China must stay out of Southern Sudan
By Lago Gatjal Riaka
Feb 12, 2007 — Chinese intellectuals must keep their eyes out of Southern Sudan affairs politically, economically, and culturally. Southern Sudan government should not side with China. China is one of the superpowers that have historical record of human right abuses in most of the African countries. It has become one of the superpowers misusing its power by supporting dictatorship governments in most of the African countries; Sudan, Zambia, and the list goes on. It is a rhetoric ideology to see China trying to influence Southern Sudan affairs with promises that might never be accomplish. It is important that Southern Sudan government understand what might be behind the seen than what is being presented.
Southern Sudan government must differentiate between a friend and an enemy. In this case, China is an enemy and that is why I don’t think it should have any influence in Southern Sudan.
In my opinion, Southern Sudan government should cut all its bilateral relations with China until the Darfur issue is solved and brought to an end. It is China’s influence in Sudan that is complicating the issue in Darfur. As matter of fact, China should be hold accountable for most of the human right abuses taking place in the Darfur region. It is China’s military and economic support for Khartoum government that is fueling the genocide in Darfur. We must first go after China to cut off all aids that are being use to fuel the genocide in Darfur. Even in the Security Council, China has threatened several times to veto any resolution that might punish the Khartoum government for human right abuses.
A country with these rhetoric backgrounds could not be allow to have any influence in Southern Sudan whether it is oil industry, education, or any sort of industrial complex. It is bad for us to enjoy while our brothers and sisters are dying in Darfur. China is one of the superpowers supporting the Khartoum government militarily and economically in order to consume our oil. Southern Sudan government must condemn and confront any Chinese present in Southern Sudan; the Chinese must be expelled out of the oil field if there are some of their oil companies operating in the region, and their officials should not have any contact with officials in our government. If this action is taken by Southern Sudan government, it would alert the Chinese authority that we are serious about our brothers in Darfur and the future of the CPA.
Therefore, I’m calling on the Southern Sudan government to rethink China’s role in Southern Sudan. China’s influence might affect our relation with our good friend, the United States of America who was the front runner in bringing peace to Southern Sudan. We must not forget about United States of America as our trustful ally at this time of consequences and in the future of Southern Sudan. It is United States of America that might stand with us in time of need and support for our government to democratically grow by adopting a Western democratic system that might uplift us from poverty. It is United States of American that might always stand with us in these geo-political global interests. Our interests must aligned with the free world, a world that condemns human rights abuses, promote women’s role in the society, free speech, and rule of law. As long as our interests align with the free world, our government will have allies. I urge all Southerners to condemn China’s role in Southern Sudan.
The auhtor is based in Minnesota, USA. He can be reached at
[email protected]