MEPs condemn Sudanese government punishment of vulnerable citizens (Barking and Dagenham Borough Liberal Democrats)

Barking and Dagenham Borough Liberal Democrats <barkinganddagenham@libdems4london.org.uk>

MEPs condemn Sudanese government punishment of vulnerable citizens

March 13, 2009 4:35 PM
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP

The European Parliament has condemned the decision of the Sudanese government to expel from Darfur 13 leading aid organisations that provide vital support to refugees. The humanitarian aid effort in Darfur is the largest operation of its kind in the world, helping almost 5 million people.

The expulsion follows the recent indictment of President Omar al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity,

In an urgency resolution on the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, MEPs expressed deep concern about the immediate impact of the expulsions on the health and well being of the Sudanese people dependent on relief organisations for their survival. They also called on the ICC to conduct an investigation into whether or not the decision of the Sudanese Government violates fundamental human rights and could itself constitute a war crime.

London MEP Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman, said:

"The Sudanese government action in punishing its own needy citizens by depriving them of food and medical treatment amounts to cynically cruel treatment. If the Sudanese government will not protect its own people, the international community has an obligation to do so under the UN's 'responsibility to protect' doctrine."

"EU countries must not allow themselves to be bullied by the Sudanese government into accepting the false choice between peace or justice. The EU must continue to press for a full deployment of the critical UN-AU peacekeeping mission and do everything in its power to facilitate the work of the ICC."