Chemicals Taint Water in China
Chemicals Taint Water in China
Filed at 4:39 a.m. ET
BEIJING (AP) — Sulfuric acid leaked into the water supply from a chemical factory in central China, poisoning at least 26 villagers, authorities said Thursday.
An underground pipe broke at the factory — part of the Xiaoping coal mine complex in Banqiao town in Hunan province’s Chenxi county — causing the chemical leak into groundwater supplies, said Yang Changyou of the Chenxi information office.
”There are 26 people seriously poisoned and hospitalized, and more than 200 villagers are receiving free medical checkups, but no one died in the accident,” Yang said.
The government was providing free bottled water and water from four fire engines, he said, adding that authorities were trying to track and contain the leak.
Some of the most polluted cities in the world are in China, where many rivers and lakes are toxic after decades of breakneck industrial and economic growth. The State Environmental Protection Administration says about a quarter of all the water in China’s seven main river systems is too toxic for human contact.
A man who answered a call to the Chenxi County People’s Hospital said the hospital ”was packed with poisoned villagers, most of them are suffering vomiting, swollen faces and other symptoms.” He then hung up, saying he was ”too busy.” He didn’t give his name.
The factory, which was not listed in the phone directory, could not be immediately reached for comment. It was not clear if the factory and mine are private or state owned.
A 50-year-old construction worker in Banqiao said many residents were fleeing their villages because the chemical leak had polluted the water and air, and that only elderly people remained.
The man, surnamed Li, said villagers were suffering from bloated stomachs, swollen faces and itching skin. Li did not want to give his full name because he feared retribution by the local government.
According to the Beijing News, the local environment protection bureau launched an investigation into possible water supply pollution after a retired coal miner in the area complained his drinking water had turned yellow. The paper said as many as 1,000 people have been poisoned, but the claim could not be verified.
The initial investigation found the water was safe to drink, but 10 days later villagers living near the factory fell sick, the newspaper said. A second investigation found arsenic and tin and other metals in the water supply, it said.
Chinese regulators have difficulty enforcing environmental rules because local leaders are reluctant to take steps that might hurt industry or reduce jobs and tax revenues. Local environmental protection bureaus often report to their local governments.
China’s priority is developing the economy, the recent rapid growth of which has lifted millions out of poverty. Nevertheless, Beijing has started to show greater willingness to clean up the environment after a series of high-profile cases.
A chemical plant spewed tons of toxic nitrobenzene and other chemicals into northern China’s Songhua River in 2005, forcing authorities to temporarily halt supplies of running water to millions of people.
Last year, a lead-zinc spill in a river in the same province forced a one-day cut in water supplies to more than 200,000 people. Also, blue-green algae polluted eastern China’s Lake Taihu, which provides drinking water for millions.
NYT: Smoggy Beijing Plans to Cut Traffic by Half for Olympics, Paper Says
BEIJING — Faced with persistent air pollution despite promises to stage a green Olympics, Beijing is planning to reduce its motor traffic by half during the Games to improve air quality and ease traffic flow, according to a newspaper report on Wednesday.
The article, in The Beijing News, said the number of vehicles in the city was expected to reach 3.3 million by August, meaning that roughly 1.65 million cars and trucks would be pulled off roads each day. The city will dedicate lanes to Olympic traffic and increase public transportation with new shuttle buses to accommodate visitors and local residents, the article said.
Beijing officials have not announced Olympic contingency measures, but the newspaper said the traffic plan had been completed.
The city’s air pollution — ranked by some studies as among the worst in the world — is one of the most pressing challenges facing Olympic organizers, with fewer than 200 days until the opening ceremony on Aug. 8. Many Olympic teams plan to train outside the city to protect athletes. Besides whatever measures Beijing officials take to reduce pollution, factories throughout north China may face shutdowns during the Games.
“The task of controlling pollution and traffic congestion is arduous,” Guo Jinlong, the acting mayor of Beijing, said Sunday, the state media reported.
