ONGs condemn Darfur violence, call for pressure on Khartoum

Contact:
– Karen Hirschfeld
– Physicians for Human Rights
– Email: [email protected]
– Cell: 781-439-4887
– Phone: 617-301-4251

CONTINUED VIOLATIONS OF THE DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT

We, the undersigned international human rights, humanitarian and conflict prevention organizations, strongly condemn the build-up of Sudanese Government armed forces in North Darfur and the recent military actions taken by the Sudanese Armed Forces against civilians in areas held by rebel groups that did not sign the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA).

DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE

We call on the wider international community to also denounce these actions, which are in direct violation of international humanitarian law as well as the DPA to which it is a signatory. Furthermore, we call on the US, EU, Arab League and African Union to use all diplomatic means available, including the enforcement of targeted UN-imposed sanctions and sustained public criticism of the Sudanese Government’s actions.

THE AFRICAN UNION FORCE

We also reject the Sudanese Government’s recent threat to expel the African Union force (AMIS) from Darfur unless AMIS agrees to not allow a transition to a UN force after the AMIS mandate expires on September 30th. This is clearly a maneuver to prevent the deployment of a robust, UN-sponsored peacekeeping force capable of protecting the people of Darfur. With less than three weeks to go in its mandate, AMIS resources are rapidly dwindling and there are no new funding commitments to support a continuation of the mission. It is incumbent on the international community to persuade the Government of Sudan to allow the continued presence of the AMIS force until a UN force is deployed.

UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE

We welcome UN Security Council Resolution 1706, which calls for the deployment of up to 20,500 peacekeepers in Darfur. But the Security Council member states must follow up this first step with a concerted, coordinated initiative to press the Khartoum government to accept a UN force that has a strong mandate, and the appropriate capacity to end the violence and produce a lasting peace. This Resolution, adopted with 12 votes (with Russia, China and Qatar abstaining), falls under Chapter VII, article 42 of the UN Charter, which calls on the members of the Security Council to ‘take such action by air, sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security.’ The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations must now work quickly to develop the rules of engagement to ensure that the force has the necessary means to protect civilians.

In summary, we call on the international community to significantly intensify diplomatic efforts with the Government of Sudan while concurrently planning for the rapid deployment of an adequately funded and well-equipped UN force to protect the people of Darfur regardless of the acquiescence of the Sudanese Government.

Dr. James Smith, Executive Director,
Aegis Trust

Ann-Louise Colgan, Acting Co-Director,
Africa Action

Larry Cox, Executive Director,
Amnesty International USA

Ali Dinar, President,
Darfur Alert Coalition

Tim Nonn, National Coordinator,
Dear Sudan

Dr. Peter Hall, Chair,
Doctors for Human Rights

Mark Hanis, Executive Director
Genocide Intervention Network

Greg Stanton, President,
Genocide Watch

Maureen Byrnes, Executive Director,
Human Rights First

Prof. Frank Chalk, Director,
Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies

Dr. Gloria White-Hammond, Co-Founder,
My Sister’s Keeper

Dr. Holly G. Atkinson, President,
Physicians for Human Rights

Ken Bacon, President,
Refugees International

David Rubenstein, President,
Save Darfur Coalition

Mr. Osman Hummaida, Director,
Sudanese Organization Against Torture

Ben Fine, Executive Director,
STAND (Canada)

Dr. Jacky Mamou, President,
Urgence Darfour

Rebecca Tinsley, Founder,
Waging Peace