DLA Weblog

DLA Committee to Stop Genocide in Sudan

Al Moncure '69 is organizing a Dartmouth Lawyers Committee to Stop Genocide in Sudan and writes the following:

The DLA is organizing its members to help stem the looming humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

Rebels in that country began an uprising in the Darfur region (the size of France) in February 2003 after years of skirmishes between mainly African farmers and Arab nomads over land and water in the arid area. The Islamist government turned to militias, drawn chiefly from the nomadic Arab population, to help suppress the rebels. The militias known as the Janjaweed, have committed widespread atrocities against black villagers uprooting more than a million people, who have fled to other regions in Sudan or across the border to Chad. Several international human rights groups estimate that 15,000 to 30,000 civilians have died in Darfur since fighting broke out. Moreover, the World Health Organization estimates that more than 200 displaced persons are dying every day from disease and malnutrition in dozens of makeshift refugee camps.

On July 30, 2004, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution threatening action against Khartoum if it failed to disarm the Janjaweed militias and restore security within 30 days. That period recently expired. The United States this week circulated a new draft Security Council Resolution which has dropped language in a prior draft for oil sanctions but said the Security Council should “consider taking additional measures,” including oil sanctions, to get the Sundanese government to cooperate more fully. The Sudan government immediately rejected the revised draft. Meanwhile cease fire talks between the rebels and the government have deadlocked.

Although humanitarian aid is needed in the short run, a long term political solution is key to resolving this catastrophe. We believe that lawyers can play a vital role in creating solutions to the situation. If you would like to help with this important work, please contact Al Moncure ’69, 212-788-1160, amoncure@law.nyc.gov by Friday, October 1, 2004. Time is running out for the victims of this holocaust.

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