Darfur Reconciliation and Development Organization (DRDO):
Struggling for Peace & Justice
The Reality
BY: Adeeb Yousif
Human Rights Defender
New York USA
Cell: 1-973-336-7030
Email: [email protected]
First and foremost I would like to point out that no more important challenge faces us today than how to deal with our differences. The challenge exists on the smallest scale and on the largest. Of all the factors influencing the success of marriage, psychologists report, and the single most critical is the ability to resolve conflicts cooperatively. The same holds true in every other relationship between friends or business partners, neighbors or nation.
The biggest destroyer of relationship is our habit of falling into fights. The dance of distractive conflict is all too familiar wherever two children are quarrelling over a toy, two departments over budget, or two ethnic groups over territory. The language is universal:
“I want it” no, I want “I’m right” “no, I’m right you are wrong” I’m strong” no, “I am”
Darfur today June 10th 2009
• It is true that 35% of the families have lost members and that the estimate is of 400,000 people killed. It is true that 16% of women in my bloody beloved country have been raped and it is also true that 80% of the villages in Darfur have been completely burned down.
• It is true that of the 3,000,000 IDPs, 68% are women and Children that depend 100% on international aid to survive and that 13 NGOs have been closed by the Government of Sudan (GOS)
• It is true that the Government of Sudan recruited, re-armed and re-opened camps for the Janjaweed. It is also true that GOS is encouraging the Janjaweed Militia to abduct international personnel.
• It’s true that rebel movements are more fragmented and this makes the situation worse for the civilian population, whom is paying the price. In addition, the international community is less interested in ending the conflict.
• It is difficult, if not impossible, for Qatar peace process between (JEM) and (GoS) to bring peace to Darfur without participation of major rebel group in Darfur, Darfurian civil society, Women and substantial additional help from the international community. Otherwise, again and again the world will witness and repeating of [Abuja Mistake]
• It is true that (GoS) supports Chadian rebels and the Chadian Government provides support to Darfurian rebel groups. Similarly, the (GoS) supports militia and rebel in the Central African Republic (CAR)
• It is absolutely true that the GOS is NOT serious about peace. Multiple Peace agreements have been signed but none have been fully and diligently implemented. The GOS have used the peace process for business, for retaliation, to give the GOS a political space in the international community and to create internal fighting and continue the war. If by 2011 the southern Sudanese people cannot have their referendum for independence, they will no longer wait for independence and react accordingly.
• I think the current strategies and policies on the crisis in Darfur are not working. International policy makers and those with the power to act need to re-think their approach and take urgent alternative action. As Albert Einstein once said, “No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it. We have to learn to see the world a new.” The strategies advocated here provide a fresh perspective on a long-standing crisis.
• I think the current strategies and policies of the United States on Sudan: trying to normalize the diplomatic relation, may not help ending the crisis in Darfur
But yes, I still have a dream: nothing will prevail and exist except peace. War may go on for two days, two years, two decades or even more; but at the end peace will survive. Peace cannot and will not exist if human rights are not respected. The only possible way in my opinion, is a political solution and truly, real and serious peaceful negotiations, based on Justice and accountability.
Yours sincerely
Adeeb Yousif,
Founder & Chairperson of DRDO
حركة العدل و المساواة السودانية
موقع متخصص بنقل آخر الأخبار و البيانات و القرارات لحركة العدل و المساواة السودانية