Sudan's killing fields: And the United Nations' blindness

Washington Times ^ | Tuesday, September 7, 2004 | John Prendergast

[JohnHuang2]

The Washington Times
www.washingtontimes.com

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Sudan's killing fields

By John Prendergast
Published September 7, 2004

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    Talking to homeless Sudanese in hiding near their burned villages has a way of clarifying issues. In rebel-held territory of Darfur recently, I heard story after story of people whose fathers and brothers had been killed, whose mothers, sisters and daughters had been gang-raped, and whose livelihoods, built over generations, had been torched by their own government and the militia it supports. And I realized more clearly than ever how much foreign policy comes down to basic choices about priorities.
    The failure by the international community to respond to Sudan's killing fields in Darfur may not yet be as dramatic or deadly as its failure in Rwanda, but the excuses ring much more hollow. In 1994, the world had only 90 days in which to act before the killing in Rwanda was over. In contrast, the Sudanese slaughter began in earnest 17 months ago. The hundreds of thousands of further deaths now feared from disease and malnutrition will happen in slow motion.
    The failure of the United Nations is particularly noteworthy. In late July, the Security Council resolved in a weak resolution to give the regime 30 days to comply with a series of demands. However, five days later, the U.N. Special Envoy said that the council's demands could not possibly be met by Khartoum, thus giving the regime a further reason to delay and giving its supporters on the council a golden reason not to impose any punitive measures on the regime. Later this week, the council will pass a new resolution in response to the 30-day deadline. What it will say will be of enormous consequence for the survival of the displaced in Darfur.