In an excellent letter by Tory shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram to to UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, Ancram wrote (reported in the Scotsman today),
I share Colin Powell’s conclusions and believe that genocide has, and continues to take place in Darfur.“How long do we have to wait before you are satisfied that these ‘grave crimes against humanity’ constitute genocide?
“Surely, whilst the violence is ongoing, and barbarous crimes are being committed on a widespread scale, the most pressing task is to act to stop the killing.
“According to the latest figures from Humans Rights Watch, some 30,000-50,000 people have already died, approximately 200,000 people have fled to neighbouring Chad, and a total 1.2 million people have been displaced within Darfur.
“The World Health Organisation estimates that people are dying from violence or disease, at a current rate of 10,000 each month. Previous estimates suggested as many as 1,000 people are dying every day.
“The last UN deadline expired two weeks ago. By the World Health Organisation‘s estimate, 5,000 more have died in this time.
“How many more deaths will it take before you are ready to join Colin Powell in calling the crime in Darfur by its true name and to endorse the necessary action to stop it?
“A UN-authorised and African Union-provided peacekeeping force and an effective no-fly zone in and over Darfur cannot be regarded by the Sudanese government as an act of aggression. They could, however, save countless lives.”
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