UN sanctions
On the subject of the UN, I have contributed five times -- UN needs reforming (April 25, 1996), UN Secretary-General (July 3, 1996), Next UN Secretary-General (July 25, 1996), UN Chief (Dec. 20, 1996), and UNSC membership (April 26, 1997).
On Oct. 24, 1945, the UN was officially born. That day is celebrated internationally as United Nations Day. Very soon that date will come and if we have the means, we will also join the UN in celebrating.
Usually, people use that occasion to express their sentiments on the achievements or failures of the world body. I could ask: Did the UN totally fail? Or is the UN a complete success? Pragmatically, I can't believe the UN is a total failure; it's not a complete success either.
Before I touch on the important issue of UN sanctions against a country, let me categorically state there are many reasons for UN failures.
I'm neither a highbrow nor a moron, but politically speaking, I know that the UN is manipulated and controlled by Western giants, particularly the United States. Examples are many. Most notable is the UN veto power system, which is mainly enjoyed by Western giants, Do we blame them? Financially, they still contribute more than any other member.
To me, humanitarian services may be the most significant UN breakthroughs, after peace keeping activities.
Unfortunately, UN sanctions against a deviant member are always influenced by the U.S. and its allies. Looking at the Libyan and Iraqi cases, I can't avoid suggesting that the UN of today should find an alternative way of punishing a defiant member, besides the traditional trade, air or economic sanctions.
This is because they affect only the poor, innocent citizens of those countries. Sanctions or no sanctions, the leaders of those countries are still living in luxury. But the poor men and women suffer from starvation, inflation, shortages of medicines, as well as other miseries. At the end of the day, it's only the common man that is grossly affected by sanctions.
Take, for example, Iraq. UN sanctions were applied, yet the same UN complained about food shortages, malnutrition, etc., in Iraq (The Jakarta Post Oct. 11, 1997). Could it be a double standard by the world body?
I remember the People's Republic of China became a victim of UN sanctions on Feb. 1, 1951, especially trade embargoes. A few years later, UN sanctions were applied on the then-racist government of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
Whether the UN is indispensable depends on how we think. For example, I, quite frankly, respect the UN because it observed justice by giving a chance to a black African, who is currently the secretary-general.
The following quotes may help one assess the UN: "Without the UN, world politics is inconceivable." Mikhail Gorbachev, the Cold War era USSR president in an address to the UN General Assembly on Dec. 7, 1988. "The UN is a foolish attempt at world government inspired by Satan." U.S. clergyman Paul D. Lindsstorm (Newsweek, July 13, 1970).
BUHARI ABDU
Jakarta