SC could take action if sanctions not implemented: UN

      By Lalit K Jha

     United Nations, Dec 13 (IANS) A top UN official, responsible for monitoring sanctions imposed by the Security Council on individuals and organizations branded as terrorist, has said the 15-member powerful body could take actions against countries if they fail to implement the sanctions.

     Richard Barrett, Coordinator of the Security Council established Al Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Monitoring Committee, appreciated the steps taken by Pakistan after the committee slapped sanctions on Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a frontal organization of Laskhar-e-Taiba, and four top leaders of LeT as terrorists.

     "I am quite sure that Pakistan would take the necessary action; I do not think there is going to be a problem with that," Barrett told IANS in an interview. News reports coming from Islamabad say that soon after the Security Council imposed sanctions on JuD and LeT leaders for their alleged involvement in the Mumbai terrorists attacks, Pakistan arrested several of its leaders, put them under house arrest and sealed their offices.

     However, Barrett said there are provisions with United Nations that the Security Council can take action against nations if they are seen to be not taking the desired actions against individuals and organizations branded as terrorists by the Security Council.

     After sanctions are imposed, Security Council expects countries to freeze the assets of individuals and organizations branded as terrorists, prevent their international travel and forbid them from any arms trade and military training, he said.

     "If a country does not take the necessary step then the Security Council would think what to do about them. It would look into the circumstances, look at the reasons why the steps have not been taken and then decide would appropriate action is required," Barrett said.

     Barrett said: "The first step is to check if there is a case (against the country for not implementing sanctions) or not. So the first question is of contacting the State, or looking into it further, or if the location is quite clear, takes action against the State."

     The UN official said the latest sanctions imposed by the Security Council committee shows that LeT and its other frontal organizations are associated or linked somewhere with Al Qaeda.

     "It also shows that the international community as a whole, and it also includes Pakistan, is quite serious about preventing this short of activities where it might occur," he said.

     As head of the Security Council Al Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Monitoring Committee, Barrett said his work is to see the sanctions are implemented by member nations as desired by the Council.

     "We work very closely with all our colleagues, and of course with countries like Pakistan, which of course is a strong supporter of the monitoring team," he said.

     Barrett, who has been to Pakistan including the troubled tribal areas of the country several times in the past, is planning to go to Pakistan soon as a follow up to the latest sanctions slapped by the UN body.

     "I look forward to the further good relations and discussions with them (Pakistani officials) about the particular threat posed by Lashkar-e-Taiba and other Taliban and Al Qaeda affiliates," he said.

     When asked about media reports about a US proposal to slap similar sanctions on Hamid Gul, the former head of ISI of Pakistan, Barrett said he has not seen any such proposal till now.

     "I have not seen any proposal of that name being added to the list," he said.

     Indo-Asian News Service

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