Opposition SDP leader wants bigger Finnish commitment to Darfur

Eero Heinäluoma

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Opposition Social Democratic Party Chairman Eero Heinäluoma is demanding that Finland increase its participation in the United Nations crisis management operation in the Darfur region of Sudan.
      Currently Finland plans to send between five and ten civilian police officers to Darfur by the end of the year. The United Nations and the African Union are compiling a combined force of 26,000 soldiers and civilians for the UNAMID operation.
      The operation is the largest and most expensive in the world. It is aimed at quelling the unrest that has been going on in Darfur for several years.
      Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in Darfur. Heinäluoma feels that the killing could continue if the international community does nothing.
      "There would be use for Finnish steadfastness and know-how, to end the bloodshed and killing of civilians. We cannot close our eyes to this great African tragedy", Heinäluoma says.
      Sweden and Norway are sending a total of 350 military engineers to take part in construction and transport work.
     
"One could also ask if Finland wants to negate the work that Pekka Haavisto has done there. Finland has already shown its flag in Darfur, and I feel that it would be logical to continue the positive flying of the Finnish flag", Heinäluoma argues.
      MP Haavisto (Green) formerly served as the EU's special envoy to Sudan, and has worked to seek peace in that country.
      Finland is pulling out of the UN operation in Lebanon during the autumn, and Heinäluoma feels that the resources that are being freed from that operation could be used in Sudan.
     
"It is strange for the ministers of the National Coalition Party to first demand more forces for Afghanistan, while announcing at the same time that there are not enough resources for Darfur. There is a certain contradiction there", Heinäluoma notes.
      He proposes sending soldiers, in addition to civilians, to Darfur. He would also consider sending a greater number of civilians. He feels that Finland should make use of its strength as a civilian actor in crises.
      "Finland's good reputation and calmness in peacekeeping are an advantage in civilian crisis management. It gives us better scope to operate than countries which have, for instance, strong military capabilities, but who do not necessarily enjoy other types of trust."
     
Heinäluoma feels that Finland must be involved in UN-led crisis management as well, and not only in EU and NATO-led operations.
      About 900 Finns are involved in military and civilian crisis management operations around the world. Nearly 600 of them are in NATO or EU-led operations, and fewer than 300 are in UN forces.
      Participation in UN operations indicates appreciation of the UN, says Heinäluoma.
      "Finland is applying for membership in the UN Security Council in 2012. For that reason it would be appropriate for us to be seen in the UN as well."


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland to send civilian police to Darfur UN peacekeeping operation (20.8.2007)
  Foreign Minister Kanerva: Finland should not delay decision on NRF forces (17.8.2007)
  Kaskeala: no increase needed in Finnish force in Afghanistan for at least a year (16.8.2007)
  President says not enough peacekeepers for Darfur operation (15.8.2007)
  Finnish rapid deployment forces could go to Chad under Swedish command (14.8.2007)

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