Monday, November 01, 2004

"Belated Birthday Greetings to the UN" - Rwanda in slow motion

Here is a must-read report for new visitors to this site, and regulars who may be in need of a refresher - along with the following post "Belated Birthday Greetings to the UN" by British blogger Eric:

The 24th of October was the UN's birthday. I would have posted something about it on the day, but I was far too busy baking a cake (chocolate cake, before you ask) to celebrate the outstanding success it has had in recent years in promoting "international peace and security," and "universal respect for and observance of human rights."

If you doubt the UN's ability to carry out this last task, then put you mind at rest. The enlightened attitudes at the UN mean that the Sudan can still hold a seat on the UN Commission on Human Rights. At least the Sudan government are well qualified to recognise human rights abuses:

TWENTY-TWO-year-old Fatima Ahmed speaks stoically about the events of that morning in August 2003 that have left her biding her time on a mat under a makeshift canopy in Touloum refugee camp, serving visitors heavily chlorinated water from relief rations.

It was early morning, she said, when the helicopter gunships and warplanes assaulted her village of Abu Gamra in northern Darfur. She recalled people playing dead during the airstrike to survive.

But that did not spare some of the Zaghawa villagers. The aerial attack was followed by the arrival of government soldiers in trucks and janjaweed on horses and camels.

They began killing children and adults indiscriminately, Ahmed said.

Her father and at least nine others in her family were among those killed. Other family members were captured. She does not know their fate.

The attack was not directed at rebels, Ahmed said. "The government and janjaweed know the location of the liberation army, but they attack the poor people in villages," she said.

Slice of chocolate cake anyone?

Thought not.

posted by Eric.
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Note to Jim and friends at passionofthepresent.org - After six months of blogging almost daily about Darfur, I stand by a post I wrote last April that questioned the tragedy in Darfur and put the spotlight on the UN, EU and aid agencies. I'd be supportive of any initiative that puts pressure on the aid agencies (to lobby for security) and calls for the resignation of Kofi Annan. - Ingrid in UK.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The UN are limited by there interpretation of national sovreignty, and the westphalian model. Therefore rather than blame them for not reacting and broken promises of rwanda we need to access alternative routes for resolution, instead of wasting efforts criticising efforts.