Waging Peace Organise Demonstration to Mark Deadly Sudan Anniversary. Darfur and South Kordofan- the killing continues. Letter to UNSC re Sudan and the ICC. Parliamentary Questions about Darfur and South Kordofan and the Government’s Response.

Mar 31, 2015 | News

 Darfur

News From Waging Peace

5th ANNIVERSARY OF CONFLICT IN NUBA MOUNTAINS AND BLUE NILE

Waging Peace

Since 2011 civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Niles states in Sudan have endured regular aerial bombardment by the Sudanese armed forces – the latest and most shocking example of which included the well-publicised murder of six children in Heiban. As a result of the systematic bombing of farms and markets, those who have survived are facing starvation. In addition, and in direct contradiction of long-established international humanitarian norms, schools and hospitals have been deliberately targeted by the Khartoum regime.  We invite you to join us to demonstrate against these atrocities.  Please see details below:

5th ANNIVERSARY OF CONFLICT IN NUBA MOUNTAINS AND BLUE NILE

Demonstration to mark the 5th anniversary of conflict in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile, Sudan.

Saturday, 4th June

  • 1pm Sudanese Embassy, 3 Cleveland Row, St. James, London SW1A 1DD
  • 3pm Walk to Downing Street
  • 4pm Present Letter to Prime Minister David Cameron
  • 5pm End

If you’re having any trouble finding us, please ring Maddy on 07703549167.[email protected]

Please join us to demand an end to the fighting in Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile.

Darfur aerial bombardment

Darfur aerial bombardment

Darfur map

Map of Darfur and South Kordofan

Letter to UNSC re Sudan and the ICC

Published by SudanUnlimited

UNSC URGED TO END IMPUNITY ON 10th ANNIV. OF ITS REFERRAL OF DARFUR TO THE ICC

78 Sudanese and international humanitarian and human rights organizations and experts urge the UN Security…

Tweet:  78 orgs/experts urge #UNSC to enforce arrest warrants on 10th anniv of referral of #Darfur to #ICC @AmbassadorPower https://www.scribd.com/doc/260469424/Letter-to-UNSC-re-Sudan-and-the-ICC

H.E. Mr. Francois DelattreMarch 31, 2015
We have reached a critical moment in history and we urge you, for the sake of humanity, touphold justice in Sudan and to establish a decisive precedent in order, as the UN Charter states, “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” and “to reaffirm faith infundamental human rights [and] in the dignity and worth of the human person.”
 Inparticular, the Security Council should:
 
Reaffirm your support of the ICC’s investigations in Darfur by actively pursuing thearrests of indicted war criminals and encouraging the Chief Prosecutor, Madame Bensouda, to reopen the court’s investigations.
 
 
Hold a special session on Sudan and the continuing violence in Darfur, Abyei, SouthKordofan and Blue Nile, and hold the Government of Sudan to account for non-cooperation with the ICC and the failure to bring justice to the people of Darfur.
 
Clearly and specifically declare that the upcoming elections in April 2015 are notbeing held in an environment that would allow for free and fair elections and shouldnot be considered as legitimate or as legitimizing the regime in Khartoum.
 
Urge the African Union, the Arab League and other bodies not to send observermissions to Sudan for such elections per the March 27, 2015 letter to the AfricanUnion by 23 Sudanese civil society organizations.
 
