Articles and Analysies
The Concrete Evidence by Sami Al Shazali
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Aug 1, 2008 - 9:19:56 AM

The Concrete Evidence by Sami Al Shazali

The acts of rape and sexual abuses committed by some UN personnel in South Sudan have aroused outrageous reactions at both popular and official levels. According to press reports, the Sudanese government decided to repatriate those implicated in these abuses, in addition to demanding their trial in accordance with the laws applicable in their home countries.

As we mentioned in an earlier editorial, these abuses by UN personnel confirms the suspicion about the consequences that would arise if the deployment of such forces was agreed to in Darfur. There is no guarantee that such immoral conduct would not be repeated since UN is not mandated to take measures against potential abusers other than repatriating them to their countries. By the same token, the similar unethical conduct was committed by UN peace-keeping personnel in some parts of the continent where they are deployed. Nevertheless, the UN relaxed measures seemed to have persuaded abusers to commit such acts. Ironically, some UN officials used to propagate allegations of rape while the same was committed by the personnel of the organization itself. How come that these officials throw stones at others when they themselves live in glass houses? It is sad that the United Nations which is entrusted with world peace fails to establish an ethical code of conduct binding to its personnel. At least UN should ensure that its personnel observe the cultural values and traditions prevailing in the regions where they are deployed. We call on the new UN Secretary-General to pay the deserving attention to the conduct of UN troops. Otherwise, their deployment would bring counter-results. As for the Sudanese people, they have now been fully convinced that their opposition to foreign troops was not for no good reason. The recent scandalous sexual abuses stand as concrete evidence.