Row over UN rights report on Darfur
By Roba Gibia
March 18, 2007 — There is no doubt that the Darfur crisis has divided the international community profoundly and principally between the liberals and extremists from one hand, and on the other between the civilized nations who do have conscience, compassion and valuing of the human dignity and the none-civilized nations, who claim to be more genuine than the democratic society in protecting the rights of their people under the cover of religion, but in actuality are hypocrites whom devalue human life on the account of their reciprocated and bilateral interests, and besides that they are viewing issues on the context of sentiments rather than to adjudicator the matters moderately without prejudice and self interests.
Since when the Darfur crisis erupted in 2003 with horrendous footage and reports on human catastrophe and the call to save the people of Darfur from extinction, the entire Arab and Islamic countries and Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), has never condemned the atrocities being committed against the humanity in Sudan’s region of Darfur, and even its humanitarian workers or civil organizations were not visible on ground in assisting or offering aid to the people of Darfur! The Arab and Islamic countries has no durable credibility and role in aiding, even to its own Muslim brothers and sisters, and that is evident in Palestine and other countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Somali but they are smart in hanging their predicament on others and questioning legitimacy, credibility and fidelity of the other nations, whom they view or look at as paganism without ethics and scruples. But if you have a complete perception of the crisis in the Arab and Muslim worlds, whether being natural or manmade disasters, it is those pagans offering aids and sacrificing their lives in aggressive environments as humanitarian workers to save the life of people around the globe, without bias and sentiments of religious background or racism or color.
The Africans, Arabs and Muslim peoples are victims of their rulers and governments just like Darfur people. As there is no transparency in governance, no accountability but absolute suppression and the facts are being distorted and no one knows exactly as what is taking place. Facts and realities are non-existence and it is always hard to have fair and vindicated reports, the peoples don’t believe and trust their governments in any matter. And that was evident when former Prime Minster Rafik Harriri was assassinated the people favored international probe, rather than their own government excavation, because they knew that their people or government were overpowered by emotions and lack of justice.
Last December 2006, the UN Human Rights Security Committee faced same quandary and African, Asian and Arab countries backed Khartoum in spite of their admission that the human tragedy in Darfur is the worst in its kind, but yet abstained in condemning Khartoum. This act of some nations or countries has strengthened Khartoum’s position to be more conceited and notorious in handling the Sudan’s crisis. Thus, it is disgraceful to hear OIC Secretary-General saying that “we have to understand that this report was not done properly, and a new mission should be formed and be sent to Darfur and make an objective and impartial report”! Where was this organization when Khartoum rejected the entrance visas to the fact finding team to enter Sudan! If you are innocent as you claim, you can’t deny visas to human rights investigation team or unless you have something to hide. Here, one wonders, as on what grounds the OIC based its rejection to the report but yet says that “OIC following with anxiety” reports of murder, rape, torture and persecution in the vast desert region of Sudan, and went on saying that “it is not acceptable, and there is a need for big efforts to protect and promote the human rights of the people in this area”! And if one may ask, who is to exert efforts to protect and promote human rights in our regions and countries? Do we believe and admit that there are human rights abuses and violations in our regions and countries, if yes, then why are we turning blind eyes and deaf ears to our crisis and faulting others for our own deeds, despite the fact that there are daily screams and cries of our brothers and sisters for help! Was this not confession that there is atrocities being committed in the region, but due to the biasness some people prefer to cover their heads in sand, simply because they don’t admit revelation of the truth which isn’t customary in their society, but rather were used in misleading and distortion of the public opinion by raising false slogans in the name of religion.
The regional organizations and the developing countries doesn’t have any credibility and transparency in excavating and filling objective and impartial reports, as it was obvious in numerous scandals, crimes and incidents such as Dr. John Garang de Mabior’s plane crash probe and in resolving regional conflicts. Hence, on what grounds do OIC based its rejection on Jody William’s led team report, and whom OIC think is credible to pile the impartial reports and without influence and bullying of Khartoum government? The UN and humanitarian organizations’ reports on Darfur were all rejected by Khartoum, because the whole western countries were against Sudan according to Khartoum’s conviction, then where is the report of the Organization of the Islamic Conference or Arab and Islamic countries, which they deem is genuine, objective and impartial to justify and prove the credibility of the organization’s neutrality and its respective countries!
The Arab and Islamic countries has to be deplorable for themselves, as they have no significant or positive role towards resolving Darfur crisis since its eruption in the year 2003. And it has become clear that they are backing Khartoum’s position and working hard to block the international community intervention even on humanitarian basis to save the people of Darfur, with pretext that it is Sudan’s internal problem and it is crucial to have the consent of Khartoum. And that was obvious, as we haven’t seen any Arab or Islamic leader or prominent Muslim figure censuring Khartoum government or visiting Darfur region and IDP camps to show compassion and support to their Darfuri Muslim brothers and sisters. Are we Christians or Muslims just in names and not in deeds? I wish if we could dust away the religious divergence and converge in the name of mankind, poor, rich, Jew or gentile all are invited on the table of my father as proclaimed by Jesus of Nazareth, and this is how we can save and dignify the mankind without discrimination and favoritism.
And it is worth mentioning here that the promised fund from the Arab countries via Arab League to finance the AU force in Darfur has never been honored! Is it because Darfuris are black Muslims, I do not think so, but it is simply because the organization has no reputable credibility in humanitarian funding naive its other counterparts in developing countries. And incredibly are longing for western community to fund and provide technical and logistical supports to the frail AU forces as well as aid to the people of Darfur, but without durable or foreseen solutions on the ground. Thus, Jody William’s led team report on Darfur, is the most credible and timely report to awaken the international community about the plight of Darfuris, and exert more efforts to bring the warring parties on the negotiation table to find a just and everlasting solution to the conflict. As the attempt from other organizations and countries to discard the mission report is an attempt to prolong the torment of civilians in Darfur but not an attempt to kill the report.
* Roba Gibia is a Sudan Tribune columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]