Consider other measures under Chapter VII of the UN Charter that would help endthe suffering of the people of Sudan.Sincerely,Act for SudanAfrican Freedom CoalitionAfrican Soul, American HeartAlustadh Mahmoud Mohamed Taha Cultural Center – MTCCArry Organization for Human RightsBlue Nile Association for Peace and DevelopmentBlue Nile Community AssociationBrooklyn Coalition for Darfur & Marginalized SudanChrist Church, JerusalemChristian Solidarity International-USACollectif Urgence DarfourColorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and ActionCommunity of South Sudanese and America Women/Men (CSSAW)Darfur Action Group of South CarolinaDarfur and BeyondDarfur Interfaith NetworkDarfur People’s Association of New YorkDarfur Relief and Documentation CentreDarfur Solidarity Group, South AfricaDarfur Union in the UK and N. Ireland
  
H.E. Mr. Francois DelattreMarch 31, 2015
Darfur Women Action GroupDarfur Women NetworkDear Sudan Love MarinDoctors to the WorldGenocide No More – Save DarfurGenocide WatchGeorgia Coalition to Prevent GenocideHumanity Is UsHumanity UnitedInvestors Against GenocideJerusalem Center for Genocide PreventionJews Against GenocideJoining Our VoicesKentuckiana Taskforce Against GenocideLong Island Darfur Action GroupMassachusetts Coalition to Save DarfurMy Sister’s KeeperNever Again CoalitionNew York Coalition for All SudanNuba Christian Family Mission, Inc.Nuba Mountains Advocacy GroupNuba Mountains International Assoc./NYNuba Mountains Solidarity Abroad UK and Northern Ireland BranchNuba Peace InitiativeOperation Broken SilencePeople4SudanPittsburgh Darfur Emergency CoalitionSan Antonio Coalition Against GenocideSan Francisco Bay Area Darfur CoalitionSave Darfur North Shore BostonSociety for Threatened PeoplesSt. Clare’s Episcopal Church, Pleasanton, CASTAND: The Student-Led Movement to End Mass AtrocitiesStop Genocide NowSudan Advocacy Action ForumSudan UnlimitedThe Elsa-Gopa TrustThe Institute on Religion and DemocracyThe Sudanese Community Church, Denver, ColoradoTriangles of TruthUnite for DarfurUnited to End GenocideVoices for SudanWaging Peace
 
Ahmed H. Adam, Visiting Fellow, Institute for African Development, Cornell University

Darfur – the killing continues:  Letter to the UNSC regarding the 10th anniversary of its referral of Darfur to the ICC.

H.E. Mr. Francois DelattreMarch 31, 2015
 
Hamid E. Ali, PhD, Associate Professor of Public Policy, The American University in Cairo
 
Lord David Alton of Liverpool, House of Lords, UK Parliament
 
The Baroness Cox, House of Lords and CEO HART (Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust)
 
Ellen J. Kennedy, PhD, Executive Director, World Without Genocide at William MitchellCollege of Law
 
David King, Harvard University
 
Gill Lusk, Journalist
 
Dr. Greg Miller, Professor Emeritus, Millsaps College
 
Eric Reeves
 
Professor Elihu D Richter MD MPH, Associate Professor, Hebrew University – HadassahSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine
 
Victoria Sanford, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Anthropology, LehmanCollege; Director, Center for Human Rights & Peace Studies
 
Henry C. Theriault, Professor of Philosophy, Worchester State University
 
Dr. Samuel Totten, Professor Emeritus, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
 
John H. Weiss, Caceres-Neuffer Genocide Action Group, Cornell Universitycc: United Nations Security Council MembersOffice of the Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United NationsOffice of the Permanent Observer for the League of Arab States to the United NationsDelegation of the European Union to the United Nations
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Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool Crossbench 25th March 2015

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the escalation of the conflict, including sexual violence targeted at women, in Darfur over the past 12 months; and what assessment they have made of the outcome of investigations into reports of mass rape in Tabit earlier this year.

Photo of Baroness Anelay of St JohnsBaroness Anelay of St Johns Conservative 25th March 2015

We remain deeply concerned by the continued escalation of conflict in Darfur that has resulted in over 40,000 newly displaced persons so far in 2015. Reports of widespread sexual violence, including Human Rights Watch’s investigation into the events in Tabit, are deeply disturbing. In my press statement of 13 February I reiterated our call for a full and independent investigation into what happened in Tabit and unfettered access for the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur, as well as for humanitarian agencies to provide assistance.

