As World Focuses Elsewhere, a Systematic Slaughter Unfolds in Sudan

[Cannikin]

AL-FASHER, Sudan (AP) - They shot him in his house. They blew her apart with a bomb. They cut him to pieces with swords. They dragged her into the desert and raped her.
As the world's attention was turned to crises in the Middle East, a slaughter has raged for 17 months in Sudan's Darfur region. Arab gunmen on horses and camels, backed by bombers and helicopter gunships, have razed hundreds of black African villages, killed tens of thousands and driven more than 1 million from their homes.

"They say they don't want to see black skin on this land again," said Issa Bushara, whose brother and cousin were gunned down in front of their horrified families during an attack by the Janjaweed militia.

Now, with many more likely to die of hunger and disease in camps in Sudan and neighboring Chad, international pressure is mounting on President Omar el-Bashir's government to end the carnage. U.S. and U.N. officials, haunted by memories of inaction in Rwanda a decade ago, have made a series of highly publicized visits to the region. This week, African leaders also called on Sudan to act.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB4QRN0IWD.html

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. I think the US is doing more than some other Security Council members

for once.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5626111

The United States is facing considerable opposition from U.N. Security Council members in its quest to impose sanctions on militias sowing death in Sudan's Darfur region, diplomats reported.

At initial negotiations on a U.S.-drafted resolution on Thursday, China, Russia, Pakistan, Algeria, Brazil and others were wary of any embargoes, arguing it would be more helpful to get Khartoum's cooperation than force it into a corner, participants in the meeting said.

Europeans, including Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Romania, supported the Bush administration in the 15-member council, they added.

The resolution would impose an immediate arms and travel ban on leaders of the Janjaweed militia who U.S. officials say have considerable wealth. It would give the government 30 days to implement pledges before it too faces possible sanctions.

Given the accusations of government involvement in the massacres, 30 days before they get hit by the sanctions too seems very diplomatic.