As
US
Defends Record on Darfur, France & UK Took Lead, Silence on Bashir
Noted
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
KAMPALA,
October
6 -- With US Ambassador Susan Rice and the rest of the UN
Security Council heading to Sudan later today, the US Mission to the
UN has argued to Inner City Press that it is wrong to say the
US has
become less vocal about the killing of civilians in Darfur.
Many
beyond Inner
City Press have asserted that US policy, as symbolized by envoy Scott
Gration, has prioritized the North - South conflict over that in
Darfur.
But
the US
Mission, in an October 5 email from New York received by Inner City
Press in Uganda, has pointed to quotes by Susan Rice, Gration,
Samantha Power and even President Barack Obama for the proposition
that it is “just wrong” to say the US has pulled back.
We
will run below
the quotes the US Mission compiled. This more than meets the
Mission's request for “prominence” in addressing this issue. But
consider:
In
early August,
when there were killings in the Kalma Camp in Darfur, it was France
and not the US which asked for a Council meeting.
Later,
when Inner
City Press obtained
documents showing the immanent turn over of five
supporters of rebel leader Abdel Wahid Nur from the Kalma Camp to the
Omar al Bashir government and handed them to representatives of a
number of Security Council members including the US, it was another
Permanent Member which responded it was actively looking into the
documents, and another member which said the context of the impending
turn over troubled them. From the US, no response.
Even
in President
Obama's speech in the UN high level meeting on Sudan on September 24,
it was not only Inner City Press which noticed that Obama did not
mention Bashir, or the International Criminal Court which has
indicted him for war crimes and genocide -- the Organization
of the
Islamic Conference later cited Obama's failure to mention the ICC as
support for its position that Bashir should not have been indicted at
all.
We note that
the Obama Administration fought to make the UN's September 24 meeting
on Sudan open to the press and public.
Susan Rice & unidentified aid
arrive in Entebbe on Oct 6, response on turn over of Kalma 5 documents
not shown (c) MRLee
Also
noted: Obama
in his speech to the General Debate (but not on MDGs) did not even
mention Sudan.
The
perception of
the Obama Administration as surprisingly unclear on war crimes is
shared by, among others, many in the Tamil diaspora, who expressed
shock at Susan Rice's statement taking a wait and see approach to the
self - serving self - investigation announced by Sri Lankan President
Mahinda Rajapaksa, as a replacement for a UN panel of experts into
accountability in Sri Lanka.
Others
have noted
the US' silence on Myanmar, then seeming joining of others' call for
an international inquiry into war crimes, then a stepping away from
that position.
While
we are always
willing to listen to and publicize responses to analysis, the point
here is that questions about the Obama Administration's and Susan
Rice's position on war crimes and Omar al Bashir, and even Darfur,
extend far beyond Inner City Press. The answer may be not better
public image management, but different actions. We'll see. Watch this
site.
From the US Mission to the UN:
Matt:
We
saw
your recent blog post/story which included this erroneous line:
“Most troubling is the failure not only of the UN but now also the
US to speak out about the rising rate of death in Darfur.”
In
the
interest of accuracy, we are sending you (below) a collection of
just some of the recent statements by senior US officials (including
the President of the United States) about the violence in Darfur.
We
look
forward to your immediate and visible correction of your
significant mistake.
(Not
pictured
here, Matt Lee missing very basic and easily reportable
facts.)
Thanks,
as
always,
Susan
Rice,
Oct 5: A top US envoy expressed concern Tuesday about renewed
violence in Darfur as the UN Security Council powers headed to Sudan
to maintain pressure over a referendum which could lead to the
country's break-up.
"With
less
than 100 days until the vote, our visit comes at a crucial time
for Sudan," said US ambassador Susan Rice, who highlighted the
new fears about events in Darfur, in western Sudan.
"We
will
push for peaceful, on-time referenda that reflect the will of
the people of South Sudan and Abyei, and we will visit Darfur to
assess the humanitarian situation and the plight of civilians in the
wake of a disturbing uptick in violence," she said.
President
Obama,
Sept 24:“Despite some recent progress, preparations for the
referenda are still behind schedule. Now, the vote is only a little
more than a hundred days away. And tragically, as has already been
referred to, a recent spike in violence in Darfur has cost the lives
of hundreds of more people.”
Samantha
Power,
Sept 24: Samantha Power is a senior advisor to President
Obama. She told reporters this week during a telephone briefing that
Mr. Obama's main message to the Sudan meeting will be the need to
rapidly implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement - or CPA - which
calls for the North-South vote and another one on the same day by the
people of the Abyei region.
"So
the
number one message is that these referenda must go off on time;
that they must be peaceful; and they must reflect the will of the
people of South Sudan," she said.
Power
says
President Obama would also speak about the recent uptick in
violence in the Darfur region of Sudan.
Ambassador
Rice,
Sept 15: if in fact the government upholds its commitments as
it says it will, then that will benefit the people of Sudan, and will
benefit our bilateral relations-- provided that equal progress is
also made on Darfur, where we remain very concerned about the
security situation there.
