GI-NET's blog

The Free Burma Rangers just released a new report detailing abuses by the Burmese government of Karen people in three states in Eastern Burma. A report summary indicates that The Burma Army is attacking, burning villages, laying landmines and displacing people in eastern Burma.

On Tuesday, a petition signed by 130 former and current Olympic athletes and hopefuls was delivered to a host of world leaders, calling on them to push Sudan to adopt an "Olympic Truce" in Darfur.

As you know, the Genocide Intervention Network provides individuals and communities with the tools to stop and prevent genocide. Our student-led division, STAND, specifically works to empower students worldwide. STAND has more than 1,000 active chapters in more than 25 countries working to end genocide.

We're thrilled to announce this week the launch of GI-NET's brand new STAND website, created by the talented folks at Biro Creative and Agentic Communications.

See the site here: http://www.standnow.org.

"Heart of Darfur," a report on the genocide in Sudan that is now in its fifth year, will be broadcast on Tuesday, July 1st on PBS. This is an "eyewitness account from the heart of the conflict - capturing the desperation of daily life in a refugee camp and rebel-held villages - and follows the commander of the United Nations - African Union peacekeeping force for Darfur on a mission into hostile areas to coax rebel leaders and Arab tribes to the negotiating table."

Check your local listings for the times and channels in your area.

On Sunday, the Government of Sudan rejected threats of Group of Eight power sanctions if it does not hand over two Sudanese indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes in Darfur.  At last week's G8 summit, representatives from the member nations (Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States) threatened additional charges against Sudan in the UN Security Council if it does not cooperate with the ICC.  A statement issued by the G8 warn

Last week, the Elders – a group of powerful world leaders that share a common goal of improving the state of humanity around the world – renewed their call on the Burmese government for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, a human rights advocate and fellow Elder who is viewed by many as Burma’s opposition heroine.

A recent article from Time highlighted a new book on the Congo, All Things Must Fight to Live by Bryan Mealer. From Time.com:

Update: Zimbabwean Presidential Candidate Morgan Tsvangirai exited the race on Sunday, less than one week before a scheduled runoff election between him and current president Robert Mugabe. The election has been marred by violence between forces loyal to Mugabe and Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Party.

Earlier this month, the final provision of the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (SADA)-prohibiting the U.S. government from contracting with foreign companies fueling the genocide in Darfur-was implemented. 

SADA, which was signed into law on December 31^st, 2007, is the most robust piece of Darfur legislation to date.  Although the deadline for implementing the final provision is more than a month overdue, the ruling issued on June 12, 2008 meets the letter and spirit of the law.

Gabriel Stauring, founder of Camp Darfur and Stop Genocide Now and Katie-Jay Scott, along with two other activists are making visits to Darfur refugees who have fled to Chad. Currently, they have set up video links to more accurately document their travels. You can read more about the situation on the ground and see the conditions of the refugee camps at www.stopgenocidenow.org.