Darfur Quotes?

Question

Does anyone know any quotes that menition or summarize the genocide occuring in Darfur?

Answer 1

First of all what is the Darfur genocide?

The Darfur Genocide began in February 2003, when rebellions were started by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA), who accused the government of oppressing non-Arabs and favoring the Arabs, and neglecting the Darfur region in West Sudan. The Sudanese government responded with aerial bombardments, join-strikes on tribes with the Janjaweed. Together with the Sudanese Military they have consistently burnt down villages and displaced over 2,500,000 people. Together they have killed between 200,000 to 400,000 people. The government has restricted the press and put many people in jail to silence the opposition.

Human rights violations, video and photographic evidence show the extent of the damage. Though the United Nations has refrained from calling it genocide, because "genocidal intent appears to be missing." However, this means that the United Nations will call it genocide if the intent becomes apparent.

The Sudanese government has been covering up forensic evidence and tampering with mass graves. They probably even destroy any sort of written evidence that may be hinting at genocidal intent.

QUOTES

"Despite the increase in world attention toward Sudan in the past months, the genocide in Darfur has continued without any serious attempt by the Sudanese government to do what governments primarily exist to do, protect their citizens."

- Tom Allen

_________________________

Q: Darfur is the second time that our nation has had a chance to do something about genocide in Africa. The first came in Rwanda in 1994, when we did nothing.

RICHARDSON: What I would like to do is, one, a no-fly zone. Get economic sanctions backed by the Europeans; we should use the levers on China. We need to find ways to stop the massive rapes.

OBAMA: The no-fly zone is important. Having the protective force is critical. But we have to look at Africa not just after a crisis happens; what are we doing with respect to trade opportunities with Africa? What are we doing in terms of investment in Africa? What are we doing to pay attention to Africa consistently with respect to our foreign policy? That has been what's missing in the White House. Our long-term security is going to depend on whether we're giving children in Sudan and Zimbabwe and in Kenya the same opportunities so that they have a stake in order as opposed to violence and chaos.

Source: 2007 Democratic Primary Debate at Howard University Jun 28, 2007

_________________________________

Hillary Clinton: NATO-enforced no-fly zone to end Darfur genocide

Q: Darfur is the second time that our nation has had a chance to do something about genocide in Africa. The first came in Rwanda in 1994, when we did nothing.

A: There are three things we have to do immediately. Move the peacekeepers--that, finally, the United Nations and the African Union have agreed to--into Sudan as soon as possible. In order for them to be effective, there has to be airlift and logistical support, and that can only come either unilaterally from the United States or from NATO. I prefer NATO. And finally, we should have a no-fly zone over Sudan because the Sudanese governments bomb the villages before and after the Janjiwid come. And we should make it very clear to the government in Khartoum we're putting up a no-fly zone; if they fly into it, we will shoot down their planes. Is the only way to get their attention.

Source: 2007 Democratic Primary Debate at Howard University Jun 28, 2007

_____________________

Quotes written by Don Cheadle about Darfur

(Academy Nominated American Actor)

"Preventing genocide and other mass atrocities is a challenge made all the more difficult by a lack of public concern, media coverage, and effective response, especially to events in Africa"

"The media loves when they have a little piece of tape that they can run over and over. I just think that it really does a disservice."

"It is urgent that President Bush act ... to confront the Sudanese regime for the atrocities that it is committing and perpetuating to bring this genocide to an end once and for all"

"[I] really try to feel what it would possibly be like to have been attacked and trudged through miles and miles and miles of desert"