Advocacy group praises China stand over Darfur UN resolution
July 31, 2007 (WASHINGTON) – A Darfur advocacy group has hailed the positive stand of the Chinese government by voting in favour of the UN Security Council resolution related to the deployment of African Union UN troops in Sudan’s Darfur region.
“The Olympic Dream for Darfur” said in a statement Tuesday “China today joined in a unanimous UN Security Council vote to authorize, under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, deployment of 26,000 civilian police and troops to Darfur. Chapter 7 authority, which confers enforcement authority, is critical to the ability of the deploying force to protect itself, Darfuri civilians, and humanitarian workers and operations.”
Last week, China was reported to be objecting to this key feature of the mandate necessary for any improvement to security in Darfur.
“This is a key first step by Beijing in enabling an international response to the security crisis in Darfur, as well as eastern Chad,” said Eric Reeves, Sudan advisor to the Olympic Dream for Darfur.
The group underlined that China used its influence on the Security Council to help weaken the Resolution significantly. Stripped from the language of the final text were previous provisions that:
[1] threatened the Khartoum regime with sanctions in the event of non-compliance with the terms of the Resolution;
[2] condemned Khartoum’s well-documented obstruction and harassment of humanitarian operations; and
[3] provided Chapter 7 authority for “seizure and disposal” of illegal arms that have entered Darfur in violation of earlier agreements.
“All of these provisions were important and their deletion marks a serious weakening of the Resolution,” said Reeves.
China, however, did vote for the final text, presenting Khartoum with an unambiguous demand from the international community to allow expedited deployment of security personnel, with significant responsibilities to be assumed by October 2007.
The challenge now is to enlist China’s support in ensuring that there is no obstruction by Khartoum to the deployment of this force. Given the regime’s strenuous language of condemnation, particularly for Chapter 7 authority, there are very significant remaining obstacles to effective deployment of the UN/African Union force.
“China has taken a step in the right direction, but it will require tremendous advocacy efforts to secure continued Chinese support for civilian protection in Darfur, particularly if Khartoum perseveres in its defiance of international will,” Reeves said.
“Beijing — which abstained on a previous UN Security Council resolution authorizing a force to Darfur (August 31, 2006) — must use its unmatched leverage with Khartoum to forestall the tactics of obstructionism and harassment that have so deeply compromised the work of the current African Union mission in Darfur.”
(ST)