By Keith Howard

The plight of hundreds of thousands of displaced Africans hit Somerville when one politician took action to defend the lives of the victims of a brutal conflict.

Over one hundred congressmen, including U.S. Rep. Michael E. Capuano, D-Somerville, signed a letter urging China to work harder at putting an end to the conflict within the Darfur region of western Sudan. Capuano has been outspoken about the United States’ responsibility to end the suffering of Darfur.

According to the letter, millions of Sudanese civilians, who suffer from violence between rebel forces and Sudan’s militia, are in desperate need of food and medicine. ‚ÄúThe absolute need for the civilian protection and a basic level of humanitarian operational security has never been clearer,‚Äù the letter reads.

An estimated 200,000 deaths have been caused by Sudan’s troops, while more than 2.5 million more are believed to have fled their homes to escape danger. The conflicts in Sudan have resulted in disturbing levels of violence and brutality for thousands of innocent victims.

Capuano hopes the letter will earn the support of the Chinese government to help avert genocide or to stop one that has begun, he said. ‚ÄúI’ve been doing everything I can and this is one of the many steps we’ve come up with.‚Äù

Letting innocent people suffer is not acceptable, he said. ‚ÄúIt’s awfully hard for someone like me to be sitting by the wayside to simply allow this to be going along. I have no idea why the government of Sudan is supporting people that are committing a genocide.‚Äù

The conflict first attracted the congressman’s attention about three years ago when Sudanese troops known as the janjaweed, began attacking rebel forces in Darfur who were complaining that the black residents of the region had been neglected by the Muslim central government.

Six months ago, the United Nations passed United Nation Security Council Resolution 1769 to authorize the use of military force to pacify the conflicting parties and replace ineffective African Union forces.

Sudan acknowledged it had reached a deal with the United Nations to allow an international force of 20,000 troops to assist the 7,000-member African Union force. But Sudan has resisted UN support by imposing a nighttime curfew on UN operations and by blocking and attacking UN troops.

The letter mentions passage of the UN Security Council Resolution 1769 as an earlier step last year to help put an end to the conflict. According to Capuano, if UN troops are not allowed to do their job their mission could fail.

“We want the UN troops in there and left alone to do their job and the government of Sudan has done everything they can to hinder that effort,” said Capuano. According to him, the next step is getting China to become involved in order to bring things to a close.

“Hopefully the government of China will see the light before we have to take the next step, whatever that might be,” he said. “[There have been] a lot of UN actions [and] this is the latest one that China supporting would allow UN troops in Darfur to protect civilians,” said Capuano.

Currently, China serves as Sudan’s largest trade partner, major military provider, and consistent defender of Sudan’s interests in the United Nations; they are also preparing to host the Olympic games this year, giving them increased leverage and influence in the world.

China took some helpful actions last year, appointing a special envoy to Sudan, providing military engineers in Darfur and helping with the passage of the UN African Missions In Darfur (UNAMID). But at the same time, China’s ties to Khartoum has grown closer over the span of last year, with an increase in trade as just one example.

There are a lot of people in the general public trying to create pressure, and keep the issue in the public eye. And many activists have already made strides in focusing the world’s attention on the suffering Darfur, said Capuano.

However, ending the conflict by garnishing support from China is still the main goal, he said. ‚ÄúThe more members we can get to pay attention to the issue the more likely someone might help us. That’s the only obstacle. That’s the only one I’m aware of.‚Äù