OFTEN accused of taking on too many issues, President Obama is catching flak from some of his most ardent liberal supporters, who say he’s neglecting the paramount international human-rights crisis — the Darfur genocide.
So they’re fasting, writing letters and posting videos on YouTube pressing him to take a leadership role he promised he’d take on Darfur.
The Web site “Darfur Fast for Life” showcases the frustrations of Pam Omidyar, who, with her husband Pierre, the founder and chairman of e-Bay, was among Obama’s top supporters. Joining Omidyar in her fast are such activists as Gabriel Stauring, founder of Stop Genocide Now, and Shannon Sedgwick Davis, a supporter who calls Obama’s inaction “unbelievably disappointing.” Actress Mia Farrow initiated the fast, but was advised by her doctor to stop after 12 days of consuming only water. British billionaire Richard Branson has taken over for her.
They’ve watched as Obama has tackled the economy, health care, global warming, the tax system, financial regulations, education reform, embryonic stem-cell research and more. Sadly, human rights don’t seem to have made the cut. (Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shocked many when she asserted recently regarding China that human-rights issues couldn’t interfere with such other issues as solving the economic crisis).
During his campaign, Obama raised expectations among human-rights activists that he’d place Darfur at the top of his agenda. He highlighted a “passion in bringing an end to this crisis.” Calling genocide “a stain on all of us,” he claimed that “the United States has a moral obligation any time you see humanitarian catastrophe.”
On a 2007 visit to the region, Archbishop Desmond Tutu called Darfur “one of the most awful places in the world.” In March of this year, it got even more awful. That’s when the Sudanese government kicked out 13 international aid organizations that provided almost two thirds of the sustenance in the refugee camps, threatening the lives of an estimated 1 million people.
Says one activist, “These camps were already abysmal. Now just ratchet that down 60 percent.”
The White House’s response has been disheartening. By the time it got around to saying anything on the situation, the aid groups had been forced from the country. Some activists felt that had they spoken up earlier and more forcefully, it could have made a difference.
Speaking of Darfur during the campaign, Obama said: “As president of the United States, I don’t intend to abandon people.” Yet he is. About genocide, he said, “We can’t say ‘never again’ and allow it to happen again.” But it is happening again.
Worse, some worry that the mastermind of all this suffering, Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, is manipulating Obama’s special envoy to Darfur, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gration. Bashir has charmed outsiders who believe (erroneously) that he sincerely desires to work to end the suffering. Activists were especially alarmed when Gration provided an overly sunny report of Darfur’s ground situation and told some privately that it could be time to ease sanctions and remove Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Activist Shannon Sedgwick Davis dismisses the idea that Obama is too busy with the economy to address Darfur. “That’s an easy out,” Sedgwick Davis says. “He has an amazing team that surrounds him for issues just like this and he needs to empower them to do much, much more. That’s what they are there for. Hillary Clinton isn’t sitting in her office trying to balance the budget.”
Gabriel Stauring of Stop Genocide Now has visited the Darfur refugee camps seven times and despairs over the rapidly worsening conditions. He says of those suffering there, “They put so much hope in America. They have this idea that America stands for the right thing and that help is going to come. When Obama took office their hope shot through the roof. They are waiting.”
How much longer will they have to wait?
kirstenpowers@aol.com