Scott
Gration,
Sept 15: We’re also very concerned about some of the
things that we’ve seen recently that are destabilizing. There have
been some assassinations. There have been fighting between those who
are pro-Doha and those who are against Doha. And we’re very
concerned in getting to the bottom of these and mitigating those
tensions.
So
we
are very involved in Darfur, we will continue to be involved in
Darfur, and we don’t see a solution in Sudan until the Darfur
issues are resolved, and we’re talking there about increased
stability, we’re talking about an environment that people
voluntarily can go to places that they want to settle, we’re
talking about access for UNAMID, and we’re talking accountability,
justice, and ability for people to have their wrongs righted in a way
that they respect and the way they want.
This
email
is UNCLASSIFIED.
On
Sudan,
Voting
Materials Delayed Blamed on US, Silence on Darfur
Questioned
By
Matthew
Russell
Lee
LONDON,
October
5
-- While Khartoum's backsliding is the storyline of the UN
Security Council's trip now to Sudan, some of the delay in starting
registration is due to decisions by the US and UN, sources tell Inner
City Press.
The
registration
materials are, as widely reported, being printed in South Africa. But
why? The US promoted procurement practices and IFES, either because
committed to transparency or to keep Khartoum from creating mischief
in this way. But the move has resulted in delay. The materials won't
be ready until late October. Then they have to be transported all
over South Sudan.
In
fact, barely
half of the polling places will be in South Sudan: 2000. Fully 1600
will be in the North of overseas. No one knows how many Southerns are
living in the North. One fear is that the North will over-register
them, or create names without voters behind them, to make it
impossible to reach the 60% turn out necessary in order to have the
secession vote count.
There
are
questions
too about the cost of the elections. Experts tell Inner City Press
that the rule of thumb, if there is one, for post-conflict votes is
form $10 to $ 15 per voter. Assuming an electorate of 4 to 5 million,
this vote should cost $75 million tops. But it is now budgeted for
$360 million. Where will the money go?
Most
troubling
is
the failure not only of the UN but now also the US to speak out about
the rising rate of death in Darfur. [For more, including US Mission to
the UN response, see next installment.]
Rugunda in a previous life in Juba, LRA talks: back to the future?
There is a
sense that the
suffering in Darfur was raised to gain leverage over Omar al Bashir,
and is now being ignored or traded in, for the seemingly more
important North - South referendum. It will be hard to rebut this.
Watch this space.
Footnote:
in
John
F. Kennedy airport, Inner City Press ran into the Permanent
Representatives of Mexico, Turkey and Bosnia, preparing for the
flight. Ambassador Heller of Mexico said even he hadn't yet read the
full terms of reference of the Security Council's trip, which Inner
City Press had just obtained and put online. The trip is being run by
two countries, and maybe one and a half. They will have to own also
the results.
And,
we
note, Russia's Permanent Representative Vitaly Churkin is on the trip. Who was it, now
that we think of it, who kidnapped and beat those Russian pilots in
Darfur? Watch this site.
* * *
On
Way
to
Sudan, UN Council Praises Chad, Talks Contingencies, Terms
of Reference
By
Matthew
Russell
Lee
JFK
AIRPORT,
NY,
October 4 -- As UN Security Council Ambassadors take
over on a marathon set of flights
from New York to Nairobi then
Uganda and Sudan, the final Terms of Reference for their trip speak
of the need for “contingency planning... in view of the upcoming
referenda” in Sudan. Click here for the
Terms of Reference, as
obtained by Inner City Press, and see below.
Earlier
on
Monday
in Khartoum, Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Taha spoke darkly of
the referendum being delayed in oil rich Abyei. At Monday noon
briefing at the UN in New York, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman
Martin Nesirky if there is any UN response to Taha's statements.
Nesirky as usual had no comment.
Additions
were
made
to the Terms of Reference, such as included human rights and children
and armed conflict. It is not clear why the initial draft, largely
the work of the US and the UK, needed such amendments.
To
the 9th of the
13 Sudan paragraphs, “the recruitment of children by armed groups”
was added. Not explicitly added is the issue of UN-African Union
Darfur chief Ibrahim Gambari negotiating to hand over five supporters
of rebel Abdel Wahid Nur to the government.
At least one
Permanent
Five member of the Council, having read Gambari's leaked documents on
Inner City Press, has sent them to “the capital” and hopes the
issue can be pursued in Darfur. Mais
bien sur.
In
the penultimate
paragraph, the Council's Sudan Terms of Reference “welcome improved
relations between the Governments of Sudan and Chad,” even though
this led to the closure of the peacekeeping mission in Chad and
Central Africa Republic, and drove Justice and Equality Movement
rebel leader not only out of Chad but also out of the Doha peace
process. Will the Council meet or at least speak with JEM's Khalil
Ibrahim?
Susan Rice & team in past, belated TOR and JEM not shown
Here are the
Terms of Reference, as obtained by Inner City Press:
Terms
of
Reference
for Sudan
Led
by
Ambassadors Susan Rice (United States) and Mark Lyall Grant
(United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
1.
