Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-09-14-Speech-2-188"
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"en.20040914.11.2-188"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, in the displaced persons camps in Sudan and the refugee camps in Chad our parliamentary delegation came across an extraordinary, woeful section of humanity: civilians, women, children, men, the new damned of the earth, fleeing from violence and death and living in fear of being attacked and of having to flee yet again. They want to go back to their villages, hundreds of which have been destroyed, but they want to go back in safety. They are therefore asking the international community for a greater presence. They do not trust the Sudanese Government and are calling for justice to be done and for the crimes against them not to go unpunished.
We are facing an immense tragedy – a million displaced persons, 200 000 refugees, 30 000 dead – faced with which the international community intervened very late in calling for a cease-fire and the opening of peace negotiations.
In the camps we visited we did not see anyone dying of starvation. Emergency aid has arrived except in the rebel-held areas, which the humanitarian aid convoys cannot reach because of the rains, which is why there is no complete check on the conditions there. Even in the areas that the war has not touched, however, we saw immense poverty. Many Sudanese or Chadian citizens are registering as displaced persons or refugees in order to get food and medical care. Indeed, the Darfur democratic opposition groups that we met, whether they were African or Afro-Arab communities, agreed that the armed conflict begun by the SLA or JEM forces was rooted in underdevelopment and a policy aimed at marginalising the region, specifically the African communities. The danger that violence might break out again is always present. If the causes are not removed, it may not just be Darfur that explodes.
I therefore think it is essential for the European Union to push for positive results from the Abuja negotiations. We must put pressure on the Sudanese Government and the SLA or JEM forces to observe the cease-fire and, as you yourself said, we must cooperate especially in strengthening the presence of African Union forces and human rights observers. We must also help those parts of civil society that uphold human and social rights to put across their message more strongly. I also believe it is vital to take the Naivasha agreements forward and to support them.
As many people in Sudan told us, the only possible solution is a political one; it cannot be by military means. That is why I believe a strict arms embargo needs to be imposed on Sudan not only by the European Union but also by the United Nations, just as strong pressure also needs to be put on Eritrea or anyone who sells arms to the rebels.
These are difficult times, because war and terrorism are destroying our lives. I believe we have to act wisely and with determination so that the people of Sudan can move on towards development and justice."@en1
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