End Darfur carnage
Apr. 27, 2006. 01:00 AM
It is barely a slap on the wrist to the architects of Darfur's agony.
Even so, the United Nations Security Council vote this week to impose sanctions on leading Sudanese figures stirs hope that the council may yet muster the resolve needed to curb the rape, butchery and ethnic cleansing that has killed more than 200,000 since 2003, and driven 2 million from their homes.
The UN was shamed into action by U.S. President George Bush, over the self-serving objection of China, Russia and Qatar. The council voted Tuesday to slap a travel ban on Maj. Gen. Mohamed Elhassan, a key Sudanese official, and to freeze his assets. Also targeted were Sheik Musa Hilal, a janjaweed ally of the regime, and two rebels, Adam Yacub Shant and Gabril Abdul Kareem Badri.
This sends a signal to higher Sudanese and rebel figures that the UN expects power and wealth-sharing peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria, to succeed, and soon. Otherwise the UN will consider stronger measures.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government should support this drive for stepped-up UN action, as the Canadian Jewish Congress urged this week atHolocaust Remembrance Day ceremonies.
Sudan recently barred UN staff from visiting Darfur, as scores more villages were razed. And yesterday the UN Children's Fund warnedviolence is rising, as is malnutrition.
If peace talks founder in the coming days, the UN should target Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, and serve notice that it will hold himaccountable for genocide.
Meanwhile, Sudan's African neighbours should press al-Bashir to accept a U.S.-backed plan to send 15,000 combat-ready UN troops to Darfur toreplace an ill-equipped African Union force of 7,000.
The UN has threatened for a year to get tough. It is past time to act.
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