China deeply concerned over threats in Darfur
November 27, 2007 (CAIRO) — China Tuesday voiced deep concern about the safety of its peacekeepers in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region after rebel groups boycotting the peace process declared they were not immune from attack.
“Up to now there has been no incident, but we are deeply concerned about the matter,” the Chinese ambassador to Khartoum, Li Cheng Wen, told AFP.
More than 100 Chinese engineers deployed to Darfur last week to build roads and bridges and dig wells to prepare for a 26,000-strong African Union-U.N. peacekeeping force, but they were immediately rejected by rebels.
Darfur rebels have charged that as “allies” of the government in Khartoum, the Chinese aren’t immune from attack.
China is the biggest buyer of Sudan’s oil and sells weapons to the Khartoum government – blamed for fanning the violence in Darfur – but its ambassador insisted Beijing was an honest broker.
“China has played a continuing role in national reconciliation in Sudan. Joining the peacekeeping action in the Darfur region reflects China’s constructive role in solving Darfur’s problem properly,” Li said.
China is also Sudan’s biggest foreign trade partner and has invested more than $400 million in the country’s western and largely impoverished Darfur region alone, Li told AFP.
Beijing is also delivering 80 million yuan ($11 million) of humanitarian assistance to Darfur, including more than 100 prefabricated primary schools, the ambassador said.
“This is good for Darfur peace and stability. It benefits reconstruction and improves people’s life in Darfur. “So it is very difficult for the Chinese side to understand and (we) cannot accept the criticism of joining the peacekeeping operation.
“Furthermore, we stand against the public threat to the Chinese peacekeepers’ safety,” said Li.
“The United Nations peacekeeping operation, including Chinese peacekeepers’ security, must be guaranteed,” said Li, vowing to “take all necessary measures to protect” the contingent from China.
In all, 315 Chinese engineers at the invitation of the U.N. will deploy by December to the region, where war has raged for nearly five years.
They carry small arms and are entitled to defend themselves if attacked, in line with U.N. resolutions.
The Justice and Equality Movement rebel group, among those to reject the Chinese peacekeepers, last month kidnapped five oil workers from a facility in Kordofan, east of Darfur, run by a consortium dominated by China’s CNPC.
“China hopes those military groups that have not signed the Darfur Peace Agreement will join the peace process as soon as possible and work so that peace and development can be realized,” Li said.
He acknowledged China sells arms to the Khartoum government – touted by the rebels as a major reason to reject the Chinese peacekeepers – but said it was “policy” not to interfere in internal affairs and work to stabilize the region.
Since February 2003, more than 200,000 people have died from the combined effects of war, famine and disease in the Darfur region, while 2.2 million others have been left homeless, according to international organizations.
The Sudanese government says only 9,000 people have died.
(AFP)