Jim Lobe reports that rape has been added to the list of Darfur atrocities.
According to a report released yesterday by Amnesty International, which is based upon the testimony of hundreds of witnesses and victims, girls as young as eight years old are being used as “sex slaves.”
Lobe also cites government documents which Human Rights Watch said:
“it had obtained from civilian authorities in Darfur that show that senior officials in Khartoum have directed recruitment, arming and other support to the Janjaweed.
“It’s absurd to distinguish between the Sudanese government forces and the militias-they are one,” said Peter Takirambudde, executive director of Human Rights Watch’s Africa Division. “These documents show that militia activity has not just been condoned, it’s been specifically supported by Sudan government officials.”
The Sudan gov’t is reportedly forcing Darfur’s displaced to return home. Humanitarian workers have previously stated and continue to warn that this will result in untold deaths. There is only scorched earth where these people once resided and no way to get them supplies even if the weakest could survive the journey.
Passion of the Present links to this July 19 article in the WP stating that the Bush administration, for now, has decided not to pursue sanctions against the Sudan gov’t.
It appears to me that the Sudan gov’t has concluded that the international community is impotent regarding this situation and is likely wondering why their situation is receiving so much attention, after all, these same horrors have been occurring in the DRC virtually unnoticed for some time. That they would consider the amputation of limbs and putting on trial ten of its members a positive sign they are complying with calls to defang the Janjaweed leads me to that conclusion.