world's response to current conflicts
burma
Since 1962 the Burmese military government has had control over Burma and other countries have stepped in to help end the violence. The European Union and other countries such as the United States and Australia have held sanctions over Burma as a way to encourage change. The sanctions were partially lifted in April 2012 in response to the Burmese government trying political, social, and economic reform. The Burmese government released hundreds of political prisoners, the National League for Democracy and their leader Aung San Suu Kyi were able to participate in the April 2012 elections, and the government had preliminary cease-fire talks with ethnic armed groups (Mears).
The United States President, Barack Obama, declared in May 2012 to the Federal Register that the national emergency with respect to Burma that was declared back in May 1997 was to continue beyond May 2012. The United States believes that although the situation in Burma has certainly gotten better and that the country has made major progress, it is still a threat to national security and foreign policy in the United States (Obama).
The United States has also taken steps to mediate the situation with Burma by appointing Derek Mitchell as the U.S. Ambassador to Burma. Doing this lifted the travel ban on some of Burma’s leaders and easing sanctions on American Investments. The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act (BFDA) was renewed through the U.S. congress which allowed the extension on import sanctions on Burma for another year (Mears).
The United States President, Barack Obama, declared in May 2012 to the Federal Register that the national emergency with respect to Burma that was declared back in May 1997 was to continue beyond May 2012. The United States believes that although the situation in Burma has certainly gotten better and that the country has made major progress, it is still a threat to national security and foreign policy in the United States (Obama).
The United States has also taken steps to mediate the situation with Burma by appointing Derek Mitchell as the U.S. Ambassador to Burma. Doing this lifted the travel ban on some of Burma’s leaders and easing sanctions on American Investments. The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act (BFDA) was renewed through the U.S. congress which allowed the extension on import sanctions on Burma for another year (Mears).
darfur
Through the conflict and violence in Darfur there has still been international contact with Sudan. China and Russia sell Sudan many of their weapons, buy oil, and protect Sudan in the UN Security (UNSC). Other countries like Chad and CAR have to help out in other ways. Since Chad and CAR are both neighbors to Sudan they are left with the job of providing shelter to refugees on their own unstable societies. Out of all the international help the most involved countries are Britain, France, and the United States help the most with aid. These countries are very proactive about bringing help and are also a part of UNSC. Even with all these countries help it still isn’t enough to end the genocide completely (Mears).
Although the United States has helped Darfur in some ways, President Obama has yet to fulfill some promises he had made when he was a Senator running for President back in 2008. During his campaign and his time as Senator he felt very strongly about the issue and he promised that he would end the genocide in Darfur and that he would send over troops. Both of these promises however have yet to occur (Herbert).
The United Nations is responsible for protecting the people of Darfur and the International Criminal Court (ICC) is an international court that is able to indict President Bashir for several crimes including genocide. The ICC is opposed by the African Union that first intervened in Darfur, although they were very ineffective. The other organization currently opposing the ICC is the Arab League that has been accused of ignoring Darfur (Mears).
Peace talks have been occurring between the rebels groups sporadically since 2006 when only one rebel group signed the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). Since then there have been many attempts to re-make the peace agreement but it is extremely challenging. One of these challenges is that after the signing of the DPA, the first rebel group separated into many different groups, each having their own army, demands, leaders, and interests. This has made getting a new peace agreement signed close to impossible (Heck).
There is a UN Peacekeeping force on the ground of Darfur called UNAMID. However the funding for UNAMID is very small. This group is supposed to have 26.000 troops but instead only has 9,000 under-equipped and under-trained troops. This and the fact that the DPA failed has caused it to become difficult for UNAMID to protect Darfuris. Humanitarian groups are also struggling to aid the refugees due to being targets of violence and raids. This has caused many organizations to stop their work and leave Darfur which leaves the refugees alone to survive in the harsh conditions (Heck).
