Sudan's aid purge may be a war crime

Saturday, 7 March 2009

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The UN human rights office will examine whether Sudan's decision to expel aid groups constitutes a war crime or a breach of human rights, a spokesman said.

Rupert Colville said the expulsion of 6,500 workers from 13 aid groups including Care, Oxfam and Save the Children was a "grievous dereliction" of duty that put thousands of lives at risk. The WHO said it would compromise disease-monitoring efforts and could lead to unchecked outbreaks of disease. The agencies were told to leave after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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HI DON,T WORRY......

a123456z wrote:

Saturday, 7 March 2009 at 10:50 am (UTC)

NEXT TO SRILANKAN GOVERNMENT ARE READY TO JOIN WITH SUDAN,VICTIMS, HI I WATCHED LAST TWO MONTH FOR SRILANKA,VERRY LARGE, TAMIL COMMNUITY ARE THEY KILLED,AND RAPE, BLOCK TO THE , HUMANITARIAN,SO ARENO ANY CHOICE THEY LIFE , EVERY DAYS ,EVERY SECOND ,SHELLING,GEMICAL, BOMBS?????? WHAT ITS THIS ???????? ITS THE HUMAN RIGHTS , IN SRILANKAN GOVERMENT AND YOU CAN,T SAY ANY COMMONT,??????????HI ITS IN THE ,WORLD COMMNUITY,YOU HAVE TO, GO,AND TALK TO THE VANI PEOPLE, WHAT IS THEY GOIN TO SAYING, I GOT CONTACT WITH , VANI PEOLE THEY SAYING, THIS IS OUR CHOICE, AND ITS OUR HOMELAND, WE CAN,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,T GO ANY WHERE, THATS ,??????????? THEN YOU DO SOMETHING,SRILANKAN GOVERMENT ARE KILLED OVER 60 YEARS 200000 TAMILL PEOPLE, SO DON,T WORY NEXT TO SRILANKA, COMING CRIMES COURT

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Sudan's Aid Purge

brustan wrote:

Saturday, 7 March 2009 at 02:23 pm (UTC)

Like it or not, the Government of Sudan is the de facto government of the country. Whether or not it is the de jure government is a matter or debate and not presently relevant. How the International Criminal Court (ICC) could be so naive as to persuade itself that a warrant for the arrest of the head of state could be executed, or that there would be no repercussions in Sudan is difficult to understand. Additionally, Sudan is outside the jurisdiction of the ICC because it is not a signatory to the treaty which created and enabled the court and the court officials have not publically referred to this. The position of Sudan's head of state has been strengthened among his supporters and the credibility of the ICC has been weakened in this affair because it cannot, intellectually, accept the existence of practical limits to its authority and reach. Perhaps this is due to inexperience, or is it that the court officials do not originate from countries which have long-established and internationally respected legal traditions. Whatever the reason, the sudanese dictatorship has been strengthened and the sufferings of the vulnerable indigenous population will be intensified.
Also of doubtful utility are spontaneous public comments offered by representatives of various 'aid' organisations. One of the recent observations made by a representative of 'Human Rights Watch' was that 'Sudan is committing war crimes and is in breach of the Geneva Conventions'. This comment is inappropriate and misleading. The conflict in Sudan is not a war (as in international conflict) and no useful legal regulations of whatever nature can be effectively applied to it.
In some ways, the activities of the 'aid' agencies are mischevious in this conflict. They exist by means of public donations which are related to the amount of publicity which they achieve and, as is usual with most charities, only a miniscule percentage of donations reaches the needy. The international press is also a guilty party in this deception because it has permitted itself to become a mouthpiece of the 'Human Rights Industry'.
The only effective measure would be replacement of the regime. However, as is normal, the international community is waiting for a 'volunteer' country to organise and pay for this this while other countries watch and criticise. Those days are over!
Nothing will change until the Sudanese leadership, and its political class, is persuaded that to change is in their interests. In the meantime, empty gestures and provocative smears will only intensify an already difficult situation.

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Re: Sudan's Aid Purge

hanif001 wrote:

Saturday, 7 March 2009 at 03:30 pm (UTC)

Thanks brustan for the international angle on the position of Sudan regarding ICC.

I hear that Sudan has oil. So regime change via invasion may be on the cards. Obviously there will be lots of "we are not interested in the oil" by the invaders. Strangely, China is also interested in the oil but is happy to take the oil for payment.

As a Muslim, I really cannot believe that Muslims are opressing other Muslims (or Children of Adam) on the basis of race. If it is as the Western press portray, then its a very sad state of affairs (obviously many Muslims these days take Western press with a pinch of salt especially where Muslim affairs are concerned). If it so, then other Muslim nations (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Syria etc) need to apply pressure on the Sudanese gov to correct this asap.

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