by those who control the state apparatus.
This was an overview of our investigative and judicial activities. I remember when we received the referral in 2005, some people warned that the Office would be unable to conduct investigations, that the Court will be irrelevant. Today the Court is fulfilling its mandate. If the judges issue an arrest warrant, it will be the end of impunity for Mr Al Bashir. It will take 2 years or 20 years, but Mr Al Bashir will face justice. But to prevent future crimes, to avoid another 5.000 deaths next month, the time is now. The relevance of the Court work is largely in your hands.
It is not about what Mr Al Bashir will do. It is about what you will do.
Let me be frank: The crimes have continued in Darfur because the international community has diverse interests and was never able to unite to ensure compliance with UN Security Council resolutions. If the world is united, the atrocities and genocide will stop in a day. The decision of the Court, if confirming the existence of the crimes, should create a momentum to close ranks around one objective, stop the crimes. It will be a unique opportunity for the international community to come together, to establish a new framework to protect the Darfuris.
There is a need to better integrate the judicial, humanitarian and political efforts. For almost one year, the first arrest warrant, issued against Harun, was ignored by mediators and political leaders in their discussions on Darfur. They discussed a three track approach: political negotiation, peacekeepers deployment and humanitarian assistance. They ignored the Court’s decision, and they ignored the facts. They ignored Harun’s role in the HAC - the main obstacle to humanitarian assistance; they ignored that Harun was – and is to this day - a member of the UNAMID oversight committee, affecting the deployment of peacekeepers. In August 2007, Harun was appointed head of a committee to investigate human rights abuses, thus confirming the promises of impunity. In 2008, Harun intervened in Abeyi, a city on the border between North and South Sudan where militias forcefully displaced 60.000 people.
Ignoring the arrest warrants was not an oversight. It was a decision based on the idea to sequence peace and justice. Peace first then Justice. As a consequence there was neither peace nor justice. So let us not repeat history. There is a chance to avoid past mistakes.
As the UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, said, peace and justice have to work hand in hand. Multilateral institutions have to create the conditions to implement the arrest warrants and to update and harmonize old conflict management strategies with the new reality. Persons indicted by the Court should be arrested. They cannot be partners at the negotiation table.
This is not about regime change, it is about the criminal responsibility of individuals. It is about stopping the crimes. The Court is not asking for international forces to intervene. No war, no invasions, but also no inaction, no denial. Something between bombing and nothing.
The Court sets limits. Red lines. But to be efficient, we need the whole of the international community to respect and uphold those red lines. You would not keep changing the lines on a tennis court. Don’t do it for more serious issues. We must give certainty to the criminals but also the negotiators have to respect the same limit.
Today Mr. Al Bashir is threatening the victims, African Union and UN personnel, should he be indicted. The Court and the States cannot be blackmailed. We need to make clear that such threats will not be rewarded with promises of impunity.
There is a need for innovative, strong and consistent diplomatic and political action by all actors to stop the crimes and ensure compliance with the Court’s decision.
Regional organizations will be of critical importance to stop the crimes in Darfur. I do not agree with all the statements of Jean Ping, the AU Chairperson. But I agree with him that the AU has played and must continue to play a leading role. I regret that commentators too often present the AU position as opposing the Court and promoting impunity.
The AU pursued efforts to ensure that justice is done for Darfur. The Peace and Security Council communiqué of 21 July 2008 “reiterates AU’s unflinching commitment to combating impunity and promoting democracy, the rule of law …throughout the entire continent, in conformity with its Constitutive Act, and, in this respect, condemns once again the gross violations of human rights in Darfur.” Last month twelve African countries proposed African candidates to be judges in the Court. The Arab League was one of the first organizations to send a mission to Darfur, in 2004, the report from which recognized the commission of massive crimes. It is consistently requesting judicial investigations in the Sudan. And in Gaza.
