Internet access is not easy to find in eastern Chad (along with food, electricity and hope). So I when I opened an email from The Save Darfur Coalition dated last week and learned that John Bolton had voted against Juan Mendez's reporting on his recent trip to Darfur to the UN Security Council, shock turned to dismay and anger. I couldn't help wondering if the US Ambassador to the UN had seen and heard what I am seeing and hearing he would have acted differently. His reported justification for blocking the report (alongside China, Algeria and Russia) was that it is "time for action." No humanitarian or person of conscience would disagree, but without reportage, discussion and the UN how can we expect action?
I had spent that day with Sudanese refugees in the Kounoungo camp. One well educated and highly articulate refugee whom (for his own security) I'll call Mahmoud, told me in perfect English: "We have suffered genocide by our government in Darfur, we desperately need help...our future is not clear, as long as the government of al Bashir is still there (in Sudan), we will have no safety."
The situation for the Sudanese refugees is grim. They will likely be killed if they try and return home and they are at great risk if they stay in Chad. It is an impossible dilemma and those, like my friend Mahmoud, who realize this are the people for whom I feel the most sympathy. Yet, he said to me: "please say thank you very much to all American people and government....I will pray for America and the American people."
I felt truly ashamed when I returned to my compound and found out about John Bolton's actions. The following day I saw Mahmoud again and told him what I had heard. This is what he said:
"We urge the Security Council members to act for all humanity, not for their own benefit. Justice is supposed to be above all. History will blame them if they let dictatorship governments crush their people and commit genocide."
Since I do have internet access I would like to ask the world a question for Mahmoud: why WOULD the Security Council members act for their own benefit and not for all of humanity?
To John Bolton, I pose a differently framed question: is the US acting for justice for all humanity or out of self-interest?
A desperate refugee in Eastern Chad is praying for you, are you and the rest of the administration praying for him?