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Open Letter to the Prime Minister, Open Letter to Senators, 'Deadly Silence'

CANADA IS CAPABLE OF MUCH MORE IN DARFUR
Talk by Hon. David Kilgour, M.P. (Edmonton-Mill Woods-Beaumont)
Presbyterian Church of Canada – General Assembly
Alumni of Knox College and Ewart College Luncheon
Lister Hall Residence, University of Alberta, Edmonton
June 8th, 2005.

We’re all here today, having been brought together by faith; part of our responsibility as believers is to insist on the same human rights for all people around the world. For this reason, I’ll focus on Darfur.

I’d like to start with a brief outline of the current situation in Darfur. The Genocide taking place against black Africans in the western-most region of Sudan has been going on at full speed for over two years. It has been described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis by the United Nations.

There has been tension in Darfur for many years over land and grazing rights between the mostly nomadic Arabs and black African farmers in the region. About two years ago, some of these groups of farmers formed rebel groups to protest the decades-long marginalization of black Africans and neglect of the region by Khartoum.

Though the conflict may have started out as a civil war, what has ensued is a systematic attack on the entire civilian community of farmers in Darfur. This can only be described as Genocide. Reports from the UN and a number of human rights and humanitarian organizations conclude that the Arab-dominated Sudanese government is working with nomadic Arab militias—often referred to as janjaweed—in Darfur in a campaign of ethnic slaughter and rape.

Role of the Janjaweed

Millions have fled their destroyed villages, with many heading for camps near Darfur's main towns, but there is not enough food, water or medicine. The janjaweed patrol outside the camps and Darfuris say the men are killed and the women raped if they venture too far in search of firewood or water.

Aid workers have warned that millions continue to be at risk of starvation and disease in the camps, most of whom are children. In fact, over the next 18 months, up to four million people may be affected by food shortages, the UN warns, while aid agencies working in Darfur face increasing hostility and attacks, making it even more difficult for the vital food and medicine to reach displaced people in the camps.

Already, nearly two million civilians have been displaced; at least 300 000 thousand Darfuris have died and thousands of women, some as young as eight, have been raped.

A Doctor's Without Borders, or Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), report released on March 8th, International Women's Day, documents the widespread use of rape for ethnic cleaning purposes in Darfur. The report makes a number of horrifying points, among them, that the number of rapes is much higher than most anticipated, that nearly all of the assaults included brutal beatings and torture, and that 81% of all rapists were militia or military.

Almost as harrowing as the personal accounts themselves are the reports of the Sudanese government's response to the very rapes that they have, in many ways, sponsored. The regime has refused to allow aid groups to bring in more rape kits that include medication to reduce the risk of infection from H.I.V. They have imprisoned rape victims who became pregnant and harassed and humiliated those who seek help.

Just last week, in response to the MSF report, Khartoum arrested two MSF country directors in Sudan for releasing the report on widespread sexual violence.

So, what can we do, as individuals and as church communities, to address the horrendous situation in Darfur?

The first step is advocacy: to tell Canadians that there is a Genocide going on in Darfur before our eyes, and the situation is not getting any better; in fact, it’s getting worse. This is not something that will simply go away if we ignore it long enough. We have to remind ourselves of the horrors that Darfuris face every day and refuse to accept the current status quo in the international community’s reaction to Genocide. As a peace-keeping nation and as the home of the commission that drafted the Responsibility to Protect, we are capable of much more.

As you know, eleven years ago Canada made a promise to Rwanda; we said, “Never Again.” Though our government may not be reacting as quickly or as forcibly as it should, Canadians and churches should not be dissuaded, but rather inspired to speak out against crimes against humanity and challenge our government to take a leadership role, to pledge a substantial contribution and lobby NATO, the UN, the EU and other middle powers to build a multilateral response quickly.

One way to become involved is to contact Canadian-Sudanese community groups and human rights organizations in Canada. In Alberta, we have Sudacan Aid and the Darfur Association of Canada based in Calgary and Brooks. Freedom Quest in Trochu has also been intensely involved with Darfur and Southern Sudan.

Eric Reeves’ Role

To promote awareness, we have to understand the historical complexities of the conflict and region and inform ourselves of ongoing developments in order to be able to engage in meaningful debate and offer viable solutions. One of the best sources of information on Darfur is on Eric Reeves’ website. Reeves is a professor from Smith College, who has spent the past six years working full-time as a Sudan researcher, analyst and consultant, almost entirely without pay. His website is: www.sudanreeves.org.

Other useful media sources are Human Rights Watch, BBC Africa, the International Crisis Group, and Nicholas Kristof’s excellent reporting from Sudan, found in the New York Times.

Another way to get involved is to support the tremendous efforts of humanitarian organizations operating in the area, such as MSF, World Vision, Oxfam, and Save the Children, among others. Through our communities, churches and universities, we can be organizing information sessions and fundraising events. The need for awareness and increased relief efforts has never been greater.

