Camp Darfur

Camp Darfur has been the most complicated, interesting, frustrating, exhilarating and explosive project I have ever been apart of at High Tech High. It has also been of the most fun and the most meaningful. How many high school students can say they have been part of the crusade to stop genocide? Not many. And when you think about it, that is all what High Tech High is about. This project has much to say about our school and what we do here. Basically, this genocide awareness project was a two part process. The first was titled In-Action, consisting of initial planning, researching and educating others about genocide. Here, we created an installation which represented the number of fatalities our genocide has experienced. This was the initial stage. The next part was called Camp Darfur. This was where we put all of our knowledge into. For two days, we hosted a genocide event where people would walk around, listen to guest speakers, and experience what is going on around the world. This project has taught me about the power of the people and how it is possible to make a difference.

My partners and I researched on the genocide in Burma, located in South-East Asia. For weeks, we researched the genocide and became experts on the subject. We then created an action plan that would be carried out at Camp Darfur. We wanted to demonstrate something – do something physical. We had the idea to read a collection of stories, recollections and poems of what is actually going on in Burma. While we gave this presentation, everyone would lie down, symbolizing the fallen civilians in Burma. All the people who were involved were given a candle to commemorate the victimized. This was an effective way to present the information while instilling the barbaric imagery to the people. When it came down to our demonstration, it was nearly perfect. We were told that it was brilliant and I whole heartedly agree.

I believe that this was an amazing event. It showed how students can actively change the world around us. While I do not believe it will change foreign policy, I do believe that it is a good example of genocide education. Camp Darfur has several guest speakers who shared their personal knowledge of varies genocides. A few Sudanese men spoke about their fight to escape and what the government is capable of. Intense stories of death, resistance and murder were told. People who had no idea of what was going on were amazed. How can we stand idly by while thousands of innocents are dying? was a common question. Well, it is a shame but that is how bureaucracy and politics work. While working on this project, I have learned why action has not taken place. Where was the action in Iraq, Rwanda and Armenia? It’s sad, but many countries do not acknowledge a situation a genocide until it is over. This just might be the case in Darfur. Hopefully, there will action if more people are aware of the situation.

Not on Our Watch: Final Thoughts

After reading the book, I can say that it has had an overwhelming influence in my political views. Not all have been good, however. For example, how civilian action will only take place if the government has the same interests. The reality is that civilian action alone will not do anything. Neither will unilateral action – we need a coalition and multilateral approach, something which will be close to impossible to obtain. I have also confirmed my belief in the United Nations: totally ineffective. With both China and Russia (who are war profiteering) on the Security Council, the UN cannot change Darfur.

Overall, I had a good experience with the book. For better or worse it has made me realize how wrong the authors are. I appreciate their work, but I believe their suggestions will be ineffective. Well, at least most of them anyway. They have made exceptional strides in the awareness campaign and have also inspired many people. I learned a great deal on the way and have come to an understanding of the situation. The last chapters talked a great deal on what can be done and I hope the people that read this will be drawn to action. If nobody ever speaks out against the immoral, nothing will ever change. This is true with African American and women’s rights across the US. We can make a difference – it just depends on what is done.

Not on Our Watch: Response 2

In reading three more chapters, I have come to develop a strong opinion on the book. It delivers vital information while providing ideas on how you can help. For those who don’t have a clear idea to what is going on in Darfur, there are numerous chapters which explain the situation. The motives for killed non-Muslim Africans, the groups involved with the genocide as well as countries who sponsor the genocide are all discussed. I really like the way this book explains the crisis – Don and Ron give a full analysis of every aspect of the problem and what can be done to stop it.

The authors also make connections to the Rwandan genocide and how similar they are. This helps by putting matters in context so as to understand the full problem with Sudan. They also explain why the US hasn’t been actively involved. What they are trying to do is get the word out to the people. However, I believe the suggestions they offer will be ineffective. How can you use economic and weapon embargoes if they are not enforced? How will the US gain support from the United Nations if China and Russia can just veto the bills? Sure, the more people involved the better. But if major countries are actually supplying the killers with arms, helicopters and military jets, how can we solve anything. In some ways, I truly believe that Darfur is a lost cause. Economic sanctions won’t help a poor country. Putting political pressure on a government that is so intent on killing will not change a thing. Even with the military, it will be a mess. The United Nations Secuirty Council has the power to employ military action but with two of the big five countries giving arms to Sudan, the UN is useless. Options are limited, if anything. If anything, we can learn how genocide can be stopped. And yet we said this about Rwanda and the Holocaust. I don’t think there is an answer to this problem.

