Here is a discussion on Darfur at the DU that is still open tonight: Genocide update: "NATO on alert to provide help in Darfur" (Bush silent) thread started by
Nothing Without Hopehttp://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3692135Here are some questions that need answers from a thread last night: STOPPING THE DARFUR GENOCIDE: We need ANSWERS to these QUESTIONS: posted by
Nothing Without Hopehttp://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3724411Darfur: Daily News May 26, 2005Thanks to SAVE DARFUR Latest News at:http://www.savedarfur.org/go.php?q=latestNews.html Latest News
May 26, 2005 - $200 million pledged for AU's Darfur force http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/05/26/darfur.peackeepers.ap/CNN.comInternational donors pledged an additional $200 million Thursday to fund the African Union (AU) peacekeeping operation in Sudan's western Darfur region during a conference to discuss the ongoing violence. The AU has asked for $723 million to help finance and equip the Darfur operation, but it was $350 million short at the beginning of Thursday's conference.
Africa aims to boost military muscle in troubled Darfurhttp://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0527/p04s01-woaf.html Christian Science MonitorThe African Union (AU) aims by September to expand the force to more than 12,000, from 2,270. By the start of the conference, the US had pledged $50 million, out of a total of $200 million promised by international donors. But whether more AU or other troops can actually get into place in the vast region with the right logistical support and with rules of engagement that are robust enough, is all still very much in question.
Darfur peace talks set to resume on June 10 http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/0419c7dcbc5708e40011eec36d3dbcad.htmAlertNetPeace talks between the Sudanese government and rebels from the western region of Darfur are set to resume in Nigeria in June, after a six-month gap, a spokesman for the African Union (AU) said on Thursday.
DU discussion on the above article by
Telly Savalas :
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3725168World must race against time to save Darfur -Annan http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8616964ReutersU.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan urged donors on Thursday to fund a bigger African force to help end bloodshed in Darfur, where experts say hundreds are still dying daily nine months after the mission first deployed. Annan warned rich nations at a pledging conference in neighboring Ethiopia that they would end up having to finance an "epic relief effort" if more violence made food even scarcer in the vast western region of Sudan, Africa's largest country.
DU discussion on this issue posted by
ElsewheresDaughter in LBN:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1501432Secretary-General's concluding statements at the pledging conference to AU mission in Sudan http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=1469UN news releaseLet me say at the outset how very encouraged we are (my co-chairperson and myself) by the expressions of support for the African Union Mission in the Sudan and by the determination to provide the assistance to alleviate the plight of the affected populations in Darfur and to find a political solution to the conflict. One of you said that the African Union is not alone and indeed the international community has presented today a fully united front.
Darfur displaced endure daily battle to survivehttp://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/ACIO-6CRNJZ?OpenDocument ReliefWebSudanese and African Union officials said in recent days that calm had begun to return to Darfur, ahead of key June 10 peace talks between Khartoum and rebels, but for the refugees signs of improvement are few and far between.
Originally posted at the DU in LBN by
WesDem at:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1502185Canada leads the way as donors pledge $200 million US for Darfur peacekeeping12:02 PM EDT May 26
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - International donors, led by Canada, pledged an additional $200 million US to fund the African Union peacekeeping operation in Darfur on Thursday. The Canadian pledge, by far the largest at a conference to raise money to stop the ongoing violence in western Sudan, promised the equivalent of $134 million US.
The United States said it would contribute an additional $50 million on top of the $95 million already committed.
The U.S. State Department's senior representative on Sudan, Charles Snyder, said the money was being pledged to help end what he called "acts of genocide."
The African Union has 2,270 troops in western Sudan attempting to stop fighting between rebels and Arab militias, but has plans to increase that number to more than 12,300. The African Union has asked for $723 million US to help finance and equip the Darfur operation, but was $350 million short at the beginning of Thursday's conference.
Britain pledged $12 million US on Thursday and Germany $1.25 million. Other countries made smaller pledges, or offered troops.
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http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050526/w052622.html This article was originally posted in the DU
by WesDem at:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3733732&mesg_id=3733732NATO to DarfurBy The International Herald TribuneVANCOUVER, British Columbia, MAY 26, 2005 -- This article was written by Madeleine Albright, U.S. secretary of state in the Clinton administration, and former foreign ministers Robin Cook of Britain, Lamberto Dini of Italy, Lloyd Axworthy of Canada, Ana Palacio of Spain, Erik Derycke of Belgium, and Surin Pitsuwan of Thailand.
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The fundamental cause of the humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur is, at best, the failure of the government of Sudan to take effective action against the militias terrorizing civilians, and at worst, its active complicity and support in these activities. Sudan has demonstrated that it lacks both the will and capacity to protect its own people, and therefore we believe the international community, consistent with the emerging international norm of the "Responsibility to Protect," must act in this glaring case of genocide and do whatever is necessary to halt the killing and abuse of innocent civilians.
The courageous African Union mission deserves enormous credit for seeking to help the people of Darfur, and its deployment of nearly 2,500 troops, with a promise to add another 3,000 police and troops this summer, must be the backbone of any mission of protection. But because the AU force is currently too small to cover an area the size of France and lacks critical logistical capacities, the militias continue to burn villages and besiege refugees in their camps.
The African Union needs far greater support. And NATO can help. The alliance should immediately provide the AU with helicopters (already offered by Canada); command, control and support capabilities; and strategic and tactical lift. Drawing on its Rapid Response Force, which is now at its initial operational capacity of 17,000, NATO should put a brigade-sized element at the disposal of the United Nations to augment the AU force until it can build up sufficient strength of its own.
In addition, NATO should seek authority from the Security Council for a new Chapter VII resolution establishing a no-flight zone over Darfur, which NATO aircraft would enforce. Although some states on the Security Council, notably China, have opposed tougher measures on the grounds that the Sudanese government should be given time to resolve the conflict in Darfur through a new political process, it remains an open question as to whether these governments would vote against an action that was aimed at saving lives.
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http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=9770 From yesterday:Here is the original thread posted by
WesDem:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3726089 Darfur Needs Bolder International Interventionhttp://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=3468&l=1&m=1Crisis GroupBrussels, 25 May 2005: With the high-level conference on the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) set to begin in Addis Ababa on 26 May 2005, the International Crisis Group is urging much stronger international intervention to stop the ongoing killing in Darfur.
In a letter addressed to world leaders (full text below), including those meeting at the conference, Crisis Group President Gareth Evans highlights two areas in particular that immediately demand a bold new approach: the mandate of the international troop presence, and its size and capacity.
The current mandate of AMIS, as authorised by the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council, focuses on monitoring and verification, leaving to the Sudanese government the basic responsibility to protect civilians and humanitarian workers.
"Khartoum has utterly failed in its responsibility to protect its own citizens", says Evans. "And AMIS's own protection role is so highly qualified as to be almost meaningless".
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posted by
WesDemhttp://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3730018
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