UK urges caution over Sudan “genocide”
LONDON, Sept 10 (Reuters) – Britain said on Friday genocide may have occurred in Sudan, as alleged by the United States, but urged a cautious approach with the Sudanese government to avoid jeopardising crucial aid deliveries to refugees.
“It’s certainly true that genocide may have occurred and we shall be supporting (U.S. Secretary of State) Colin Powell’s call for an urgent U.N. inquiry,” junior foreign minister Chris Mullin told BBC Radio.
Calling Sudanese atrocities “genocide” could oblige the international community to punish Sudan but that was not the priority, he said.
“The main problem at the moment is getting access to these people, getting them food and water and creating security so that they have the confidence to go back to their homes … We clearly have to avoid jeopardising it,” he said.
The United Nations estimates a million people have fled their homes in the past 19 months for fear of attack by the Arab militias known as Janjaweed, and most now face starvation and disease.
While the United Nations has criticised Khartoum for not doing enough to improve security in the vast arid western region, it has praised the government for improving access for aid shipments.
Khartoum reacted angrily on Thursday to the U.S. genocide declaration, calling it “posturing”.
“My worry is that while we’re sitting around discussing whether genocide occurred, the Sudanese government could disappear back into its box again, and it may make access to these desperate people very difficult,” Mullin said.
Asked if he agreed with Powell that genocide was still going on, Mullin said: “Yes, it may be … There is no doubt grave crimes have been committed.”
Rebels began an uprising in Darfur in February 2003 after years of skirmishes between mainly African farmers and Arab nomads over land and water. The government turned to Arab militias to help suppress the rebels.
But Mullin said the rebels could not escape blame for the humanitarian crisis now unfolding in Darfur.
“You also have to take into account … the role of the rebels, who arguably started the uprising that led to the massive overreaction by the Sudanese government and who are still attacking and even attacking aid convoys and stealing vehicles,” he said.