blogolobThe U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a 26,000-strong peacekeeping force for Darfur to help end four years of rape and slaughter. This is good news and although China and Sudan insisted that the text of the resolution be watered down to remove the threat of sanctions and the authorization for the new force to seize arms, at least some of the resolution, the part dealing with threats to peace and security, is under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which can be militarily enforced.
However, although the council urged speedy deployment, the bulk of the force is not expected to be on the ground until next year and, even then, ultimate troop strength depends on the willingness of U.N. member states to contribute troops and military hardware. There are also problems with interpretation of the resolution as Western nations maintain that the main purpose of the force is to protect innocent civilians while Sudan insists the operation must not usurp Khartoum’s ultimate responsibility. Meanwhile, the daily violence and attacks on humanitarian staff are destroying attempts to get aid to the beleaguered civilians, with some 500,000 Darfuris out of reach of the world’s aid operation in Sudan’s remote west, according to a U.N. official. In addition, Arabs from Chad and Niger are crossing into Darfur in “unprecedented” numbers, prompting claims that the Sudanese government is trying systematically to repopulate the war- ravaged region. Even the UN Human Rights Committee, which called on Sudan to prosecute war crimes committed in Darfur, admits that militias are engaging in “ethnic cleansing”.
Between now and the arrival of the new peacekeeping force next year, things are likely to get worse rather than better and the violence and ethnic cleansing is likely to intensify. There is evidence that we can campaign to make a difference and the time to do this is now.
In a previous post, “Darfur - They need our help”, I added my voice to the growing campaign to bring this horror to an end by using the 2008 Beijing Olympics to influence and shame China, Sudan’s main sponsor. The post contained more information and the rationale behind the campaign. Simply put, the idea is that pressure should be applied to China, by far Sudan’s biggest investor, supplier and oil customer, to take immediate steps to pressure the Sudanese government to end this terrible disaster. China is particularly sensitive to world opinion with the 2008 Olympic Games taking place in Beijing, and can be shamed into action. As Jeff Weintraub points out, the idea is to USE the Olympics, NOT to boycott them. There is no call for a boycott of the games as this would be counter productive.
Use the games we can. Recently it’s emerged that under some pressure from campaigning actress Mia Farrow, film maker Steven Spielberg is considering quitting his post as artistic adviser to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, unless China takes a harder line against Sudan. Good for him. Now let’s pressure Mr. Spielberg further and give the Chinese government what they fear more than just about anything - bad publicity.
Bloggers, journalists and individuals, please join the campaign.
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