*EPF513 04/23/2004
Transcript: U.S. Seeks Special Session of U.N. Commission on Human Rights
(Commission must address "ethnic cleansing" in Sudan, official says) (1400)

The United States announced April 23 that it will call for a special session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights on Sudan in the wake of the human rights body's failure to adopt a strong resolution condemning the ongoing ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region of that country.

"The U.N. Commission on Human Rights dare not fail to act," Ambassador Richard Williamson, head of the U.S. delegation, said. "It must hold accountable those responsible for the deplorable acts in Darfur."

Under the commission's rules of procedure, any member of the United Nations may ask the secretary-general to convene a special session to deal with "urgent and acute human rights situations in the most expeditious way."

Special sessions can only be convened with the support of a majority of state members of the commission. Special sessions have been held in 1992 to consider the situation in the former Yugoslavia, in 1994 on Rwanda, and in 1999 on East Timor.

The question of Sudan had been deferred until the final day of the 60th session of the commission when it became apparent that member states were having difficulty reaching agreement on how the body should treat the issue.

Members must "reflect on the 30,000 dead and the 900,000 internally displaced people now living in intolerable and dangerous conditions," Williamson said. "This could become a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions if we fail to act."

The statement highlighted the U.N. high commissioner's report, which outlined human rights violations in the Sudan including attacks by the Sudanese government on civilians. The U.S. delegation also distributed a document entitled "Ethnic Cleansing in Darfur," which described the violence and atrocities in Darfur, including killing, torture and rape of innocent civilians and denial of humanitarian assistance.

However, the 53-member commission adopted a weakened document that expresses concern at "reported" abuses and fails to condemn the ongoing ethnic cleansing. The United States opposed the measure, and tried to introduce a vote on a stronger resolution, but the U.S. motion failed.

The United States stated that it will call for a special session of the commission after the U.N. team that is investigating possible war crimes returns from Sudan.

Following is Ambassador Williamson's general statement on Sudan:

(begin transcript)

United States Head of Delegation Ambassador Richard S. Williamson
General Statement on Item 3 and 9 on Sudan
April 23, 2004

Mr. Chairman,

Edmund Burke said that all that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to fail to act.

Today the men and women of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights dare not fail to act. We must take strong action on the human rights abuses in Sudan.

After World War II, the world said "Never Again." Then came Cambodia where the "Killing Fields" were awash in blood. Ten years ago in Rwanda, evil reigned. In 100 days, 800,000 were killed in a rampage of ethnic killings. The world knew that terrible acts were being committed, yet the international community failed to act. Again, the world said, "Never Again." Then came ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and Kosovo.

Just days ago, Secretary-General Kofi Annan traveled to Geneva to address the Commission on Human Rights during the day of remembrance of the 10th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. In his remarks, the Secretary General called upon the international community to never fail as we did ten years ago. And we referred to the acts now going on in the Darfur area of Sudan as "ethnic cleansing." We cannot fail as we have before. "Never Again" must be more than mere words or an idle promise.

Mr. Chairman, regarding the terrible acts going on in Darfur, any resolution of, or decision by, the U.N. Commission on Human Rights must condemn acts of ethnic cleansing. It must hold accountable those responsible for the deplorable acts in Darfur. It must call on the Sudan government to stop arming those engaged in these terrible acts of ethnic cleansing and to stop the support given to the Jingaweid militia group. It must have a strong and effective mechanism to monitor and report on the events in Darfur. And it must guarantee unfettered access for humanitarian assistance to the 900,000 displaced persons living in dangerous and desperate conditions in Darfur.

Mr. Chairman, the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights mission to Chad from April 5 to 15, 2004, reports about the "possibility that civilian areas have been directly targeted." It discussed reports of indiscriminate killing of civilians and a "policy using rape and other serious forms of sexual violence as a weapon of war." The mission reports of "killings, rape, burning and looting of villages . . . (and) massive displacement." It says the Darfur is a "dire humanitarian crisis" and disappearances of "women, children, (and) the elderly."

Mr. Chairman, the Mission reports that the dire situation in Darfur has "developed worrying racial and ethnic dimensions."

The report concludes that "(t)he mission was able to identify disturbing patterns of massive human rights violations in Darfur, many of which may constitute war crimes and/or crimes against humanity. According to information collected from refugees, it appears that there is a reign of terror in Darfur."

The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner's Mission's report highlights the following terrible acts that contribute to creating that reign of terror:

-- Repeated attacks on civilians by Government of Sudan military and its proxy militia forces with a view to their displacement;

-- The use of systematic and indiscriminate aerial bombardments and ground attacks on unarmed civilians;

-- The use of disproportionate force by the Government of Sudan and Jingaweid forces;

-- That the Jingaweid have operated with total impunity and in close coordination with the forces of the Government of Sudan

-- The attacks appear to have been ethnically based (let me repeat, the attacks appear to have been ethnically based) with the groups targeted being essentially the following tribes reportedly of African origin: Zaghawas, Masaalit, and Furs . . .

-- The pattern of attacks on civilians includes killing, rape, pillage ... The patterms of violence point to an intent on the part of the Sudanese authorities to force the population to disperse.

Mr. Chairman, ten years from now, the 60th Commission on Human Rights will be remembered for one thing and one thing alone: Did we have the courage and strength to take strong action against the "ethnic cleansing" in Darfur. We will be asked, ����Where were you at the time of the ethnic cleansing?' ����What did you do?'.

Mr. Chairman, the horrific events in Darfur demand strong action. I ask my colleagues to reflect on the "ethnic cleansing" that is going on. Reflect on the 30,000 dead and the 900,000 internally displaced people now living in intolerable and dangerous conditions.

And we fear that there is terrible famine to come where tens of thousands may well perish. This could become a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions if we fail to act.

Reflect what will be said in ten years time about your actions today. Keep faith with the victims. Today BBC has broadcast credible reports of continuing attacks on civilians in Darfur and 160 killed since the ceasefire began.

The U.N. Commission on Human Rights cannot do everything. It cannot unilaterally stop the carnage. But that does not mean that we must not do what we can.

Mr. Chairman, the Commission can shine light on the desperate situation in Darfur. We can condemn the violence. We can and must stand tall and strong for an end to ethnic violence.

Finally, let me say that whatever the outcome today, the United States government fully intends and, in fact, shall call for a "special session" of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights when the mission sent to Sudan by the High Commissioner on Human Rights returns. Our work on "ethnic cleansing" in Darfur will not be over today. It has just begun. We must find the courage to stand up and to be strong to condemn the unconscionable acts going on, to keep faith with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to give voice to the victims.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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