Death Mounts in Darfur; We Stand By And Watch

Last month I took quite a drubbing for writing a column (and a post on this weblog) that noticed the strange silence of the left in regards to the ongoing, slow-motion genocide in Darfur. Actually it was Clement Apaak of the Canadian Students for Darfur who did most of the noticing, but we weren't the first to notice, and we weren't the last, as I see from Brian Brivati and Philip Spencer in their assessment of the disgraceful passivity of the "international community" in regards to Darfur, in today's Guardian:

What is more shocking is the indifference of the left. Instead of demanding our governments act now, we are told that what is going on in Darfur is none of our business. Or that this is civil war, not genocide. Or that it is far too complicated for us to intervene. Or that any intervention on our part would only make matters worse. Or that we shouldn't call for intervention because no one has the slightest intention of doing anything, so we are raising expectations that cannot be met. Or that the real plan is to invade Sudan and create a new colony.

These are shameful evasions that run counter to all the left is supposed to stand for.

In today's editions of This Day, out of Lagos, Nigeria, there is also an account of some more noticing, this time of the degree to which the "international community" stood by and watched as Darfur was turned into a kind of Auschwitz:

Despite the extensive coverage of the humanitarian tragedies in the Darfur region of Sudan and efforts to end the calamities, the place has remained a big sore on the planet. Now, a Minority Rights Group International (MRGI) report has indicted the international community and the United Nations (UN) for not responding to early warnings before the raging catastophe unfolded there in 2003. What else does the world need to prick its conscience and halt the drama of anguish and death ?

The report is here. And keep watch on Eric.