To
reaffirm
the Security Council's commitment to and the international
community's support for the Sudanese Parties' full and timely
implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and to encourage
a peaceful, comprehensive, and inclusive resolution for the situation
in Darfur. To reaffirm the Security Council's support for the
Sudanese Parties in working to make unity attractive and respecting
the right to self-determination of the people of South Sudan through
credible, peaceful, free and timely referenda on 9 January 2011 that
reflect the will of the Sudanese People of these areas and to hold
popular consultations, in accordance with the terms of the CPA, and
for all parties and states to respect the outcome.
2.
To
emphasize
the importance of the partnership between the UN and the
African Union for the international support to the Sudanese peace
processes. To express support for the work of the AU High-Level
Implementation Panel and the engagement of other regional and
international partners of Sudan.
3.
To
stress
that full and successful implementation of the Comprehensive
Peace Agreement is essential to sustainable peace and stability
throughout the Sudan, including Darfur, and in the region and to
encourage increased cooperation between the National Congress Party
and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in carrying out their
responsibilities to fully implement the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement, including through successful and timely completion of
negotiations on post-referendum arrangements.
4.
To
assess
ongoing preparations for the referenda, and to reiterate that,
regardless of the results, both parties to the CPA will need to work
cooperatively to resolve critical issues and that the United Nations
will continue to play an important role in supporting and promoting
this dialogue, including through the recently designated UN
High-Level Panel for the Referenda to be led by President Benjamin
Mkapa.
5.
To
reiterate
the Security Council's support for the UN Mission in Sudan
(UNMIS), to assess its performance and review the assistance provided
by the mission, within its current mandate and capabilities, to the
implementation of the CPA and the contingency planning being
developed by the mission in view of the upcoming referenda, as well
as the planning developed for its post-referenda presence in the
Sudan, and to underline the importance of full and unhindered access
for the mission, to all sites within its area of responsibility.
6.
To
emphasise
the importance of addressing the challenges faced by South
Sudan, including insecurity, humanitarian and development needs and
capacity building, irrespective of the outcome of the referendum.
7.
To
emphasise
the importance of continuing efforts to support the people
of Sudan, democratic governance, rule of law, accountability,
equality, respect for human rights, justice and establishment of the
conditions for conflict-affected communities to build strong,
sustainable livelihoods.
8.
To
stress
the responsibility of all central and local authorities of
Sudan for the safety of members of peacekeeping missions,
humanitarian workers, and all working under local contracts.
9.
To
express
the Security Council's deep concern about the upsurge in
violence in Darfur; the number of civilian casualties and victims of
sexual and gender-based violence; the recruitment of children by
armed groups; the illegal arms flow into Darfur; and the continued
restrictions on humanitarian access. To underline its concern for the
security of civilians, humanitarian aid workers and peacekeepers in
Darfur and to reiterate the vital importance of the protection of
civilians and maintaining full, safe and unhindered access for
humanitarian workers to the population in need of assistance.
10.
To
reiterate
the Security Council's support for the AU-UN led peace
process and the work of the Joint Chief Mediator, Mr Bassole,
including the principles guiding the negotiations, and the urgent
need for achieving substantive progress. To urge all rebel groups to
join the Doha peace process without preconditions or further delay
and to call on all parties to immediately cease hostilities and
engage constructively in negotiations with a view to finding a
lasting peace in Darfur.
11.
To
reiterate
the Council's support for UNAMID and its personnel and to
reiterate its call on the Government of the Sudan and all relevant
parties to co-operate fully with the mission; to assess UNAMID's
performance and review the challenges it faces in carrying out its
mandate, giving priority to the protection of civilians and the
facilitation of humanitarian delivery, as well as the priority given
to UNAMID's continuing efforts to promote the engagement of all
Darfurian stakeholders in support of and to complement the AU-UN
political process in Darfur.
12.
To
welcome
improved relations between the Governments of Sudan and Chad
following the agreement of 15 January 2010 to normalise their
bilateral relations and the establishment of a joint border
monitoring mechanism, and to encourage continued co-operation and
strengthening of relations.
13.
To
underline
the need to ensure that Security Council resolutions are
implemented.
Terms
of
Reference
for Kampala
Led
by
Ambassador
Ruhakana Rugunda (Uganda)
1.
To
reiterate
the Security Council's support to the improvement of
relations among the countries of the region and to encourage them to
strengthen cooperation in all fields.
2.
To
emphasize
the Security Council's support for action against armed
groups in the region, particularly the Lord's Resistance Army.
3.
To
reiterate
the Security Council's support for the Djibouti Peace
Process and support for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)
in the stabilization of Somalia
4.
To
stress
the Security Council's firm commitment to the cause of peace
in the Sudan, the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement and successful negotiation of a comprehensive and inclusive
peace agreement for Darfur.
5.
To
examine
the important contribution by the Regional Service Center in
Entebbe, to the work of UN Missions in the region.
Watch this site.
, 
