صحيفة الإندبندنت البريطانية: جنوب السودان يحتاج الي دعمنا عسكريا

Tess Finch-Lees: South Sudan needs our
help, not our silence
Tess Finch-Lees
Sunday, 6 May 2012
In 2006 I briefed David Cameron before a visit to Darfur. On his return he was indignant: "This
is ethnic cleansing and we cannot remain silent in the face of this horror." That was in
opposition. Now that he has the power to influence events in Sudan, his silence is deafening.
The UN resolution passed last Wednesday will do nothing to avert war in Sudan. It threatens
sanctions against both Sudan and South Sudan if violence continues. But the latest
resolution is a smokescreen. It creates an illusion that the UN is a united front exploiting
every diplomatic effort in Sudan. If that were true, why not implement any of the 16 existing
resolutions against the oil-rich Sudanese government?
Sudan's leadership in Khartoum refused a UN request to give aid to its own citizens in South
Kordofan. Not surprising given the food shortages are a direct result of the regime's
bombardment of civilian lands. Their crime? Sharing southern ethnicity. Why did the UN not
invoke the responsibility to protect mandate to ensure aid reached civilians? Why have
sanctions never been imposed for Khartoum's flouting of no-fly zones and arms embargoes?
Despite being indicted by The Hague for genocide, Sudan's President Bashir is still met by
diplomats as though he were a credible partner in peace.
When the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed in 2005, it was hailed as a
diplomatic triumph, marking the end to a 20-year civil war. But it was doomed to fail, not
least because it neglected to deal with disputed oil-rich border regions. It is Bashir's
exploitation of border uncertainty that triggered recent events. South Sudan's president,
Salva Kiir, had fended off Sudanese bombardments for weeks. In the process of driving the
aggressors north, Kiir temporarily seized the oil hub of Heglig, which is in a contested border
area. He bowed to international pressure and withdrew on condition that the UN would create
a buffer zone to prevent further attacks on Southern civilians. There is still no buffer zone
and Khartoum continued to bomb civilians.
In May 2011, Khartoum seized the oil-rich Abyei area. The South did not respond militarily,
hoping to garner UN support. Not only was support withheld, but there was also no
meaningful condemnation of Bashir's land grab. A senior UN official recently told me that the
UN is controlled by the US and the US will not confront Bashir. Indeed, three UN experts
reportedly resigned rather than be coerced into suppressing evidence against Khartoum.
Why? President Obama is said to be sensitive about appearing anti-Arab and anti-Muslim in
the wake of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Southern citizens now believe their only option is to protect themselves militarily. Mr
Cameron, spare a thought for Kubra, that woman you met in the refugee camp in 2006. She
entrusted you with her story and you promised to be her voice. Surely you owe it to her to
find yours.
Tess Finch-Lees is a specialist in leadership, ethics and human rights