Workshop details genocide in Sudan

By Amanda Gentry and Naila Malik, The Carolinian

Feb 21, 2005 –In 1994, the world watched while over 800,000 people died within a span of 100 days in Rwanda.

Reginald Avery and Chioma Ugochukwu stand with John Prendergast. (Carolinian).

This tragedy is a poignant example of genocide, but it was not labeled as such until after the killing stopped.

Today the world is again watching as innocent people are slaughtered in Darfur, located in western Sudan. This increasingly severe situation is the first in history to be labeled as genocide while it is occurring.

Dr. Chioma Ugochukwu, assistant professor of journalism at USC Upstate, arranged the second-annual diversity workshop to address these issues. This event, co-sponsored by the Center for Women’s Studies and Programs, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Center for International Studies, Student Life, and the Honors Program, was funded by the diversity incentive grant Ugochukwu was awarded by the Office of Student and Diversity Affairs. Her motive for applying for this grant was to bring groups to campus that are all striving for one thing-peace.

On the surface this event doesn’t seem directly related to women’s issues, but Claire Wofford, director of Women’s Studies, maintains that this assumption is incorrect. “The Center for Women’s Studies and Programs is committed to diversity,” she explained. “We are really about all people who suffer from discrimination or inequality. In particular, rape of women is often used as a tool in genocide, so when you raise awareness of genocide, you raise awareness of rape. What could be more important for us to do?”

The guest speaker featured at this workshop was John Prendergast, who is currently the special advisor to the President of International Crisis Group. He was an adviser in the State Department during the Clinton Administration, and he has also been the director of African Affairs in the National Security Council.

Prendergast was chosen to speak at this event because he is so “strong with human rights and peace efforts, and [he] was perfect considering all the work he was doing in Africa,” Ugochukwu said. “He goes to Africa frequently, so he has a first hand knowledge of what he’s talking about.” In addition, he is described as an expert who has presented information to public officials on this topic.

The workshop began with brief footage of an episode of “60 Minutes” featuring Prendergast. The chaotic and disturbing scenes featured in this video clip captivated the entire room, even those students only there for extra credit. For those who knew little to nothing about the troubles in Sudan, the footage and Prendergast’s lecture revealed just enough to spark interests and touch hearts.

Tensions between the Arabs and the Africans, created over the competition for scarce natural resources in Darfur, have existed since the 1970s and have been escalating since then. The Washington Post reported that in Feb. 2003, rebel groups of African Muslims, tired of inequalities between Africans and the ruling Arab elite, who are also Muslim, struck out against the government. In response the government armed local militias known as “Janjaweed,” which literally means “evil on horseback,” to attack mainly three ethnic groups: the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa.

“The Janjaweed is sort of like a grotesque mixture of the mafia and the KKK, supported by the government,” Prendergast said. They destroy villages, kill and maim men, ransack food supplies and try to block international aid. In addition, they are also known for carrying out systematic rape campaigns against the African women.

One aspect of the “60 Minutes” video that twisted viewers’ stomachs came in the form of personal accounts of the atrocities being committed regularly by the Janjaweed.

Zara Abdul Karim, who survived the killings, told “60 Minutes” that she had lost eight members of her family which included her husband, two children, two sisters and three brothers. If this was not enough, the Janjaweed raped her and tortured her extensively.

The information in Prendergast’s lecture may have seemed like something from a movie, but his gruesome descriptions and gut-wrenching statistics were nothing but raw facts.

According to the Washington Post, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported that at least 50,000 people have died due to the conflict between the government-backed Arab militias and the Africans in western Sudan. Thus far, 405 villages have been destroyed, and more than 100 have been extensively damaged.

During his lecture, Prendergast said that “two million Darfurians have been rendered homeless by brutal ethnic cleansing campaigns.” The Washington Post also reported that a State Department report issued on Sept. 9, 2004 says that at least 200,000 refugees have fled to neighboring Chad. If this situation persists, the U. S. Agency for International Development estimated that by the end of 2004 over 300,000 people would die of disease and malnutrition.

“One of the three specific things that can be done in Darfur is to provide civilian protection,” Prendergast said. The militias wait outside the refugee camps for women to come and collect firewood. Once these women leave the camps to do so, it is confirmed that they will be raped, and sometimes there is no guarantee that they will ever return.

