Showing posts with label Gandhi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gandhi. Show all posts

Thursday, August 05, 2010

JEM threaten to take Darfur and Kordofan for themselves - Sudan, Libya agree to restrict JEM leader's activities

BAD news from AFP and Sudan Tribune: JEM terrorists threaten to take Darfur and Kordofan for themselves. Good news from Xinhua News Agency: Sudan, Libya agree to restrict JEM leader's activities. See three reports below.

Report by Xinhua News Agency (via iStockAnalyst.com)
Thursday, 05 August 2010 at 1:06 PM - excerpt:
Sudan, Libya agree to restrict JEM leader's activities
KHARTOUM, Aug. 5, 2010 (Xinhua News Agency) -- Sudan and Libya have agreed to restrict Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) leader's activities in Libya and to prevent him from launching any hostile activity against Sudan, a Sudanese official said Thursday.

"Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's visit to Libya has achieved good results. We have agreed with the Libyan side that Khalil Ibrahim (who is now residing in Libya) is not to launch any hostile activity against Sudan from inside the Libyan territories, " Sudanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Hassan Ali told reporters at Khartoum airport on Thursday.

"Khalil Ibrahim should join the peace process in Doha. If he insisted on his rejective stance on negotiations, he will isolate himself," said Ali.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday returned to Khartoum after a two-day visit to Libya, during which he held talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on issues of joint border, the presence of JEM leader in Libya and South Sudan referendum.

The Sudanese state minister further said al-Bashir has acquainted his Libyan counterpart with the developments of the Darfur situation and the government's new regional strategy.

He added that the Sudanese president also called on Libya to play an active role in Sudan's unity and the Darfur issue.

Sudan on early July closed its border with Libya, saying the traffic on the joint border exposes the passengers to threats of rebels who commit banditry or impose illegal fees on the passengers.

Khartoum denied that the move was taken in response to the presence of JEM leader in Libya.

Gaddafi in July asked Khalil Ibrahim to join the peace negotiations in Doha, saying Libya has informed Khalil not to do any thing that might cripple the peace talks.
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JEM TERRORISTS THREATEN TO TAKE DARFUR AND KORDOFAN FOR THEMSELVES

Report by AFP (via www.africasia.com)
Wednesday, 04 August 2010 - excerpt:
Darfur JEM to demand self-rule if conflict goes on
Darfur's most active rebel group said on Wednesday it would demand self-determination for the devastated Sudanese region if conflict with the government continues, a spokesman told AFP.

Justice and Equality Movement spokesman Ahmed Hussein Adam said the group, which withdrew from peace talks with Khartoum in May after renewed clashes with the military, said self determination would be at the "centre of our demands."

"If there is no political horizon, if the genocide continue, if the government keep denying human rights, democracy and rule of law then we will have no other choice than to ask for self-determination for Darfur and Kordofan," he said.

"Self-determination means either unity on a new basis or independence," he added without detailing what he meant by the first option.

Darfur was an independent sultanate from the 17th century until 1916. [,,,]

Khartoum is demanding the arrest of its leader Khalil Ibrahim, who is in Libya, where Bashir began a two-day visit on Wednesday.
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Report by Sudan Tribune
Wednesday, 04 August 2010:
Self-determination emerging as an option for Darfur: JEM
August 3, 2010 (WASHINGTON) - The people of Darfur will soon be left with no option but to demand the right of self-determination in a manner similar to Southern Sudan, a senior Darfuri rebel official said today.

Early next year, the citizens of Southern Sudan are scheduled to decide whether they want to remain part of a united country or form their own state. This was stipulated by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between the Arab-Muslim dominated North and the largely Christian and animist South.

"Our people need hope, they have the right to live under state of citizenship, freedom, democracy, equality and rule of law. We cannot accept this indefinite state of status-quo," said Ahmed Hussein who is the official spokesperson of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

"There is an ongoing genocide in Darfur which is entering a new phase. The [Khartoum] regime is working towards having a forcible return by dismantling the IDPs camps, using food as weapon, expelling and intimidating aid groups through abduction, assassinating IDP leaders, assaulting peacekeepers," Hussein added.

The JEM official emphasized that the Sudanese government is deploying these tactics "to liquidate the cause of our people" adding that the shift of international focus from Darfur to South Sudan encouraged Khartoum to execute this plan.

"Under these circumstances, JEM will be left with no other choice than to call for self-determination for Darfur as well as Kordofan. We must remember that Darfur was an independent Sultanate until 1916, exercising sovereignty and conducting its own foreign relations," Hussein said.

