The U.N. representative in Sudan refuted claims that he sought to reformulate a Darfur peace agreement, stressing the urgent need for immediate implementation.- - -
Jan Pronk said in a statement Monday "the peace agreement over Darfur reached in Abuja (Nigeria) is still facing resistance on the ground, especially by refugees, mainly due to wrong interpretations which limit the accord's effectiveness in restoring security and stability to the province."
He argued that three steps should be taken urgently in order to deal with the situation, which is becoming more complex with delays in implementation of the accord.
"The first step is to implement what was agreed upon at the right time because delays in implementation will strengthen the stance of those opposing the agreement," Pronk said.
The second step stipulates gaining larger support for the accord, securing genuine international guarantees and disarming clearly and seriously the Arab Janjaweed militias accused of committing racial cleansing in the war-torn province in west Sudan.
The third step, Pronk said, will be to secure more funds for compensation and reconstruction of areas inhabited by the displaced and the refugees before they are driven further away.
"These steps should be implemented immediately in order to transform Abuja's accord into a sustained treaty," he added.
Pronk denied reports that he had called for rectifying the accord over Darfur in order to include the parties who opposed it, stressing that what he proposed last week was misinterpreted and that he sought to activate the agreement and not reformulate it.
Pronk had said the agreement needed international guarantees and a clearer plan for disarming Arab militias and paying compensation to the victims of war.
May 21 2006 Jan Pronk's Weblog: "What about the Janjaweed? Will the peace agreement stop them?" - UN SGSR Jan Pronk in his blog entry May 19, 2006 points out that despite the fact that Abdul Wahid did not yet sign the Abuja peace agreement, he had signed earlier cease fire agreements, he is still bound by his signature and can be taken to task ... Note also this excerpt [edit] The people behind Minie Minawi and Abdul Wahid will only believe in the peace agreement if they see that the government and the international community together are serious and successful in stopping the Janjaweed. Then they might press their leaders to reconcile. This also may be the most effective way to bring Abdul Wahid aboard.
Mainstream media misinterpreted says Pronk
Note, when I first read Jan Pronk's blog entry, I interpreted it as great suggestions on How to put new life into Darfur's Peace Agreement which is why I chose to use those words in the title as I felt it conveyed the report as positive and constructive.
It took mainstream media journalists three days to pick up on Mr Pronks blog entry. Here is a snapshot from a few headlines at Google news. Most of the other reporters used the same or similar headlines as those listed below. Flaming sheep. Hardly any of them got it right. Best ones are UPI (see above) "U.N.'s 3 steps to activate Darfur accord"; International Herald Tribune, France: "Darfur pact needs help, UN aide says"; Independent Online South Africa: "Darfur peace deal can be saved, says Pronk"
UN chief in Sudan says Darfur peace deal on brink of collapse
Lake Sun Leader (subscription) MO - 1 hour ago ...Pronk cited the arrival of UN peacekeepers as one of three steps to save Darfur, along with implementing the peace agreement and broadening support for it. ...
Darfur peace deal can be saved, says Pronk
Independent Online South Africa - 1 hour ago
... said. Pronk said that without the peace agreement's implementation, the humanitarian situation in Darfur was worsening. "The demilitarised ...
Darfur peace deal on brink of collapse
Mail & Guardian Online South Africa - 1 hour ago
... said. Pronk said that without the peace agreement's implementation, the humanitarian situation in Darfur was worsening. "The demilitarised ...
Darfur deal near collapse
Chicago Daily Herald (subscription), IL - 2 hours ago
... Pronk cited the arrival of UN peacekeepers as one of three steps to save Darfur, along with implementing the peace agreement and broadening support for it. ...
Sudan peace deal at risk of collapse, UN envoy warns
Unison.ie Ireland - 5 hours ago
... "There is a significant risk that the Darfur peace agreement will collapse," Mr Pronk wrote in a web blog. "The agreement does not ...
UN chief: Darfur peace deal on brink of collapse
Jerusalem Post Israel - 10 hours ago
The "severely paralyzed" Darfur peace agreement "does not resonate with the people" and ... But Jan Pronk said the pact was still salvageable if revisions were made ...
Darfur pact needs help, UN aide says
International Herald Tribune, France - 20 hours ago
... Pronk cited the arrival of UN peacekeepers as one of three steps necessary to save Darfur, along with implementing the peace agreement and broadening support ...
