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John O'Shea, Sunday Independent, 26th November 2006
Sir,
Proclaiming as an international triumph Sudan’s decision to allow some UN personnel deploy in Darfur with the African Union force, is premature and grossly misleading.
The Security Council has effectively been duped by Khartoum, as the Sudanese Government is not serious about allowing UN peacekeepers into the region.
Sudan has steadfastly refused to allow UN troops in despite July’s resolution. In fact President al-Bashir has repeatedly warned he will turn Darfur into "a graveyard" for western troops, accusing the West of seeking to "recolonise Sudan", and he has vowed to emulate Hezbollah in Lebanon and smash any incoming force.
Given the Sudanese government’s record, it wants as few international observers as possible in Darfur so Khartoum can get on with the business of completing the genocide that it already under way.
Anyone who has been following the tragedy of Darfur for the past three and a half years knows that nothing short of a battle –hardened 40-50,000 troops will prevent genocide in the region.
By agreeing to the Sudanese suggestion, the international community is effectively washing its hands of the greatest humanitarian tragedy since the Rwandan genocide.
With 400,000 lives claimed by the conflict and 2.5 million reliant on aid for survival, there must now be a willingness to send nothing short of a robust UN force to Sudan - even without the consent of the regime.
The choice is stark: to end a genocide, or let it continue.
Yours sincerely,
John O'Shea
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