I see this meeting as an opportunity for the people of Darfur, as an opportunity to design and promote a comprehensive solution for them. It is an opportunity for diplomats and global leaders to apply new solutions to solve international conflicts, for professors to provide a new framework of analysis and for student and advocates to promote global collective action. --
Student, academics and NGO can propose new strategies, present new options. There are a lot of alternatives between bombing and nothing; there is something more than sequencing the Court decisions with negotiations. We all know what sequencing means. Sequencing means that before a deal, it is too early to have justice. Sequencing means that after a deal, it is too late to have justice. Sequencing means no justice, and no justice means promoting the use of violence to get and keep power.
The UN, States, and regional organizations, in accordance with UNSCR 1593, must act to ensure the enforcement of arrest warrants by severing all non essential contact with individuals indicted by the Court; by denying such individuals any political and economic support including by way of adopting individual travel bans and the freezing of personal assets. In recent months, I have seen unfailing consistency within the UN, under the leadership of Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, for such an approach and I wish to thank him and his former and present colleagues, Jean-Marie Guehenno, Patricia O’Brien. They are leading us on a new, less travelled road. The state parties have specific obligations to fulfil, and I appreciate President Wenawesser efforts to galvanize states party efforts.
Because indeed this is not just about legal duties, it is about leadership. Dutch diplomats are consistently mentioning the need to arrest Harun in each bilateral or multilateral meeting.In the SC UK insisted in the need to include a four track, about justice, in the discussion on Darfur, driving countries like China to adopt a similar approach. Leadership is what the Court need.
Let me conclude mentioning what happened on June 2008, in the UN Security Council, after my briefing. Costa Rica took the floor and proposed a Presidential Statement to support the activities of the Court and demand the execution of the arrest warrants. Some called it a naïve enterprise, others called it mission impossible. There was no consensus, no major power in the lead.
But the leadership of Costa Rica galvanized the support of the United States and of the 9 State Parties to the Rome Treaty. There was still no consensus. Normally this would have been the end of the story. But Costa Rica insisted, firmly asserting that with 10 votes, they could request more than a Statement, they could request a UNSC resolution, and anybody who wanted to veto was welcome to do so. Nobody wanted to.
On 24 June 2008, a Presidential Statement by the 15 members of the Security Council was approved by consensus. Costa Rica, a country with no army, moved the entire Council. I would like to thank Mr. Bruno Stagno Ugarte, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, for his leadership.I am sure that in this room, there are many other ready to take the lead to stop the crimes committed in Darfur, to transform the promise of “Never again” into a reality. The destiny of the Darfuris is in your hands and the opportunity is now.
115 years old
Of the Fur tribe
From Treguine-which was then a small village
TO MARKET
‘When I was young we farmed cotton. Every day we did that and we wove it to sell at the market., and also to wear. We had just one shirt each. Only the rich people had two. The leaders were entitled wear the “glub’ which was costly and long with decorations of lions and things to show the leader’s power. There was no market near my village; the market was in the middle of Kordovan. People came there from the north and the south, bringing their things to sell. In the north were the Berti. Only the Fur were in Treguine.
In the past there was no soap. We washed our clothes with ‘savo’- the leaves of a tree called Lalo in Arabic. When we went to market we faced many challenges. There were no cars or bicycles. We walked, with our animals. The distance was very far. We walked day and night until about 11. Then we tied up our camels and donkeys and sat around by the fire before we slept. While we slept, one person would stay awake to watch for wolves or lions. But once the watchman was so tired he fell asleep and the lion came. I felt something breathing and awakened to see the lion. I grabbed my brother and he woke up shouting, thinking it was a snake but it was only my finger that touched him. The lion jumped away. Another lion was also there but they didn’t eat any one. We made a pact-with the lions and we became friends.
CARS
We were children when, one day a car finally came to our village. We touched it - we thought perhaps it was a hot thing or it might eat us. We saw the owner give the car water. So we picked grass for the car. But its didn’t eat. We asked the owner, “Why doesn’t the car eat the grass. The owner told me, “It’s metal. It doesn’t eat grass.’