Accountability is another thing that should be enforced, according to Prendergast. “Twenty-three months have gone by, and not one punitive measure has been imposed on the government of Sudan,” he said. Finally, political will needs to be generated to focus on establishing comprehensive peace.

If the international community got involved, there is a real possibility that these atrocities would end. Osama bin Laden lived in Sudan for six months, for example. After the UN intervened, the Sudanese drove him out. Just a little action from the UN could finish the militia.

Upon bringing his gripping discussion of facts, figures, and personal encounters to an end, Prendergast informed the audience of how they, normal Spartanburg natives, could help make an impact. His number one suggestion was for audience members to contact their local Congressional representatives to encourage, inform, and pressure them into taking action. As Prendergast stressed throughout his lecture, “Genocide and massive crimes against humanity can’t just be ignored.”

Prendergast outlined several reasons why more isn’t being done to address the genocide in Sudan. He says that the international community, specifically the UN Security Council, makes matters more complicated than they are in order to delay the decision-making process. In addition, groups like the Janjaweed are given endless warnings that never result in punishment. Over time, the message becomes clear that the threats are empty. He also said that the international community can always be relied upon to provide band-aids during the aftermath of the atrocities rather than taking steps to stop the killing as it occurs.

The international community is also deeply divided about the situation in Sudan. For example, four out of five permanent members of the UN Security Council are supplying arms and guns to these countries.

Prendergast had advice on what groups of college students could do. Their first priority should again be letter-writing and influencing others to contact officials with their concerns as well. Another idea he presented was for students to request a campus viewing of “Hotel Rwanda,” a drama based on a true story about a man who invites over 1,000 refugees to live in his hotel during a period in which nearly one million people were killed in Rwanda. Also, fund-raising is always helpful and spreading awareness is vital.

Like Prendergast, Ugochukwu believes that it is important for everyone to be aware of these types of situations. “From a humanitarian point of view, we need to worry,” she said. “Women are being raped and children are being displaced every day over there.” She went on to say, “We need to be concerned. If not for them, how about for our own safety? We know Osama bin Ladin had been there-there were al-Qaeda camps in Sudan, and people need to worry about the effects of having frustrated people in such an environment.”

Ugochukwu said that the workshop achieved the goal of making the Upstate campus more aware of the troubles abroad. “That is why I did this-to get people engaged, and as John said, to have enough people to shame their politicians so that they care, and I think we achieved that by looking at people’s comments and their attendance, and hopefully people will start talking. When people elsewhere are safe, that is when we are safe.”

Ugochukwu believes that this topic needed to be discussed on campus because “it was an issue that was being ignored by the international community because Africa is not of strategic interest. I honestly think if this were happening in any other place it would be on the radar, not under it . . . Policy makers are affected by public opinions and the more awareness that there is out there, perhaps the more pressure there will be for change and real action.”

Dr. Regis Robe, director of the Center for International Studies and Language Services, agrees that this issue hasn’t received enough attention. “Wonderful speech,” he said. “We need to have more of it. The national media never talks about such problems. That’s why these speakers are so good to have on campus.”

Ugochukwu was pleased with attendance at the workshop and the feedback it generated. “One of my senior seminar students actually changed her topic because she considered it too trivial compared to the problems in Darfur.”

Like Ugochukwu, Wofford, the director of Women’s Studies, believes that this workshop educated students in an important topic, and she feels that is vital. “A lot of people were affected by that talk,” she said. “Awareness is the first step to action.”

If the reactions of students are any indication, people really are more aware. Most students attended the workshop for extra credit or to fulfill class requirements, but they were genuinely glad to have attended afterward.

Student Camille Arboleda was excited when she heard Prendergast was coming to campus. “I watched ‘Hotel Rwanda’ and got interested,” she said. “I started researching and came across SaveDarfur.org.” She encountered Prendergast’s name during this research and knew she had to attend the workshop. According to Arboleda, this workshop made her more aware of what is happening and gave other students the opportunity to become more informed. “I didn’t even know about it until I watched ‘Hotel Rwanda,’ and most people don’t know at all,” she said. “If you want to know about it you have to look carefully or watch BBC.”

Freshman Zachary Snow had only heard little pieces of information before the event, but left with a better understanding and a desire to help. “I might write a letter or e-mail to one of the organizations or Congressmen,” he said. “I want to do something to help.”

— Nicole Jamison also contributed to this article.