Khartoum must protect Darfur population, Annan says

NEW YORK, July 21, 2004 (dpa) — U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan on Wednesday said Khartoum has the “sacred responsibility” to protect the population in the western region of Darfur or ask the international community to do it in its place.

Annan said there were “conflicting reports” that Khartoum backed the Janjaweed Arab militias held responsible for atrocities committed in Darfur. He said Sudanese officials have denied arming and controlling the Janjaweed.

“But be it as it may, what’s important is that as a government, it has the sacred responsibility to protect the population, if not, it should ask for help from the international community,” Annan told a news conference.

Annan said he was told of “horrific stories” and “terrible violence” against the civilians in Darfur during his visits in early July.

“Many are living in subhuman conditions,and they fear for their future,” he said. “It is clear that serious crimes have been committed and there has been gross and systematic abuse of human rights.”

“We, the international community, must intensify our efforts to protect the innocent in Darfur,” Annan said.

Human rights groups and non-governmental organizations have accused Khartoum of directing the Janjaweed in Darfur. A draft resolution submitted by the United States to the U.N. Security Council called for an arms embargo and travel ban against the Janjaweed. But the council has yet to act on the sanctions.

Human Rights Watch said this week that it had incontrovertible evidence that Khartoum officials directly “recruit, arm and support” the Janjaweed despite their denials.

“It’s absurd to distinguish between the Sudanese government and the militias – they are one,” said Peter Takirambudde, the executive director of Human Rights Watch’s Africa division. He said documents showed that Janjaweed activities were specifically supported by Khartoum.

The group said a directive from Khartoum in February ordered “all security units” in north and south Darfur not to interfere in operations under the command of Janjaweed leader Musa Hilal. The directive allowed all units in north Darfur to “overlook minor offences by the fighters against civilians who are suspected members of the rebellion…”

Takirambudde said Khartoum has launched a major public relations campaign aimed at buying time for a diplomatic solution to work. But he said evidence of Khartoum support for the Janjaweed would reduce the Sudanese government’s credibility to zero.

“To date, the government of Sudan has only used more time to consolidate the ethnic cleansing in Darfur,” he said.