Lord Alton of Liverpool Crossbench 25th March 2015

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Baroness Northover on 4 March (HLDeb, col 215), what steps they are taking with their international partners to prevent the government of Sudan from further destabilising the situation in South Sudan through cross-border interference and interventions; on what evidence they base their assertion that “the government of Sudan themselves are playing a non-obstructive role generally speaking”; and to which non-governmental humanitarian organisations and charities the government of Sudan allows access to provide humanitarian assistance in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur.

Photo of Lord Bourne of AberystwythLord Bourne of Aberystwyth Conservative 25th March 2015

We have consistently been clear in our private engagements with countries in the region, including Sudan, that they need to support all efforts to bring peace to the people of South Sudan. The Government of Sudan has played a non-obstructive role in the peace process led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which it has supported, including through being part of IGAD’s core mediation team.

Lord Alton of Liverpool Crossbench 25th March 2015

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the number of (1) villages destroyed in Darfur in 2014, (2) people who were newly displaced that year, (3) displaced people in Darfur in total, and (4) Darfurians currently in refugee camps in Eastern Chad.

Photo of Lord Bourne of AberystwythLord Bourne of Aberystwyth Conservative 25th March 2015

According to the latest UN Panel of Experts report of 15th January 2015, 3,324 villages were destroyed between December 2013 and April 2014. The United Nations (UN) Sudan 2015 Humanitarian Response Plan estimates that in Darfur 430,000 people were displaced in 2014 resulting in a total number of 2.5 million people displaced. The United Nation High Commission for Refugees has a record of 367,229 Sudanese refugees in Chad of the 28 February 2015.

According to data relating to UK funding of the Common Humanitarian Fund in 2014 we can confirm that the Government of Sudan has allowed access to both national and international non-governmental humanitarian organisations in Darfur and government-controlled parts of Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

Lord Alton of Liverpool Crossbench

My Lords, does the Minister recall our exchange on 17 May 2012, when I asked her whether she concurred with the view of Dr Mukesh Kapila, formerly our high representative in Sudan, that the second genocide of the 21st century was unfolding in South Kordofan, Darfur being the first? In her reply she said that,

“it is clear that there have been indiscriminate attacks on civilians and war crimes”.—[ Official Report , 17/5/12; col. 526.]

In the nearly three years that have elapsed since then, during which an estimated 2,500 bombs have been dropped on civilian targets, why has the international community totally failed to prevent this horrific carnage, failed systematically to collect the evidence, failed to establish an international committee of inquiry, and failed to hold anyone to account for these atrocities?

Photo of Baroness NorthoverBaroness Northover Liberal Democrat

I do remember that exchange and I remember the discussions we had after that question as well—as no doubt the noble Lord does—and

the sensitivity of what we did in trying to make sure that we were able to get humanitarian organisations in, which we are seeking to do. We are extremely concerned to make sure that that access is there. It is indeed a very challenging situation and we would hold both sides to account. Certainly, in terms of what the Government of Sudan have been doing, we have enormous concerns and address this through the human rights activities that I was talking about.

Lord Alton of Liverpool Crossbench 3rd February 2015

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when officials from the Department for International Development, the European Union or United Nations agencies last had access to conflict areas of South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur; how many displaced people are estimated to be located in Blue Nile and the Nuba Mountains; and how many refugees and people displaced by conflict in the Republic of Sudan and South Sudan are estimated to be in camps inside and outside these countries.

