Straw backs Sudan sanctions threat
The Foreign Secretary has publicly backed the weekend’s UN Security Council Resolution against Sudan.
After some negotiation, the Security Council backed a resolution calling on the Sudanese government to end the ethnic violence in the Darfur region, and threatens sanctions against its oil industry should it refuse to comply.
Speaking at the weekend, Jack Straw, said: “I welcome the decision by the UN Security Council to adopt resolution 1564. This has been reached following lengthy negotiation and the result is a resolution that sends a clear message to the government of Sudan and the rebels.
“No one wants sanctions on Sudan, but that decision is effectively in the hands of the Sudanese Government. We now look to them to meet the international community’s demands.”
Human rights groups estimate that up to 50,000 people have been killed in the recent conflict and around one million people internally displaced. It is also claimed that the Arab militias, who are responsible for the violence carried out against the black African population, are backed by the Sudanese government.
The Sudanese government, however, denies such claims. But, despite promises to disarm the militia observers on the ground say there is little evidence that this is occurring.
Recently, the US, who sponsored this resolution, referred to the killings as “genocide”.
This latest resolution, passed by 11 votes to zero, with four abstentions, calls on the UN Secretary General to set up a commission to determine whether the killings amount to genocide.
If the UN officialy recognises that genocide it taking place, it is legally obliged to act.
In addition to the commission and the threat of sanctions, the resolution also envisages an increased role for African Union peacekeepers.
