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Letter to the Editor, Irish Times, 30th March 2007
Madam,
Chris Patten hits the nail on the head: it is hard to believe the European Union's response to the crisis in Darfur has been so feeble (Opinion & Analysis, March 28th). There is little doubt that Europe and the international community, are failing the people of Darfur, and there is now a case for intervention requiring the use of force. In the week of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the European Union – born of atrocity to unite against further atrocity – the former European commissioner for external relations rightly highlights the empty rhetoric of the EU, which since April 2004 has issued 53 "expressions of concern" which have done nothing to quell the bloodshed in Darfur.
Having passed some 13 resolutions, with the latest calling for the deployment of a 20,000-strong UN force in the region (conditional on Sudan's agreement) the UN has clearly failed to bring an end to the terror in the region, as Sudan has steadfastly refused to allow UN troops in. It seems quite likely that Khartoum is intent on completing the genocide already under way.
What the frightened people of Darfur need now from the international community is the moral courage to translate rhetoric into long-overdue and appropriate action. Only the presence on the ground of an international peace enforcing army, will stem this massive loss of life.
In the event of the continuing security council impasse, the UK, US and other nations must rally a coalition of the willing against Sudan and put the lives of Darfur's vulnerable before all else.
Yours, etc,
John O'Shea
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