The UN and AU have both helped Darfur refugees significantly in many ways. The UN has made the genocide evident and has called for help. They were the first ones to do the same during the Rwanda genocide back in 1994. Resolution 1591 was created to assign a panel of people from the UN that can be trusted and to demand the halt of aerial attacks (Africa News Service).
Although the United States has helped Darfur in some ways, President Obama has yet to fulfill some promises he had made when he was a Senator running for President back in 2008. During his campaign and his time as Senator he felt very strongly about the issue and he promised that he would end the genocide in Darfur and that he would send over troops. Both of these promises however have yet to occur (Herbert).
The United Nations is responsible for protecting the people of Darfur and the International Criminal Court (ICC) is an international court that is able to indict President Bashir for several crimes including genocide. The ICC is opposed by the African Union that first intervened in Darfur, although they were very ineffective. The other organization currently opposing the ICC is the Arab League that has been accused of ignoring Darfur (Mears).
Peace talks have been occurring between the rebels groups sporadically since 2006 when only one rebel group signed the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). Since then there have been many attempts to re-make the peace agreement but it is extremely challenging. One of these challenges is that after the signing of the DPA, the first rebel group separated into many different groups, each having their own army, demands, leaders, and interests. This has made getting a new peace agreement signed close to impossible (Heck).
There is a UN Peacekeeping force on the ground of Darfur called UNAMID. However the funding for UNAMID is very small. This group is supposed to have 26.000 troops but instead only has 9,000 under-equipped and under-trained troops. This and the fact that the DPA failed has caused it to become difficult for UNAMID to protect Darfuris. Humanitarian groups are also struggling to aid the refugees due to being targets of violence and raids. This has caused many organizations to stop their work and leave Darfur which leaves the refugees alone to survive in the harsh conditions (Heck).
The UN and AU have both helped Darfur refugees significantly in many ways. The UN has made the genocide evident and has called for help. They were the first ones to do the same during the Rwanda genocide back in 1994. Resolution 1591 was created to assign a panel of people from the UN that can be trusted and to demand the halt of aerial attacks (Africa News Service).
democratic republic of congo
There has been a strong United Nations presence in the Congo to try and make a peace deal between the opposing sides (Mears). MONUC is the largest UN peacekeeping force with over 18.000 personnel currently deployed. MONUC has been trying to enforce a ceasefire between the Congolese Armey (FARDC) and General Laurent Nkunda’s militia (CNDP). The FARDC are poorly trained and underpaid but are responsible for the widespread human rights abuses. In August 2008 the FARDC started heavily fighting the Tutsi CNDP militia. FARDC has been accused of collaborating with the extremist Hutu militia (FDLR). Leader of CNDP, General Laurent Nkunda, was a former FARDC general now claims that he’s defending an eastern Tutsi population from the FDLR. CNDP are accused of human rights violations, rape, and recruitment of child soldiers. The CNDP are funded largely by the illegal extraction of minerals mostly tungsten, tin, tantalum, and gold (Heck).
Although MONUC is in the Congo to try and mediate the sides and bring about a peace agreement, it has been subject to civilian protests who view the force as impartial (Heck).
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a major group involved with the protection of refugees. The UNHCR works towards peace between countries and making sure refugees are well taken care of. The amount of refugees has increased dramatically over the years and it continues to grow in areas of conflict. Unfortunately most refugee camps and people living in those camps end up staying there for a great deal of time and it is hard for them to find another place to go live. Some people will end up staying at some camps for ten or more years (Loescher).
Although MONUC is in the Congo to try and mediate the sides and bring about a peace agreement, it has been subject to civilian protests who view the force as impartial (Heck).
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a major group involved with the protection of refugees. The UNHCR works towards peace between countries and making sure refugees are well taken care of. The amount of refugees has increased dramatically over the years and it continues to grow in areas of conflict. Unfortunately most refugee camps and people living in those camps end up staying there for a great deal of time and it is hard for them to find another place to go live. Some people will end up staying at some camps for ten or more years (Loescher).