Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Khartoum (Agenzia Fides)-“Pressure by public opinion is fundamental for a positive outcome to the crisis in Darfur. The government of Khartoum cannot fail to take these demonstrations into account” Fides was told by a missionary with years of experience in Sudan, who was commenting “Darfur Day”, held yesterday 16 September.
“President Bashir is a pragmatic person who is able to see when it is time for commitment to serious negotiations. If the international community and international public opinion continue to keep attention focussed on Darfur, I think the crisis will be settled” the missionary said. President Bashir during a recent visit to Italy and the Vatican said his government was ready to declare a unilateral cease fire to launch the peace talks which will start 27 October in Libya (see Fides 14 and 15 September 2007).
“I think that complex questions such as that of Darfur must be solved with diplomacy rather than force. But there must be constant pressure, and if the European Union succeeds in taking a unitary position I think it has a decisive role to play in helping the international community find a solution to Darfur and similar questions” the missionary concludes.
Thousands in various cities all over the world took part in demonstrations to support the people of Darfur, victims of a war which has dragged on since 2003. The organisers of the demonstration, more than 50 humanitarian organisations operating in the region, call for an unconditioned cease fire agreement in the framework of a treaty signed in Chad in 2004, a rapid deployment of UN peacekeepers in Darfur, a Sudanese airforce no fly zone over the region, the disarmament of the Janjaweed Arab militia and the opening of a humanitarian corridor to get aid to people in evacuee camps.
The conflict has left 200,000 dead, 200,000 refugees in Chad and the Central African Republic and 2 million displaced persons in camps in Darfur itself. The Darfur crisis involves neighbouring countries and could destabilise the whole area. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 17/9/2007 righe 27 parole 357)