Traffic restrictions have been anticipated for the Olympics since last August, when Beijing conducted a four-day experiment that limited motorists to driving on alternate days, depending on whether the last number on their license plate was odd or even. That test eliminated more than one million vehicles each day, easing traffic but having a less substantial effect on air pollution. The Beijing News did not specify whether the odd-even system would be used for the Games.
For the past decade, Beijing has taken cleanup measures and officials have reported steady progress in reducing pollutants through the city’s “Blue Sky” air quality monitoring program. But a new report from an American environmental consultant has cast doubt on the validity of the program’s measurements and suggested that despite official reassurances, air quality has not improved in the past nine years.
Researchers at Peking University have blamed airborne particulate matter for contributing to roughly 25,000 premature deaths in Beijing in 2002.
Meanwhile, Olympic officials are facing another controversy after The Sunday Times of London reported that at least 10 workers had been killed in accidents during construction of the National Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest because of its ornate, latticed steel frame.
On Monday, a spokesman for Beijing’s Olympic organizing committee said the report was false. On Tuesday, the top work safety inspector for China, Li Yizhong, said he could not confirm the account in the newspaper. But Mr. Li, director of the State Administration of Work Safety, suggested that his agency might be willing to investigate.
“I do not know whether there have been any cover-ups,” he said, The Associated Press reported. “So we welcome the public to report any violations to authorities.”
RSF：Growing wave of support for Hu Jia
Beijing lawyer Xu Zhiyong has sent an open letter to President Hu Jintao criticising Hu Jia’s arrest. “Hu Jia is an honest human right defender and selfless voluntary worker” he wrote. “His voice represents thousands of citizens facing injustice in the country.” It is the second open letter to the authorities since Hu’s arrest on 27 December. More than 90 people signed the first one.
Chinese bloggers have been showing solidarity with Hu and his family online. Some have posted comments of support, while others have asked how they can help Hu’s wife, Zeng Jinyan, who is under house arrest in their Beijing apartment and has reportedly run out of powdered milk for their two-month-old baby. Access to the blog of independent journalist Zhai Minglei was blocked after he posted an entry about Hu’s arrest. Zhai said the government’s reactions were more aggressive than usual. Cyber-censors are quick to delete comments and articles posted by Hu’s sympathisers.
The authorities allowed Hu to write a message to his family that was delivered on 19 January. He described the conditions in which he is being held as acceptable, but said he was missing his family terribly. He asked them to take care of each other and he hoped they were in good health. Zeng sent him some clothes and two of the baby’s diapers to keep as souvenirs until he is released. Teng Biao, a lawyer close to the family, said the police watching their apartment have established a perimeter around the building that only residents can cross.
Xu Zhiyong, avocat pékinois, a protesté publiquement auprès du président Hu Jintao contre l’arrestation de l’activiste. “Hu Jia est un honnête défenseur des droits de l’homme et un bénévole altruiste. Sa voix représente celles de milliers de citoyens confrontés à l’injustice de leur pays”, a écrit Xu Zhiyong dans une lettre au chef de l’Etat. C’est la deuxième lettre adressée aux autorités chinoises et rendue publique depuis l’arrestation de Hu Jia le 27 décembre 2007. Plus de quatre-ving-dix personnes ont signé la première.
Sur Internet, les blogueurs chinois montrent leur solidarité avec Hu Jia et sa famille. Des internautes postent des commentaires de soutien, tandis que d’autres s’interrogent sur les moyens de venir en aide à Zeng Jinyan, son épouse. Retenue dans son appartement avec sa fille âgée de deux mois, elle n’aurait plus de lait en poudre pour nourrir son bébé. L’accès au blog de Zhai Minglei, journaliste indépendant, a été bloqué après qu’il avait publié un article sur la détention de Hu Jia. Zhai affirme que les réactions du gouvernement sont encore plus virulentes que d’habitude. Les commentaires et articles postés par les sympathisants de Hu Jia sont rapidement effacés par les cybercenseurs.