I will never forget this
Rosa Apamato, a nurse, on the Congo rebels who sexually assaulted and shot a 10-year-old girl.
| February 7, 2009 |
Jon Ward and Betsy Pisik, THE WASHINGTON TIMES
EXCLUSIVE:
President Obama supports implementing the war crimes indictment by the International Criminal Court against Sudanese President Omar Bashir, a strong indication of the tough approach the new administration will take toward Sudan as well as its favorable view of an international body the Bush administration refused to join.
"We support the ICC and its pursuit of those who've perpetrated war crimes. We see no reason to support deferral [of the indictment] at this time," said Ben Chang, a spokesman for Mr. Obama's national security adviser, retired Marine Gen. James L. Jones.
Mr. Obama gave his support for an arrest warrant -- which could be handed down within days -- despite concerns that pursuing charges against Gen. Bashir could provoke Khartoum to retaliate against humanitarian groups and plunge the country into even more bloodshed and chaos.
Top Obama administration officials such as Susan Rice, the new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, have long advocated a hard line toward the Bashir regime. Ms. Rice, who worked on peacekeeping issues in the Clinton White House and as assistant secretary of state for African affairs during President Clinton's second term, is said to have been scarred by the U.S. and international failure to prevent the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which nearly 1 million people were killed.
The Obama administration has signaled awareness of potential blowback if a warrant is issued. Ms. Rice said Tuesday that Sudanese bombing of rebel groups in a Darfuri town, Muhajiriya, was in "anticipation of an arrest warrant." She called on the Bashir regime to stop the bombing and allow a U.N. and African Union joint peacekeeping force (UNAMID) into the area.
"The onus is on the government to halt all aerial bombardment, to allow UNAMID to have complete freedom of movement, and to ... effectively carry out its mandate to protect civilians," she said. The bombing follows two weeks of fighting in and around Muhajiriya, which was seized by a rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement.
Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo charged Gen. Bashir on July 14 with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The Bush administration in 2004 labeled as genocide the bloodshed in Darfur that has killed more than 300,000 people. Although it refused to ratify and even "unsigned" a Clinton administration document joining the international court - which the Bush administration viewed as subordinating U.S. sovereignty - it supported ICC indictments and arrest warrants against lower-level Sudanese.
The Obama administration has a more favorable attitude toward the ICC, although it is reviewing whether it should re-sign the treaty and seek Senate ratification.
"It is in our country's interest that the most heinous of criminals, like the perpetrators of the genocide in Darfur, are held accountable," said Mr. Chang, the National Security Council spokesman. At the same time, he said, Mr. Obama, as commander in chief, "wants to make sure that [U.S.] troops have maximum protection" against politically motivated indictments.
The president "will consult thoroughly across the whole government, including with the military, and also examine the full track record of the court, before reaching a decision on how to move forward," Mr. Chang said.
John Prendergast, a former African affairs adviser to Mr. Clinton, said, "We certainly don't have to capitulate to the Chicken Little theory that just because the ICC is issuing this warrant there has to be necessarily a deterioration of the situation in Darfur. The response of the [Sudanese] government is completely in play right now. It will be largely dependent on the international reaction." Mr. Prendergast, who runs the Enough Project aimed at ending violence and genocide in Sudan, said failure to arrest Gen. Bashir would embolden the Sudanese "to continue with their agenda, which is to militarily crush their opposition."
"Part of the reason there is no resolution in Sudan is because there has been no accountability," he said. "If we take accountability off the table again, they will put that in their pocket and continue with their policy of divide and destroy."
Under the ICC charter, the U.N. Security Council is empowered to defer the indictment for a year at a time, for as long as it likes. African and Muslim blocs have quietly petitioned the council to defer Gen. Bashir's arrest warrant, despite strong ICC support from European and Latin American ambassadors.
