Clinton says unhappy with US role in Sudan, committed to bringing Bashir before justice
May 2, 2010 (WASHINGTON) — The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today that she’s not satisfied with the role played by the US in Sudan but described the situation in the country as “explosive” and “complicated”.
Bashir wanted to use an election win to help him defy the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant, in which he is accused of ordering a campaign of murder, torture and rape in Sudan’s Darfur region.
Clinton told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the recent elections in Sudan were a “flawed” one.
“There were many, many things wrong with it. But there hadn’t been an election in many years, and so part of our goal was to try to empower opposition parties, empower people to go out and vote. Thousands and thousands did. The result, I think, was pretty much foreordained that Bashir would come out the winner, and that’s unfortunate” Clinton said.
“We are turning all of our attention to trying to help the South and to mitigate against the attitudes of the North. I can’t sit here and say that we are satisfied, because I’m certainly not satisfied with where we are and what we’re doing, but it is an immensely complicated arena” she added.
Last month, the White House said that Sudan’s national elections were plagued by “serious irregularities” and expressed regret that Sudan’s National Elections Commission (NEC) did not do more to prevent and address such problems prior to voting.
The U.S. State Department also said Sudan’s elections were neither free nor fair but it would deal with the victors to try to settle internal disputes before a 2011 referendum that could bring independence to southern Sudan.
Clinton described Bashir as an indicted war criminal and stressed that the US ” is very committed to seeing him brought to justice”.
“I can’t take anything seriously that Bashir says….But here’s what we’re trying to do. When we came into office, Bashir threw out the groups, the nongovernmental organizations, who were providing most of the aid in the camps in Darfur, which could have been a disastrous humanitarian crisis” the top US diplomat said.
“We were able to get a lot of the help back in and we’re beginning to see some slight progress in Darfur. I don’t want to overstate it because it is still a deplorable situation. But we are working to try to get the people back to their homes, out of the camps” she added.
Clinton emphasized that engagement is the best option in dealing with the Sudan crisis despite calls within the US for tougher measures against Khartoum.
“Now, the United States could back off and say we won’t deal with these people, we’re not going to have anything to do with them, Bashir is a war criminal. I don’t think that will improve the situation. So along with our partners – the UK, Norway, neighboring countries – we are trying to manage what is a very explosive problem”.
Last year, the US rolled out its policy review of Sudan offering a mixtures of incentives and pressures to Khartoum depending on the actions taken with regards to peace in Darfur and South Sudan.
However, divisions within the US administration created two camps consisting of the state department and US ambassador at UN Susan Rice on one end and specially envoy to Sudan Scott Gration who has been accused of being too soft on Khartoum.
(ST)
mayom kuirdit
Clinton says unhappy with US role in Sudan, committed to bringing Bashir before justice
It would be nice if the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on behave of US Government translates her words in to action, otherwise, we have eight months left to officially declare our independent not later than 9th January 2011.
However, to achieve this goal before the referendum hijackers, there is need for intervention by some international bodies in case there is an intensify widespread fraud and votes rigging as observed in the general election.
We can’t wait anymore, South Sudan is already independent but we are only waiting for official declaration as per CPA.
Thanks.
Mayom Kuirdit is South Sudan Citizen in Southeast Asia.
Gat nyaraan
Clinton says unhappy with US role in Sudan, committed to bringing Bashir before justice
Secretary Clinton and Ambassador to UN of US Suzan rice have conceerns with the North, they don’t like the soft stance policy of carrots with no stick being directed toward Sudan. they are concerned about the regime human right violations in Darfur and the support by regime to militants and terrorist. they are even not satisfy with General grattion ‘s approach in dealing with Sudan issues as a result of that policy.
for me as long as Gration stick to the full independent of south in janaury 2010 idont care whether they give Khartoum carrots or cyanide. let hope that the north wouldnt play any foul with our referendum like other agreements. we are tryied of them since before independent, we look to them with suspecion and that didnt come spontaneously but due to atrocities and number of violations they commit on southerners.
Mabor Yiel
Clinton says unhappy with US role in Sudan, committed to bringing Bashir before justice
Clinton,
You should not beleaguer yourself on Sudanese matters eventhough America is an imperialist Country over other Nations. Talking about Sudan’s problems this time is not appreciatable, as such leave the case of Bashir as an idicted criminal to the ICC to do away with him.
In retrospecr, America has never been realistic in Sudan crisis and that is why Arabs are largely dominating the Country for centuries because of American interests in Sudan’s oil again you said that you are unhappy of Bashir seeing him again elected president. These are just “mouthing platitudes”.
thieleling
Clinton says unhappy with US role in Sudan, committed to bringing Bashir before justice
Dear Readers,
True!! The election was “flawed” and Hillary’s sudan analysis is very true. The current situation in Sudan, particularly South Sudan & Darfur is “explosive” and “complicated”.
Therefore, the U.S doesn’t have to be conflicted in its policy toward sudan. It is a common wisdom to deal with an indicted powerful criminal in Sudan like Bashir, but there are limits to be drawn. It is very clear when to use soft-power or hard-power on Sudan’s Bashir.
Bashir needs more sticks than carrots right after this election. Otherwise, the doomsday(January 9, 2011) is approaching in Sudan, and no one has a power to stop that doomsday machines(“bullet or ballot) of south sudanese for their total independence.
The U.S has to be on board for south sudan Independence. This is not for political leverages over the North sudan establishment.
Start telling Egyptians that the Independence ship for south has taken off and there is no reverse gear for it. No political gamble either. All we need is peaceful divorce, no tricks that will invite full-scale bloodshed.