Perspectives of Sudan

In the past few days, NC Hillel’s Holocaust Remembrance Week has worked to bring attention to the horrors of the Holocaust and educate people on the subtle steps that lead to genocide.

Aside from educating campus about past genocide, they have used this knowledge to help prevent the perpetuation of genocide in Sudan.

On Thursday, there will be a 24-hour reading of those lost in the Holocaust beginning at noon. At 9 there will be a vigil for all victims of genocide. On Friday, Hillel will host Survivor Shabbat with genocide and Holocaust survivors beginning at 6:15 at the Hillel house on Cameron.

These programs raise awareness of ethnic cleansing in Africa, but also serve to remind us how connected we are culturally despite distance. The world is shrinking quickly and we become more and more internationally intertwined each day.

Another branch in Sudan’s genocide happens to be China. Though Olympic protests have recently been directed towards China’s treatment of Tibetans, attention will quickly turn to China’s contributions to the Sudanese government, Khartoum, for oil. With this funding, Khartoum allegedy aids militias, such as the Janjaweed, who in turn continue violence in Sudan.

Dream for Darfur, in particular, works to pressure the Chinese government into ending violence in Sudan. The organization also raises concerns about human rights within China itself and in neighboring territories. Mia Farrow is deeply connected with the organization; Ben & Jerry’s pledged two trucks to the cause. Other companies, such as Coca-Cola and Lenovo have also expressed concerns about the upcoming games.

“Here is the thing: our demands for internal human rights are not something that Chinese people don’t want, nor are they anything the Chinese government hasn’t explicitly promised to do. We’re pushing an open door. These companies are making a huge mistake in thinking the Chinese respect them for saying what they think they want to hear. Just the opposite. The Chinese government respects foreigners who repeatedly and reliably tell them the truth. How hard is it really for G.E. or Microsoft to push for something that the Chinese government already said it is receptive to doing?”

-Minky Warden, the media director at Human Rights Watch (quotation from the New York Times Magazine)

We must remember, however, that there are many perspectives to every conflict. In order to gain the depth and understanding to act compassionately – humanly – on anything, all sides must be considered.

Hanna Alli, a freshman in the college of arts and sciences at UNC-Chapel Hill, lived in Khartoum for almost two years. She offers a rare and interesting perspective on Sudan’s international influences and the conflicts in the south.

“China kind of stepped in and was the aid that Sudan needed,” Alli said. “I feel that China actually helped the economy of Sudan.”

Watch this video for more of the interview, including a bold statement about genocide in Sudan: