Nearly three decades after the horrors of the genocide in Rwanda, Romeo Dahler says he worries that too little has changed.
“The West has learned absolutely nothing,” the former UN commander told The West Block in an interview with Mercedes Stevenson.
“What the international community, and the developed world in particular, has discovered is that it does not want to take risks.”
Dahler speaks as the international focus shifts to whether Russia’s atrocities in Ukraine constitute genocide – and if so, whether world leaders are ready to fulfill their responsibility to defend themselves.
As a former UN commander, Dahler witnessed the horrors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, as well as the futility of global condemnation without a desire to act to end the violence.
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2:13 What is behind some countries’ decisions to remain neutral in Russia’s war with Ukraine? What is behind the decisions of some countries to remain neutral in Russia’s war with Ukraine?
As a leading voice now on genocide prevention and responsibility to protect, he said the work of human rights investigators was crucial in determining whether Russian atrocities on the ground in Ukraine matched the definition of genocide.
“The international community has signed that if there is genocide, we all have a responsibility to stop it – to stop it – which means committing to stop it, not watch it,” Dalair said.
The key question for investigators will be whether the “massive human rights abuses” that have become apparent in the withdrawal of Russian forces in recent weeks from the Kyiv area have been perpetrated by fraudulent commanders or troops, or on the instructions of the Russian government.
“That is why we need these international human rights inspectors to be there and to start final work on whether this is really genocide or not.
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Read more: Is Russia’s violence in Ukraine a genocide? Trudeau says it is “absolutely right” to consider
Responsibility for protection is the doctrine agreed in 2005 by UN member states, which gives them the responsibility to use “appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and other peaceful means” to protect people from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. .
If peaceful means fail, and on a case-by-case basis, the doctrine also confirms that Member States can act through the UN Security Council to take “collective action, in a timely and decisive manner”.
2:10 How far are world leaders ready to go to punish Russia? How far are world leaders ready to go to punish Russia? – April 4, 2022
In the weeks since Russian President Vladimir Putin began his unprovoked and bloody invasion of sovereign democracy on February 24, the world has watched in horror as his forces inflict repeated atrocities on Ukrainian civilians. Systematic rapes and sexual violence, alleged use of chemical weapons, bombings of maternity hospitals and mass killings of civilians are among the reported cases of violence.
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In an interview with The West Block, Defense Minister Anita Anand said there seemed to be a “strong argument” that Putin’s forces were committing genocide against the Ukrainian people.
“These are incredible, horrific crimes, and whether there is a use of chemical or nuclear weapons, we need to acknowledge what is happening on the ground in Ukraine at the moment,” Anand said.
“The definition of genocide includes the intention to destroy a nation in whole or in part, and I believe there are strong arguments that this is indeed genocide.
Her comments reflected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s remarks last week that it was “absolutely correct” to assess whether Russia’s actions constituted genocide, a phrase imposed by US President Joe Biden on April 12 amid a significant escalation of anti-Putin rhetoric.
“Yes, I called it genocide because it has become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to erase the idea of being Ukrainian and the evidence is growing,” Biden told reporters.
“We will let the lawyers decide internationally whether they meet the requirements or not, but I definitely think so.
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6:42 “All hands on deck” for Canada’s response in Ukraine: Anand “All hands on deck” for Canada’s response in Ukraine: Anand
Global News also learned that the government is considering sending military armored vehicles to Ukraine, including tanks and light armored vehicles.
Anand did not confirm the information shared by military sources, but noted that the government has promised in the last federal budget to provide additional military aid worth $ 500 million to Ukraine.
“I have nothing to say at the moment, but I will say that we are taking a full-fledged approach on deck to ensure that we respond effectively to the elements that Minister Reznikov, my colleague in Ukraine, has indicated that Ukraine needs,” Anand said. .
As Russia was expected to overtake Ukraine within days of the invasion, the fierce and courageous defense of Ukrainians in their homeland aroused awe and determination on the part of Western leaders to support their efforts.
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3:08 Russia-Ukraine conflict: Trudeau agrees with Biden’s assessment that Russia is committing “genocide” in Ukraine Russia-Ukraine conflict: Trudeau agrees with Biden’s assessment that Russia is committing “genocide” in Ukraine
NATO allies, including Canada, are pouring millions of dollars in military aid – including deadly weapons – into Ukraine and imposing unprecedented sanctions.
But what world leaders can do and what they are willing to do are often two very different things.
For many Ukrainians, the lack of more aggressive action, such as allied targeting Russian oil and gas products, remains “incredibly disappointing,” said singer and songwriter Chantal Krevyazuk, who is of Ukrainian descent and working with the #UniteWithUkraine Initiative.
“Ukrainians do not leave Ukraine or do not give up Ukraine. This is their land. This is their home. They have no other home, “she said.
“So they won’t stop defending him.”
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– with a file from Mercedes Stephenson on Global.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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