27 April 2007
Tony Blair has lent his support to a day of action on Darfur by issuing a warning to the Sudanese government.
Read the statement in full
What is happening in Sudan at the moment is unacceptable, is appalling and is a scandal for the international community. There are 200,000 people that have died, there are 2 million people that have been displaced, there are 4 million people on food aid. More fighting in recent days further threatens the already fragile situation. The Sudanese Armed Forces bombing raids in North Darfur between 19 and 21 April, against a school, houses and shops, resulting in a number of civilian injuries and deaths is shocking and the latest example of President Bashir’s flouting of his international obligations in several UNSC resolutions.
The Sudanese Government, and rebel groups, must immediately implement the commitments they have made to the international community including the deployment of the UN/AU hybrid force, resumption of peace talks, disarming the Janjaweed, immediate cessation of violence and upholding humanitarian agreements made with the UN. If they do not, the UK and its partners will take tougher action in the Security Council to target those responsible for the violence, to further restrict access to weapons and to improve monitoring of air flights.
If the Sudanese government and President Bashir want to stop this process, they can, by doing those things that they should have been doing a long time ago. But if they don’t act it is our intention to make sure that this UN Security Council Resolution is tabled and voted upon.
delicious
digg
facebook