China and Russia, permanent members of the Security Council, import large amounts of oil from Sudan. The 52-nation African Union, newly led by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, also wants a delay of the warrant.
But deferral would require nine votes from the 15-member body and could be vetoed by any of the five permanent members: the U.S., Britain, France, China or Russia.
**I have eliminated the quotes of Alex deWaal and the group, Interaction because I think they are the opposite of helpful.-Mia Farrow
The rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) following calls from the UN, the African Union and the US Administration decided on February 3, to pull out its troops from the flashpoint town more than two weeks after driving out the former rebel fighters of Minni Minawi.
The rapid assessment found people in urgent need of food, medicine, and water. "There are at least 5,000 people in the town and we are doing everything possible to re-start operations immediately," said the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Darfur, Toby Lanzer.
At least 30,000 people have fled their homes recently in South Darfur while government forces attempted to re-take Muhageriya.
JEM rebels, who seized the South Darfur strategic town on January 15, withdrew from the city in order to prevent harm to the civilian population.
| February 6, 2009 |
Darfur Archives
I love it here. I was drinking tea in the market place with the Oumda Zaghawa. By his side was the head of the youth group -a very sharp young man who spoke openly. Such a good thing. People here are mentoring the young.A (Masalit) man gave me a Masalit hijab- said to be the most potent kind!!! So-I'm very well protected.
I'm learning about the different tribes. Many customs/traditions are the same but as many differ. Of course everyone speaks a different language, especially the elderly people do not speak Arabic, so we scramble to find interpreters- so far have (mostly) been very lucky indeed.
Today the Bourgo Tribe came to us. The chief and a very old woman told us the history of the tribe, the people sang, danced the dance for all occasions, and they showed us how the Marabou (Koranic teachers) teach the Koran to young boys. A woman Oumda was there, the only woman Oumda in the camp, and she said the girls also are taught to read the Koran. Men and women displayed:baskets, pots, odd shaped sticks and farm tools, all brought with them from Darfur. They explained what each was used for. Their dancing isn't like the Masalit or the Fur. They don't jump but sort of slide. The Zaghawa don't jump either. The latter dress very differently too-much more Arab in attire, and they are herders and keep camels.
We met with a Fur man born in 1910. He told us when he was a boy times were such that a person could bring his cattle out and leave them in the bushes untended all day. Then, in the evening the animals would all return home by themselves. And "they rubbed against you and licked you because they loved you".
A Masalit man explained there are many ways of winding the 'ima'--or turban. Young men, old men, men from different tribes, religious men-all different wraps and various lengths of 'ima' are required. . Interesting.
Tomorrow we will talk to more Fur. I have written out a schedule-different tribes are booked for every day until we have to leave.
Sunday we can't go to the camp but will walk over to the IDP camps; Habile 1,2,3, and 4.
| February 5, 2009 |
While we were meeting with the elderly people, an intense young man suddenly appeared. He gave his name and said he is Fur and he has just arrived-two weeks ago, from Darfur. We explained the focus of our project and the fact that we were talking today withelderly people from the Dadjo and Signer tribes but the young man was fiercely determined to talk to us. When we tried tell him to come back another day he broke down and wept. Clearly he is traumatized. We will meet with him on Saturday.
At the camp today elderly women and men from the Dadjo and the Signar tribes told us their stories. .
The Dadjo tribe is the oldest of all the tribes to establish themselves in Darfur. They originally came from Yemen. The Dadjo Oumda told us the who history of the tribe-going back hundreds of years. It is so important because because, again, the history of Darfur’s people is transmitted orally. Now we have documented it.
And there were stories too; an elderly man told us; “they came and they saw a place with 99 mountains and no people, so they chose to stay. But they had a Sultan who was drunk with power; he told the people to move a mountain from here to there. So the people got the Sultan’s mother to put him on a horse. They tied him with cow hide and off he went, until he fell apart, piece by piece. Wherever the pieces of the Sultan fell, there came a mountain.”
