In S. Sudan, UN Separates Dinka and Nuer in Its Camps, Would by Race or
Religion?
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, January 16, 2014 -- With the UN in South Sudan still
separating those in its camps into "Dinka" and "Nuer," Inner City Press on
January 13 asked UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky what the UN's policy on
making such separations, particularly after Srebrenica, is. Video here
<
http://webtv.un.org/watch/daily-press-briefing-secretary-general-in-iraq-sy
ria-security-council-south-sudan-south-sudan-human-rights-south-sudan-food-m
ali-china-noon-briefing-guest-tomorrow-press-conferences-tomorrow/3049314625
001> , from Minute 12:20.
UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous' spokesperson Kieran Dwyer had told some
media that the segregation "initiative is on request of community leaders.
They've advised that this is the best way to keep things calm and stable
inside the base. If there is any policy here it's not ethnic separation.
It's to work with community leaders."
Nesirky first said that thousands have been saved by sheltering in ten UN
bases, and that the separation is ongoing. He said his colleagues in UN
Peacekeeping have answered.
But, Inner City Press asked, where would such deference to the requests of
"community leaders," such as could have been made even by the authorities in
Rwanda in early 1994, stop -- segregation by race or religion? Would this be
done in, say, the Central African Republic or Syria? By the UN?
Nesirky said that the situation inside the camps in South Sudan is
precarious because things are crowded, and "tensions could arise." All the
more reason to have a policy. So what is the UN's policy? Watch this site.
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Received on Thu Jan 16 2014 - 17:50:04 EST