Sudan should honor word to disarm militia
Editorial, The Kansas City Star
August 09, 2004 — Which Sudanese government should we believe?
The one that agreed Thursday to a United Nations proposal to solve the humanitarian crisis in the western province of Darfur?
Or the one that organized a mass protest Wednesday in which U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was accused of “escalating the crisis?”
Unfortunately, it’s probably the latter.
For more than 17 months, Arab militia known as Janjaweed have attacked the black residents of Darfur. According to U.S. and U.N. estimates, more than 30,000 people have died and 1 million people have been displaced. Some predict that 300,000 more people will die if aid does not reach them before the rainy season.
On Friday, a U.N. report charged that it was “beyond doubt” that the Sudanese government had armed and protected the Janjaweed. Sudan had previously denied the allegation. But the government’s lack of action against the Janjaweed in the last three months, as the crisis has gained international attention, runs counter to that denial.
That’s why it is hard to believe that the Sudan will honor the agreement reached Thursday between a U.N. representative and Sudan’s top diplomat. The agreement calls for Sudan to disarm the Janjaweed within 30 days.
Meanwhile, more than 2 million Sudanese continue to suffer. The United States and the United Nations must continue to press Sudan to allow humanitarian aid to reach the residents of Darfur. On Friday, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist toured refugee camps in neighboring Chad, where many Darfur residents have fled. Frist insisted that the Sudanese government must rein in the Janjaweed or face sanctions.
The United States also should provide transport for the 1,800 to 2,000 troops the African Union has volunteered for peacekeeping duties in Darfur.
If the Sudanese government does not honor the commitment made to the United Nations, the international community should bring charges against those individuals responsible for creating and perpetuating the disaster. Those who foment disasters like Darfur should not go unpunished.