Darfur and the illusive Peace
Rizwan Ghani
April 04, 2007
With reports of five African Union peace keepers killed Sunday in an ambush, pushing the peace keepers’ death to fifteen, international community echoed UN Sec. General Moon’s condemnation of the sinister act.
Darfur tragedy reportedly has so far dispossessed some two million people, left over 200,000 killed and thousands raped by the govt. backed militia and regular troops. Following Tuesday 27, March meeting between Saudi King Abdullah, President Bashir, Sec. Gen. Moon and Arab League Sec. Gen Ammr Mousa and Alfa Omar Konami Head of African Union (AU) representative office in Riyadh the ambush day ahead of scheduled Peace and Security Council of AU is not a good omen both for the hapless refugees and the AU forces as their loses climb to 15 deaths.
The ambush reportedly has raised questions over Riyadh meeting aiming to restore trust between Khartoum and the UN. Reportedly, efforts were also made find a way to extend UN logistics to AU forces. Moon (Ban rips killings … Washington Times dated 3 April) is under growing pressure to find a way out amidst serious considerations of sanctions and banning investments against Sudanese govt. by both US and the UK.
However, Moon after his meeting with US special envoy to Darfur Andrew S. Natsios has asked for more time for diplomacy. “Before we talk of sanctions, let me have some more political space to deal with dialogue with them” remarked Sec. Gen. He also added that imposing sanctions is UNSC business and believes it is too early. There is an opinion that possible alternates to sanctions on line of European engaging post Soviet Western European states through policies based on treaties and checks and balances should also be reviewed for positive outcome.
President Bashir’s during his Monday address to Sudanese cabinet reiterated his position to only allow AU forces to operate in Darfur and linking any UN involvement in the country to (western) colonization still reflects deep divide between Khartoum and the global community that is seeking an end to misery of the refugees. Similarly, reports of China extending military ties with Sudan show further challenges for Moon. China by making military ties conditional to observance of human rights and extension of constitutional protection can alleviate apprehensions over the deal and its timings.
It is however hoped that Sec. Gen.’s peacekeeping planning unit scheduled to leave next week for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to meet with AU counterparts to discuss deployment of AU forces goes as scheduled to help shape discussions between Moon and Konare expected to meet in New York on April 16 and 17 .
What is equally important at this stage is to facilitate refugees facing security threats and near famine like situation. President Bashir at least should allow AU forces to establish safe (passage) zone through which UN and other non-governmental organizations can provide much needed relief to refugees including infants and children suffering due to non-availability of basic necessities including food and water and medicine. International community can also discuss option of air drops with Khartoum.
AU should also be allowed to run “wood patrol” to help women safely collect wood for fuel to cook for their hungry families without fear of being raped. Reportedly dozens of women have been raped in last two weeks in Kasaab camp holding some 20,000 refugees.
In this regard UN should seek help of neighboring Gulf States including Saudi Arabia to convince Bashir to respect international laws and allow uninterrupted flow of necessary items to the camps. International community should also force Sudanese government to uphold the oil revenue distribution treaty with Southern Sudan. Reportedly, the five year old treaty promised fifty percent of the revenue to the people of Southern Sudan while the remaining fifty percent was to be shared by Khartoum and rest of Sudan. But instead of getting their due those people have been disposed and forced to live as refugees in their own country. Ironically most of the world believes Darfur is purely the outcome of an ethnic conflict. It is only half truth.
Such steps need no aid or treaty or political understanding. It is an issue of basic human rights. It is time Khartoum uphold its constitutional, moral and religious obligations to facilitate hapless refugees who by law are Sudanese and should be protected by their (own) government.
International community including China and America should help strengthen AU forces both in number and resources to deter rebels from undertaking brazen attacks. Reports of loss of AU troop’s weapons and vehicles to rebels reflect sheer haplessness of the peace setup that is supposed to extend protection. There is an immediate need to reverse the situation by providing much needed equipment and troops for effective peace keeping in the region.
Although UNSC Resolution 1706 envisages intervention but for want of consensus and complexity of the situation at least for a start humanitarian relief should be given top priority to save further loss of life and provide relief and protection to the displaced people. However illusive peace may be for Darfur we as human beings should keep showing our support to the cause till the time Darfur refugees are extended security, food and water.
The bottom line is Darfur is a modern day tragedy where a state instead of respecting legitimate rights of its own people has turn against them and is killing its own citizens. It is not only violation of local laws but is equally unlawful in accordance to the norms of international justice. Therefore, as part of global community we all need to play our role to push politicians, people and organizations to bring an end to the chaos that has already resulted in hundreds and thousands of deaths, displaced millions and resulted in numerous rapes. Countries and international human rights watch groups should also play their part to bring an immediate end to the misery of suffering refugees. Sudan should also be asked to bring the perpetrators to book through credible justice system. What should not have happened in the first place now shouldn’t be allowed to continue.