Having been on Parliament Hill for over 26 years, naturally, I encourage all of you to write—or even better, visit—your MPs and let them know that Canadians insist that more be done in Darfur; that we are a nation founded on the basic principles of human rights and justice for all, and that we have the responsibility to protect victims of Genocide around the world.

Ottawa’s Role Too Little

Sadly, the current national government has put on a smoke and mirrors show in terms of what Canada is actually doing, perhaps relying on the fact that many Canadians do not follow the situation. Let’s demand that Canada approach the crisis based on the needs of the situation, not on political expediency.

In early April, Ottawa announced that it had committed an additional $90 million over two years to support peace initiatives and international humanitarian efforts in the Sudan. Due thanks can be given for increasing humanitarian aid and development in Sudan, but the increase fell entirely short in demonstrating that Canada is committed to reining in the militias and stopping the killing.

In mid-May, Prime Minister Martin announced an aid package of $170 million, a cross-disciplinary team, and roughly 60 peacekeepers. Although this fell far short of the 500 troops that Human Rights Watch, and a number of others have called on from Canada, it did appear to be a step in the right direction. Just days later, however, when Khartoum responded by refusing to accept Canadian troops, the current government displayed what was at best, ignorance or denial of the fact that the military dictatorship in Sudan is fully complicit with the atrocities taking place in Darfur. At worst, it can be interpreted as an empty promise made in the run-up to a non-confidence vote.

These are some of the issues you should raise with your MPs, many of whom may not be following what is going on Darfur. Like all Canadians and defenders of human rights, our government representatives have a responsibility to be aware of and to try to do something when faced with such crises around the world. By asking questions, you demand accountability and action.

Questions to Pose

Has Ottawa pursued any of the recommendations Errol Mendes, Professor of International and Human Rights Law and Adviser to the Office of the Secretary General of the UN, has outlined? He thinks Canada should apply what could be one of the most powerful levers against the Khartoum government—their enormous international debt, as a force to stop crimes against humanity and genocide?
Why haven’t we even proposed travel restrictions on senior Sudanese officials with direct ties to janjaweed militias and policies of ethnic cleansing?

· If, when we ask to send Canadian peacekeepers with a mandate to protect civilians we are told that Canada simply does not have more troops available, how is it that just over a month ago Minister Graham announced that over a thousand more troops will be sent to a relatively stable Afghanistan this year, reaching a total of over 2000?

· Why hasn’t our government responded to a motion passed unanimously in the House Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development, calling for a number of specific actions to try to strengthen the AU force and challenge impunity in Sudan?

The AU’s ability to protect is being impaired by a lack of troops, funds and, most importantly, by a mandate set by the Sudanese government to be so weak that it prevents troops from protecting civilians. The Rwandan and Nigerian observers present evidently don’t even know to whom they should report the documented atrocities. The AU requires more troops, equipment, communications, housing, transportation, technical assistance and most importantly, a formally expanded mandate. Without significant support from others, including Canada, the AU is, as Romeo Dallaire has said, “being set up for failure.”

Conclusion

A number of steps are available for Canada to strengthen our relationship with the AU mission and demonstrate that we will not be deterred by the demands of a government linked to crimes against humanity. We could deploy Canadians to Addis Ababa in administrative and logistical capacities as a way of ensuring accurate needs assessment, training AU soldiers, and establishing a stronger working relationship with the AU in general, for other conflict areas in Africa such as the Congo and for future crises.

Clearly, the problem is not a lack of solutions, but rather a lack of will to stand up internationally and take the risk in a militarily and politically complicated situation. If we then fail, at the very least we can honestly say to Canadians that we tried to stop a Genocide going on before our own eyes. This is what we should all be saying every day, to our neighbors, our families, our communities, and our MPs—that Canada can do more. Because if we don’t, who will?

Eleven years ago, in the aftermath of one of the most horrific losses of human life in history, the UN, along with numerous governments around the world, including Canada, lamented what took place in Rwanda and pledged never to allow it to occur under their watch again. Now, with an average of 4,700 civilians dying every week in Darfur since February 2003, is Canada willing to simply wait to see if the Genocide stops? I hope and believe that most Canadians are saying no.

Thank you.

(See below for list of contacts.)

For more information on Darfur:

Eric Reeves: www.sudanreeves.org

BBC Africa: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4612005.stm

Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org

International Crisis Group: www.crisisgroup.org

Sudan Inter-Agency Reference Group (SIARG): www.sudan.activist.ca/siarg.html

Freedom Quest: www.freedom-quest.ca

New York Times (Nicholas Kristof): www.nytimes.com

Oxfam: www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/where_we_work/sudan/index.htm

World Vision: www.worldvision.ca/home/search/index.cfm