A very old Signar woman named Hawa:
We worked in the fields growing sorghum, peanuts, ochre and millet. When someone was sick we had a very big tree (Tandi tree) and we would place the person under the tree. We bathed them with water and then they would recover. There was nothing special with the water. But it is God who decides whether to help you.
When someone broke a leg or arm we didn’t bring him to the tree but we placed pieces of wood on the limb and wrapped it with cloth.
When someone had a cut, we boiled the bark of the boro tree and pressed it into the wound.
When someone dies we wrap him in 3 ancient Takakai cloths.
The family has a role, also the community. If the person has money we use it to make food for 7 days. After that 7 day period, called Mahatam) end, the relations gather for a ‘marabou, and they divide the money-but not equally. The girls get half of what the boys receive. This is because the boy is going to make children for his family. The girl is going to make children for another family.
A similar thing happened in the afternoon. A singer arrived with dancers. He carried a stringed instrument made from a pot. He is known and respected in the camp as a fine poet and singer. Many people gathered around. We started our camera. But the poet felt like singing another song-before the dancers began. And he sang a song of loss and love for Darfur. Our (excellent) translator was Musa who was filled with emotion as he said, “ It is a very sad song. As you see no one is playing or singing or dancing-because they are very sad. It is a song about what happened to us—it isn't good for us to repeat this because the people are very sad. The song said, ‘How can we stay here and leave Darfur? I am calling to return to Darfur.” The sorrow is in the faces of the people.”
Indeed, the dancers left and many people were weeping.
| February 4, 2009 |
Muhajiriya
Susan E. Rice, the American ambassador to the United Nations, called on Sudan to protect civilians in Muhajiriya, in Darfur. My sources on the ground say the JEM rebel group has withdrawn 50-60 kilometers from the town. The Gov of Sudan cannot justify the ongoing bombing and the attack that is feared. Civilians that remain have gathered around the UN (UNAMID) base at the edge of the town, hoping for protection. As many as 20,000 people are gathered there now. The rest have fled in all directions. Humanitarian access is being denied.Muhajeria
February 3, 2009 Sudan TribuneTaking into consideration the safety of civilians in the disputed Muhageriya, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has offered to pull out its troops from the southern Darfur town. Ahmed Hussein Adam, the official spokesperson of the rebel movement, said they are ready to withdraw their troops from Muhageriya provided the town is declared a demilitarized zone under the control of the hybrid peacekeeping force.
He added the Sudanese army or the former rebels led by Minni Minniawi should remain away from the town. But the Sudanese government has immediately rejected the offer saying there is "no room for conditions from JEM."
A bloodbath could be hours away. Please call 1800-genocide. Ask for the White House. Tell President Obama we cannot stand by and cannot watch as thousands more civilians are killed.
Muhajeria was previously ravaged by Khartoum's forces in October 2007.
Here's how The New York Times (October 17, 2007) described what took
place then: "[W]itnesses said Sudanese government troops and their
allied militias had killed more than 30 civilians, slitting the throats
of several men praying at a mosque and shooting a 5-year-old boy in the
back as he tried to run away. ... [T]wo columns of uniformed government
troops, along with dozens of militiamen not in uniform, surrounded the
town around noon on Oct. 8 and stormed the market." Muhajeria
subsequently came under the erratic and often tyrannical control of the
forces of Minni Minawi, a one-time rebel leader who switched sides in
May 2006, signing the Darfur Peace Agreement and allying himself with
the Khartoum regime. Several weeks ago, the Justice and Equality
Movement--a rebel group that did not sign the agreement and continues to
fight Khartoum and its Arab militia allies--seized control of the town
from Minawi's forces. The regime regards this as an unacceptable
military setback, and is apparently now laying the groundwork for an
assault on the town.
| February 3, 2009 |
“I am from the valley. I am Fur because my roots are Fur. I am 77 years old. When I was young I simply followed my father who was a cotton farmer. We harvested the cotton then removed the seeds. We had a traditional cotton machine to make the strands, which we would weave then take to market. People bought the cloth to make clothes. We were big merchants. My father was a great man, famous for growing and for weaving cotton. As I grew older he took me to the Koranic school. So I was lucky. I learned the Koran and the cotton.
