On Thursday, August 25th, activists participated in a GI-NET/SDC policy call that provided updates on volatile situations in Libya, Syria and Sudan. The full recording of the call is available here, and a summary of key points is provided below.
Libya: The Qaddafi regime appears to be on its last legs, as TNC forces have entered Tripoli. Fighting continues in the center of the city, and there is no information on Qaddafi’s location. Despite reports that his sons, Saif and Mohammed, were in TNC custody, both appear to have escaped.
According to the Turkish Foreign Minister, NATO will continue its military campaign until stability is achieved throughout Libya. The Dutch government will release 100 million Euros to be used to purchase medicine from the World Health Organization. It is likely that the pending TNC victory may lead to the unfreezing of additional blocked assets for reconstruction.
Syria: According to the UN, at least 2,200 Syrians have been killed during the anti-Assad uprising. In a briefing before the UN Security Council, High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, stated that Syria may have perpetrated crimes against humanity in its crackdown against demonstrators. In response to the ongoing violence, the EU and U.S. are drafting a UN resolution designed to impose additional pressures on the Syrian regime, including sanctions.
Policy Objectives:
- Push the UNSC to adopt a strong resolution that includes sanctions on perpetrators of crimes against civilians, an arms embargo and a referral to the International Criminal Court
- Push the European Union to adopt strong and comprehensive sanctions on Syria’s oil sector
- CRN(Conflict Risk Network): Encourage corporate actors operating in Syria’s oil sector to:
- Urge companies to either immediately halt operations or make public or private statements to the Syrian regime to condemn the violence
- Call for companies to establish clear policies and procedures for ensuring non-complicity in similar crises in the future
Sudan: In Southern Kordofan, a new round of fighting was reported. In Abyei, it is estimated that over 100,000 people have been displaced by violence. In Darfur, there is a sustained level of violence and human rights abuses, and humanitarian access continues to be restricted.
Sudan will reportedly allow UN agencies to access areas within South Kordofan.
Policy Objectives:
- Push the UN to create a UN peacekeeping force for South Kordofan and Blue Nile states that has a human rights monitoring component and the ability to protect civilians
- Demand humanitarian access in South Kordofan to ensure delivery of much needed aid (food, medical assistance, etc.).
- Expand the existing UN arms embargo on Darfur so that it covers all of Sudan.
- Expand U.S. and UN sanctions to cover officials and militia leaders implicated in the violence
- Demand immediate full access for an independent investigation for war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing through the International Criminal Court
In response to these recent developments, GI-NET/SDC policy outcomes are
Sudan
- The United States and international community imposes consequences on those responsible for violence in Abyei, South Kordofan, the South, and Darfur and also pushes for a robust UN civilian protection and monitoring force in South Kordofan and Blue Nile
- Groundwork is laid for getting companies to take steps that ensure they are not harming civilians and are helping to protect them
- Raise awareness about Sudan crises among constituents, media and high level decision makers
Syria
- The UN passes a resolution implementing sanctions, an arms embargo, and referral to the International Criminal Court
- Companies disengage and pull out from Syria
