iR2P

Ramesh Thakur - one of the original R2P commissioners, is critical of suggestions to apply R2P to natural disasters.

He admits that the original report identified ‘overwhelming natural or environmental catastrophes, where the state concerned is either unwilling or unable to cope, and significant loss of life is occurring or threatened‘ as among the conscience-shocking situations justifying international intervention, but points out that this clause was not adopted by the UN.

Recent ‘potential R2P situations’, he says, include Darfur and Kenya. Ones that might arise include Nepal, Sri Lanka and North Korea. But “There is no crisis so dire that a war cannot make it worse.”

Interestingly, his prescription is equally applicable to natural disasters, of which we can expect a lot more as our oceans get warmer:

“Our responses continue to be ad hoc and reactive, rather than consolidated, comprehensive and preventive. Actually acting in time and effectively when governments are guilty of mass killings should and must form the intervention agenda of R2P. Sins of omission during natural and environmental disasters can be better handled under the prevention, persuasion and reconstruction formulations.”

“We need a paradigm shift from a culture of reaction to one of prevention and rebuilding which would pre-empt the need for military intervention.”