02/18/2005

This aerial shot of burning villages in Darfur shows that violence against civilians is continuing. Assertions by the government of Sudan that peace is returning to Darfur are clearly wrong. The government's failure to acknowledge the causes and consequences of the extensive death and displacement is a major impediment to productive peace negotiations.

Humanitarian workers say that as long as government officials believe that they are immune from punishment for these actions, the violence will go on. The United Nation’s International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur concluded that government, militia and rebel forces are guilty of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. It recommended that 51 people be referred to the International Criminal Court. Yet, government officials and tribal leaders continue to call the violence a series of tribal disputes rather than military, militia and rebel actions that target civilians.

Take action here and urge President Bush to support the International Criminal Court to end the atrocities in Darfur and bring the perpetrators to justice.