Class Discussion: Darfur

I thought our discussion about Darfur and Not on Our Watch was very interesting. The majority of the conversation dealt with the actual content of the book. I thought that too much time was spent talking about whether the book should present only facts, statistics and data rather than the author’s political and activist stories and anecdotes. Personally, I feel that adding the Don Cheadle’s and John Prendergast’s back stories and accounts of how they got involved with Darfur and preventing genocide is essential is understanding how the average American can thwart genocide. You cannot have all facts – it would get repetitive very fast. Moreover, the majority of the book is explaining how you can help. It outlines key strategies to get your voice heard so that you can make a difference. You also need to know where these people are coming from to understand their objectives.

The open forum was interesting in many respects. For those who think that military options are not required are not well informed. Diplomacy was tried with North Korea and their nuclear program for many years with Bill Clinton bearing no results. Same goes with terrorism: you cannot bargain or negotiate with extremists who intend on killing people. It just cannot be done. Using sanctions on one of the poorest countries is not going to work either – it will just hurt the innocent. As for political pressure, the government will not back down to any demands that are not supporting the Muslim agenda. One comment I heard today said that China would counter any attack made against the Sudanese government. China would never risk sending their troops to battle the Western powers. They pick their battles and Darfur to them is insignificant.

Not on Our Watch

“Never again.” These were the words spoken after the tragic and horrific events of the Holocaust. The world vowed that never again indifference would be the cause of a annihilation of a people. It was thought that no longer would be sit idly by while innocents were being systematically slaughtered. However, as we look at the past fifty years, these words have been missing in action. The citizens of Uganda, Rwanda and Burma have been attacked without any action by the international community. Ultimately, this by standing will result in the death of Darfur. The mission of Don Cheadle and John Prendergast is to end genocide forever. Not on Our Watch documents numerous case files and outlines how we can stop it.

So far, this book has been great. It has outlined the history of Darfur and why it is a troubled region. I find out the history rather interesting. By far, the most important chapter in our reading was number three. The authors describe numerous amounts of civil wars Sudan was experiencing in the mid 21st century. In it’s later years, Sudan has been influenced by the radical Muslims who are very dangerous. This is very disturbing as Osama bin Laden was given safe haven for more than five years in Sudan. They claim they have no more relations with Al-Qaeda and bin Laden but I seriously doubt it. One way they are garnering the lack of support for the native Africans is through the radicals and extremists. This might sound strange but if we incorporate military action in Sudan, we might be relieving the terrorist threat. However, it could also drastically increase the number of jihadists and their anti-Western agenda.

The only part I didn’t like is the emphasis on that Sudan can be changed. Methods such as economic sanctions and political pressure are not the best solutions. If we look at North Korea, Bill Clinton spent much of his time as president using diplomacy, threat of sanctions, etc. only to fail. Additionally, sanctions usually hurt the people rather than the government. As for political pressure, it will be ineffective. The international world knows what’s going on – it’s just that they do not want to be involved. Britain, the former occupier of Sudan, must know what is happening in Darfur. I bet former imperial colonies (Britain, France, Japan) have already talked about Darfur privately and have decided in is not in their best interest to intervene. Some countries might try to convince their citizens that it is a civil war. With both scenarios, failure is inevitable.

The Los Angeles Trip

The field trip to Los Angeles in the pursuit of genocide prevention was an amazing experience. The LA Holocaust Memorial reminded us of times when nothing was done and tells us what may come to be if nothing is done. The brutal images of chemical testing, Nazi death camps, slave labor and torture are horrific reminders so that we can never let this happen again. And yet, somehow “never again” seems to be ignored in many existing genocides, notably in Darfur. The second part of our trip involved the attendance at a Darfur Conference addressing the need to stop the mass murder of a people in Africa. Along the way, I also had one on one conversations with average Americans and their knowledge of the genocide in Darfur. Amazingly, more than half the people I talked to did not know anything about Darfur. This shows the indifference among the people, the media and our planet. This trip was one step in the right direction.