UN: Darfur Peace Deal on Brink of Collapse
ABC News - 20 hours ago
... time.". Pronk said that without the peace agreement's implementation, the humanitarian situation in Darfur was worsening. "The demilitarized ...
UN envoy calls for changes to Darfur peace plan
Reuters South Africa - Jul 2, 2006
... Pronk also called for a UN takeover of the 7,000-strong AU force currently monitoring the shaky truce in Darfur, saying it was necessary to avoid a return to ...
PRONK ON DARFUR
Special Broadcasting Service Australia - Jul 1, 2006
The head of the United Nations mission in Sudan, Jan Pronk, says the Darfur peace agreement is in danger of collapse and need to be rewritten. ...

UN's Pronk calls for changes to Darfur peace plan
Sudan Tribune, Sudan - Jul 1, 2006
... Pronk also called for a UN takeover of the 7,000-strong AU force currently monitoring the shaky truce in Darfur, saying it was necessary to avoid a return to ...
UN envoy attacks Darfur agreement
BBC News, UK - Jul 1, 2006
... Minnie Minawi, the rebel leader who signed the deal, is not strong in Darfur, Mr Pronk said, calling for an effort to bring rival leader Abdul Wahid on board ...
Darfur agreement is severely paralysed
Sudan Tribune, Sudan - Jul 1, 2006
By Jan Pronk*. June 28, 2006 - There is a significant risk that the Darfur Peace Agreement will collapse. The agreement does not ...
UN envoy calls for changes to Darfur peace plan
Reuters AlertNet UK - Jul 1, 2006
... Pronk also called for a UN takeover of the 7,000-strong AU force currently monitoring the shaky truce in Darfur, saying it was necessary to avoid a return to ...
Results 71 - 80 of about 204 for DARFUR pronk. (0.22 seconds)
CALL TO BATTLE: LAUNCH ALL-OUT NONVIOLENT WAR IN JULY TO RESCUE DARFUR. Fast Day #8; Vigil Day #59 - A CONCRETE PROPOSAL
ReplyDeletewww.standwithdarfurwhitehouseii.blogspot.com
We are years, YEARS behind in stopping this Genocide; a tragic, inexcusable failure of will and humanity on our part. We must bring this to an end. Bashir's Genocide is exterminating 500 people per day, more than one 9/11 per week. We are giving crystal clear signals to Bashir that he has the time to exterminate, NOW, the remaining 3,000,000 people. Oxfam is pulling out, and the other aid groups are on the verge of following – too hostile on the ground. We are training ourselves to the "gradualism" that was Dr. King's greatest enemy and horror. We are fast depleting the energy that was so valiantly raised by so many of you by April 30th.
Nonviolent wars are not started with tricks and manipulation, emails, four hour demonstrations, letters or phone calls (although, brilliantly, the efforts by many of you thus far have set the stage). We can now win the war if we unleash the masses. Now. ALL-OUT NONVIOLENT WARS OF THE MASSES are ALWAYS STARTED by a small group of NONVIOLENT "MARINES", fully acting out their anguish, agony and horror at the suffering of others (In APPENDIX below: Gandhi in India, Civil Rights Movement...). When these "Marines" do so and sufficiently pay an honest price, it is an irresistible media spectacle. The radical self-sacrifice of these "Marines" ignites the hearts of the masses – possessing less vision, imagination and information. Here is the idea:
STAGE #1. IGNITE THE ALL-OUT NONVIOLENT WAR - DEPLOY THE NONVIOLENT "MARINES" to Rescue and Restore Darfur. Nonviolent campaigns need to be started by the few on the nonviolent side.
I pray that anyone that passionately wants to join will emulate the Gandhi/India campaign (APPENDIX) as follows:
We will begin a long, drawn out series of rolling arrests. Where? The White House. Alternate targets could be the Sudan Embassy, Chinese Embassy, Russian Embassy, United Nations in NYC, or one of the network headquarters for their profound non-coverage of Darfur. If it is the White House, this is not a protest aginst the White House, or President Bush. Why?
WE THE PEOPLE ARE THE PROBLEM AND THE ONLY SOLUTION. WE MUST DELIVER A MANDATE THAT 20-30,000 PEACEKEEPERS (preferably African Union and non-Western UN) BE ON THE GROUND IN DARFUR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, with sufficient empowerment/funding/support. With an unmistakable outcry from the masses, the administration and congress have given every sign that they will happily comply. They need a "win."
