Damanga Supports UN Special Reporter Sima Samar

September 22, 2008

     The Sudanese government has requested that the United Nations Human Rights Council, which met in Geneva this past Tuesday, bring a stop to the UN special reporter mandate in Darfur.  Sima Samar, an Afghani, was assigned as a special reporter to the Darfur, Sudan case and has reported that human rights violations in Darfur have risen to a very high point.  In her recent visit to Darfur, she believes that the situation is worse than ever and the people are suffering a great deal.  She also questioned the government of Sudan, stating that if the Sudanese government is not responsible for this conflict and is not involved, then why do they oppose her presence in Darfur?  At this time, the government of Sudan does not support renewing Samar’s term. The Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy feels that the UN should not pay any attention to the arguments made by Sudan since its just a ploy to hide the crimes Al Bashir's government is committing.  Not only should Samar's term be renewed, but the UN should take instant action against Al Bashir and press for his arrest.

Al Bashir's behavior is unacceptable because this is not the first time he has tried to prevent an investigation by the international community against his government.  Jan Pronk, the UN special representative of the Secretary-General in Sudan along with the Ambassador of Canada in Sudan, experienced the same trouble when they took an interest in the genocide in Darfur.  Al Bashir's government uses the argument that any western country that tries to help Darfur is really trying to colonize Sudan and take advantage of the Sudanese.  Previously, other Aid workers have been expelled from Sudan because Al Bashir’s government accused them of being spies for western countries. The world needs to realize that these are just excuses to keep influential visitors who can help Darfur out of Sudan.  Al Bashir does not want any important figures to see the damage he is inflicting on his country and against its people.  After the death of 450,000 and displacement of 3.5 million people, it is time for the UN to stop listening to the excuses made by Al Bashir and his government and save Darfur from this genocide.