Activists petition UN for imposition of additional sanctions on Sudan
December 20, 2011 (JUBA) – Over twenty national and international civil society and solidarity organisations on Tuesday sent out a strongly worded letter petitioning the UN to impose additional economic and travel sanctions on Sudan and use a of no-fly zone in war affected areas.
The petition addressed to Ban Ki Moon, secretary-general of the UN and others including the US president, Barack Obama.
The petitioners called on the UN Security Council (UNSC), other members of the international community and all peace-loving people of the world to take immediate action against the Sudanese government to avert the current humanitarian-crisis in Sudan and, specifically, the Nuba Mountains/South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur.
“We urge the UNSC to consider serious measures against Bashir’s government in Khartoum by taking tougher actions in accordance with Chapter Seven of the United Nations charter and specifically by imposing a no-fly zone over Blue Nile, Nuba Mountains/South Kordofan, Darfur, Abyei and also along the border between South and North Sudan for protection of civilians and humanitarian aid workers. We ask members of the international community to avail resources to ensure the implementation of a no-fly zone. We equally demand that the UNSC takes appropriate actions against member states who fail to adhere to their obligations under the Rome Statute”, the petition reads in part.
The letter says the Sudanese Minister of Defense and “officers and soldiers of the divisions who committed crimes of killing, and burning and looting of homes and property in the Nuba Mountains/South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions” must be held accountable before the International Criminal Court, as well as those responsible for war crimes committed against the civilian populations of Darfur, Nuba Mountains / South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Abyei.
Fighting between the Sudanese army and the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) rebels rebel broke out in early June in the border state of South Kordofan,
The Sudanese army also extended the fight to Blue Nile State in early August on the grounds that rebels troops, formerly part of Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), which became the official army of an independent state of South Sudanese, did not surrender their weapons although some arrangements in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), in particular the popular consultation was not satisfactorily carried out.
Since the fighting erupted reports from many actors, including international organisations have consistently described the humanitarian situation in Nuba Mountains / South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Darfur as a matter of grave concern needing urgent action.
It is estimated that up to 400,000 civilians have been displaced from Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile while tens of thousands of lives are said to have been lost.
Some civilians have fled into Ethiopia and South Sudan while over 43,000 civilians are said to be stranded at the border, unable to enter South Sudan and are facing severe food shortages including continued aerial bombing allegedly carried out by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and militias.
In June and August, immediately after South Sudan officially became an independent state, satellite images captured by the Satellite Sentinel Project confirmed the destruction of civilian homes, and possibly the presence of as many as eight mass graves in the Nuba Mountains.
In an interview with Sudan Tribune on Tuesday, Stephen Mabek Lang, Parieng county commissioner said the SAF aerial and artillery bombardments have followed displaced and civilian refugees even when they crossed international borders and sought refuge in Yida camp in South Sudan’s Unity state.
Tension between Sudan and South Sudan have been increasing with a SAF attack on the South Sudan town of Jau in early December.
In the petition, the activists also charged the Sudanese government of denying access to humanitarian aid; disappearances; detentions and torture of civilians; looting of civilian property; and the use of starvation and enslavement.
“We strongly demand political and diplomatic isolation of Bashir’s government and enforcement of economic sanctions against the Government of Sudan. We also demands reparations for the gross human rights violations that have taken place in Darfur, Nuba Mountains/South Kordofan, and the Blue Nile regions, including damages to properties and infrastructure. These people deserve compensation, and the UNSC must impose this on Omer el Bashir’s government in Khartoum”, the petition adds.
The petitioners included signatures from the Washington based Darfur Interfaith Network, Darfur Union, UK & Ireland; the Juba based End Impunity Organization, Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART), Kush Liberation Movement, Nuba Mountains Advocacy Group, Nuba Mountain Association Middle and West Africa, Nuba Relief, Rehabilitation and Development Organization, Operation Broken Silence, Stop Genocide Now, Sudan Advocacy Action Forum
Academicians and individuals signatories include Professor Lord Alton of Liverpool,
Independent Crossbench Member of the House of Lords and a Secretary of the All Party British Parliamentary Associate Group on Sudan; Wendy James FBA CBE;
Emeritus Professor of Social Anthropology, Sara Kornfeld
Founder/ Mentor/Educator; and Gill Lusk, a writer on Sudan
The petition addressed to Ban Ki Moon, secretary-general of the UN included Barrack Obama, president of the US; David Cameron, prime minister of UK; Hu Jintao, president of China; Dmitry Medvedev, president of the Russia; Nicholas Sarkozy, president of France; Jens Stoltenberg, prime minister of Norway; Haile Menkerios, UN special representative for the secretary general to Sudan; Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Chairman of the African Union; the Secretariat of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD); and Sir Derek Plumbly, chairman of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission.
(ST)