Despite U.S. threat of sanctions, Sudan demands African Union peacekeeping force

[lord patch]

World News
Despite U.S. threat of sanctions, Sudan demands African Union peacekeeping force
By Saeed Shabazz
Staff Writer
Updated May 15, 2007, 11:59 am

* U.S. and Britain want tougher sanctions for Sudan (FCN, 04-24-2007)
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publ...cle_3404.shtml

* Sudanese president answers questions on Darfur (FCN, 05-14-2007)
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publ...cle_3474.shtml

* Reconnecting the international struggles of Black people (Min. Louis
Farrakhan/FCN, 05-07-2006)
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publ...cle_2793.shtml

* FCN Editorial - Clear the cloud of confusion over Sudanese conflict
(02-10-2005)
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publ...cle_1802.shtml

UNITED NATIONS (FinalCall.com) - African Union chairman Alpha Oumar
Konare and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon recently met
in New York for high-level discussions about problems in Sudan,
particularly in the Darfur region.

"We have had very intensive discussions on how to address the Darfur
situation; and we are encouraged by the positive signs we have
received from the Sudanese government," the secretary-general told
reporters on Apr. 17.

The day before, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir agreed to accept
deployment of the United Nation's "heavy support package," which will
supplement the 7,000-man African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur.
Included in the heavy support package are 2,250 UN troops, 750
international police, and logistical and aviation equipment including
six helicopter gun ships.

The Sudanese government has been accused of genocide in the Darfur
region of the country as part of a civil war. Western nations, in
particular, have been pushing the UN to take action. The deployment of
an African peacekeeping force to protect civilians in Darfur has been
seen as a compromise. The Sudanese government has denied that genocide
has been committed.

The AU called for the "consideration of sustainable funding for the
African Union Mission in Sudan" following the two-day talks.
Ambassador Said Djinnit, AU commissioner for peace and security, told
reporters AMIS is costing the AU $25 million a month.

"I share all the views that the secretary-general expressed and we
will continue to strengthen this partnership between the African Union
and the United Nations," Mr. Konare said. The meeting between the AU
leader and UN secretary-general was held Apr. 16-17.

The New York Times published a story Apr. 16 claiming that a
"confidential report" leaked to the paper accused the Sudanese
government of "painting" its own military planes to disguise them as
United Nations or African Union aircraft.

"The freshly painted planes are being operated out of all three of
Darfur's principal airports and are being used for aerial surveillance
and bombardments of villages," the Times said. The article also
charged the Bashir administration with flying "ammunition and weapons
into the western region" in violation of a 2005 arms embargo.

The confidential report to the Panel of Experts, which is still being
studied by the UN Sanctions Committee, was the reputed source for the
Times story. The newspaper said the report was leaked by a member of
the 15-member Security Council. The Associated Press said the report
was given to their UN correspondent, and was originally leaked to the
London-based Guardian on Mar. 28.

"The Sudan was shocked and outraged to see the report fully leaked to
The New York Times," Sudanese Ambassador Abdelmahmood Abdelhaleem
said, in a prepared statement. As he walked through the corridors of
the United Nations, Amb. Abdelhaleem called those responsible for the
leak "enemies of peace and stability" in his nation.

The ambassador denounced the charges as false, saying they had
previously been discussed. "The publication of the report in the
aforesaid newspaper and its timing, raises serious questions about the
real intentions behind such leaks," he said.

"Leaking of the report not only jeopardizes and compromises required
professionalism, but also seriously hurt the image of the United
Nations and its Security Council," added the Sudanese statement,
released Apr. 18.

President George W. Bush warned Apr. 18 that the U.S. was poised to
"take unilateral steps against Sudan, including sanctions against 29
government-controlled Sudanese companies and the blocking of any
dollar-based transactions conducted by Khartoum." The president said
Sudan had "one last chance" to accept a 20,000 strong UN peacekeeping
force approved by the Security Council.

A Wall Street Journal op-ed called for "destroying of Khartoum's air
force on the ground" the "next time evidence emerges that Pres. Bashir
is using it against Darfur."

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, "It's a positive
thing that this report is coming out because it is important
information that will inform the debate about what diplomatic steps
should be taken concerning Darfur."

"This information is baseless," countered Sudanese Army spokesman
Brigadier General Othman Mohammed al-Aghbach in an AFP article. "This
type of accusation is unacceptable and can put an end to cooperation
with the parties initiating them," he said.

