Some historical background

Peter Verney, who edits the paper-only newsletter Sudan Update, has an interesting article in Middle East Report Online. It's a good way of getting some longer-term perspective on Darfur: Peter does a great job of bringing in the history; geography and economy of the region, and how they underpin the current situation:

Darfur's people are all Muslim, but the settled communities such as the Fur and Masalit have cultural idiosyncrasies that reflect their African roots. For example, like the southern Sudanese and Nuba, they brew marissa, a beer high in B vitamins and protein that in various strengths forms a staple part of the diet. The farmers did not consider that marissa was serious alcohol forbidden by Islam until the advent of Islamist politics brought by regimes in Khartoum. The first post-independence attempt to ban alcohol in Sudan was in south Darfur in the mid-1970s. The governor appointed by then-President Jaafar Nimeiri tried to set an example a decade before Nimeiri's embrace of Islamist ideology led to countrywide imposition of a crude version of shari`a law. "African" Darfuris, devout Muslims already, did not accept being told how to follow their religion. Darfuri women, too, have traditionally been less constrained, and can be seen carrying loads of bricks and building houses, a sight inconceivable in parts of central Sudan.

Comments

[gottaB]

The Justice and Equality Movement has provided an English translation of the Black Book which was mentioned in Verney's article.

http://www.sudanjem.com/english/books/blackbook_part1/20040422_bbone.htm

Their website has part 2 and some other resources (under downloads)

http://www.sudanjem.com/english/english.html

[steve smith]

hey guys -- nice reference from the altercation site today

[Joshua Salik]

Don't expect the U.N., especially with Kofi Annan as its secretary, to do anything except talk, or steal a great deal of the funds devoted to fight this atrocity. We must find a way to bypass this thieve.

"The empty half of the glass is always at the top"

Joshua Salik

Salik Games
http://salikgames.home.att.net

[jomamama]

hahahahahahhahahahahahaha sudan pple.................we'lll save uuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!