US seeks larger monitoring force In Sudan ‘s Darfur region
UNITED NATIONS, Sep 8, 2004 (AP) — The U.S. circulated a draft resolution Wednesday supporting a beefed-up monitoring force for Sudan ‘s conflict-wracked Darfur region and threatening punitive action against the country’s lucrative oil exports if the government doesn’t act quickly to stop militia attacks and improve security.
The draft, obtained by The Associated Press, says the Sudanese government “has failed fully to comply with its commitments” to the U.N. to rein in Arab militias accused of attacking, raping and killing villagers in western Darfur and to provide security for over 1.2 million people who fled their homes.
“The situation in Sudan constitutes a threat to international peace and security and to stability in the region,” it states.
The draft does not refer to “sanctions,” a word that had to be dropped from the resolution adopted by the Security Council on July 30 that gave the government 30 days to halt attacks by pro-government militias, disarm them and bring them to justice.
The new U.S. draft declares that the Security Council will take further action if the government or individual members don’t comply with their commitments to the U.N. – or if they fail to cooperate with a planned African Union expansion of its monitoring mission in Darfur.
The A.U. has about 80 military observers in Darfur – a region about the size of France – protected by just over 300 soldiers, monitoring a rarely observed cease-fire signed in April by the government and two rebel groups.
U.N. envoy Jan Pronk called on Sudan last week to allow more than 3,000 troops into the region with an expanded monitoring mission that would actively try to prevent violence and mediate to stop the conflict from escalating.
Sudan ‘s Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail, visiting Tokyo on Wednesday, said the government has asked the African Union to deploy more monitors “to help in the building of confidence and to supervise the cease-fire.”
“We need them as quickly as possible,” Ismail said. “In short, Sudan is open. Whatever the African Union will suggest, we will adopt it and we will work on it.”
The Sudanese government is under intense international pressure to restore calm across the western desert region where an 18-month insurgency has killed up to 30,000 people and driven more than 1.2 million from their homes.
Pronk called the situation in Sudan “critical” and said the government “has to be blamed” for failing to stop militia attacks outside designated areas where thousands of Sudanese fleeing the violence have gathered.
The U.S. draft deplores recent cease-fire violations by all parties and calls on the government and rebels to reach a political settlement. It urges the government “to end the climate of impunity in Darfur by identifying and bringing to justice” those responsible for human rights abuses.
The U.S. drafted its new resolution under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, which allows for military enforcement. But the draft refers only to Article 41, which gives the Security Council authority to call for measures “not involving the use of armed force.” It specifies economic, communications and diplomatic actions.
The U.S. draft goes a step further, for the first time declaring that “the council will take further actions, including measures as provided for in Article 41 … including with regard to the petroleum sector.”
Sudan began exporting oil in 1999 and produces an estimated 250,000 barrels a day.
The U.S. draft also demanded that the government stop all military flights over Darfur, as called for in the April cease-fire. It asks Secretary-General Kofi Annan to establish an international commission of inquiry to investigate all human rights abuses in Darfur.
U.S. deputy ambassador Stuart Holliday said the draft had been shared with cosponsors and would be distributed to the rest of the 15-member council later Wednesday, “and we’ll be discussing it in consultations tomorrow.”