2008 Woodie Awards
Club focuses on assisting Darfur region
Priscilla Bigner
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Other News
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An act of genocide that was condemned by the pope is being addressed by a new club on the UST campus, Defense for Darfur. Sophomore international studies and Spanish major Paul Morgan said he started the group because he felt it was necessary to help end the genocide in the Darfur region of western Sudan.
"I wanted to try a new path to aiding the situation in Darfur," he said. "Also, the pope condemned this atrocity two years ago, and I feel that UST has not put enough time into helping this issue."
The genocide began in March 2003 when militants of the Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement attacked government forces. The government counterattacked with aerial cover for an Arab militia, the Jangaweed. The government has denied its involvement in the events that have claimed the lives of 200,000 to 450,000 civilians and displaced 2.5 million.
"The Sudanese government is being charged with supplying a militant group, called the Jangaweed, to kill the people in the Darfur region," Morgan said. "On Nov. 28, 2005, the pope condemned this 'murderous conflict' and recently talked with Al- Bashir, the president of Sudan, and they both drew up a cease-fire agreement."
The cease-fire was not honored by the Sudanese government and the genocide continues. Morgan said he felt he had to start the movement here on campus because Sudanese president Al-Bashir has made no move to end the conflict.
"However, Al-Bashir kept up his record of not keeping to his word and the cease-fire was soon violated, which is just history repeating itself, for he has not kept one cease-fire agreement," Morgan said. "Because of the Sudanese government, the Darfur region is dying."
The club meets in Tiller Hall on Wednesday from 4-5 p.m. and Thursday from 12:30-1:30 p.m. to discuss the most effective ways to help end the genocide, raise awareness and send aid.
"I wanted to try a new path to aiding the situation in Darfur," he said. "Also, the pope condemned this atrocity two years ago, and I feel that UST has not put enough time into helping this issue."
The genocide began in March 2003 when militants of the Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement attacked government forces. The government counterattacked with aerial cover for an Arab militia, the Jangaweed. The government has denied its involvement in the events that have claimed the lives of 200,000 to 450,000 civilians and displaced 2.5 million.
"The Sudanese government is being charged with supplying a militant group, called the Jangaweed, to kill the people in the Darfur region," Morgan said. "On Nov. 28, 2005, the pope condemned this 'murderous conflict' and recently talked with Al- Bashir, the president of Sudan, and they both drew up a cease-fire agreement."
The cease-fire was not honored by the Sudanese government and the genocide continues. Morgan said he felt he had to start the movement here on campus because Sudanese president Al-Bashir has made no move to end the conflict.
"However, Al-Bashir kept up his record of not keeping to his word and the cease-fire was soon violated, which is just history repeating itself, for he has not kept one cease-fire agreement," Morgan said. "Because of the Sudanese government, the Darfur region is dying."
The club meets in Tiller Hall on Wednesday from 4-5 p.m. and Thursday from 12:30-1:30 p.m. to discuss the most effective ways to help end the genocide, raise awareness and send aid.