This is the first time JEM, considered to be the Darfur’s most powerful rebel group, makes such a call for self-determination. The Sudanese government has flatly rejected this demand saying this not even a topic for negotiations.

Last year, Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur who resides in exile in France, issued a statement demanding the right of self determination though it was later downplayed by its leader.

The development might be a cause of concern to Arab and African nations which see the breakup of Sudan as a major threat to stability and peace in the region already in a fragile and unpredictable state.

Hussein referred to the recent advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Kosovo saying that it sets a legal precedent in other parts of the world including Darfur.

"People around the world are now allowed to decide on their destiny and future to preserve their dignity and humanity," he said.

Many critics in Sudan blame the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) for encouraging secessionist sentiments in the country through marginalizing non-Arab ethnicities and holding strongly to the core of wealth and power. Others say that the ruling party has played ’divide and conquer’ among tribes in Darfur and the South to weaken these regions and remain in control.

In Darfur for example, some experts and politicians accuse the government of allowing Arab tribes from West African nations to come and settle in Darfur creating new conflict over lands and complicating existing ones.

The JEM spokesperson chided the UN Security Council UNSC for staying mute on the events that took place in IDP camps.

"The world is silent even as the government attacks the IDP camps. In Kalma they are passing weapons from the Eastern side of the camp through the security and intelligence agents. This is a war crime and the UNSC must take up its responsibility and intervene to stop this and further support the International Criminal Court to investigate the events that occurred last week," he added.

A crisis erupted after deadly fighting last week swept the Kalma and Zalingi refugee camps — strongholds of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur who resides in exile in France.

Up to 11 people were killed in the fighting reportedly between supporters of Nur’s SLM and those who are supporters of the peace process currently underway in Doha between Khartoum and a rebel umbrella, Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM).

SLM-Nur claimed that the government manipulated a handful of people in the camps to fly to Doha as IDP representatives and then enter the camp along with weapons and ammunition sparking the clashes.

The Sudanese government wants the African Union - United Nations peacekeepers to hand over six people it accuses of inciting the violence.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has indicted Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for war crimes and genocide in Darfur, where mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in 2003 accusing Khartoum of neglecting the region.

Peace talks on Darfur are underway in the Arab Gulf state of Qatar between Khartoum and LJM but observers say that the absence of JEM and SLM-Nur from the negotiations mean that any peace accord signed will not bring peace to the restive region.

JEM has suspended participation in the talks despite a promising start which led to signing of a framework agreement earlier this year. The movement accused the government of breaching the temporary ceasefire agreement and attacking its positions. (ST)
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Quotes of the Day
"Are you one of the group’s members who like to get credit for what you haven’t toiled for? I conclude with the quotation from Indira Gandhi of India that “My grandfather once told me there are two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group because there was less competition there.” -Paul Ongee, 4 August 2010 (in a comment posted at Sudan Tribune report "Self-determination emerging as an option for Darfur: JEM")

"Dr. John [Garang] once said: Sudan will disintegrate into West; East; North and the South as a result of historical and contemporary political and economic marginalization of vast Country side by a small clique in khartoum. As soon as the South goes, Darfur and the east are likely to follow unless otherwise." -Atungdiak, 04 August 2010 (in a comment posted at Sudan Tribune report "Self-determination emerging as an option for Darfur: JEM")
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UPDATE - Thursday, 05 August 2010:
Excerpts from a report by Reuters (KHARTOUM) 05 August 2010:
Bashir returns to Sudan with Libyan promises
... Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir returned to Khartoum on Thursday after a two-day visit to Libya, saying he had secured Libyan guarantees to curb any Darfur rebel attacks.

"The two sides agreed that Khalil would not launch any attacks against Sudan from Libyan territories," State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Hassan Ali told reporters at Khartoum airport on Bashir's return.

Ali who had travelled with Bashir in a high-level delegation to Libya also said Ibrahim now had no option but to return to peace talks in Doha.

JEM says Ibrahim is not under restrictions in Libya and no longer has any desire to return to Darfur. ...

Friday, October 09, 2009

How did Obama win the peace prize?

Warmest congratulations to US President Barack Obama on being awarded a Nobel Peace Peace Prize.  Here's hoping that Save Darfur.org and other Sudan activists will feel greatly inspired by the award and all pull together to work for peace in Sudan and the rest of the world.  

My heroes the late great Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and John Lennon were all murdered but only King received a Nobel Peace Prize.  I would love President Obama to share his peace prize money equally between the estates of Gandhi and Lennon and ask the world to pull together to stage a global concert calling for world peace and safe drinking water for all.

