CONFLICT AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN DARFUR, SUDAN

Early day motion 1386, tabled 11 June 2003 by Hilton Dawson (Labour). Signed by 31 members.

That this House is concerned about the emergence of armed conflict between Arab nomads and sedentary farmers from the Fur and Massayalit tribes in Darfus in western Sudan; is aware of the recent formation of an armed rebel group, the Sudan Liberation Army, in the region, who are fighting the central government and have recently captured key towns in the region; is alarmed by recent reports of attacks on Fur towns and villages such as Shoba in which there have been hundreds of civilian deaths; notes that this conflict seems to be separate from Sudan's long-running war between the Government of Sudan and the SPLA/M but that it may be being fuelled by arms supplies to tribal militias from outside parties, including the Government of Sudan; is cognisant of the historic under-development of the Darfur region; is horrified by the constant flow of reports of human rights abuses coming out of the region, including cases of torture, amputation, corporal punishment of minors, arbitrary detention and unfair trials; is concerned that the sort of justice delivered by Darfur's emergency courts falls way below international standards; calls upon the Government of Sudan to negotiate with the rebels, rather than pursuing a military solution to the rebellion; supports Amnesty Internationals; call for an independent commission of inquiry into the situation; and calls upon the UK Government to use all diplomatic means to help end this conflict and promote human rights in Darfur and across Sudan.

Signatures by party: Labour 19, Liberal Democrat 5, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Conservative 1, DUP 1, UUP 1.