Ireland warns Sudan over Darfur deaths

Nov 7, 2006 (DEBLIN) — The Sudanese Government will be held personally responsibly for any further deaths in war-ravaged Darfur, Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern warned today.

More than 400,000 people have died in the troubled west African region which Mr Ahern visited in July,

The minister will raise the issue with Amnesty International general secretary Irene Khan in London tomorrow.

Sudan has blocked pleas by the international community to allow a UN peacekeeping force to be deployed in the region.

Amnesty claims that human rights violations, especially sexual violence against women and girls, must be stopped in Darfur.

Speaking ahead of the meeting with Amnesty, Mr Ahern said: “We have common cause with Amnesty in trying to end this suffering and I will continue to raise the plight of the poor people of Darfur at every opportunity.

“Giving up on Darfur is not an option. The international community needs to do more.”

Ms Khan, who has been secretary general of Amnesty International since 2001, is the first woman, the first Muslim and the first Asian to hold the position.

She previously spent 20 years in a variety of roles with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Ahern added: “Ultimately, the Sudanese regime has a clear responsibility to protect their citizens – they must live up to that responsibility. The message has to go out loud and clear that they will be held collectively and individually responsible for what may happen to the people of Darfur if consent to UN deployment continues to be withheld, and the humanitarian situation further deteriorates.

“And any sanctions will be focused on the regime and the militias and not the ordinary people.”

During his visit to London, the minister will also open the new Luton Irish Centre, which has been part funded by the Government.

This year the Government has provided €12m for overseas emigrant groups, mainly in Britain and the US.

(Irish Examiner)