USA announces Sudan atrocities Genocide

The American Secretary of State, Colin Powell has announced that the crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region amounts to genocide. He demanded that the United Nations begin an immediate investigation into exactly what is happening in the region, and to speedily impose sanctions against Khartoum.

In a speech to the Senate, Powell reported that the US had compiled evidence that “concluded that genocide has been committed in Darfur and the government of Sudan and the Janjaweed bear responsibility, and that genocide may still be occurring."

The Janjaweed militia have supposedly been backed by the Sudanese government in the atrocities they have continued to commit.

It has been reported that up to 50,000 people have been killed and that 1.4 million more have been displaced in the campaign of terror against black Africans in the region. The killing began in February 2003 when an attempt was made to put down a rebel uprising.

President George Bush also expressed his anguish over the events in Darfur and backed the view that genocide had been committed. He said "The United States is appalled by the violence in Darfur, Sudan.”

"The threat of sanctions is still out there, over them, particularly on the sector that is of greatest concern to them,” her added.

The Secretary of State also highlighted the fact that the international community was very reluctant to put in place sanctions as they are worried that they might fail. However, Powell was confident that the European Union would back the United States’ efforts.

The UN Security Council showed division this week over the proposed US resolution, and in particular, Russia, Pakistan and China voiced very strong objections to the draft, which they argued hung the threat of sanctions over Sudan.

The resolution given by America is similar to the one given on July 30, which insisted that Khartoum lay down their arms, and that further steps be taken to end the violence, otherwise international sanctions would follow.

Meanwhile Sudan has denied that there is a genocide in Darfur, and cast doubt that moves to impose sanctions would be successful: “This is just another sort of pressure brought against the government of Sudan by the United States and Western governments,” Finance Minister Ahmed Hassan al-Zubeir said after leaving an African Union Summit.

Abdelhafiz Mustafa Musa, a rebel spokesman for the Sudan Liberation Movement, welcomed the new progression by the USA, and said that the Sudanese government and the Janjaweed “continued to kill innocent civilians.”

If the USA’s resolution is adhered to, it will see Khartoum cooperate fully with the African Union (AU), and the Sudanese military flights over Darfur cease.

The international genocide convention was signed by Sudan, and so the country is under an obligation to prevent and punish acts of genocide.

However, Powell said, "To us, at this time, it appears that Sudan has failed to do so.”

A key provision within the genocide convention provides that contracting parties "may call upon the competent organs of the United Nations" to take action to prevent and suppress acts of genocide.
Therefore, Powell said US evidence from forced-interviews on refugees and other sources showed that the "Janjaweed and Sudanese military forces have committed large-scale acts of violence, including murders, rape and physical assaults on non-Arab individuals."

The militia are reported to have destroyed villages, foods and blocked humanitarian aid from getting through to desperate civilians. This is turn has lead to increased deaths and pain.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee was told by Powell that "Despite having been put on notice multiple times, Khartoum has failed to stop the violence,"

In efforts to provide more aid in the future for the humanitarian crisis, the committee’s chairman, Dick Lugar, has introduced legislation for the current fiscal year. This will be added to the $600million which has been donated already.

Meanwhile, food aid had been reaching the internally displaced people (IDPs) in refugee camps in south Darfur and northeast Chad through an international Christian Humanitarian Agency.

According to reports, World Vision distributed food rations to more than 17,500 people in Otash last week – the first food to reach the camp in three months. The distribution came after the World Vision commodities team extended operations beyond the Kalma IDP camp (est. pop 83,000) into Otash. The food distributions in Kalma began on August 26, and have continued at a rapid pace, covering the first four sectors of the sprawling camp.

As well as the food rations, World Vision also distributed plastic sheeting, blankets, sleeping mats, water cans and soap to the IDPs. These items were donated by UN-OCHA.

The African Union force being increased was expressed as being a “number one priority” for the USA.

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the General Secretary of NATO, said in Helsinki that the alliance should try to work unified, and try to provide assistance to the AU. Currently the AU has several hundred troops in Sudan, and they are overseeing a very flimsy ceasefire.

In concluding, Powell emphasised the importance of global action, "Call it a civil war. Call it ethnic cleansing. Call it genocide. Call it none of the above. The reality is the same: There are people in Darfur who desperately need our help," he said.