December 8, 2004

In a show of activism against one of the most serious humanitarian crises of this century, members of the University community attended a panel discussion last night concerning the ongoing civil war in Sudan.

"Tonight is the beginning of a push for justice in western Sudan at the University," said Jonathan Robbins, member of the Global Public Health Society and fourth-year College student.

The Muslim Student Association sponsored "Genocide in Africa: Darfur" and invited University Professors John Mason and Michael J. Smith along with activist Mohamed Adam Yahya, a Sudan native, to discuss the history and current situation in the Darfur region of Sudan.

"This turnout is spectacular," Mason told the audience. "There is a mythology that U.Va. students aren't interested in the world beyond Grounds -- that mythology is proved wrong time and time again."

Mason went on to urge those present to send e-mails to President Bush and Virginia congressmen urging for intervention in Sudan.

"This is how social movements are born," Mason said. "They're born at the local level, at the grass-roots level."

Only 10 years of peace have existed in Sudan since it claimed independence in 1955.

Conflicts between the northern, western and southern regions of Sudan are the result of boundaries drawn during colonial times.

The people of Sudan -- the country with the largest land area in Africa -- do not share a common history or culture, Mason said.

The resulting conflicts have led to upwards of 70,000 deaths -- mostly civilian -- and have left 1.5 million Sudanese people refugees or internally displaced persons. This year's intensified fighting also is likely to result in a poor harvest and more starvation.

To compound the hardships and violence the Sudanese civilians face, 400,000 of them remain beyond the reach of aid agencies.

So far, international response to the crisis in Sudan has had little lasting effect.

Smith discussed the actions of the U.N. and individual nations regarding the violence and humanitarian issues in Sudan.

The issues and international involvement is complex, Smith said.

"You can't just wag your finger at people who have been killing one another and hope they are going to be nice," Smith said.

The U.N. may be receiving more criticism than it deserves for the lack of action in Sudan, Smith said.

Change will require commitment from individual nations motivated by pressure from citizens, he said.

Yahya, a humanitarian activist described his personal experiences in Sudan and the current situation there as "unbelievable."

Despite his personal losses, Yahya said his commitment is to all Sudanese.

"I have a responsibility to protect all of my people," he said.

A question and answer session followed the panel discussion.

Robins also urged those present to add their e-mails to a list of University activists. The list will be used to organize efforts at the University in order to promote activism regarding Sudan, Robbins said.