E.U. demands action against Sudan over Darfur

Feb 15, 2007 (LONDON) — At its plenary meeting on 15 February, the European Parliament called on European states to enforce a no fly zone over Darfur and to send military equipment to the region to stop the Sudanese Government’s genocidal campaign in Darfur. The strength of the resolution sets a precedent for decisive measures to stop the Darfur genocide.

Whereas European Union (EU) Foreign Ministers merely expressed their ‘readiness to consider further measures’ at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 12-13 February, the European Parliament has clearly shown its support for stronger action against the genocidal regime in Khartoum.

The human rights lobby group Waging Peace welcomes these conclusions and urges European leaders to follow the lead of the Parliament in ensuring an effective end to atrocities in Darfur.

To date the European Union has been extremely reluctant to use its political and economic leverage to pressure Khartoum into abiding by its international obligations and accept a UN force to protect civilians. Whilst describing actions of the Sudanese Government in Darfur as ‘tantamount to genocide’, the EU has refused to take the lead in implementing sanctions against the genocidal regime in Khartoum.

The latest European Parliament conclusions on Darfur are therefore a significant move towards stronger action on Darfur by the EU. Condemning the recent deterioration of the situation in Darfur and the continued role of the Government of Sudan in arming the Janjaweed militias and bombing villages, the resolution calls on the UN to act in line with its ‘Responsibility to Protect’ and set a date for deployment to Darfur, “even in the absence of consent or agreement from the Sudanese Government”.

The resolution further urges the EU and the international community to supply equipment for the enforcement of a no-fly zone over Darfur and implement targeted economic sanctions, including an oil embargo, against those who impede the peace process.

“The EU position is weak and untenable and I can only say that if Darfur was, for example, Lebanon, then real sanctions would be getting more discussion time at Council level” says Glenys Kinnock, Labour’s European spokesperson on international development and Co-president of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States. “Khartoum knows that Europe is all bark and no bite and that is why today we call for strong new economic, legal and military measures.”

The European Parliament’s call for stronger action comes amid increased international support for tougher measures against the masterminds of genocide in Darfur. On January 30, the British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman, stated in a Lords debate that it would be “ethical and prudent” for businesses to divest from Sudan, an action called for by the newly launched Sudan Divestment UK campaign. And as recently as last week, President Bush approved a Treasury Department proposal to block transfers of oil payments to the Sudanese Government by American commercial banks, as a means of pressuring Sudan into cooperation with the deployment of a hybrid AU-UN force in Darfur.

“In the past four years, the international community has failed to apply genuine pressure on the Sudanese regime and hold it accountable to its obligations under the Darfur Peace Agreement and other agreements and resolutions”, says Waging Peace Director Louise Roland-Gosselin.

“The time of empty threats is over. The European Union must now take the lead in imposing tougher military, political and economic measures against the Government of Sudan, including targeted sanctions aimed at disrupting the Sudanese financial institutions, charities and companies that fund the ongoing slaughter in Darfur”.

Since 2003, the Government of Sudan and its Janjaweed militia carried out war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide against civilians of the same ethnicity as rebel groups in Darfur. As a result, up to 400.000 people have died and more than 2.5 million have been displaced. Furthermore, the crisis is spreading to neighbouring countries, with both Chad and Central African Republic having been significantly destabilised by the conflict in Darfur.

Sudan Divestment UK campaigns for an end to the genocide in Darfur by encouraging universities and local government councils to divest funds from targeted companies with commercial interests in Sudan. Waging Peace advises the SDUK campaign.

Louise Roland-Gosselin

Director

Waging Peace

Queensway Business Centre

32 Queensway

London W2 3RX

Telephone: 0207 243 0300

Mobile: 07971561035

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.wagingpeace.info