US Calls for Special Session of U.N. Commission On Human Rights On Sudan
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United States Department of State (Washington, DC)
PRESS RELEASE
April 23, 2004
Posted to the web April 23, 2004
Geneva
Commission must address "ethnic cleansing" in Sudan, official says
The United States has called for a Special Session of the Commission on Human Rights
on Sudan after the UN human rights body failed to adopt a strong resolution condemning
the on-going ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region.
"The U.N. Commission on Human Rights dare not fail to act," Ambassador Richard
Williamson, head of the U.S. delegation said. "It must hold accountable those
responsible for the deplorable acts in Darfur."
Under the Commission's rules of procedure, any member of the United Nations may
request the Secretary General to convene a special session to deal with "urgent and
acute human rights situations in the most expeditious way."
Special sessions can only be convened with the support of a majority of States members
of the Commission. Previous special sessions were held in 1992 to consider the
situation in the former Yugoslavia, in 1994 on Rwanda, and in 1999 on East Timor.
The question of Sudan had been deferred until the final day of the 60th Session of the
Commission as it became apparent that member states were having difficulty reaching
agreement on how the body should treat the issue.
Members must "reflect on the 30,000 dead and the 900,000 internally displaced people
now living in intolerable and dangerous conditions," Williamson said. "This could
become a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions if we fail to act."
The statement highlighted the U.N. High Commissioner's report which outlined human
rights violations in the Sudan including attacks by the Sudanese government on
civilians. The U.S. Delegation also distributed a document entitled "Ethnic Cleansing
in Darfur" which describes the violence and atrocities in Darfur including killings,
torture and rape of innocent civilians and denial of humanitarian assistance.
However, the 53-member Commission adopted a weakened document that expresses concern
at "reported" abuses and fails to condemn the on-going ethnic cleansing. The United
States opposed the measure, and tried to introduce a vote on a stronger resolution,
but the U.S. motion was denied.
The United States stated that it will call for a special session of the Commission
after the return from Sudan of the UN team that is investigating possible war crimes.
Following is Ambassador Richard S. Williamson's General Statement on Sudan:
United States Head of Delegation Ambassador Richard S. Williamson
General Statement on Item 3 and 9 on Sudan
April 23, 2004
Mr. Chairman,
Edmund Burke said that all that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to
fail to act.
Today the men and women of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights dare not fail
to act. We must take strong action on the human rights abuses in Sudan.
After World War II, the world said "Never Again." Then came Cambodia where the
"Killing Fields" were awash in blood. Ten years ago in Rwanda, evil reigned. In 100
days, 800,000 were killed in a rampage of ethnic killings. The world knew that
terrible acts were being committed, yet the international community failed to act.
Again, the world said, "Never Again." Then came ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and Kosovo.
Just days ago, Secretary General Kofi Annan traveled to Geneva to address the
Commission on Human Rights during the day of remembrance of the 10th anniversary of
the genocide in Rwanda. In his remarks, the Secretary General called upon the
international community to never fail as we did ten years ago. And we referred to the
acts now going on in the Darfur area of Sudan as "ethnic cleansing." We cannot fail as
we have before. "Never Again" must be more than mere words or an idle promise.
Mr. Chairman, regarding the terrible acts going on in Darfur, any resolution of, or
decision by, the U.N. Commission on Human Rights must condemn acts of ethnic
cleansing. It must hold accountable those responsible for the deplorable acts in
Darfur. It must call on the Sudan government to stop arming those engaged in these
terrible acts of ethnic cleansing and to stop the support given to the Jingaweid
militia group. It must have a strong and effective mechanism to monitor and report on
the events in Darfur. And it must guarantee unfettered access for humanitarian
assistance to the 900,000 displaced persons living in dangerous and desperate
conditions in Darfur.
Mr. Chairman, the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
mission to Chad from April 5 to 15, 2004, reports about the "possibility that civilian
areas have been directly targeted." It discussed reports of indiscriminate killing of
civilians and a "policy using rape and other serious forms of sexual violence as a
weapon of war." The mission reports of "killings, rape, burning and looting of
villages . . . (and) massive displacement." It says the Darfur is a "dire humanitarian
crisis" and disappearances of "women, children, (and) the elderly."
Mr. Chairman, the Mission reports that the dire situation in Darfur has "developed
worrying racial and ethnic dimensions."
The report concludes that "(t)he mission was able to identify disturbing patterns of
massive human rights violations in Darfur, many of which may constitute war crimes
and/or crimes against humanity. According to information collected from refugees, it
appears that there is a reign of terror in Darfur."
The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner's Mission's report highlights the following
terrible acts that contribute to creating that reign of terror:
-- Repeated attacks on civilians by Government of Sudan military and its proxy militia
forces with a view to their displacement;
-- The use of systematic and indiscriminate aerial bombardments and ground attacks on
unarmed civilians;
-- The use of disproportionate force by the Government of Sudan and Jingaweid forces;
-- That the Jingaweid have operated with total impunity and in close coordination with
the forces of the Government of Sudan
-- The attacks appear to have been ethnically based (let me repeat, the attacks appear
to have been ethnically based) with the groups targeted being essentially the
following tribes reportedly of African origin: Zaghawas, Masaalit, and Furs. . .
-- The pattern of attacks on civilians includes killing, rape, pillage...The patterms
of violence point to an intent on the part of the Sudanese authorities to force the
population to disperse.
Mr. Chairman, ten years from now, the 60th Commission on Human Rights will be
remembered for one thing and one thing alone: Did we have the courage and strength to
take strong action against the "ethnic cleansing" in Darfur. We will be asked, 'Where
were you at the time of the ethnic cleansing?' 'What did you do?'.
Mr. Chairman, the horrific events in Darfur demand strong action. I ask my colleagues
to reflect on the "ethnic cleansing" that is going on. Reflect on the 30,000 dead and
the 900,000 internally displaced people now living in intolerable and dangerous
conditions.
And we fear that there is terrible famine to come where tens of thousands may well
perish. This could become a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions if we fail to act.
Reflect what will be said in ten years time about your actions today. Keep faith with
the victims. Today BBC has broadcast credible reports of continuing attacks on
civilians in Darfur and 160 killed since the ceasefire began.
The U.N. Commission on Human Rights cannot do everything. It cannot unilaterally stop
the carnage. But that does not mean that we must not do what we can.
Relevant Links
East Africa
North Africa
Civil War and Communal Conflict
United States, Canada and Africa
Human Rights
Sudan
Mr. Chairman, the Commission can shine light on the desperate situation in Darfur. We
can condemn the violence. We can and must stand tall and strong for an end to ethnic
violence.
Finally, let me say that whatever the outcome today, the United States government
fully intends and, in fact, shall call for a "special session" of the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights when the mission sent to Sudan by the High Commissioner on
Human Rights returns. Our work on "ethnic cleansing" in Darfur will not be over today.
It has just begun. We must find the courage to stand up and to be strong to condemn
the unconscionable acts going on, to keep faith with the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, and to give voice to the victims.
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