Sudan dominant party is too deformed to be reformed

By Donald M. Payne

September 22, 2008 — The decades-long suffering of the people of Sudan and our inability to end their suffering is a source of pain and anguish to me. Last month, I went to Abyei and several other towns in South Sudan. I saw the pain and suffering of the people. The residents of Abyei are still in displaced camps after the criminals in Khartoum burned the whole town to the ground. I am not just saying this; I saw it with my own eyes. And for those who have not seen that tragedy, here are some photos taken at the height of the torching of the town.

For the apologists of Bashir, of course nothing happened in the small town, it is all peaceful. Indeed, they even question about the atrocities being committed in Darfur. I say to these traitors, why not go and visit the refugee camps in Chad, Darfur, Abyei? How soon have we forgotten the killing fields in South Sudan. One of the major omissions in the CPA is the issue of accountability and justice. The criminals in Khartoum correctly calculated that if they can go free after the atrocities and genocide in the Nuba and South Sudan, why not do it in Darfur.

What is sad about this whole situation is that some of the leaders who were suppose to protect and look after the helpless civilian population, have become traitors and apologists for the same people who are killing and maiming the helpless. My friend and the visionary leader of Sudan, the late John garang said it best: these people are too deformed to be reformed!

There is a Congolese saying: “No matter how long the night, the day is sure to come.” My friends, be assured, no matter how long it takes, there will be justice. The many victims of this regime did not die for nothing.

We are gathered today to discuss about the prospects of a democratic election in Sudan. In fact, the signing of the CPA was intended to transform Sudan into a democratic country. What we have seen in the past several years is quite the opposite. A friend of my told me once, “we did not sign the CPA to go to bed with the NIF; but to kiss their ideology and brutality to death.”

Imagine organizing elections in Poland during World War II. Let us be honest, are we really asking the victims of this regime in the displaced camps in Darfur, in the refugee camps in Chad, in the displaced camps in Agok, to vote for the criminals in Khartoum, while still being brutalized. I guess it would have been ok to have had an election in Cambodia and Pol Pot as a presidential candidate? I am not opposed to a free and fair elections. But I question if this election can be free and fair and morally just while the victims of genocide still languish in displaced and refugee camps.

The victims of Darfur came from far away places, leaving the dead behind. Who are they voting for? These people are still facing untold suffering. In the past several weeks alone, how many times did the Bashir security forces went into the displaced camps? They were not there to protect or provide support. They went there to kill and maim.

Remember Rwanda in 1994 and Darfur today. Let me say a few words about the ongoing genocide in Darfur. As much as I give African governments credit for resolving a number of conflicts in the past decade, it is important to note that African governments, like other members of the international community did not prevent or bring a quick end to the suffering in Darfur or Rwanda. Fourteen years ago, innocent civilians in Rwanda were being butchered, maimed, raped, and hacked to death, while many turned a blind eye.

In 2004, when the U.S. Congress declared the atrocities Genocide, I was so elated and proud, believing that we were going to do something to save lives. I was so sure that this time around it was going to be different, assuming we learned from Rwanda. I must confess, I never thought I was going to succeed even getting the resolution passed in the House, let alone see our government declare Genocide.

What we did in 2004 was long overdue. But I must also state clearly that we failed. We declared Genocide and gave hope to the people of Darfur that it was going to be different. Instead, those that could have been saved are dead and those that are in the camps continue to suffer, irrespective of the declaration. We declared Genocide, but we continued to wine and dine the architects of the Genocide. I have been to Sudan many times and most recently last months, but never to Khartoum. Why? Because I do not recognize a government that is at war with its people. .

And what are the apologists of Bashir saying today about the International Criminal Court’s charges against Bashir? Well if you look at the African Union statement, instead of speaking out and defending the helpless, they have decided to support the killers. How unfortunate. There is an African proverb that goes like this: “Where there is no shame, there is no honor.” I guess our friends at the AU think they are protecting the helpless victims of genocide.

But I must say, President Museveni of Uganda was on target when he said: “You cannot stand up and say don’t touch Bashir because he is a president. Suppose he made those mistakes. If you take that position, you will be ignoring the right of the victims.” The SPLM also took a very courageous decision telling the criminals in Khartoum that they should cooperate with the ICC. Of course there are the other turncoats, who come in different colors now lobbying on behalf of Bashir. Some of them are here with us today.

Unfortunately, some of these traitors justify their preaching by alleging that the ICC process is dangerous to peace and that the CPA will collapse. Let us be honest. Is there peace in Sudan? Is the CPA being implemented? Have the 2.2 million displaced in Darfur returned home? And what peace agreement are we talking about? The Darfur Peace Agreement? Why not ask those who signed that agreement?

It is not just the AU trying to protect Bashir, who presided over the atrocities and genocide in Darfur, South Sudan, The Nuba, and The East, The Arab League is also pushing hard to protect one of their own. The government of Egypt is at the forefront on this. Yet, the same government is also engaged in killing refugees who are attempting to cross The Egyptian border into Israel. Since January an estimated 28 refugees were killed by Egyptian security forces, a number of them are from Darfur. And what did the Sudanese Refugee Commissioner said about these victims, these refugees are pursuing their “Zionist Agenda” and that they should be dealt with firmly.

I am a strong believer that there is no peace without justice. I am not ready to give up on justice. The victims deserve our support. Some Africans argue that the ICC is only targeting Africans. How ironic. The four cases that the ICC pursuing currently, three were brought by Africans themselves. The other one, Sudan, by the United Nations Security Council.

What is always forgotten in tragic situations like these are the victims. A fourteen year old high school student wrote an article for her student newspaper a couple of years ago about the tragedy in Darfur. She wrote: “The rich culture of Tine and the prospects of its growth are now buried below the feverish marigold sand that covers most of Western Sudan, along with the bones of the women, children, and men massacred that day.”

I am not ready to give up on justice and democracy in Sudan. I saw the Promised Land through the visions of my friends John Garang and Salva Kiir. We may not see it anytime soon, but I guarantee you the people of Sudan will fight to the end for justice and democracy. And I will be there with them.

The United States government has done a great deal to help achieve these goals. I must say, despite the election year debates, President Bush did the right thing when it comes to this issue. He has done more than any president to highlight the suffering of the people of Sudan and support the victims. If there is one policy that will not change in the next Administration, it is our government’s determination to fight for justice and democracy in Sudan.

Unfortunately, as time passes, Darfur will face the same fate as other tragedies did in the past: it will soon be forgotten and abandoned. Only the dedicated will remain to fight and to protect the helpless. Agreement or no agreement, we must continue to demand accountably. Those who committed these atrocities, are the same ones who gave a safe haven to Osama Bin Laden. Let me concluded with an Ethiopian proverb: “Restless feet may walk into a snake pit.” Let me say to Bashir, you are on the edge of a snake pit.

The author is a Congressman, and Chairman, House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health he delivered this speech at a conference on Sudan’s elections in 2009 organized by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). on September 18, 2008