No lapse at the expense of people

Sept.19, 2007

No lapse at the expense of people

THE LATEST player to assume a high-profile role in the UN efforts to solve the crisis in Sudan's western Darfur region is China. The Beijing government has called for restraint on all sides to check the violence in Darfur and also offered to use its good offices towards finding a mediated solution to the crisis.
There has indeed been an increasing Western concern over China's growing profile in Africa, and Beijing faces allegations that it is turning a blind eye to bloodshed not only in the Sudanese region but also elsewhere in Africa out of economic self-interest.
China's envoy on Darfur, Liu Guijin, is now working on "correcting" what he describes as misconceptions about his country's relations with Sudan. He explains that Beijing's relations with Khartoum "are no more special than" its relations with other developing nations.
China, which is contributing a military unit to the UN peacekeeping force in southern Sudan, is also sending a 400-strong medical and engineering contingent to prepare for the deployment of the UN-proposed hybrid force of African and UN soldiers in Darfur. Earlier, China, the biggest buyer of Sudan's oil output, was influential in convincing the Sudanese government to accept the planned deployment of the hybrid force.
Beyond that, Liu on Tuesday also offered to involve his country in a "positive and active" manner in Darfur peace talks, including mediating between between the Khartoum government and rebel groups.
It would definitely seem that China is determined to do away with any ground for charges that it is abetting bloodshed in Darfur by maintaining big investments in Sudanese oil, selling Khartoum arms that end up in Darfur, and fending off stronger UN Security Council resolutions.
It is indeed a positive development and should be much helpful to the international community's efforts to solve the Darfur crisis, particularly in view of the latest UN report which highlighted that violence is on the increase in the troubled region.
The Sudanese government has its own concerns. So do the rebel groups, and it is the voice of the people of Darfur that get drowned in the bargain. And it is the people of Darfur who are paying the real price for whatever interests are play in their region.
The focus of all efforts is now on the upcoming Darfur peace talks in Libya. Hopefully, the key players would take advantage of the emerging Chinese willingness to contribute to the effort to put an end to the unprecedented humanitarian crisis that has unfolded in Darfur. Of course, external political and economic interests would have to play their role in the effort, but it should be at the minimum level and at no point should there be any lapse in the international approach at the expense of the people of Darfur.