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The danger to ancient manuscripts in Timbuktu in an internal armed conflict in Mali between military officers (who
overthrew the President in March) and Tuarag rebels, who now control much of the North, have been well-documented in several places (
see, e.g.,
here,
here, and
here - a petition to protect the manuscripts is
here).
I wanted to highlight briefly, however, the recent appeal by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova "
for concerted action to prevent loss or destruction of Timbuktu's documentary heritage" which noted
"The citizens of Timbuktu have rallied to protect these ancient documents, and I salute their courage and dedication. But they need our help. I solemnly appeal to all concerned to be especially vigilant and to work together to prevent the loss of these treasures that are so important for the whole of humanity."
UNESCO noted that Bokova contacted "national authorities in countries sharing borders with Mali" to focus on preventing any illegal export of cultural property from Mali pursuant to the
1970 UNESCO Convention on prohibiting the illicit import and export of cultural property.
The UNESCO announcement only briefly noted, however, another rather significant fact: that Mali is also a party to the
1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (which it has been since 1961). A crucial provision of the 1954 Hague Convention is Article 19, which expressly extends the Convention to "Conflict not of an International Character." Article 19(1) provides that (emphasis mine):
In the event of an armed conflict not of an international character occurring within the territory of one of the High Contracting Parties, each party to the conflict shall be bound to apply, as a minimum, the provisions of the present Convention which relate to respect for cultural property.
Article 19(3) also states that UNESCO "may offer its services to the parties to the [non-international] conflict."
The significance of these provisions - whose function (roughly equivalent to Common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions) is to provide some baseline rules in internal armed conflicts - is twofold.
Binding Rebel Forces
First, because Mali is a Party, "at least" those provisions of the 1954 Convention relating to "respect for cultural property" bind
both government forces and the rebels in the conflict. This is true even though the rebels are not a state (
but see "Azawad" below) and did not themselves sign the Convention. Jiri Toman in his 1996 authoritative commentary on the Convention "
The Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict" cites UNESCO's Commentary explaining that "the basis of this obligation lies in the fact that each of the adversaries 'is bound by the contractual engagements undertaken by the community of which he is a part.'" The corresponding substantive provisions relating to "respect for cultural property" are outlined in Article 4(1), which states that Parties
undertake to respect cultural property situated within their own territory . . . by refraining from any use of the property and its immediate surroundings . . . for purposes which are likely to expose it to destruction or damage in the event of armed conflict, and by refraining from any act of hostility directed against such property.
These restrictions may be waived, but "only in cases where military necessity imperatively requires such a waiver" pursuant to Article 4(2).
UNESCO & Anti-Government Forces
Second, in pursuing the goal of protecting cultural property, UNESCO is expressly empowered by Article 19 to reach out to the parties and "offer its services." The significance of this provision is easily overlooked, but it purports to allow UNESCO to consult directly with anti-government forces, which could have highly-charged political implications. The rebels, for example, could attempt to exploit a dialogue with UNESCO to assert the international legitimacy of the rebel movement. Arguably, this possibility also provides UNESCO with leverage in dealing with those forces. "If you want your movement to be viewed as legitimate in the international community," UNESCO could argue privately, "you should take steps to secure and protect cultural property in territory you control. Allowing looting and destruction will only bring international condemnation." The central government, in turn - and with some justification - could protest UNESCO's meddling in its internal affairs.
Article 19(4) addresses this problem, in part, by stating that Article 19 "shall not affect the legal status of the parties to the conflict" which means that, by offering its services to anti-government forces, UNESCO should not, as a legal matter, be viewed as recognizing the authority or legitimacy of those forces. That legal clarification, however, does not change the perception that might result.
The tension in such situations goes even deeper. As Jiri Toman notes, UNESCO's involvement in a non-international armed conflict risks "running counter" to
UNESCO's Constitution which prohibits UNESCO "from intervening in matters which are essentially within" the "domestic jurisdiction" of States that are UNESCO members. Toman argues that "to avoid possible and even probable friction with Member States" in such situations, "UNESCO has to refer to its general mandate for the protection of cultural property, which also derives from its Constitution." Toman concludes
In spite of all the difficulties it may encounter, UNESCO must fulfil the responsibilities entrusted to it by its Constitution but it must also comply with Article 19 of the Convention. It must expect criticism and opposition and accusations of interference in the internal affairs of States. But, in acting as it does, UNESCO is simply carrying out its mandate and ensuring respect for what represents the higher interest: the protection of cultural property.
UNESCO, Mali & Azawad?
What about UNESCO's actions in this particular conflict? One could read the recent UNESCO appeal broadly to be itself an "offer" of UNESCO's "services." UNESCO reports, for example, that the Director-General "appealed to all relevant authorities, including Mali's warring factions . . . to be on the alert against any attempt to traffic" stolen cultural property and states that UNESCO "stands ready to provide technical assistance to Mali . . . in the application of" relevant treaties, including the 1954 Convention.
It is unclear, however, whether UNESCO has taken more proactive or concrete steps, including a more direct offer of services to, or communication with, rebel forces in accordance with Article 19. If so, UNESCO may have heeded Toman's wise advice that, based on the extensive experience of the International Committee for the Red Cross in comparable situations of armed conflict, "UNESCO will do well to keep its approaches [to the parties] confidential." If not, UNESCO should consider taking such steps if they could result in greater protection for cultural property.
Finally, both the analysis and the practicalities are complicated yet further by the recent
declaration by rebels (who of course have their own
website) that the northern portion of Mali is now a new, independent state called
Azawad.