PHASE A: A minimum of 20 people are required for us to enter this phase. We need to dramatically demonstrate and HONESTLY EXPRESS the despair we feel over the agony of our Darfur family.
Every 3 hours (so it stretches over days) one of us nonviolently violates the rules at the White House President's Park so as to get arrested. The law is that for the first arrest there is likely to be a 12 hour or less holding period, a $50 fine, and then release.
Phase B. If by the end of this cycle of arrests (3 days elapsed?) we do NOT see the beginning-of-the-end of Hell for Darfur in sight the same group immediately goes through the process a 2nd time, knowing full well that 6 MONTHS IN PRISON may well be the price. This phase goes on until 1. all of us are in prison, OR, 2. the end of Hell for Darfur is assured.
Obviously numbers count for this initial action. If instead of the example of 20, it is 200 or 2,000 people, the impact goes up astronomically. Maybe "prison" will be avoided, but this CANNOT be our goal.
Those involved must fully accept responsibility for staying the course and make certain over the months and years ahead that US Imperialist Tendencies do not come to bear, and that we Rescue, AND Restore Darfur.
STAGE #2. THE MASSES OF NONVIOLENT WARRIORS BECOME ENGAGED, ORGANIZED AND DEPLOYED IN THE FIGHTING.
For every one of the initial "Marines" (just one riding alone across the battlefield in "Dances with Wolves"/100's walking into swinging clubs in Gandhi's India/100's facing the fire hoses down South - APPENDIX) the numbers multiply: 1,000, 10,000, 100,000. The masses become warriors too. National organizations (Africa Action, Save Darfur Coalition, STAND, Genocide Intervention) and other vehicles exist to register this 2nd tier of 100,000's, 1,000,000's of nonviolent fighters and to effectively utilize and deploy them; radically for the Save Darfur Coalition 9/17 event at the United Nations for example.
HOW TO ORGANIZE THE INITIAL STAND? Some thoughts:
Let's not care whose idea or what idea we implement. Instead, let us care that it is the best possible shot at raising the mass army THAT FIGHTS TO WIN, immediately. We must "be" the Truth Force that Gandhi so powerfully weilded. We must be the Truth of Darfur’s desperate need at the White House, at the United Nations, and wherever we go.
Got any ideas you think are good? Better? AWESOME! Contact me or tell me how to contact YOU! Want me to come and talk with you or your group? Want me to join and follow your group? Let's do it. Contact your friends, associates, acquaintances who might be interested.
Let's make this happen. We're killing time. Lets stop the Genocide This Summer, while there is life in Darfur to save.
Sincerely, Jay McGinley
email: jymcginley@cs.com
phone: 484 356 6243
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Appendix: ADDITIONAL RATIONALE AND PERSPECTIVE
EXAMPLE: Do you remember the scene from "Gandhi" when for days, man after man after man walked headlong into swinging British clubs? Well, so did the millions of India, and the entire civilized world watch and remember, and ACT.
EXAMPLE: Do you remember the beginning scene from the movie "Dances With Wolves," when, impossibly, the hero rode across a Civil War field raging with gunfire, both sides behind stone walls, totally in stalemate? His insane ride miraculously shocked his side out of passivity and denial to follow him across the field and rout the opposition. (Yes, this was a violent war but it still illustrates the dynamic that radically committed leaders cause the masses to fight; no other way does it as well. Ever.)
EXAMPLE: Do you remember the TV images of the Civil Rights marchers getting fire-hosed, beaten, and attacked by Police Dogs then doing it all again? And how only then did the MILLIONS of US Citizens go to war? And, on, and on....
Harvard’s Samantha Power’s Pulitzer Prize winning Genocide study of the last 100 years presents a clear conclusion: “the battle to stop genocide has thus been repeatedly lost… [because] Americans outside the executive branch were largely mute….” From "Problem from Hell."
Isn't God/Goodness/Justice/Humanity/History asking us: "WHY DON’T YOU GO TO ALL-OUT NONVIOLENT WAR FOR YOUR FAMILY IN DARFUR?" We must start BEING THE ANSWER to this question by July’s end.
I am open to any appropriate way to go to nonviolent war as long as it equates to fighting to win and doing the very best that we can do.