قصف مروع لقري الجبل: نداء من الداخل...Urgent

Quote: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 13, 2006 Contact: Karen Hirschfeld Email: [email protected] Cell: 781-439-4887 Phone: 617-301-4251 EIGHTEEN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMANITARIAN AND CONFLICT PREVENTION ORGANIZATIONS CONDEMN THE RECENT VIOLENCE LAUNCHED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN IN NORTH DARFUR AND CALL FOR STEPPED UP DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE AND PLANNING FOR THE RAPID DEPLOYMENT OF A ROBUST UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE CONTINUED VIOLATIONS OF THE DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT We, the undersigned international human rights, humanitarian and conflict prevention organizations, strongly condemn the build-up of Sudanese Government armed forces in North Darfur and the recent military actions taken by the Sudanese Armed Forces against civilians in areas held by rebel groups that did not sign the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE We call on the wider international community to also denounce these actions, which are in direct violation of international humanitarian law as well as the DPA to which it is a signatory. Furthermore, we call on the US, EU, Arab League and African Union to use all diplomatic means available, including the enforcement of targeted UN-imposed sanctions and sustained public criticism of the Sudanese Government’s actions. THE AFRICAN UNION FORCE We also reject the Sudanese Government's recent threat to expel the African Union force (AMIS) from Darfur unless AMIS agrees to not allow a transition to a UN force after the AMIS mandate expires on September 30th. This is clearly a maneuver to prevent the deployment of a robust, UN-sponsored peacekeeping force capable of protecting the people of Darfur. With less than three weeks to go in its mandate, AMIS resources are rapidly dwindling and there are no new funding commitments to support a continuation of the mission. It is incumbent on the international community to persuade the Government of Sudan to allow the continued presence of the AMIS force until a UN force is deployed. UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE We welcome UN Security Council Resolution 1706, which calls for the deployment of up to 20,500 peacekeepers in Darfur. But the Security Council member states must follow up this first step with a concerted, coordinated initiative to press the Khartoum government to accept a UN force that has a strong mandate, and the appropriate capacity to end the violence and produce a lasting peace. This Resolution, adopted with 12 votes (with Russia, China and Qatar abstaining), falls under Chapter VII, article 42 of the UN Charter, which calls on the members of the Security Council to 'take such action by air, sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security.' The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations must now work quickly to develop the rules of engagement to ensure that the force has the necessary means to protect civilians. In summary, we call on the international community to significantly intensify diplomatic efforts with the Government of Sudan while concurrently planning for the rapid deployment of an adequately funded and well-equipped UN force to protect the people of Darfur regardless of the acquiescence of the Sudanese Government.  Dr. James Smith, Executive Director Aegis Trust  Ann-Louise Colgan, Acting Co-Director Africa Action  Larry Cox, Executive Director Amnesty International USA  Ali Dinar, President Darfur Alert Coalition  Tim Nonn, National Coordinator Dear Sudan  Dr. Peter Hall, Chair Doctors for Human Rights  Mark Hanis, Executive Director Genocide Intervention Network  Greg Stanton, President Genocide Watch  Maureen Byrnes, President Human Rights First  Prof. Frank Chalk, Director Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies  Dr. Gloria White-Hammond, Co-Founder My Sister’s Keeper  Dr. Holly G. Atkinson, President Physicians for Human Rights  Ken Bacon, President Refugees International  David Rubenstein, President Save Darfur Coalition  Mr. Osman Hummaida, Director Sudanese Organization Against Torture  Ben Fine, Executive Director STAND (Canada)  Dr. Jacky Mamou, President Urgence Darfour  Rebecca Tinsley, Founder Waging Peace