South Africa voted to disband the United Nations Human Rights Council investigation into war crimes in Sudan, last week in Geneva. I really can’t say it’s a surprise. South Africa’s international support for tyrants and their human rights abuses from Zimbabwe to Burma over the last few years are all well documented. But many influential commentators had hoped that Zuma may change course. This is obviously not to be the case.
What is interesting is that not all African countries followed South Africa’s lead. Mauritius and Zambia bravely voted for continued scrutiny of Sudan’s human rights violations, while Angola, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar and Senegal all abstained.
After the resolution was thankfully passed and the investigator retained, the Ugandan representative in a rare display of disunity chastised fellow African countries that had sided with Sudan. He declared “From the Holocaust to the genocide in Rwanda, we are always reminded that never again should we allow these events to happen through inaction or political expediency”. He praised the Council’s resolution on Sudan, saying it “reasserted the credibility of the Council” and thanked Council members who “have acted with courage on their convictions.”
Given our own history it seems unbelievable that it would be necessary, but President Zuma and the ANC would do well to listen to these wise words.
(Hat hit UNWATCH)
I'm looking for the The Human Sciences Research Council, Report entitled “Human Rights Abuses, Genocide? A re-assessment of Sudan’s practices under international law"
- do you guys have the link?
Posted by: Religious Fundamentalist 1 | June 29, 2009 at 06:36