Matek
One must wonder (a) How can US call for a session on human rights and (b)
Why not pile bombs and bullets in Sudan and we send a clear message that we
are against terrorist governments, c'mon let us use the arsenal we have and
create peace for the people of Sudan. Or we loved the Iraqis more?
Amazing how strange are the days we were forced to be born in.
Em
Toronto
The Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy"
Groupe de communication Mulindwas
"avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie"
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 2:16 PM
Subject: ugnet_: Washington calls for a special session of the U.N Commssion
on Human Rights On Sudan
US Calls for Special Session of U.N. Commission On Human Rights On Sudan
Email This Page
Print This Page
Visit The Publisher's Site
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.
--------------------------------------------
This service is hosted on the Infocom network
http://www.infocom.co.ug
--------------------------------------------
This service is hosted on the Infocom network
http://www.infocom.co.ug