I will admit that the LA Holocaust Memorial was frightening – it showed us of a systematic attempt of the annihilation of a people. Where the Nazis employed gas chambers, crematories and starvation at the death camps. In this memorial, mock gas chambers, cattle cars and crematories were all present. It was not too long ago that this happened. Personally, I felt extremely disturbed at what I saw. I also witnessed several models of the concentration and death camps at the site. This place is to come and see what true evil is like. A very intense place indeed.

The Darfur Conference presented by Don Cheadle and John Prendergast was also very educational and fundamental in understanding what you can do and what is going on within the Darfur region. Being of a select few, I received a free copy of their book, entitled Not on Our Watch, a book dedicated to revealing the truth of the Darfur genocide. During the conference, they addressed key talking points, including: President George W. Bush’s “Plan B”, the specific actions that are conducted throughout the region, who is supporting the Sudanese government and why and the United Nations involvement. Their goal that night was to reach out to people and tell the stories of those who are silenced and cannot speak for themselves. They are on a mission to end this genocide through means of diplomacy, economic restrictions and punishment.

I truly found this experience unlike any other; it was a means to meet passionate activists, educate the voices of America and express our vision to battle indifference and subdue the killers. By being part of this event, we are saying enough is enough. If military force is required to stop the mass murder of the non-Arab Africans, then that is what must be done. With such powerful countries supporting the Sudanese government, it is necessary that we also incorporate multilateral or bilateral talks among the countries. When Sudan is providing China and Arab-countries (radical Islamic as well) it will be difficult to end it peacefully. Not many students can say that they are actively involved to stop genocide across the globe. However, the more people that we talk to, the easier our objective becomes.

Terror in Burma

"What is happening in Burma today is every bit as evil as the atrocities committed by the Bosnian war lords. Atrocities in Bosnia shocked European sensibilities because courageous reporters ensured that the story was told. Politicians reacted with international and judicial sanctions. Trials for war crimes have been established at the Hague. Compare that with our reaction to Burma or Cambodia. What is intolerable in Europe should not be any more tolerable because it is in South East Asia. Is a life in South East Asia worth less than a life in South East Europe?"

-Lord Alton of Liverpool

The genocide of the Jewish people by Nazi Germany in the 1940s was a horrific tragedy. No one will ever forget this terror. The Nazi death camps are notorious and their inhumanity is unquestioned. The rise in power of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini sparked the beginning of fascism and totalitarianism. The holocaust was an event that changed the world forever. The world pledged to never allow this destruction and murder of people to never happen again. And somehow, somehow the evils of genocide have resurfaced. It has been a recurring theme in the last fifty years. The Burmese Genocide has been ignored and disregarded similarly to the Holocaust at the time it was occurring, even though it has been taking place for decades. Intolerance such as this is unacceptable. The Karen people of Burma have been persecuted and oppressed by the military junta. Thousands upon thousands of innocents have been killed due to this oppressive government. It seems that this “slow genocide” is not going to end any time soon.

Burma is considered to be Southeast Asia’s most oppressed nation. It is ruled by a repressive and murderous military regime. The history of militarized Burma is similar to Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. Ne Win, a popular military commander, was asked to serve as interim prime minister of Burma in 1960. He ultimately gained control of the country in 1962. His regime became totalitarian and a police state was born. Win killed anyone who was a threat, using fear to control his people. He instituted the Burma Socialist Programme Party as the only political party. Win’s police would frequently beat and attack student-led protests. The CPB was overthrown in favor of a new government: the National League for Democracy in 1990. There have been numerous insurgencies by tribal minorities that have led to intense military action and involvement. The regime continues its inhumane policies of forced labor, state-sanctioned rape and torture, as well as the use of explosives to ease outbreaks and rebellion.


