Crisis in Darfur, Sudan: Politics of Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) November 15, 2004 --

LOS ANGELES, CA NOVEMBER 15, 2004 � on Friday November 19 at 3pm in 2343 Public Policy Building, UCLA will convene a special forum on the �Crisis in Darfur, Sudan: Politics of Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing� with prominent distinguished experts and academics. Peter Takirambudde of Human Rights Watch will examine the international perspective on his talk on �The United Nations Security Council and Darfur: the Chinese Connection.� Salih Booker of Africa Action, will address the US role in �Genocide in Darfur, Sudan: what should the US do?�, while Jok Madut Jok of Loyola Marymount University will look at �The Darfur and other Peripheries: A Challenge to the Existence of Sudan as a Unitary State.� Also present will be John Prendergast of the International Crisis Group author of "God, Oil, and Country: Changing the Logic of War in Sudan."

Sudan, one of the largest countries in Africa, has experienced numerous civil wars since it became independent in 1956. As a peace agreement was initiated to end 21 years of conflict in the south, a new conflict broke out in the Darfur region in the west that borders Chad and Libya. The area is inhabited by ethnic groups of African and Arab descent, the majority non-Arab farmers of African descent, with the Fur being largest group.

The violence in Darfur intensified in 2003 when two groups -- the Sudanese Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement -- declared open rebellion against the Government of Sudan for fear of being excluded from the agreements between the north and south negotiations. Khartoum reacted aggressively, intensifying support for Arab militias, the so-called jinjaweid (evil on horseback). The Government of Sudan supported the jinjaweid, directly and indirectly, as they carried out a scorched-earth policy towards the rebels and the African civilian population.

The renowned African Studies Center at UCLA was established in 1959 to further stimulate the growing national interest in the region and to develop outreach, academic and research programs on Africa. Named in 1989 to honor its founder, the late James S. Coleman, the Center is an integral part of UCLA's International Institute.