Sudan’s rebels promise to release kidnapped Chinese workers
January 30, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The rebel group Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army North (SPLM/A-N) has promised to secure the release of Chinese nationals reportedly held by its fighters in South Kordofan State.
More than 20 Chinese construction workers operating in South Kordofan were captured by SPLMN fighters on Saturday.
According to a rebel spokesman quoted by AFP, the Chinese workers were taken into custody during an attack by their fighters on a convoy belonging to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) between the towns of Rashad and Al-Abbasiya. The spokesman said that nine SAF members were also captured.
The employer of the kidnapped workers, Power Construction Corp of China, reported that the workers went missing following an attack by the SPLMN rebels.
But Arman’s statement appeared to suggest that they are not sure that the Chinese workers are held by their fighters, promising to secure their release if that indeed is the case.
“If it is SPLA-N forces that the Chinese citizens are with, be assured that they will be in safe hands and they will be released,” he promised.
Arman said that the SPLMN “has nothing against China and the Chinese,” and advised China to understand that the regime of Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir “will never deliver good relations between Sudan and China.”
He further revealed that the SPLMN is in contact with Beijing through one of the SPLM-N’s associates there to assist in resolving this situation.
South Kordofan’s governor Ahmed Haroun announced earlier on Saturday that 14 of the kidnapped fighters were rescued by SAF forces.
Haroun said that the rescued workers were relocated to Al-Obayid town, the capital of the neighboring state of North Kordofan, and that they are in good health.
(ST)