Rizwan Ghani.
Darfur tragedy reportedly has so far dispossessed some two million people, left over 200,000 killed and thousands raped by the govt. backed militia and regular troops. Following Tuesday 27, March meeting between Saudi King Abdullah, President Bashir, Sec. Gen. Moon and Arab League Sec. Gen Ammr Mousa and Alfa Omar Konami Head of African Union (AU) representative office in Riyadh the ambush day ahead of scheduled Peace and Security Council of AU is not a good omen both for the hapless refugees and the AU forces as their loses climb to 15 deaths.
The ambush reportedly has raised questions over Riyadh meeting aiming to restore trust between Khartoum and the UN. Reportedly, efforts were also made find a way to extend UN logistics to AU forces. Moon (Ban rips killings … Washington Times dated 3 April) is under growing pressure to find a way out amidst serious considerations of sanctions and banning investments against Sudanese govt. by both US and the UK.
However, Moon after his meeting with US special envoy to Darfur Andrew S. Natsios has asked for more time for diplomacy. “Before we talk of sanctions, let me have some more political space to deal with dialogue with them” remarked Sec. Gen. He also added that imposing sanctions is UNSC business and believes it is too early. There is an opinion that possible alternates to sanctions on line of European engaging post Soviet Western European states through policies based on treaties and checks and balances should also be reviewed for positive outcome.
President Bashir’s during his Monday address to Sudanese cabinet reiterated his position to only allow AU forces to operate in Darfur and linking any UN involvement in the country to (western) colonization still reflects deep divide between Khartoum and the global community that is seeking an end to misery of the refugees. Similarly, reports of China extending military ties with Sudan show further challenges for Moon. China by making military ties conditional to observance of human rights and extension of constitutional protection can alleviate apprehensions over the deal and its timings.
It is however hoped that Sec. Gen.’s peacekeeping planning unit scheduled to leave next week for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to meet with AU counterparts to discuss deployment of AU forces goes as scheduled to help shape discussions between Moon and Konare expected to meet in New York on April 16 and 17 .
What is equally important at this stage is to facilitate refugees facing security threats and near famine like situation. President Bashir at least should allow AU forces to establish safe (passage) zone through which UN and other non-governmental organizations can provide much needed relief to refugees including infants and children suffering due to non-availability of basic necessities including food and water and medicine. International community can also discuss option of air drops with Khartoum.
AU should also be allowed to run “wood patrol” to help women safely collect wood for fuel to cook for their hungry families without fear of being raped. Reportedly dozens of women have been raped in last two weeks in Kasaab camp holding some 20,000 refugees.
In this regard UN should seek help of neighboring Gulf States including Saudi Arabia to convince Bashir to respect international laws and allow uninterrupted flow of necessary items to the camps. International community should also force Sudanese government to uphold the oil revenue distribution treaty with Southern Sudan. Reportedly, the five year old treaty promised fifty percent of the revenue to the people of Southern Sudan while the remaining fifty percent was to be shared by Khartoum and rest of Sudan. But instead of getting their due those people have been disposed and forced to live as refugees in their own country. Ironically most of the world believes Darfur is purely the outcome of an ethnic conflict. It is only half truth.
Such steps need no aid or treaty or political understanding. It is an issue of basic human rights. It is time Khartoum uphold its constitutional, moral and religious obligations to facilitate hapless refugees who by law are Sudanese and should be protected by their (own) government.
International community including China and America should help strengthen AU forces both in number and resources to deter rebels from undertaking brazen attacks. Reports of loss of AU troop’s weapons and vehicles to rebels reflect sheer haplessness of the peace setup that is supposed to extend protection. There is an immediate need to reverse the situation by providing much needed equipment and troops for effective peace keeping in the region.
Although UNSC Resolution 1706 envisages intervention but for want of consensus and complexity of the situation at least for a start humanitarian relief should be given top priority to save further loss of life and provide relief and protection to the displaced people. However illusive peace may be for Darfur we as human beings should keep showing our support to the cause till the time Darfur refugees are extended security, food and water.
The bottom line is Darfur is a modern day tragedy where a state instead of respecting legitimate rights of its own people has turn against them and is killing its own citizens. It is not only violation of local laws but is equally unlawful in accordance to the norms of international justice. Therefore, as part of global community we all need to play our role to push politicians, people and organizations to bring an end to the chaos that has already resulted in hundreds and thousands of deaths, displaced millions and resulted in numerous rapes. Countries and international human rights watch groups should also play their part to bring an immediate end to the misery of suffering refugees. Sudan should also be asked to bring the perpetrators to book through credible justice system. What should not have happened in the first place now shouldn’t be allowed to continue.
Rizwan Ghani.
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