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Sudan's Bashir defies court with Chad trip
Source: Reuters
Mon July 19, 2010
* Bashir arrives in Chad* Chad should arrest him, say ICC, rights groups
* Chad says won't arrest Bashir
By Moumine Ngarmbassa
N'DJAMENA, July 21 (Reuters) - Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir arrived in Chad on Wednesday, his first visit to a full member state of the International Criminal Court, which is demanding his arrest for genocide.
The ICC said that as a member state Chad was obliged to arrest Bashir, but Chad said after Bashir's arrival it was under no obligation to do so and Bashir would return home safely after attending a summit it was hosting.
Bashir was indicted by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur last year. This month the court added genocide to the charges, accusing him of presiding over rape, torture and murder in the remote west of Sudan.
Bashir was greeted by Chadian President Idriss Deby on his first trip abroad since the genocide warrant.
"We are not obliged to arrest Omar Hassan al-Bashir," Ahmat Mahamat Bachir, Chad's interior and security minister, told Reuters. "Bashir is a sitting president. I have never seen a sitting president arrested on his travels by the host country."
"(Bashir) came for the (Sahel-Saharan states summit) and he will return home safe and sound," the Chadian minister added.
Since his initial indictment, Bashir has made several trips abroad in defiance of the court. But this was the first to a member of the ICC, which said Chad was obliged to arrest him
ICC issues arrest warrant for genocide against Bashir
Source: Reuters
Mon July 12, 2010
(Reuters) - The International Criminal Court issued a second arrest warrant Monday for Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for the crime of genocide.
Bashir, who faces an ICC arrest warrant from March 2009 for war crimes and crimes against humanity, has dismissed the court's claims that he is responsible for crimes in the Darfur region leading to the death of as many as 300,000 people and a campaign of "rape, hunger and fear" against a further 2.5 million in refugee camps.
"There are reasonable grounds to believe him responsible for three counts of genocide committed against the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups, that include: genocide by killing, genocide by causing serious bodily or mental harm and genocide by deliberately inflicting on each target group conditions of life calculated to bring about the group's physical destruction," ICC appeals judges said in a statement.
Bashir says the allegations made by the ICC, the world's first permanent court for prosecuting war crimes, are part of a Western conspiracy. The ICC warrant was the first issued against a sitting head of state by the court.
When the court first issued the arrest warrant, it ruled there were insufficient grounds for a charge of genocide, but ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo had argued for reopening the case for genocide, which was granted in February.
The ICC has no police force and depends on national authorities and states that have signed up to the court to make arrests.
Bashir has visited several countries not bound by the court's rules since the warrant was issued, but the charge of genocide could further restrict his movements and make it harder for him to rely on support from other countries, given the gravity of the charges.
(Reporting by Reed Stevenson)
Darfur rebels, UN to sign deal to protect children
Source: Reuters
Mon July 19, 2010:
* Deal seems aimed at stopping recruitment of child soldiers * Signing set for Wednesday in Geneva
GENEVA, July 19 (Reuters) - Rebels in Sudan's Darfur region and the United Nations will sign a deal this week to protect children, an independent mediation group said on Monday, in a move that appears aimed at stopping the use of child soldiers.
The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue said Darfur's Justice and Equality
Movement (JEM) and the United Nations children's agency UNICEF would sign the agreement in Geneva on Wednesday.
U.N. officials have cited evidence that the JEM and other rebels and and pro-government groups recruited child soldiers in the conflict that flared in 2003 when mostly non-Arab insurgents revolted against the Khartoum government, seeking more autonomy.
"This is a very important and positive step. It is the result of more than a year's worth of dialogue between the U.N. agencies and JEM, sponsored by the HD Centre," the centre's humanitarian adviser, Dennis McNamara, said in a statement.
The statement made no reference to recruitment of child soldiers but officials who asked not to be identified said one of the points of the deal was to stop this scourge in Darfur.
Under the accord, UNICEF will have unimpeded access to all JEM locations to verify compliance and UNICEF will work with all sides to help protect children from the conflict.
