On June 25, 2004 I received this letter (which I comment on throughout):
The Canadian government shares your concern about the situation in Darfur, Sudan, particularly the lack of respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. Foreign Affairs Canada has been aware of the human rights record of the Government of Sudan. We have also been closely monitoring the crisis that erupted in Darfur in February 2003. Particularly troubling are the reports describing the plight of the refugees who have fled to Chad, the increasing number of internally displaced persons, and violations of human rights, including the lack of humanitarian access for aid workers.
We have also registered our concerns regarding the human rights and humanitarian situation in Darfur with the Government of Sudan, in both Khartoum and Ottawa. For instance, in April 2004, Canadian officials made a demarche to high-level representatives of the Sudanese government concerning the situation in Darfur.
I had to look up demarche, so just case you’re like me…Demarche: a course of action, a diplomatic move or maneuver
We reinforced the United Nations (UN) Security Council's call for full cooperation among the parties concerned in order to address the grave situation prevailing in that region.
Cooperation among the parties? The Janjaweed is forcible removing black Africans from their homes, using rape as a weapon and forcing refugees to starve and our government thinks the problem is a lack of cooperation among the parties?
In addition, at the 60th Session of the Commission on Human Rights held in Geneva, Canada advocated for a strong resolution on Sudan, condemning the government's actions regarding the human rights and humanitarian situation in regions including Darfur.
However, France had announced that they will use their permanent vote on the UN Security Council to veto any sanctions against Sudan. So what good will this do?
We are deeply disappointed with the weak decision that was ultimately adopted.
At least we are disappointed, but as we all know without the UN their can be no action (well except for Yugoslavia, etc., but that is another story).
However, we support the established mandate of the Independent Expert, which includes monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in Darfur.
We fully support monitoring and reporting, but action, well that would require a decision.
During the final session, we associated ourselves with the strong statement given by Australia, which called on the Government of Sudan to fulfill its obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law. At the June 14, 2004 UN Security Council Open Debate on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, the Honourable Allan Rock, Canada's Permanent Representative to the UN, delivered a statement urging the UN Security Council to call on all parties to the conflict in Darfur to respect international obligations on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, and to also call on the parties to do everything in their power to end war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in that region, prevent the commission of further crimes, and bring to justice those who are responsible.
So the Honourable Allan Rock is asking that the Sudanese Government, who is sponsoring the Janjaweed militia who is carrying out the aforementioned war crimes and crimes against humanity, to do everything in their power to stop. The famous Robin Williams skit, “Stop, or I’ll say stop again” is rattling around in my head…
We have also worked diligently in urging members of the UN Security Council to focus, on the situation in Darfur to ensure that human rights are addressed. We have urged the Government of Sudan to cooperate with the UN, particularly to allow access for urgently needed humanitarian assistance and for human rights monitors to be allowed access to investigate conditions.
In February 2004, I issued a statement expressing my concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Darfur. In a news release issued on April 7, 2004, (http://webapps.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/minpub/Publication.asp?publication_id=381005&Language=E) I again expressed my deep concern about the situation in Darfur.
Well, it is good to see that in two months of continuing atrocities in Sudan, the Honourable Graham opinion change from concern, to deep concern. It is a shame that he is now Defense Minister, otherwise it might have become profound concern, bordering on grave.
We urged the Government of Sudan to resolve the crisis peacefully.
Oh yeah, that is the problem, not enough countries have urged the Sudanese Government to stop. Or are we just assuming that once they have removed or killed all of the Africans they will have peace. You would think that we would all know by now that peace is not the absence of war.
Senator Mobina Jaffer, Canada's Special Envoy Sudan Peace Process, undertook a multi-country visit to Africa from May 13 to June 3, 2004. During her visit to Sudan, she raised her concern regarding the grave situation in Darfur with the Sudanese President. She was granted access to travel to Darfur on two separate visits, first with the President of Sudan and then with UN agencies. Since her visits to Darfur and her follow -up with the President of Sudan and the Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Sudan has taken direct steps to ease humanitarian access.