Taking a break. Back soon. Love and peace.  Here are some must-reads:

The poor are not the problem but the solution

What's Missing in the Darfur Sudan Debate: Addressing Property Rights Could Help Bring Peace

Water Is The New Gold

[P.S. This posting has been updated with a link to show that Martin Luther King was the recipient of The Nobel Peace Prize 1964. At the age of thirty-five, he was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.]
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New UNAMID Force Commander, General Patrick Nyambumba 


UNAMID HQ

Photo: US Special Envoy to Sudan Gration meets with UNAMID's Deputy Joint Special Representative (Center) and new UNAMID Force Commander, General Patrick Nyambumba (Right)  September 2009 UNAMID HQ

Here is a snippet from a Snowmail (Channel 4 News UK) authored by Krishnan on Friday, 9 October 2009:
SEARCHING FOR THE REASON BEHIND OBAMA’S NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

It is one of those things that has everyone scratching their heads. Obama has just said he is surprised and deeply humbled. His supporters look a little embarrassed. His detractors are foaming at the mouth. Whatever way you look at it giving the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama seems a tad premature. Is it an award for beating George Bush? An award for being black? The Nobel committee say he has given hope to the world and made great moves on nuclear disarmament. And there is no doubt Obama has changed the game in many ways. But substantive achievements are thin on the ground. He's likely to send more troops to Afghanistan, while his forces kill Afghan civilians by mistake month in month out. Even liberal America thinks it is strange - we'll be talking to Joe Klein of Time magazine and the head of Oslo's International Peace Institute.

Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize: http://bit.ly/1MJJ3l
How did Obama win the peace prize?: http://bit.ly/TWWMB
Nobel Peace Prize

How did Obama win the peace prize?
09 October 2009
By Channel 4 News
Barack Obama was "humbled" - and others taken aback - by the award to the US president of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. So how is the winner chosen?

According to the will of Alfred Nobel, the prize should be given to "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses".

The Norwegian Nobel committee said they had chosen Obama "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples".

But much of the selection process takes place in secret.

The Norwegian Nobel committee writes to various people around the world each year asking them to submit their nominations.

The names of the nominees are only revealed 50 years later, but the prize committee announces the number of nominees each year and Obama was one of 205 people put forward in 2009.

Past winners have included Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan, John Hume, David Trimble, Nelson Mandela, FW de Klerk, Mikhail Gorbachev, Henry Kissinger, and Aung San Suu Kyi.

Mahatma Gandhi was nominated in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947 and 1948. He was assassinated in January 1948 and the rules of the prize state that it cannot be awarded posthumously unless the winner's name has already been announced before their death.

But the prize was not awarded that year because the committee decided "there was no suitable living candidate".

Joseph Stalin was nominated for the peace prize in 1945 and 1948 for his efforts to end the second world war but he was not chosen as the winner.

Adolf Hitler was nominated in 1939 by EGC Brandt, a member of parliament in Sweden, but Brandt later withdrew the nomination.

Winston Churchill was nominated for the peace prize but never won. He did win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953.
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From BBC Friday, 9 October 2009 - Nobel prize win 'humbles' Obama
ANALYSIS

By Paul Reynolds
BBC News, London
The award is certainly unexpected and might be regarded as more of an encouragement for intentions than a reward for achievements.

After all, the president has been in office for a little over eight months and he might hope to serve eight years. His ambition for a world free of nuclear weapons is one that is easier to declare than to achieve and a climate control agreement has yet to be reached.

Indeed, the citation indicates that it is President Obama's world view that attracted the Nobel committee - that diplomacy should be founded "on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population".
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By Mark Mardell
BBC North America editor
There was already a huge weight of responsibility on Obama's shoulders, and this medal hung round his neck has just made it a little heavier.
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Barack Obama says he is "humbled and deeply surprised" to win the Nobel Peace Prize just 10 months into his presidency.
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From Gulf Times, Saturday, 10 October 2009L
Nobel for Obama seen as premature honour
By Sarmad Qazi and Ramesh Mathew

Qatar residents yesterday expressed their surprise at the news of US President Barack Obama winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, attributing his selection “more to his intentions rather than achievements.”

A majority of those surveyed by Gulf Times said that while the first-ever African-American president of the United States may be strongly committed to bridging differences in the world, it was too early to confer the prestigious award on him.

The Nobel Committee said Obama won the prize for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples” while highlighting his efforts to support international bodies and promote nuclear disarmament.
Following are the comments of some of the respondents.