The deal is a rare piece of good news in the seven-year-old conflict in which U.N. officials say as many as 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have been driven from their homes.
Fighting is continuing amid faltering peace talks. [ID:nHEA774645]
The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue is an independent and neutral mediation group based in Geneva that tries to end armed conflict. Besides Sudan, it is active in the Philippines, Myanmar, Kenya and Somalia, among other conflicts. (Reporting by Jonathan Lynn; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Darfur Sees Bloodiest Month In Two Years - UN
Source: Reuters
Mon Jun 7, 2010 12:38pm EDT
* Clashes caused 491 confirmed deaths, 108 unconfirmed
* Violence spiked after JEM rebels froze talks
* Aid work hit as humanitarian flights blocked (Adds detail, background,
aid comment)
By Andrew Heavens
KHARTOUM, June 7 (Reuters) - Nearly 600 people died in rebel and tribal
fighting in Sudan's Darfur region in May, the bloodiest month that the
territory has seen in more than two years, U.N. officials said on Monday.
Violence in the seven-year-old conflict has spiked since one of the main
rebel groups, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), announced in early
May it was freezing its participation in peace talks. More...
Bashir Says Darfur Peace Talks Are Final Round
Sat Jun 5, 2010 6:24pm EDT
Source: Reuters
* Bashir says Darfur talks final round for any group
* SPLM to take Energy Ministry in new government
* Newspapers say censorship increasing
KHARTOUM, June 5 - Sudan's president said on Saturday the
current round of Darfur peace talks would be the final negotiations with
any armed group.
Qatar-hosted peace talks are due to open on Sunday but the leaders of the
two original Darfur guerrilla groups are both refusing to join. Smaller
factions who have few forces on the ground are participating
Amnesty International 2009 Report
This week Amnesty International released their 2009 report on the state of Human Rights (Abstract below) It is a reminder that the situation in Darfur continues despite lack of press.
“SUDAN - "Widespread human rights abuses by the government and armed groups continued. The conflict in Darfur was less intense than in previous years but nevertheless continued, with attacks on civilians and humanitarian convoys among violations of international humanitarian law committed by all sides to the conflict. Hundreds of civilians were killed. Violence against women, including rape, remained widespread ..."
To read the full report: http://report2009.amnesty.org/
Peacekeepers Warn Of Darfur Rebel, Sudan Army Build-Up
12 May 2010 13:52:47 GMT
Source: Reuters Current Situation
* Security deteriorates after peace talk stalemate
* Separate tribal clashes killed 107 since March (Adds background, rebel confirmation)
KHARTOUM, May 12 (Reuters) - Peacekeepers warned of a build-up of Sudanese army and rebel troops near a strategic town in Darfur, where the security situation has deteriorated after peace talks between the government and rebels stalled.
Separately, long running tribal clashes in the remote western region have killed 107 people since March, the joint U.N./African Union UNAMID peacekeeping mission said."The security situation in North Darfur is tense following reports of an increase in the presence of government troops and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) forces in the Shangil Tobay region,"
DAN Editorial
Fraudulent Election Results Usher A Wanted War Criminal Back Into Power
Monday 3rd May
It has been announced that Omar al Bashir has been reelected as President in Sudan’s first multiparty nationwide elections in 24 years. The reelection of Bashir, one of the worlds most wanted war criminals, is a devastating blow to those who have fought so tirelessly for peace in Darfur.
This illegitimate result comes from an election that was marred by stories of intimidation and fraud. The election was extended to last five days after the first day of voting saw missing ballot boxes, poorly trained staff and confusion over the location of voting centers. Activists from the youth opposition group Girifna also claimed they were arrested and beaten in Khartoum during the election period. More...
