Human rights groups demand end to Darfur silence

Two prominent human rights groups have called on EU leaders meeting in Brussels this week (14-15 December) to give a final warning to Sudan to stop the killing of civilians in Darfur or face serious sanctions.

Kenneth Roth, director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), and Gareth Evans, president of the International Crisis Group (ICG), said the EU should impose its own economic and legal sanctions if the Sudanese government continued to ignore UN Security Council resolutions.

"The only thing to make them act is when there is real external pressure applied," said Evans.

But it is unlikely that EU leaders will even discuss Darfur during the European Council. Instead, foreign ministers will raise the issue over dinner this evening (14 December) and a reference will be included in the summit’s conclusions. The usual EU expressions of concern at the humanitarian situation are expected.

One diplomat said there would "obviously be no new positions" put forward in the conclusions.

Both HRW and ICG said that the EU had not been doing enough to put pressure on Sudan, which is accused of funding and arming Arab militias targeting civilians. "The EU hasn’t even adopted the commercial sanctions the US has applied," said Evans.

If UN sanctions fail to materialise, both groups said that the EU should apply sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on individuals named in the UN’s inquiry into war crimes and should target revenue from Sudan’s oil industry which was used to fund the violence. The EU should also target foreign investment supplying goods and services to the government and offshore businesses linked to the main ruling party, the National Congress Party.

Pressure should be applied on China, Sudan’s major trade partner and ally in the UN Security Council, to force the administration in Khartoum to stop attacks on civilians and accept an African Union and United Nations peacekeeping force. "China will co-operate when pressure is applied … Europe can insist it is time to stop the charade and insist that Beijing lay down the law now," said Roth.

Evans said a "broader-based support" to enforce a no-fly zone in Darfur would be better than a US and UK action, as outlined in reports yesterday (13 December). "With all the baggage the US is carrying following the invasion of Iraq, and to a large extent the UK…it is important not to characterise this as a Western crusade."

Roth said conservative estimates were that 200,000 people had been killed in Darfur since the violence broke out in 2003. Some two million people have been displaced and another two million left dependent on international assistance. Thousands are suffering the effects of violence and mass rapes. The Sudanese government has continued to deny that it is sponsoring rebels involved in the targeting of civilians but aerial bombardments supporting rebel attacks were proof of government backing, Roth added. "They are a very savvy and sophisticated lot in Khartoum… and they are good at doing what is necessary to satisfy what the international community is prepared to do," he said.

Two prominent human rights groups have called on EU leaders meeting in Brussels this week (14-15 December) to give a final warning to Sudan to stop the killing of civilians in Darfur or face serious sanctions.