I went north to learn about the world and when I came back, I got married. I earned more money and became a well-known professional. When the chief died, the people appointed me chief of the area. I have been the chief for 40 years.
HOW A CHIEF WAS CHOSEN
1.you must have a fortune so that you can assist the vulnerable and you would never take from others—because you aren’t hungry.
2. As a cotton merchant I know about life. I know the Koran. I am an educated man.
3. I a close to the people. I am not going to stay far from them. I am humble and I am happy for the people. My background is that of a good man. I am honest. There were three men being considered. They chose me because the other two had problems in their background. I had only one problem but still, that is better than those who had more.
The village held meetings that included many people. It lasted one whole day. On the second day I was invited to be present, and they told me they wanted to appoint me as Chief of the village. This was the voice of all the people of the village. I said, “If there is anyone who disagrees, raise your hand. No one raise their hand. Then I said I will give you 7 days. If anyone has a problem, come to my house. No one came except to say hello and congratulate me. After 7 days I agreed to be chief.”
“It is the responsibility of the chief to be aware of the problems and to solve them. I consider what is good for the area and what is not.
I must judge the people. When the problem is very big, I went to the government. I was the mediator between the government and my people. “
“I will tell you a story of the time of my youth.
THE LION STORY
“We had cattle and so we made a fence around the area and there was a guard. The one who guards does not sleep for two days--his duty is to guard the cattle from lions for two days. When a lion jumped over the fence the guard would call the people and they would pull the lion off the cow. People chased the lion with a high voice and the lion would run away. But the lion only ran one kilometer. After that the lion stops—just like a man. And we stand too. The lion then goes somewhere else to attack. We respected the lion. And he respected us I think.
Now I am loving that time. In those days we dealt with lions. Now we can’t even deal with cattle.”
THE ELEPHANT STORY
Elephants like to eat the seeds. They are very big and strong. But when a rooster makes a noise the elephant will run away. So everyone had to have at least 3 or 4 roosters because you have to hit them to make them scream. It is the only sound that will make an elephant go away.”
| February 2, 2009 |
“We used to wear this hat. “
Here is a statement issued by Aegis Trust:
Aegis Trust 1 February 2009
Sudan orders UN peacekeepers out of Muhajeriya, South Darfur
Sources in Muhajeriya, South Darfur, report that Sudanese Government
officials have ordered the United Nations peacekeepers stationed in the
town to leave. The sources state that the troops have agreed to leave
and are now attempting to proceed with their evacuation, although they
are hampered by a shortage of vehicles and by Government bombing in the
area. A major Government attack on the town is expected soon.
Muhajeriya is currently held by the JEM, which on 15 January took
control of the town from the SLM faction led by Minni Minawi, the only
rebel leader to have signed a peace deal with the Government. On 26
January, a combined force of Government soldiers and Janjaweed militia
failed to retake Muhajeriya when they were repelled by JEM fighters in
the town.
“The Aegis Trust is deeply concerned for the safety of civilians in
Muhajeriya,” states Dr James Smith, Chief Executive of the Aegis Trust.
“Commanders who have defected from the Sudanese Armed Forces and
Janjaweed have testified that ethnic cleansing and genocide are used
against civilians in counter-insurgency operations. We appreciate that
UNAMID only operates in Darfur with cooperation from the Government of
Sudan. However if UNAMID pulls out of the town, there will be no
remaining international observers.”
