For Immediate Release
Date: November 1, 2012
Contact: info@operationbrokensilence.org
MEMPHIS, TN USA - A new documentary film concerning the manmade humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan’s South Kordofan region is exposing an attempted genocide according to Operation Broken Silence, the organization behind the film.
“Despite the dangers journalists and human rights groups face in Sudan, we slipped into South Kordofan state in June of 2012 with a camera. There are few photos and videos coming out of the area, and our film Across the Frontlines: Ending the Nuba Genocide is the first singular, large-scale media project to document this war,” said Mark Hackett, CEO and Executive Director of Operation Broken Silence. “Our findings were absolutely horrifying.”
For over a year the regime of Sudanese President and indicted war criminal Omar al-Bashir has been waging a relentless, targeted campaign of forced starvation, aerial bombing, and on-the-ground massacres against the people groups of the Nuba Mountains. The Sudanese government has restricted media access to the region, covering up the crimes being committed there.
Hackett believes the worst of this crisis is yet to come.
“The rainy season is coming to an end and we are already seeing an uptick in violence. Starvation is spreading due to the regime’s continued breaking of international agreements. Preventable disease and mass hunger is taking a grip on those who remain trapped behind the frontlines. Despite these deplorable acts of mass murder and human rights abuses, the Nuban government that is now controlling large parts of South Kordofan remains committed to protecting the freedoms of those the Bashir regime is seeking to exterminate. It is no surprise the people of the Nuba Mountains have initiated self-protection measures as the international community remains uninterested and not invested in serious solutions for this crisis.”
Hackett expresses hope the film will create movement at the international governance level but keeps an emphasis on citizen-to-citizen initiatives until such movement occurs.
“Further talk with zero concrete action by the international community is unacceptable. International bodies and key backers of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement have embarrassed themselves by their deplorable lack of action. The Nuban people expect assistance in protecting themselves just like anyone in the world would when facing such crimes. Globally-minded citizens should continue forwards with and expand their own measures to save lives until world leaders decide to do their job and protect those in danger.”
The full length documentary is available at obsilence.org, Youtube, and Vimeo free for the public. An action kit can also be found on the organization’s website.
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Operation Broken Silence (OBS) is a nonprofit that strives to protect the innocent by confronting social affliction and building a new generation of abolitionists who envision a world without mass atrocities and modern slavery. The organization partners with private citizens, like-minded organizations, and victims to work towards a future without these heinous crimes. To learn more about OBS and how you can join the Second Abolition, go to obsilence.org.