The student-led movement to end mass atrocities.

Weekly News Brief – 10.13.08 – 10.20.08

Darfur:

The United Nations issued a statement saying that recent violence in North Darfur may be responsible for the displacement of more than 40,000 civilians. Sudan denies this.

On Thursday, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir held a Darfur peace conference which was boycotted by all rebel parties, who dismissed it as a public relations trick.

Luis Moreno Ocampo, the Chief Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court, said he will present a case within weeks for the indictment of several rebel commanders accused of attacking peacekeepers.

9 Chinese oil workers were captured in Sudan, and though the Government of Sudan claims Darfur rebels are responsible, not one has claimed responsibility.

Burma:

Sittwe, a city which has seen great civil arrest since last’s September’s Saffron Revolution, is seeing a significant buildup of security forces throughout the city. Residents are unsure of the reason.

Burma is said to have made $175 million in gem trading despite a US Embago on the commodity. India and Burma have agreed to expand border trade.

The Guardian just put out a report on the "lethal combination of climate change, poverty and conflict " in Burma.

Congo:

Following accusations from Rwanda of collusion with Rwandan Hutu rebels known as the FDLR, the Congolese government called on all FDLR to leave DRC.

CNDP rebels and the Congolese army continued to battle in North Kivu with skirmishes reported northwest of the provincial capital of Goma. MONUC, the UN mission in DRC, is working to find a negotiated solution to the violence.

The New York Times reported this week on Congolese rape victims speaking out for the first time about their experiences, helping to break the silence about widespread rape and gender-based violence that has become an epidemic in the region. The feature includes a video of a recent event in the eastern city of Bukavu that includes testimonials of Congolese women.

Questions? Email Sabina Carlson at education@standnow.org

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