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UN clears Sudan of genocide in Darfur
Well, how you do ya like that? And note the cheap shot at the US at the end of article ...A UN investigation into human rights abuses in Sudan has concluded the Government did not pursued a policy of genocide in the troubled Darfur region. While saying there were gross violations of international law and human rights, the report said the "crucial element of genocidal intent appears to be missing". It recommended the abuses be dealt with by the International Criminal Court (ICC) - a move opposed by the US. Compiled by a five-member commission set up by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in October, the report stressed the absence of a genocidal policy "should not be taken in any way as detracting from the gravity of the crimes perpetrated". It specifically blamed government forces and militia for indiscriminate attacks, including the killing of civilians, torture, enforced disappearances, destruction of villages, rape, pillaging and forced displacement throughout Darfur. However, it stipulated that such acts did not carry the specific intent to annihilate a group distinguished on racial, ethnic, national or religious grounds, and thus stopped short of genocide. "Rather it would seem that those who planned and organised attacks on villages pursued the intent to drive the victims from their homes, primarily for purposes of counter-insurgency warfare," it said. The current humanitarian crisis in Darfur was born of a rebel uprising in February 2003 against government neglect of the desert region. Khartoum responded to the rebellion with a deadly show of force by Arab militias called the Janjaweed, who are accused of having waged a scorched-earth campaign against non-Arab civilians to bring down the rebels. Around 70,000 people are estimated to have died in Darfur, many from hunger and disease, in the last several months alone, while some 1.5 million others have been displaced, many into squalid and dangerous camps. Washington has labelled the ethnic clashes in Darfur as genocide and pushed for action against Khartoum. However, the US has refused to recognise the ICC, fearing the court could be used to prosecute politically motivated charges against US diplomats or troops around the world. Posted by: Dan Darling 2005-02-01 |
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