Secretary-General Ban called on Sudan to "clarify the accusations" in
a press statement.

Calls to the AU office in New York for comment were not returned at
Final Call press time.



2007 FCN Publishing, FinalCall.com


http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publ...cle_3487.shtml

[lord patch]

Perspectives
Uniting the Black, Red and Brown
By FinalCall.com News
FCN Editorial
Updated May 18, 2007, 04:38 pm

‘Si Se Puede!’ Yes We Can!

May Day, May 1, 2007. International Workers Day. This year was the second year when mostly Latino groups staged massive rallies throughout the country on behalf of immigrant workers. Their rallies took place near in time to the 24th Annual Gathering of Nations PowWow and Festival where more than 100,000 Native Americans convened in Albuquerque, N.M.

We should point out that from Coast to Coast and from Border to Border, the Nation of Islam marched in solidarity, and bore faithful witness to the striving by the Brown members and the Red members of our human family.

“No More Raids and Deportations!” “Moratorium Now!” and “Not One Family Separated!” read the signs in Chicago. “We are workers, not terrorists,” said the signs in Houston. New Yorkers gathered in Union Square, in solidarity.

In Albuquerque, the largest PowWow (celebration) of Indigenous people of the year, and amid the food, the jewelry, the tens of thousands of Native peoples of all Nations, there was a hearty contingent of Fruit of Islam (FOI) in suits and bow ties, accompanying a delegation representing the Nation of Islam (NOI) and the Millions More Movement (MMM).

In Los Angeles, shortly after Min. Ishmael Muhammad, National Assistant Minister to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, greeted the mostly Latino audience in Spanish, their shared language, demonstrators were responding: “Si, Se Puede! (Yes We Can!)”

Together, these activities represent another step led by Min. Farrakhan and his helpers, toward the fulfillment of the vision of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad—the establishment of a bond of cooperation between the Black, the Red and the Brown.

“I don’t come to you today as a stranger, but as your Brother,” Min. Ishmael said in Los Angeles. “You must always remember that the forces that attempt to separate and divide us; that are sending parents of children back on the other side of the border—these forces have always been engaged in the break up of family.

“In Los Angeles, there are conflicts that are taking place between the Black and the Brown; the Black and the Red. We must not allow the forces to make us see that we are enemies of one another. We are Brothers and Families!”

Immigrants rights supporters are demanding legislation which will stop the raids and deportations of undocumented persons, and opening a path to legalizing the status of the so-called “illegal” immigrant.

Native people continue to assert their sovereignty, where Blacks and other non-White groups which have been in the numerical “minority” in the U.S. have focused their struggle on seeking “equality” in a system which has never viewed them as equal, and which may never view them as equal.

Uniting the Black, Red and Brown: “Si Se Puede! Yes We Can!”

A strategic alliance and relationship must be developed, because the lands on which we all reside are their lands, the lands of the Native Peoples; the Mexican people. “We are grateful to them because they opened their arms and received many of our forefathers who were fleeing from the evils of slavery, and the blood has mixed with the Red and the Black. We are blood of each others’ blood, flesh of each others’ flesh, bone of each others’ bone and the thing that the enemy has done is to make us all see each other differently,” Min. Ishmael Muhammad said at the Gathering of Nations PowWow. “He has put up a veil and a wall between the Indigenous people. We are divided internally and even divided externally where we don’t even recognize each other as members of one family.”

No one was spared the enemy’s wrath. Blacks in America were destroyed by 400 years of slavery and oppression. The effects of that destruction can be seen everyday on the streets in America where Black people live. “The Honorable Elijah Muhammad saw the unity of Black and Brown and Red and Yellow and even the poor White, one day in this nation.”

“This last century—the 20th Century—was the last century of imperialism, colonialism. It is the last century of racism and injustice, evil and the rule of Satan,” continued the National Assistant Minister. “The new century belongs to God and the righteous from the Black, the Brown and all of the peoples of the earth.”

The Nation of Islam delegations, including Mother Tynnetta Muhammad, Min. Ishmael Muhammad, Nation of Islam Chief-of-Staff Leonard F. Muhammad, Southwestern Regional Minister Robert Muhammad, Western Regional Minister Tony Muhammad, and Sis. Yo’Nas Da LoneWolf McCall-Muhammad, and others helped to extend our frontiers.

Uniting the Black, Red and Brown: “Si Se Puede! Yes We Can!”


2007 FCN Publishing, FinalCall.com
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publ...cle_3502.shtml