DAN Editorial
Darfuri’s marginalised in Sudan’s first elections in 24 years
Sunday 11th April 2010
Sudan has just begun its first multiparty nationwide elections in 24 years. These elections are not free, they are not fair, and the results will be viewed as illegitimate by the vast majority of Sudanese. What could have been Sudan’s first chance at democracy in over two decades has become a dangerous charade, that guarantees violence and an almost certain return to power for one of the world’s most wanted war criminals, President Omar al Bashir.
The elections have been marred by censorship of the press and intimidation of human rights activists and community leaders. According to the International Crisis Group in a report on 30 March entitled Sudan’s Rigged Elections, the ruling National Congress Party has “manipulated the census results and voter registration, drafted the election laws in its favour, gerrymandered electoral districts, co-opted traditional leaders and bought tribal loyalties. It has done this all over Sudan, but especially in Darfur, where it has had freedom and means to carry out its strategy, since that is the only region still under emergency rule”. The actual voting process is incredibly complicated, with voters having to fill out up to a dozen different ballots for local, state and national positions. This is a huge challenge given the low literacy levels and lack of voter education and experience in many parts of the country.
Some international observers are present for the election but the European Union has decided to pull its promised observers out of Darfur due to security concerns. Due to these concerns the ruling party in the south of the country, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, has announced that it is withdrawing its candidate for the Presidential race. Most Darfuris will not vote – either because they have been excluded from the census and voter registration, do not have access to the polls, or have deliberately decided to boycott the elections because of the unacceptable process.
Around half of Darfur’s 6 million population are displaced either as refugees or in internally displaced people’s camps. Most of these people will not have easy access to the voting polls due to insecurity which is only likely to rise in the immediate lead-up and aftermath of the elections.
The international community must acknowledge that whoever wins the election do have genuine legitimacy. Darfur peace talks must resume as soon as the rigged elections conclude, and the international community must insist that any Darfur peace deal includes provisions for free and fair national elections.
Darfurians want to have a voice and decide on their leaders through a genuinely democratic process. Boycotting this election is not a choice that Darfuris have made lightly – it is a powerful protest against a ruling party that wilfully ignores the aspirations of the people and deliberately undermines their human rights. We hope the international community will actively support the Darfuri people and all Sudanese, as they fight for peace, justice, reconciliation and a new future for this broken country. Darfur Australia Network
SUDAN WATCH on simmering elections
Sudan365 (http://www.sudan365.org)- a global coalition of Sudan-focused NGOs- is launching its election watch campaign on the 10th April, just ahead of the start of elections in Sudan, and nine months ahead of a referendum on the region’s future.
Sudan365’s Beat for Peace video (http://bit.ly/6OWfPx), supported by famous drummers including Stewart Copeland from The Police, Phil Selway from Radiohead and Ghanian drummer Mustafa Tettey Addey, returns for April with activists from 18 countries including Mali, Norway, South Africa, Senegal and Northern Ireland holding drumming events on the 10th April. More...
South Sudan party withdraws presidential candidate
Source: Reuters
By Opheera McDoom
KHARTOUM, March 31 (Reuters) - South Sudan's leading party said on Wednesday it was withdrawing its candidate for the presidency in April elections, paving the way for a likely victory for incumbent President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.
Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) vice-chairman Riek Machar cited continued conflict in Darfur and electoral irregularities, adding the party would also boycott all levels of elections in Darfur. More...
For more updates on the situation in Darfur please see our current situation page.
Recent DAN Events
DAN In The Media
Cameras help Melbourne's Sudanese Children - The Age, 19th January 2009
Available here.
Justice poses its own dangers - The Age, 16th July 2008
Available here.
Australia is Failing the People of Darfur - The Age, 20th June 2008
An opinion piece by Sarah Hellings (Darfur Australia Network) and Dr Alex Bellamy (Asia-Pacific Centre for Responsibility to Protect). Available here.
China's role in Darfur Deadly - Canberra Times, 6th May 2008
An opinion piece written by DAN Vice President, Alpha Lisimba. Available here.
To arrange for a media interview with a member of the Darfur community in Australia please contact Nicolette Solomon on nicky@darfuraustralia.org or 03 80605659