Peter Takirambudde is the Ugandan born Executive Director of Human Rights Watch for Sub-Saharan Africa. (wikipedia)
The strategy of putting justice on hold for an elusive peace settlement has emboldened human rights abusers on both sides of the conflict. This approach has fueled a pervasive culture of impunity that has led to ever-increasing acts of violence against civilians.
However addressing the problems of the police requires more than just lip service. It is essential that his words are followed by concrete steps to end police abuses.
People are being terrorized by federal police working hand-in-glove with local officials and militias.
This is no random attack. This is the result of months of preparation by Sudanese officials and coordination with militias.
The Ethiopian government is violently suppressing any form of protest and punishing suspected opposition supporters.
The U.N. mission must be much larger, more mobile and better-equipped than the AMIS force. The Security Council should approve at least 20,000 troops to deter unlawful attacks, backed by a substantial international civilian police force and support personnel.
African leaders must put all possible pressure on the Sudanese government to stop impeding the effective operation of AMIS. The Sudanese government's continued attacks on civilians merit a tougher response from the African Union.
Rebel and government commanders alike must order their forces to protect all civilians, regardless of ethnicity. Attacking civilians and targeting ethnic groups are forbidden under the laws of war.
The government is deepening its crackdown in Ethiopia's rural areas, far from the eyes and ears of international observers.
Any transfer to the UN could take months.