It is estimated that between 30,000 and 40,000 civilians are currently
in Muhajeriya and its immediate vicinity.
| February 1, 2009 |
Goz Amir
Koukou Angarana
Market day, Feb 1,2009
On my final night in Goz Beida we dropped by the EUFOR base, an immense, somewhat surreal structure (given the setting) with high walls topped by barbed wire, a moat, a sea of state-of-the-art tents (air conditioned), all sorts of military vehicles and the whole, vast compound flooded with light. This had previously been the middle of no-where. The Irish soldiers are lovely. The people here love them but they wish there could be more of them, in more locations. The women at Djabal refugee camp said this is the first time since they arrived in 2003, that they have felt safe while collecting firewood in the hills. Their presence has thwarted at least one major attack said to be planned by Arab tribes in Darfur. But the banditry continues, humanitarian vehicles are hijacked regularly and their compounds have been attacked, many since Christmas. Our visit to Eufor was just to introduce ourselves, inform them we would be traveling in the east and get an emergency number. Just in case. But actually no phone works in Koukou. At the moment even thurayas aren't working. Since the Eufor folks were heading out for a patrol anyway, they kindly escorted us back to the UNICEF compound. The convoy of three vehicles included a tank-like thing with treads.
I heard gunshots at night but that's Goz Beida- donkeys and gunfire. It's far more peaceful here in Koukou. You can walk around the town until 10pm! But trouble isn't far- east of Ade (the border with Darfur) Chadian rebels have gathered. We've been told to keep a one 15-kilo evacuation bag packed in case they come through Koukou on their way to attack the capital.
The 40-minute journey from Koukou to Goz Amir camp is beautiful and full of interesting sights. A deeply rutted dirt path winds through trees, following the river (which is now almost dry). At the rivers edge a large herd of camels, tended by Arab nomads, grazed. They are moving toward Sudan (Darfur). We saw a family of giant baboons, more monkeys than I could count, and flocks of birds as big as me- sort of like cranes but much bigger. There were people on donkeys and on camels heading for the camp-Saturday is market day at Goz Amir. They come from the town of Koukou and from nearby villages.
By mid-day the market was teeming. People milling through the stalls filled with spices, vividly colored cloths, wooden donkey saddles, -- all sorts of goods. The Arab women are said to be the most beautiful on earth. Many wear a silver ring in their right nostril and they dress differently from the non-Arab women but equally colourfully. A few times I asked if I could take a picture but all three declined. Unlike the residents of the camp who invariably greet us warmly, the Arab women look away.
At least a hundred men in their white jalabias (gowns to the ankle) were gathered by the riverbank, praying under an enormous, perfectly shaped tree. Men on camels passed slowly by. Donkeys stood patiently as goods were piled high on their backs, s and there was lively talk everywhere. It crossed my mind that perhaps this marketplace is not so different from the way a market place would have been 2000 years ago.
At 4am last night the braying of a particularly loud donkey awakened me. But within minutes came the beautiful sound of the call to prayer. The early morning noises are the chickens, chatter of children and women, and a dove-like sounding bird. No filming today because the aid workers don't go to the camp on Sundays.
Sundays aside, each morning at 7;30 we leave for the camp in convoy with other Ngos. The drive is about 40 minutes. We have to leave the camp (security regulation) at 4pm. I'm absolutely thrilled by yesterday's filming. Thanks to Gaele our technical problems are solved; we require shade, direct sunlight casts impossible contrasts on faces (not to mention the possibility of sunstroke), but trees can be hard to find. We also need relative quiet. This too is a challenge. At Djabal camp in Goz Beida, as soon as we set up our equipment we were engulfed by people, especially by scores of totally adorable, curious children, most with streaming noses. Although they did try to be silent, there were coughers, commentators, pushers and pickpockets. While we were filming a singer, a group of kids persisted in unzipping my backpack and pulling stuff out. The swiped items --Chap Stick, comb, my note pad, pens, and sun block were eventually returned by other kids- except for the pens. I brought at least a dozen ballpoint pens (gel pens don't work in this heat) I have only one left. Of course the irony is that this project is intended to be for the children, and for their children's children etc. Nevertheless, it is essential to hear the person speaking -as clearly as possible.
