UN: Arrest of Sudan's Bashir Could Mar Aid Effort | Newsweek International

Waiting For The Court

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Does it do more harm than good?
I do agree with that. When I moved to New York I remember seeing a poster in the subway which read: 'Save Darfur—tens of thousands are dying each month'. That's just not true. They are a bit misplaced but they do create a political context and that can be helpful.

The humanitarian response in Darfur is now in its sixth year. How sustainable is that international support?
I don't know how long can we go on like this. It's a $1 billion a year operation. That generosity has its limits.

You have requested a further $2.2 billion for Sudan in 2009 ($1.05 billion for Darfur). How concerned are you that the global recession will affect the level of donations?
We are expecting it to affect us but so far it's not been a problem. The Americans are very big donors and Darfur is still in the news—it's a sexy political subject. That might change though. The longer the operation has to continue the harder it will be to get funds. South Sudan is more difficult. People assume it's a done deal but it's not. It's still fragile.

You've been to Abyei, the border town between north and south destroyed by fighting in May. Are you hopeful that the two sides can find a peaceful solution?
Abyei is a very delicate, vital area. People feel very bitter. One woman I spoke to said: 'I was born in a crisis, I have lived through a crisis, now it looks like I will die in a crisis'. There is also a lot to do to rebuild confidence in the U.N. force there.

Sudan is due to hold elections this year—the first since Bashir took power in a coup in 1989. How hopeful are you that they will go ahead?
It is very difficult to say. I suspect the timetable will be slipping—at least until the end of 2009.

This brings to mind the blanket of secrecy being placed over Guantanamo Bay. Our government has had interest in Sudan ever since it was discovered way back in the 1980's that Sudan sits on oil deposits that rival Saudi Arabia and very rich deposits of diamonds, emeralds, gold, platinum, etc. Ever since the overthrowing of the Al Mahdi family in the late 1980's the people of the Sudan have been constantly being shifted from one disreputable government to another. I find it interesting that Sudan had been at peace with itself until european and western influences started to come to bear. Its a well known fact that our government has engaged in supporting insurgent groups as is evidenced by US support of the Taliban and Al Qaida against the Soviets in the same sort of action that has drained our economy or the US support of the Contras down in Nicaragua against the Sandanistas. Knowing how important their Islaamic way of life is to many Sudanese people, I find myself wondering WHY the people in positions of power in that country no longer reflect the people who inhabit the land, not even in the way that they dress? For an Islaamic country, all of the pictures of the leaders look like christians or people who identify more with christianity than the traditional way of life of the Sudan. No offense intended, but it seems as if christians have been attacking Islaamic countries ever since the search for the holy grail began hundreds of years ago. The only difference now is that mineral wealth is the new grail.

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Posted By: boscobear @ 01/18/2009 10:58:15 AM

Let's let the UN derail the arrestr warrent and allow al-Bashir to kill a few more thousands of his people You know, if we just follow the UN in this matter, pretty soon he will have killed everyone and then this matter will be solved.
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Posted By: MET9 @ 01/17/2009 2:48:56 PM

This brings to mind the blanket of secrecy being placed over Guantanamo Bay. Our government has had interest in Sudan ever since it was discovered way back in the 1980's that Sudan sits on oil deposits that rival Saudi Arabia and very rich deposits of diamonds, emeralds, gold, platinum, etc. Ever since the overthrowing of the Al Mahdi family in the late 1980's the people of the Sudan have been constantly being shifted from one disreputable government to another. I find it interesting that Sudan had been at peace with itself until european and western influences started to come to bear. Its a well known fact that our government has engaged in supporting insurgent groups as is evidenced by US support of the Taliban and Al Qaida against the Soviets in the same sort of action that has drained our economy or the US support of the Contras down in Nicaragua against the Sandanistas. Knowing how important their Islaamic way of life is to many Sudanese people, I find myself wondering WHY the people in positions of power in that country no longer reflect the people who inhabit the land, not even in the way that they dress? For an Islaamic country, all of the pictures of the leaders look like christians or people who identify more with christianity than the traditional way of life of the Sudan. No offense intended, but it seems as if christians have been attacking Islaamic countries ever since the search for the holy grail began hundreds of years ago. The only difference now is that mineral wealth is the new grail.
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Posted By: ross1972 @ 01/17/2009 10:44:15 AM

The arab street and western muslims need to take to the streets of their nations in protest and demand a halt to this genocide by a muderous racist government.The people of Darfur need to know their fellow muslims will not abandon them to face the military might of the sudanese government alone and stand in solidarity with them.Arab and muslim leaders need to sever all ties to Sudan in protest of this humanitarian catastrophe.Darfur for Darfurians.Stop the indiscriminate killing of civilians in darfur.