After years, Darfur genocide persists 
April 2, 2009 by Afan Tarar
Developed countries must act to stop atrocities in Sudan
Genocide in Darfur is a problem that cannot be ignored any longer.
Time after time, developed countries have used the deadly weapon of ignorance to deal with such problems. We cannot allow this to happen anymore.Throughout history, many major atrocities have gone unpunished and unrecognized. A couple of the most prominent and widely criticized genocides are the Holocaust and the genocide in Rwanda. Both of these could have been avoided with the right amount of public participation, but people just lived their lives and only cared after the fact.
People go and make their speeches, memorials are made, philosophers sit and talk about the issue, news reporters and celebrities speak out only as much as it suits them, but really, none of it matters because it is already done.
But the problem in Darfur is happening now, it has been for years and it can be solved by some real initiative from the U.S. If politicians really care about the people and if every word of their pretty speeches is genuine, then why are they not acting?
We have an obligation to the people of Darfur so that 10 years from now, rather than talking about what should have happened or what could have happened, we can look back and proudly tell what actually happened and how Americans saved the lives of millions of people. We pride ourselves on being leaders. Leading doesn’t mean being a leader only when it benefits us economically and forgetting about everyone else when it has nothing to do with us.
The people of Darfur are suffering. There have been countless calls to action by individuals and organizations, but still, a conflict that can be solved if the U.S. government really wanted thats persists and kills.
Due to ethnic tensions in the area and a cruel government, the population of Darfur is being dislocated and brutally massacred. Unfortunately, the rebel forces that are instigating the genocide in Darfur were armed by the state itself and are a means for more power for the Sudanese government.
This killing spree has claimed the lives of millions. People right now are suffering at the hands of a brutal government and its mistakes.
The sad thing is that no one in the international community is taking this seriously. There have been many pretty speeches, lots of warnings, but no concrete action.
As the leaders of the international community, the U.S. has to take a stand and let these brutal people know that such abuses will no longer be tolerated. Rather than randomly invade countries on the premise that their dictators are bad and they may have weapons of mass destruction, why not actually use our forces and ability to save the lives of millions of suffering people.
The solution to this problem is very simple: Get the government to actually do something. We live in an amazing country where we have the rare opportunity do something about the problems that we care about.
The problem with Sudan is one of ignorance and lack of infrastructure. We need to first get rid of the current military ruler of Sudan and end the illogical violence using whatever means necessary.
Then we must attack the heart of the problem. Using American companies and workers we can rebuild Sudan by building roads, supplying running water and other resources. Using our resources to do something real, we can actually have a mutually beneficial relationship with these countries. By helping them improve their quality of life, not only do they benefit by hopefully being able to finally lead some form of a normal life, but also we can get earn loyal patrons.
If we help immediately, we can get to the root of the problem. This presents a golden opportunity for the world because America can set up a government and infrastructure in Sudan that can be a model to the rest of Africa. Many of you are thinking that I am making the same type of problem that we did in Iraq, which is actually untrue.
Iraq didn’t need us, Sudan does.
They are waiting to be liberated and have been for decades. By helping to build roads, water systems, electric grids etc., there can be a better standard of living for the people. This can be the beginning of a new era in the world, where stability in Africa can lead to prosperity for other countries.
Everyone has an obligation to help prevent these atrocities. If we do not then we are justifying the genocide by ignoring it. Let us not make this another Holocaust or another Rwanda. Write to your congressman and inform your friends and family about the problem.
I refuse to believe that thousands of us can write articles in newspapers and letters to the president when undeserving CEOs are getting bonuses, but cannot rally together to stop the death of millions of people. No. We must take a stand and bring about change in this world. If we expect others countries to care about us, we must care about them.
Genocide across West Papua is happening NOW, ever since the US organized the New York Agreement selling that colony to Indonesia first hundreds and then thousands of people began ‘disappearing’ each year. Racial replacement of the black population by Javanese soldiers and farmers.
Is it too paintfull a pill for Americans to look at West Papua? The US Congress attempted to ask questions about West Papua in 2005 but General Yudhoyono and U.S. senators removed that part of the bill.
The motive? Money. The Freeport corporation mines West Papua’s gold and copper, and it was a Freeport director Robert Lovett who in 1960 told President elect Kennedy that he should appoint Lovett’s friend McGeorge Bundy to run the NSC. The NSC then told Kennedy that he had to sacrifice West Papua to save America from communism. Money.
Hard to believe that a US government could decide to sell human beings for its own benefit; but that was admitted by the US Dept. of State thirty years http://wpik.org/Src/1961_US_record.html#Indonesia
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
Afan,
Thank you very much for writing about this topic, it is very near and dear to me as I have been a activist for peace in Darfur for over 2 years.
I started a grassroots organization called ChampionDarfur and we work to raise awareness in Nevada about Darfur. We recently had a rally in front of the federal building downtown ( http://tinyurl.com/cku422 ).
We are ramping up as April is Genocide Prevention Month. There have been rallies all over and people really are making serious efforts to get our administration to take serious action. The recent appointment a Special Envoy to Sudan is, too me, proof that we are getting through. Though I admit its not enough.
The true hinderence to our administration doing anything against the government of Sudan is our anti terrorist relationship and information sharing agreements with them. Since Osama Bin Laden hid out and trained Al Qaeda in Sudan for year before a US missile attack convinced Sudan to kick them out, its not surprising that the U.S. turned to Sudan for information after 9/11. Al-Bashir used information like currency and bought a blind eye from the U.S. Government and it is the international communities job to make sure the Obama administration does not make the same mistake.
There are a ton of organizations out there that people can get involved with but like you said we need to contact our elected officials and let them know that we have to do something now to end the genocide in Darfur. Think they don’t listen to you?
I have met and talked to both President Obama and Secretary of State Hilliary Clinton, talked with almost all the state elected officials and have recently had a meeting with Senator Reid’s foreign affairs adviser. The question isn’t whether or not they will listen, its whether or not your willing to yell loud enough to get their attention.
Get involved, end ignorance, and end genocide.