So- we have set up our "studio" at the edge of Goz Amir camp where it's quiet, between a couple of scrawny trees which provide a measure of shade. We continually move our mats (on which the people sit) according to the position of the sun. David is impressively accomplished in operating camera and sound equipment. After considerable research in advance of the trip, we purchased a professional video camera, also a far less expensive, back up one, and two sound devices. We're taping onto memory cards, as we feared tapes would melt over a period 4 weeks under fierce sun, in a climate that can top 110 degrees. I think we packed wisely "only essentials" and only what we can carry ourselves. But we are wishing we had brought more granola bars. And pens.
We bought woven straw fences or walls called "seko" in the market, to block the wind and/or the burnt out background. Today we had expected musicians to come, but instead several women arrived, already singing boisterously and dancing. I heard the words "Omer Al-Bashir". They were accompanied by Oumda Musa of the Masalit tribe who explained that he had selected them to sing traditional songs. As the Omer Al-Bashir song ended as we were still scrambling to set up our camera as they launched into a song about the attack of their village in which 62 people died. But the third song was the one they used to sing in their fields back in Darfur, as they were cutting the sorghum. They mimed with sticks and axes as they danced and sang. The fourth song was in praise of the courage of the Masalite in battle- -again with extremely energetic choreography, miming fighting. They had brought round, woven platters, which they used as "shields". The fifth was the song for weddings-- a joyous song. The sixth was the song for circumcision- one of the major rites of passage celebrated by the entire village and by visitors from neighboring villages. They do not talk about the other circumcision-the one for girls which is the most extreme kind of cutting and is practiced only in Sudan-although it is illegal- and I think also in Somalia.
The last song was a very moving one; "We long for Sudan" they sang. "We are missing Sudan".
They also sang their thanks to the "kiwadji" - white people and the humanitarian organizations who are helping them to survive in Chad.
There was a song for the grinding of the grain. It was explained that when a person died the whole village gathered with the relatives. Friends and acquaintances from neighboring villages also arrived with food. At night, the women would grind grain on a stone; they demonstrated how they did this in unison as they sang the song of the grinding of the grain. "The sound of the song must be sad" we were told. And this is traditional both for the Fur and the Masalit people.
Various women gave us the context of each song. Oumda Musa translated with deep feeling. Every time I thanked him he said, "But this is for me, for us. This is for Darfur."
Here is what he said about the traditions surrounding death:
" When a person is going to die they place him on a pallet facing Mecca. We ask him, if he can, to say "shahadi" so that he will be in paradise. They place pieces of the Koran around him so that God will send angels to take him. Not dogs or bad things. Nice smells. Then the bathe him and put him in pure cotton clothes and they bring a bed made of wood. People say prayers while they progress to the graveyard. All people stand in respect; The Imam says " pray for him". This is the last thing people can do for their brother. We ask God to forgive him if he has made any mistakes. They place him on his right side and put some thing on top of him so the earth does not touch him. Again they ask God for forgiveness.
"People stay with the relatives for 7 days; sleep there, eat there-reading the Koran. No laughter, no jokes. We must show how sorry we are.
"After 7 days you can eat. People come from far away. Relations must stay at home to receive people.
After 40 days, relatives again make food and call people to eat. Children, men, women. People say you must be patient; then you are going to forget. The women have not washed their hair all this time but now they can was hair and put on beautiful clothes. Women spend all night grinding grain for flour. We drink tea. Men give money to the relatives, women bring dried ochre, sesame, millet, peanuts and sorghum.
"It is shameful if you don't bring food to help this family, so the community is going to help."
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