World bodies cited in U.N. Darfur report

News Type: Event — Seeded on Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:41 AM EDT

Article Source: The Houston Chronicle

world-news, china, russia, un, darfur, genocide, williams, security-counsil, un-failure

GENEVA — A U.N. human rights team criticized the international community Monday for failing to halt atrocities in Darfur, saying in a sharply worded report that the United Nations must act now to protect civilians from a violence campaign orchestrated by Sudan's government.

The panel, headed by Nobel peace laureate Jody Williams, departed from the usual diplomatic niceties of U.N. reports to accuse major nations of letting Sudan obstruct efforts to quell ethnic fighting that has killed 200,000 people and displaced 2.5 million in four years.

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Groups: Global War on Terror, Humanitarian Crises, rightwingers
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9.1

{"commentId":582622,"authorDomain":"nikitab"}

NikitaB

I think this is very important as well:

The team's findings drew harsh objections behind the scenes from Sudan's allies on the rights council, chiefly members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

It also isn't clear how the Security Council will respond to the team's call for urgent action, including travel bans and asset freezes for those accused of rights violations.

Sanctions have not been imposed because the veto-holding "members of the Security Council were divided," said Jan Pronk, who was chief U.N. envoy to Sudan until last year. China buys two-thirds of Sudan's oil exports. Russia also has commercial interests in Sudan.

If US threatened unilateral action, would this cause China and/or Russia stop this madness to retain access to these resources?

{"commentId":582622,"threadId":"84280","contentId":"611678","authorDomain":"nikitab"}

2 votes

#1 - Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:50 AM EDT

{"commentId":583849,"authorDomain":"ignoblus"}

ignoblus

Sudan's delegation at the U.N. Human Rights Council meeting declined to comment,

But the mere fact that Sudan is on the UNHRC deserves comment.

{"commentId":583849,"threadId":"84280","contentId":"611678","authorDomain":"ignoblus"}

2 votes

#2 - Tue Mar 13, 2007 5:58 PM EDT

{"commentId":583922,"authorDomain":"nikitab"}

NikitaB

Sudan is ON the UNHRC?! I had no idea.

{"commentId":583922,"threadId":"84280","contentId":"611678","authorDomain":"nikitab"}

2 votes

#2.1 - Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:46 PM EDT

{"commentId":583985,"authorDomain":"ignoblus"}

ignoblus

I'm embarrased a little. No, they were on the UNHCR, but are not now on the UNHRC. That was one reason cited to show a need for reform, not that reform has done much.

{"commentId":583985,"threadId":"84280","contentId":"611678","authorDomain":"ignoblus"}

2 votes

#2.2 - Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":584187,"authorDomain":"nikitab"}

NikitaB

So they moved from UN Refugee Agency to UN Human Rights Counsil... How does that make sense?!

{"commentId":584187,"threadId":"84280","contentId":"611678","authorDomain":"nikitab"}

2 votes

#2.3 - Tue Mar 13, 2007 10:10 PM EDT

{"commentId":584359,"authorDomain":"ignoblus"}

ignoblus

Well, they are actually currently on the UNHCR, but I'm very tired today. I meant the UNCHR. They had been on the old Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), which was reformed to make the new Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Pretty much all of the criticisms that led to reform are even truer now than before, though Sudan is no longer a member. They are currently on the Refugee Agency (UNHCR) which is not to be confused with the Relief Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees.

In any case - and I'm someone generally supportive of the UN - it does certainly point out how the UN can be really screwed up. A lot of this has to do with the OIC (a link in case the abbreviation is wrong) which votes as a unified bloc and sees the human rights structure as a partisan weapon.

{"commentId":584359,"threadId":"84280","contentId":"611678","authorDomain":"ignoblus"}

2 votes

#2.4 - Tue Mar 13, 2007 11:46 PM EDT

{"commentId":584186,"authorDomain":"nikitab"}

NikitaBDeleted

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U.N. Panel Calls for Action in Darfur	Associated Press	Mon Mar 12	1
Sudan Tries to Block U.N. Rights Report	Associated Press	Tue Mar 13	1
Sudan government 'orchestrated Darfur crimes'	Guardian Unlimited	Mon Mar 12	0
U.N. Panel's Darfur Recommendations	Associated Press	Mon Mar 12	2

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