Genocidal war continues in Darfur
Sudan’s history is marked by tribal warfare. The Sudanese Govenment has long been accused of arming and supporting the Arab “Janjaweed” militia as they kill Sudan’s non-arab population. Those the Government can’t kill it has been accused of starving, in actions that ahve been labelled as genocide. This week the United Nations published a report into the deaths of thousands of villagers in the western Darfur region, which concludes the Government of Sudan knew the attacks were taking place and even gave material support to the attacking tribesmen. The conflict in Darfur has caused the deaths of as many as 400,000 people since it began three years ago. The UN voted earlier this year to deploy peacekeepers to the region, but will not send troops until the Government gives consent, which it has refused. Abdelhadi Matar is the spokesperson for the Darfur Australia Network, a refugee from Western Darfur, who fled to Australia in 2000.