Photo of Baroness NorthoverBaroness Northover Liberal Democrat 3rd February 2015

United Nations agencies operate in all five states of Darfur and Government held areas of Blue Nile and South Kordofan. DFID and ECHO travel regularly to these states (with the exception of South Kordofan) to monitor programmes. The Government routinely denies humanitarian access to areas of active conflict where needs are often greatest. Humanitarian access from Sudan toopposition held areas of Blue Nile and South Kordofan has been blocked by the Government since 2012.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that there are 3.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan, 1,470,000 of these live in IDP camps in Darfur. There are 540,000 IDPs in the Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains, with a fifth of these living in non-government controlled areas. There are an estimated 625,000 Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries. In South Sudan, there are around 1.5 million IDPs and 500,000 South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries, including 120,000 in Sudan

South Kordofan and Blue Nile

Lord Alton of Liverpool Crossbench 25th March 2015

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Baroness Northover on 4 March (HLDeb, col 215), what steps they are taking with their international partners to prevent the government of Sudan from further destabilising the situation in South Sudan through cross-border interference and interventions; on what evidence they base their assertion that “the government of Sudan themselves are playing a non-obstructive role generally speaking”; and to which non-governmental humanitarian organisations and charities the government of Sudan allows access to provide humanitarian assistance in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur.

Photo of Lord Bourne of AberystwythLord Bourne of Aberystwyth Conservative 25th March 2015

We have consistently been clear in our private engagements with countries in the region, including Sudan, that they need to support all efforts to bring peace to the people of South Sudan. The Government of Sudan has played a non-obstructive role in the peace process led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which it has supported, including through being part of IGAD’s core mediation team.

According to data relating to UK funding of the Common Humanitarian Fund in 2014 we can confirm that the Government of Sudan has allowed access to both national and international non-governmental humanitarian organisations in Darfur and government-controlled parts of Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

Lord Alton of Liverpool Crossbench 23rd March 2015

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Sudanese people they assess to have been displaced or to have fled from Blue Nile or South Kordofan to Ethiopia or South Sudan.

Photo of Baroness NorthoverBaroness Northover Liberal Democrat 23rd March 2015

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has a record, as of 28 February 2015, of 233,000 refugees from Sudan in South Sudan.

There are a further 36,000 refugees from Sudan in Ethiopia.

Lord Alton of Liverpool Crossbench 6:16 pm, 10th March 2015

My Lords, in debating the findings of this report, we clearly owe a great debt to the noble, Lord, Lord Howell of Guildford, and the members of the Select Committee. The ability to produce reports of this quality eloquently underlined the need for an international affairs Select Committee of this House, as the noble Lord said in his introductory comments—and I happily echo that.

In July last year, when introducing a Cross-Bench debate on the importance of the BBC World Service and the British Council, I argued that the deployment of smart power would always consist of a combination of Joseph Nye’s soft power, backed up by the hard power of military capability—a point that my noble and gallant friend Lord Stirrup made so eloquently earlier. I drew on the British Academy’s excellent report, The Art of Attraction. In the intervening nine months, the world has become more fragmented and dangerous, with terrorist webs, rampaging militias and armies posing existential threats. As it emerges from a period of sustained austerity and battle fatigue, following wearying wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Britain in 2015 is a country that has become uncertain about its

place in the world. This uncertainty is reinforced by jihadist militias and terrorists, the territorial aggression of Russia, the nuclear threat posed by Iran and North Korea, and the unresolved question of what sort of relationship we are to have with continental Europe.

Our world is less tolerant and more violent: from Syria, Iraq and the continued rise of the so-called Islamic State or Daesh, which continues to murder people and eradicate culture and heritage; to the horrors of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, where the Sudanese regime has dropped more than 2,500 bombs on its civilian population; to Boko Haram’s abduction of girls in Nigeria; to the burning alive of Christians in Pakistan; to the recent beheading of 21 Egyptian Copts in Libya; and to the continuing incarceration of 200,000 people in the prison camps of North Korea. The need to deploy smart power is self-evident. It would be folly in these circumstances to reduce further our military or non-military capability.

Darfur

Lord David Alton

For 18 years David Alton was a Member of the House of Commons and today he is an Independent Crossbench Life Peer in the UK House of Lords.

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