Real Audio      Requires Real Player

MP3

03 February 2005: Programme Number 33

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON DARFUR, SUDAN:
'NO GENOCIDE' BUT ACTS OF VIOLENCE MAY AMOUNT TO CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

An international commission says the Sudanese government and its militias, like the Janjaweed, have conducted indiscriminate attacks, including killing of civilians, torture, destruction of villages, rape and other forms of sexual violence, in Darfur. But the report stops short of calling the atrocities genocide. So, has the government been exonerated? And, what did Secretary-General Annan tell the Sudanese president at the recent AU summit in Nigeria?
"I was [also] able to sit down with President [Omar Al-] Bashir of Sudan and his Foreign Minister with my representative [Jan] Pronk, for us to tell them exactly what we think should be done, and the fact that the situation in Darfur was not getting any better, and it was essential that they took every step to bring the situation under control."
Some rebels must also be tried for war crimes, according to the commission. But who should conduct these trials? The current President of the Security Council, Joel Adechi of Benin, says the Council will act promptly:.
"The Council members stand united in their agreement and determination to make sure that impunity is not allowed and is addressed in an international recognized way."

We'll also hear from the UN Special Adviser on genocide, Juan Mendez, on why the Darfur atrocities could not be described as genocide.

Transcript

Inquiries / Comments