07 December 2004

("All sides complicit in the disaster," U.S. ambassador says)

By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations -- Throughout November violence in Sudan increased and there has been "a marked deterioration" in Darfur, a senior U.N. official told the Security Council December 7.
 
Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast said, "The international community must send an unequivocal message to all Sudanese parties that violence and hostile military actions, particularly after the signing of the Abuja Protocols, are not an acceptable means to achieve political gains. Equal pressure must be exerted on all sides to abide by their commitments."
 
Prendergast described increased clashes and cease-fire violations by both the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and government forces that have occurred since both sides signed a memorandum of understanding on a comprehensive peace accord November 9.

An African Union (AU) military observer was wounded, and banditry and looting in north Darfur have increased, as has tension in the so-called hot spots in the region, he said. Meanwhile, some humanitarian activities have been suspended because of insecure conditions in north Darfur, and new cross-border operations by elements of the Chadian army in support of a new rebel movement are being reported.

"All sides -- the rebels and the government and the militia -- are complicit in the disaster. They signed agreements, which apparently mean nothing at all. This remains a very serious situation," U.S. Ambassador John Danforth told journalists after the council meeting.
 
"Nobody has clean hands with respect to Darfur. There are no good guys and everyonewho is responsible for attacking civilians has to be held accountable," the ambassadorsaid. "Now the question is: where do we go from here?"
 
First and foremost, Danforth said, more international observers are needed in Darfur. Of the African Union's commitment of 3,300 peacekeepers, only 800 troops and 100 military observers have arrived in Darfur for monitoring and mediating tasks. Sudan has said it would be willing to accept more AU troops if offered and the money from the U.S., European Union, Australia, Canada, and other countries is available, but getting the troops in place has been slow, Danforth said.
 
"The special representative of the secretary-general for Sudan asked for 50 additionalhuman rights monitors," he said. "Some countries are interested in a police presencein the IDP (internally displaced persons) camps. It is an excellent idea; itdeserves very good consideration."

At the same time, both sides in the north-south peace negotiations need to be pressured to meet their "solemn commitment that they will complete the peace agreement by the end of this year" the ambassador said.
 
Danforth also pointed out that all sides must recognize that the commission of inquiry appointed by the secretary-general is looking "not only into humanitarian abuses, human rights abuses, and possible genocide on the part of the Government of Sudan but on the part of individuals and on the part of non-governmental groups as well," including the rebel groups in Darfur.
 
"Frankly, I don't understand what the rebel groups in Darfur are driving at," hesaid, "... They also have been engaged in breaking cease-fires, in humanitariandisaster, and it is important for them to recognize that they will be held accountableas well as the government."
 
Danforth noted that "the Security Council made it clear that the international community is there to help Sudan provided that there is peace. But the international support is only going to be there for a peaceful country and as long as there is that terrible disaster in Darfur, the international community is simply not going to be there."
 
In his report to the Security Council, Prendergast said that the government has continued to use aerial bombing in retaliation of SLA attacks, despite Khartoum's denial.
 
"Increased activity by the Jingaweit and other pro-government militia leadingto clashes with the SLA has been reported," the undersecretary-general also said. "Thelatest clashes, which threaten to plunge Darfur into chaos, are of great concern."
 
He said the SLA appears to be deliberately trying to provoke the government into retaliating since the signing of the security protocol in early November. Militias are also destabilizing the situation since they are not signatories to the cease-fire agreement.
 
In addition, Prendergast said, Khartoum has made no progress in disarming the Jingaweit, bringing any of its leaders to justice for their past crimes, or making any effort to stop recent retaliatory attacks. "Indeed, unconfirmed reports continue to circulate that the armed militias continue to receive arms from some quarters in Khartoum," he said.
 
Prendergast said that the humanitarian situation throughout the country remains dire. As of November 1, the number of people affected by the fighting had risen to close to 2.3 million. The U.N. and aid agencies estimate the $1.5 billion will be needed for Sudan in 2005, out of which $620 million will be needed in Darfur.
 
On November 9 in Nairobi, the Security Council witnessed the signing by Khartoum and the SPLM of a memorandum of understanding to complete the peace agreement by the end of the year. Prendergast said that technical discussion on the agreement resumed on November 26, and on December 6 high level talks between Sudanese Vice President Ali Othman Taha and SPLM Chairman John Garang resumed in Naivasha in what is hoped will be the final round of talks.