Many ethnic sects are targeted for persecution and oppression. The Karen, Karenni and Shan people are the main ethnicities that are ruthlessly attacked. A number of ten thousand Karen people are hiding in the Burmese jungle hiding from the military. If civilians are found, they are shot on sight. There is resistance as the Karen guerilla group tries to counter and rebel against the tyrannous regime. With the military running the government, their efforts prove to be fruitless.

The junta also establishes labor camps where civilians are forced to work in unsanitary and inhumane conditions. A camp usually consists of construction of highways or working with military munitions. These concentration camps are very similar to the ones the Nazis employed. There are very harsh living conditions where many die in the process. If a Burmese man is too weak or too sick to work, he is killed. The bodies are disposed of in local rivers where they rot. It is remarkably similar to the concentration camps where Nazis placed the Jewish people to work. Another sad truth is that the Karen people cannot flee or evacuate to refugee camps. Neighboring countries are also suffering from inner struggles. Both China and India are overpopulated, making immigration into that country close to impossible. Much like the Holocaust workers, the country’s state development projects are solely carried out by citizens of Burma. Citizens are often beaten, tortured, raped, or killed while at these camps. The Burmese work camps are shockingly parallel to how the Nazi concentration camps functioned and operated.

The government uses lethal force against the people whenever and wherever they can. Landmines are utilized across the Thai-Burmese border to prevent any citizens from escaping. These landmines are also scattered throughout the country. The military also sets the landmines near houses, rice fields and farms in order to cripple the harvest, starving its people. Disturbingly, the explosives are also set across regional boundaries that divide ethnic groups. This is to separate the ethnic armed groups from their civilian population. Sometimes, the government charges those who step on a mine a fine for destroying state property. It is extremely sick and twisted to use starvation as a method of warfare. In 2005, there were a reported two hundred and thirty one landmine causalities. For too long, the Burmese government has used explosives to promote fear and silence the people.

Very shockingly, there has been an enormous lack of involvement by the international community. The first dictator, Ne Win, isolated Burma from the rest of the world. Foreigners were expelled and visas were discarded as no one could enter or exit the country. This isolation has disastrously led to the indifference and intolerance of the militant regime. Another sad truth is that many people have no idea what is going on in the country. It is shameful that almost no action has been done by any Non-Profit Organization. The United Kingdom does not even consider the struggle in Burma to be genocide. However, there is not much that can be done for the country. Legally, the Burmese government has broken international law. Burma is a signatory if the 1948 Genocide Convention. The United Nations could bring a case against the administration to the International Court of Justice. Unfortunately, the Burmese catastrophe has been ignored and pushed aside, like the disasters of the holocaust. Not many people are aware of the situation and this is very alarming. Guy Horton has spent five years in Burma and has written a six hundred paged report detailing his findings. He recommends through his report, Dying Alive, that a legal case should be built against the junta declaring their violations of the Geneva Convention, crimes against humanity and genocide. Through the Nuremburg Trials, international justice courts were established that would try those who are accused of crimes against humanity. It is the duty of these courts to bring justice for the oppressed and persecuted. It is very distressing that for over forty years, the Burmese government have been suppressing and maiming its citizens without any international action.

Throughout the last fifty years, millions of lives have been unjustly taken away. The holocaust took the lives of six million Jews across Europe. It was discriminate murder and it has been said to never let this sort of genocide occur again. But those are just words. Words that have been missing in action across nearly a dozen genocides over fifty years. When Saddam Hussein killed hundreds of thousands of his own people, what did people have to say? Nothing. When the people of Rwanda were killed in mass numbers what did the world have to say? Nothing. Not surprising that the genocides in Darfur and Burma have gone unnoticed. It is our obligation to look past the indifference and battle the intolerance that plagues our world today. Imagine what would have happened if France and Britain challenged Hitler years before the Munich Conference. We could have prevented the largest killing of people in modern day history. We look at history to learn about the past and how not to make the same mistakes twice. Any yet we have made the mistake of indifference again and again and again. No matter what happens, the outcome is the same: apathy and unconcern. The people of Burma have been attacked and targeted by their own government for the past forty years. What does the world have to say about this? Nothing. “The Burmese people shouldn’t have to wait another generation for the killing to end and democracy to begin”.