Garry Friend (Australia)
I was surprised to hear that President Obama won the award. Somebody of his stature winning the Nobel Peace Prize in such a short time… it’s a good cause.
I must point out that a lot of his “efforts” appears to be talk, but it’s good that somebody in his position can in future have some input in really making a difference to this region in particular and all over the world.
The award to him is also a good thing if it pushes him to achieve global harmony.

Ibrahim Saleh al-Naimi (Qatari)
I wish him the best of luck. I am not qualified to judge him but if he has won it I think it was to support his good efforts.
He has not done anything concrete yet in the Middle East, although we all appreciated his landmark speech in Cairo.
The Nobel Peace Prize is too early for Obama and I hope this gives him a real incentive to push for peace. People are fed up with wars and there lies a real opportunity for Obama in the White House.

Abbas Moussa (Lebanon)
I think it is a compliment to Obama because he has got such a coveted prize in such a short period, but the selection has opened doubts that Nobel Prizes are politicised.
It would have been better for the Nobel committee to have waited for a couple of years and then see if he really deserved it. But coming this early, the award might tend to lose its prestige.
We know Obama is trying, especially to bring peace to the Middle East but there’s nothing on the ground. Some of the other world leaders have actually done so much more for global peace. Without exaggeration, take the example of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani’s contributions in Lebanon, in Sudan, in relief efforts for Katrina victims and in quake-hit Kashmir.

Ashraf Siddiqui (Pakistan)
The deadline for nomination of the Nobel Peace Prize was February 1 when President Obama had been in office for only two weeks. According to the Nobel Committee, Obama’s outreach to the Muslim world and attempts to curb nuclear proliferation became the basis of his selection. It is a great surprise for me and I’m sure for most others as well.
I would say Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has played a much bigger role in the fight against terrorism by providing unconditional support, amidst strong opposition from the people of his own country. I, therefore, hope the Nobel Committee reconsiders its decision or President Obama comes up with a suggestion to share the award with President Zardari for supporting him.

Anthony Tallant (UK)
I am really surprised at the news. How could a person sending armies to volatile territories one after another be chosen for the award? Be it in Afghanistan or in Pakistan, results are still a far cry.

Lennie Crammer (Sri Lanka)
It is too early to comment on Obama’s performance and the situation in most war-hit countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan has not changed much after Obama assumed office. Even while appreciating the efforts that the US president has been making for long-lasting peace in such countries, I very much feel it was too early to confer on him a top honour as the Nobel Peace Prize.

Ali Mostafa (Indonesia)
How could a president’s performance be evaluated in such a short a period as nine months? Being an Indonesian I should have been proud of this achievement as the US president had done his elementary schooling in Menteng on the outskirts of Jakarta. However, I feel it was too early to honour Obama with the Nobel Peace Prize without understanding his real achievements. Like many others, I’m also a little bit surprised at the Nobel committee’s choice.

Simon D’Silva (India)
It is too premature to talk about Obama’s achievements in just about nine months that he has been in office. Needless to say, the Nobel honour to him at this juncture has surprised me. Before the committee reached such a decision, they should have waited a little more and evaluated the results of his peace missions to such countries as Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq. He still has major challenges to overcome as Al Qaeda and many other such elements are active. For achieving real global peace, the US president has miles to go.

Habib (Afghanistan)
When I first heard that Obama won the prestigious award, I thought that it was a joke and it took me a few minutes to realise it was true.
Most of my compatriots also could not comprehend this choice of Obama for the prize because he has hardly completed one year in the White House. All we got from Obama were promises and nothing else and he should be the winner of “promises award” and not peace.
The Middle East peace process is at a standstill, thanks to his failure to pressurise Israel to stop building settlements. We heard in the media about his intentions to increase the number of US troops in Afghanistan and this is not the behaviour of a peacemaker.
My only explanation is that the Nobel Prize committee had no real candidates to choose from. It was better if they announced that there was no winner for this year, instead of denigrating themselves by selecting Obama.

Friday, September 08, 2006

INTERVIEWS: Suleiman Jamous and Alex de Waal - Tearfund Australia: Christian action with the World's poor

TEAR Australia supports the development and relief work of 94 partner organisations in 25 countries. For the latest information on Darfur, its website links to this blog Sudan Watch.

