This video, being the medium through which a harsh experience is shown greatly benefits the people who have not been to the scene. It reflects the most humane side of the conflict to all peace-loving individuals in the world by showing the problems refugees in Darfur undergo; women are raped, no basic necessities like water, and poor security system. The movie evokes a feeling of mercy and pity within me as it shows the pathetic living styles in the camp. There are limited people who lack basic needs yet the government-sponsored militia the Janjaweed continues to claim their lives. In addition, I have been able to gain a better understanding of the conflict in Darfur which is one of the most horrible. The creators of the video are passing the message of love and tolerance between different races in the whole world.
The internally displaced persons in Darfur suffer several atrocities. To start with; security is a nightmare as the Janjaweeds continue to launch a series of attacks on innocent civilians. Secondly, the tribal conflicts between the different tribes in Darfur such as Arabs against Africans have continued to claim the lives of civilians denying them their right to life and security. The displaced persons in the camps have also deprived the freedom of movement as most roads in Darfur are full of hijackers hence nobody is free to move. Similarly, the proliferation of arms given out by the government to the Janjaweeds has led to the recruitment of youths into the militia thus increasing insecurity.
The internally displaced persons also suffered harassment from the military personnel and the police who are mandated to protect them. Once they are met outside the camps, they are mostly treated as rebels (Xavie 148). Women and girls have continuously been raped by soldiers and the police, in January 2007, a mass grave of eight people was found at Gerald, the largest refugee camp in Darfur. The area is controlled by Sudan Liberation Army (SLA). The refugees that witnessed claimed they had been raped and killed before being buried (Xavie 157). The rape cases have also noted been noted especially whenever women are found outside the camps, the Janjaweed militia usually attack and raped them. This also happens when the women are looking for firewood, water or going to the market. In addition, the internally displaced also lacked proper education, though UNICEF and other NGOs have to build primary schools most of the young people remain idle in the camp making them the target groups for recruitment into the militias.
Currently, Sudan is moving towards the initiation of peace among individual citizens in a move spearheaded by the international community (Xavie 123). However, the major mechanisms put in place between the central government and the rebel groups such as; the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the East Sudan Pease Agreement and the Darfur Peace Agreement have consistently suffered drawbacks due to lack of implementation, mostly caused by wrangles within the ruling National Congress Party(NCP). The political goodwill has been noted since 2005 when the SPLM and the NCP signed an agreement on 9th January that year (Xavie 146). Since then, NCP has been reluctant to accept democratic transmission that would give the people of Southern Sudan the opportunity to decide their destiny. However, this has been made possible through the international pressure led by the USA, United Nations, African Union and the Horn of Africa Inter-Government Authority on Development (IGAD) that saw South Sudan handle a successful referendum in February 2011(Xavie 169). The security situation in Darfur has remained unstable and unpredictable despite the high-level security offered by the African Union and the United Nations security forces. In February 2010, the rebel group, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) signed a ceasefire agreement that partly halted the Darfur war.
Telling stories of genocide helps avoid a repeat of such activities in the future. As indicated in the text by (Ferris and Stein 244)” history will serve as is minder to the future generations”, the information disseminated through documentaries recorded by the humanitarians such as the International Refugee Organization will help curb future genocides. The majority of the Darfur genocide victims and their future generations would not want their country to record such kinds of atrocities hence everyone will strive to accommodate one another. Secondly, the telling of stories about genocide in Darfur would provide some autonomy to the survivors who are traumatized (Ferris and Stein 245). They will view one another as a member of the community with equal rights and privileges as currently seen in Rwanda after the 1994 genocide. The information in “stories of genocide” evokes merciful feelings in the readers and future generations. It is of great importance to the survivors and other countrymen as mentioned by (Ferris and Stein 260)” Telling our story rips us apart….but they will see us, know what happened”. The people of Sudan will view and possess their own history and this will avoid future genocide in the country.
The game is rigged against the victims by showing the atrocities undergone by the refugees in the camps. It shows the problems every member in the camp faces whenever there is an invasion by the Janjaweed. Women suffer the most as they are often raped and then killed, they even lose property like firewood or water they have collected. Young girls on the other hand are made to take care of larger families after the death of their parents exposing them to higher risks. In addition, men are killed while the young boys are recruited into the militia groups. The Janjaweed’s often raided the camp and takes away food obtained by the refugees from humanitarians, they also attack and destroy water points.
The game has taught me, that it takes very little to completely destroy another person’s life and nobody should be allowed to deny anyone the right to life. I would urge modern society that dark-skinned people are similar to the lighter-skinned and should not be seen as slaves. They have the same rights. Similarly, their opinions should be listened to before taking any action that would involve mass killings. I urge the international community led by the USA and the United Nations to take stern action against the perpetrators of such genocides and they should be tried at the International Court of Justice.
Works cited
Ferris, Kerry, and Stein, Jill. The real world: An introduction to Sociology. New York: Norton and Company, 2007.Print.
Xavie, John. Darfur: African Genocide.New Jersey: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2007.Print.