SUDAN: A short time before US Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, yesterday classified atrocities in Darfur, Sudan, as genocide, GOAL director Mr John O'Shea was telling the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the same thing and urging the Government to take a lead on the issue.
Mr O'Shea took advantage of a photocall with the Taoiseach and celebrities supporting GOAL Jersey Day on September 24th, to hand over a dossier on Sudan.
The GOAL director urged Mr Ahern to take action and said that Ireland should withdraw temporarily from the UN if the Security Council did not take meaningful measures.
Mr O'Shea said GOAL would urge the Americans to contribute towards a peacekeeping force for Darfur where the UN says 1.2 million people have been displaced and 50,000 have died as a result of a conflict which has been going on since February last year.
Mr Powell said evidence gathered by a State Department-sponsored investigation "concluded that genocide has been committed in Darfur and the government of Sudan and the Janjaweed bear responsibility, and that genocide may still be occurring."
Mr Tom Arnold, chief executive of Concern, said: "This is a significant change of position by the US. I was at a briefing in Washington last week with the head of USAID and the US national security advisor, Condolezza Rice, and there was no indication of this."
Both Concern and GOAL have significant operations bringing aid to displaced people in Darfur.
Consultations have now begun on a UN resolution between the Americans and other members of the Security Council calling for the Sudanese government to co-operate fully with an expanded African Union force on the ground and an end to Sudanese military flights over Darfur.
Oil sanctions are also an option but are unlikely to be supported by Pakistan and China who also sit on the Security Council.
Peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria between the Darfur rebels and the Sudanese government are reported to be at stalemate.