Finding the link at Tearfund made my day, for more reasons than I can recount here right now. TEAR is one of my favourite charities, along with UNICEF and Save The Children. My thoughts on Darfur are always concentrated on ways to advocate human rights and non-violent conflict resolution while trying to get the balance of information as best as I can manage in this blog - without sounding like too much of a lone voice. Rarely do I find bloggers that think anywhere near the way I do when it comes to Darfur and Sudan. Most seem combatative and gung ho on war, taking what they're told at face value, without doing much thinking about it or any homework.

My heroes are the late great Mahatma Gandhi and Albert Schweitzer (see Philosophy of Civilisation and Ethics of Reverence for Life). As stated here many times before, I do not believe fighting violence with violence is a solution to Darfur. For me, the following excerpt from Democracy Now's interview with Alex de Waal puts my stance in a nutshell. In Darfur Violence Intensifies as Deadline for Withdrawal of AU Peacekeepers Looms [hat tip POTP], Mr de Waal said:
"I think the key thing to bear in mind is that the solution to Darfur is a political solution. No solution can be imposed by any amount of arm twisting, any amount of bluster, any amount of military force. Even if we sent 100,000 NATO troops, we would not be able to impose a solution. The solution has to come through political negotiation. And that, unfortunately, is a very slow process."
Patience is a virtue. I look forward to blogging news of the Darfur Darfur Dialogue. When is the conference to begin? I'd rather push for the conference and a few billion dollars for the fledging AMIS to continue the great job they are doing rather than waste precious time pushing for a peacekeeping force that won't happen until next year. The children of Sudan will be another year older soon and another year without schooling ...

I'd like to see politicians - including those in Sudan - put more emphasis on laws to protect Sudan's children and educate the greedy twisted bullies, thugs and murderers on a fact of life that they will have no power base if there is not enough of a drinking water supply throughout Sudan.

Adults in Sudan ought to be shamed into caring for Sudan's children and their country's drinking water supply and land issues. Surely the women and mothers in Africa and big countries like China and Russia can help alongside dozens of other countries already helping, for the sake of the children, not the greedy money and power hungry rebels and ex rebels running the horror show in Darfur.

CALLING MAMA MONGELLA (AGAIN): WHERE ARE YOU ON DARFUR?

Gertrude Ibengwa Mongella

Photo: Gertrude Mongella The first president of the Pan-African Parliament.

See Aug 17 2006 Where's Mama Mongella and the voices of the AU born Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to mobilise the Arab world, Egypt and Saudi Arabia?
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DR ALBERT SCHWEIZER - THE ETHIC OF REVERENCE FOR LIFE

ALBERT SCHWEITZER

Photo: Dr Albert Schweitzer - b 14 January 1875 - d 04 September 1965 - The Ethic of Reverence for Life:
"The course of history demands that not only individuals become ethical personalities, but that nations do as well."
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WHEN WAS THE LAST SILENT, NO-PLACARDS, NO WORDS, PEACE MARCH?

Birth place of Mahatma Gandhi

Photo: See Gandhi's 1930 march re-enacted.

DROPPING YOUR GUNS WHILE THE WORLD IS WATCHING AND GATHERING 3 MILLION DARFURIS FOR A TOTALLY SILENT UPRISING - ENMASSE, PEACEFRULLY, WITHOUT A WORD BEING SPOKEN - WOULD SPEED WORLD SYMPATHY AND GET ALL SIDES A FAIR DEAL.

God bless all the children of Sudan.

Ref Gandhi's grandson urges peaceful uprising - non-violence would speed world sympathy.

The last word goes to Amnesty: Women take brunt of human rights abuse.

This post is for Drima of The Sudanese Thinker blog in response to his commentary on Darfur & the Continuing Dilemma - and to say thanks for the links to Sudan Watch and sorry I've been too busy to contribute any comments.

See Blogging Drima, The Sudanese Thinker at the UN.

PLAY GANDHI FILM TO SUDANESE

Apr 7 2005 Gandhi film plays to Palestinians - The award-winning 1982 film Gandhi is being released across the West Bank and Gaza to try to persuade Palestinians to embrace non-violent resistance.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and actor Ben Kingsley, who starred as the pacifist Indian leader in the film, attended the premiere in Ramallah.

The project is being co-sponsored by Jeff Skoll, the founder of the internet auction site EBay.

Why not play the Gandhi film to Sudanese? ANYTHING to speed up Darfur Darfur Dialogue and stop the violence so IDPs can return home and grow their own food.

M.K. Gandhi photo and quotations

Gandhi

"My life is my message"

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind"

"If my faith burns bright, as I hope it will even if I stand alone, I shall be alive in the grave, and what is more, speaking from it"

See M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence.