Daily Darfur: As Predicted, Cease-Fire Means Cease-Nothing

by Michelle . · 2008-11-16 07:11:00 UTC
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One of my personal weaknesses is that I'm not above saying, "I told you so."

Darfur rebel groups accuse the government of Sudan of launching a three-hour bomb raid in North Darfur, mere days after President Omar al-Bashir trumpeted his declaration for an immediate cease fire. The UN is investigating the accusation, which has also been made by reliable civilian sources:

"Yesterday they started bombing from the morning. The Antonovs were moving from 7:00 am to midday. There were also bombings for two days before," said Ibrahim al-Hillo, from one faction of the nebulous Sudan Liberation Army.

The Sudan Tribune also reports of government attacks on rebel groups near the border of Chad:

"This is yet another evidence of the real intention of the Sudanese regime which just continues business as usual: imposing security and security solutions. Indeed, Al-Bashir's ceasefire is just a big lie and PR (Public Relations)," JEM military spokesperson Ali Wafi told the Tribune.

(Not to sound like a haughty know-it-all, but I had a hunch this would happen after Bashir said that the government would disarm the rebels as part of the ceasefire implementation.)

This all leaves me a bit aghast as to how the chair of the African Union can be so "impressed" and "pleased" with Khartoums "peace" initiatives.

In other super exciting Sunday news: The New York Times reports that Russia sold 12 fighter jets to Sudan. I echo State Department Deputy Spokesman Robert Wood: That's "the last thing that country needs."

[Photo: A woman stands in a village destroyed by bombings in early 2008.]

Michelle . has been involved in various activist endeavors, including the Teach Against Genocide pilot campaigns.
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