Papal Envoy Insists on Need to Guarantee Aid for Darfur

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=57385

>snip
These people, the archbishop added, "have been obliged to flee and live in conditions unworthy of man."

"The Catholic Church, through the local episcopal conference, the Caritas network, and other Christian agencies, makes its ample and specific contribution to support all those who in over 20 years of conflict have had to leave their homes," he wrote.

The president of the pontifical council added that "with the contribution of all the peoples of the country, a better future for Sudan can be constructed."

"Unfortunately, the war in Sudan has been neglected and ignored by public opinion for too long," he lamented. "Finally, the world is now following with attention what is happening in this country. Those leaders who inspire international policy have discovered their duty to look beyond their own interests."
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[DemBones DemBones]

1. Most Americans are not aware of what's happening there,

which, if not genocide, is perilously close to it.

More from the article:

"Violence broke out in Darfur some 18 months ago when two rebel groups of African tribes rose in arms, disputing with Arab farmers over the possession of lands and natural resources.

Subsequently, Arab militias known as "Janjaweed," or "men on horseback," began a deadly campaign to evict the black Africans.

Some 30,000 people, the majority black Africans, have been killed, and more than 1 million have had to flee their homes. About 160,000 have gone to Chad. At least 2.2 million are in need of urgent medical care and food, officials said."


Thanks for posting this, ChavezSpeaks!

[struggle4progress]

2. Second U.S. Draft on Sudan at U.N.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 28, 2004


UNITED NATIONS, July 27 (AP) - The United States circulated a revised draft resolution on Sudan to Security Council members on Tuesday, keeping the threat of sanctions and calling on the government to disarm Arab militias that have been blamed for killing thousands in Darfur, in the west.

Sudan's foreign minister, Mustafa Osman Ismail, said his country would retaliate against any foreign troops, reflecting concerns among some Arabs that the United States will follow its invasion of Iraq with an attempt to remake the region.

The new text increases pressure on the Sudanese government to stop the violence, but delegates opposed to the inclusion of a threat of sanctions said it needed more work. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, who spent the weekend calling his counterparts on the issue, spoke to Spain's foreign minister on Tuesday.

The new draft, the second in less than a week, was discussed by members of the Security Council on Tuesday and more consultations were scheduled Wednesday. Stuart Holliday, the deputy United States ambassador, said he hoped for a vote on Thursday or Friday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/28/international/africa/28suda.html