US refuses to lift Sudan sanctions threat over Darfur
June 18, 2007 (PRETORIA) — The threat of sanctions against Sudan will only be lifted when Khartoum makes good on its pledge to allow United Nations peacekeepers into Darfur, the top US diplomat for Africa said Monday.
“The US threat of sanctions is not based on promises from President Beshir but on action,” she told reporters in the South African capital.
“Until there is action in respect of Darfur, further sanctions remain an option.
“There has been a pattern of him agreeing to terms and then when, he looks at conditions on the ground, backtracking.”
Frazer said the UN peacekeepers, who will form part of a so-called hybrid force to bolster poorly-equipped African Union forces already on the ground, needed to be deployed sooner rather than later.
The diplomat said she had heard the troops might not be allowed into Darfur for another 14 months, which was totally unacceptable.
“I’ve also heard they could be there by October, which is better but still not good enough,” she said.
“The peacekeepers were needed there yesterday. In fact they were needed last year.
The Sudanese government had previously endorsed only logistical support from the United Nations for the existing 7,000-strong AU force, which has struggled to patrol a region the size of France.
(AFP)
JOHN CHOL
US refuses to lift Sudan sanctions threat over Darfur
U.S. SANCTION: FATE OF SUDANESE LIVES!
The USA previous pronounced economic sanction on Sudan is and should be regarded as a technical caution by the Sudanese Government and citizens as this will plays much effect on the lives of poor civilian. The NCP top official should not regard this pre-episode like internal local rebellion that NCP can enforce “Jihad warrior” to calm down the situation. The Arab so called majahadeen shall play little defence to protect the situation but only to rave over the massacre explosives bombardment that shall claimed billion of lives. It will be too late to give in at the latest scene of action rather than calling a spade a spade at its preliminary stage and therefore the Sudanese common men should not wait to reap destruction at a cost of no-man concern.
The major source of Sudan income is the oil revenue among others which shall have no more marketability on the world. Where will the government get its resources to fund developmental projects and local infrastructure as roads, hospital, schools and other viable planned projects? Such policy will reduce industrial, agriculture, raw materials production at a huge drop.
Economic sanctions will mean closure of international relations, both international and regional trades, closures of purchasing of weapons for national defence and finally prohibition of incomes from the international communities. This will automatically result into gross underdevelopments in the country. The poor civilian will starve of hunger and diseases. Majority of the civil servants shall loss their jobs due inadequate money from the government to pay their salaries and arrears.
Sudanese citizens are too tired of war and poor services rendered to them by the NCP ruling party and nevertheless; no way shall we endure more sufferings from international community’s sanction and standstill supporting a government that does not care for its people. Khartoum Government should think twice over this coming national diseaster.It is a general calamity that will loosen our developments.
Therefore, as a patriotic citizen of this country, it is recommendable that the Khartoum ruling regime should; urgently underline clearly and prompt a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Darfur crises, the Government should authorized immediate cease fire with rebels and action act upon commitments to uphold a permanent peace with little dalay.The government should give political process a priority and review all the On-going initiatives in support of a sustainable political solution to Darfur crisis.
The government should also recognize and put more empathy on the importance of continuous involvement of regional actors in the peace process. There must be call for the recognitions of the complementarities of the political tracks and peacekeeping processes. The UN-AU Hybrid operations should be allowed to offer humanitarian assistance, for economic, recovery and development in Darfur.
The government should as well ensure that the need to make the peace process more inclusive and allow the AU-UN to continue engaging with civil society, tribal leaders, IDPs and women group.
Darfur rebels as a catalyse for the US economic sanctions on Sudan.
Many rebel factions in Darfur may not recall the Fur rebellions, which started in 2003, claimed thousand of lives, was part of the reason for the marginalized South Sudanese African natives to take up arms to wage war against the Khartoum regime. After it was realized by the Southerners that the Islamic government was going to divert natural revenue on oil share to the North, the ill-deed was halt at the height of the war that took decades of years.
The exploitation and authoritative reign was seen by the SPLA as an inseparable of destructions to both the environment and country population in South in particular. And genuinely, it was a means to drain the south’s oil and power sharing and subject the region into perennial development inequities-the sole agenda for “Power/economic Marginalization”.
During SPLA struggle, the Darfurian remained loyal to the Khartoum government providing man powers to the Sudan Armed forced that fought SPLA in all the battle fields in the South massacring thousands million of lives. Lack of media services contributed to inadequate statistic death ton in the South that would have been by then called a ‘massive suicide if not first-fist global terrorism’. I would like to derive to the point that Darfurian should not view SPLM stand in solving Darfur crisis as a reverse-track steps.SPLM is a political party that represents southerners in a sole political will to bring peace for all Sudanese for the New Sudan era.
South Sudanese do not have any hidden agenda or political alienation with the NCP on issues related to self-determination-SPLM/A goal since 1956: and therefore Darfur rebels should stop blasting casting warnings for statement released at individual endeavours by some SPLM ambassador. An ambassador is a presidential messenger to pass his/her message nevertheless a messenger is not a master of his/her speech but a transmitter to the recipients. Therefore, blame not the ambassador but the Chief the throne-NCP.
In short, am very liberal to the Darfurian steps to achieve their freedom from their then manoeuvred Islamic government but they should not depend on the international community for political solutions because international communities will not sit on the table to negotiate with NCP.However the Darfur rebels in the pace of comprehensive peace with NCP should:
1. Appreciate and welcome the humanitarian support given to them by the AU-UN hybrid force by unifying their military factions and set a common decisive team for political solutions rather than pushing for more gun point’s action.
2. Not forget that the American president gave economic sanction to punish Sudanese in general and not Khartoum government alone. In other word, it was meant mainly to end Darfur crisis and any party that will defy; (either the NCP or rebel faction) will be brought to book. Rebels can be exempted from international humanitarian assistance if continue to fight otherwise.
3. Understand that SPLM policy is to advocate for peace, democracy, transparency and complete rights of the marginalised people in Sudan to realize its vision for the “New Sudan” for all, by the people and for the people…therefore Darfur should work hand in hand with the SPLM to achieve common destiny.
4. Create room for widen consultations in among their communities for effective and long lasting peace in the region.
5. in concert work hand in hand with SPLM to protect the DPA and the CPA in Sudan as the only tools for successive referendum to self-determination.
What impacts will US economics sanction have on the CPA?
Sudan may continue selling her oil to countries like China, Russia, India etc but surprisingly even though transactions take place; it is widely known that transactions will be conducted in US dollars an however, thought the US financial system, transactions will be impossible to transmit as they will be subjected to US scrutiny. The South Sudan depends on the banking system in Khartoum that is being targeted in the sanction. This will consequently resulted into violation of the CPA by the NCP on the article of wealth sharing as South will not get their 50% oil net share hence thing fall apart. Is there a way U.S sanction spare South Sudan? Even if not possible, what will be the living standard of people in the Sudan transition areas like South Kordofan, Blue Nile and particularly Abyiei? ….no matter how much we yelled and nag for holy aids it has come a time that requires everybody ‘s participation and decisive action less otherwise Sudan will be in massive destruction as in Afghanistan. Something must be done at everybody efforts in Sudan to thwart the catastrophe as foreseen.Sudan must from the world as quoted in the wise sayings:
Keep your face to the sunshine and you can not see the shadow”
By Helen Keller
“The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving.” Oliver W. Holmes
“To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.”
UN secretary general, Kofi Annan.
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s characters give him power.”
Abraham Lincoln
NB: Personal opinions written by John Chol Deng, a Southern Sudanese national working in Sudan and can be reach on [email protected]