Les autorités chinoises ont permis à Hu Jia d’écrire une note qui a été transmise à sa famille le 19 janvier. Il y déclare que ses conditions de détention sont correctes mais que ses proches lui manquent cruellement. Il leur demande de prendre soin d’eux et espère qu’ils sont en bonne santé. Zeng Jinyan lui a envoyé des vêtements ainsi que deux langes de leur fille de deux mois que Hu Jia garde sur lui en permanence. Selon Teng Biao, un avocat proche de la famille, les policiers surveillant leur appartement ont dressé un périmètre interdit autour de l’immeuble.
El abogado pekinés Xu Zhiyong ha protestado públicamente, ante el presidente Hu Jintao, por la detención del periodista. “Hu Jia es un honesto defensor de los derechos humanos y un benévolo altruista. Su voz representa la de miles de ciudadanos enfrentados a la injusticia de su país”, ha escrito Xu Zhiyong en una carta al Jefe del Estado.
Es la segunda carta dirigida a las autoridades chinas y hecha pública desde el 27 de diciembre de 2007, fecha de la detención de Hu Jia. Más de noventa personas firmaron la primera.
En Internet, los bloggers chinos dan muestras de su solidaridad con Hu Jia y su familia. Algunos internautas cuelgan comentarios de apoyo, mientras que otros se preguntan acerca de la forma en que pueden ayudar a su esposa Zeng Jinyan quien, retenida en el apartamento con su hija de dos meses, ya no tiene leche en polvo para alimentar al bebé.
El acceso al blog del periodista independiente Zhai Minglei ha quedado bloqueado después de que publicara un artículo sobre la detención de Hu Jia. Zha asegura que las reacciones del gobierno son aun más virulentas que de costumbre. Los cibercensores borran rápidamente los comentarios y artículos colgados por los simpatizantes de Hu Jia.
Las autoridades chinas han permitido a Hu Jia escribir una nota que, el 19 de enero, fue entregada a su familia. En ella dice que sus condiciones de detención son correctas, pero que echa cruelmente en falta a su familia. Les pide que se cuiden y espera que disfruten de buena salud. Zeng Jinang le ha enviado ropa, así como dos pañales de su hija de dos meses, que Hu Jia lleva consigo permanentemente. Según Teng Biao, un abogado cercano a la familia, los policías que vigilan su apartamento han trazado un perímetro prohibido, en torno al inmueble.
El 20 de enero, unos cuarenta bloggers pekineses acudieron al domicilio de Zeng Jinyan, en señal de solidaridad. Localizados por la policía, algunos se escondieron por temor a represalias mientras que a otros les detuvieron unos agentes, que les alejaron del inmueble. Por otra parte, algunos internautas han enviado por correo leche en polvo, para el bebé de Zeng Jinyag
DW： 异议作家吕耿松案首次开庭
中国 | 2008.01.23
中国异议作家吕耿松1983年毕业于杭州大学历史系，此后曾经任教于浙江高等公安专科学校，因为参与民主运动而在1993年被开除，此后成为自由撰稿人， 发表大量文章，对中国的政治体制尤其是军队国家化问题进行分析。去年8月，杭州公安局逮捕吕耿松，今年1月，当地检察机关以“煽动颠覆国家政权罪”的名义 对他提出起诉。昨天（1月22日），吕耿松案首次开庭审理。
吕耿松是中国异议作家中比较活跃的一 位，曾经出版过专著“中共贪官污吏”，并发表文章倡议建立中国公民弹劾制度，以及实现军队国家化。去年8月底，杭州公安机关逮捕他的罪名除了“煽动颠覆国 家政权”之外，还有“非法持有国家机密罪”。但在正式起诉时，后一项指控已经不复存在。
吕耿松被逮捕后，其家人正常经济收入受到严重影响，日常生活也遭到警方的骚扰。此外，在吕耿松被羁押期间，辩护律师莫少平提出会面要求，也被公安机关多次拒绝。一些维权人士和自由知识分子在网络上发起联名请愿，要求释放吕耿松，该活动得到了超过1000多人的支持。
杭州当地时间1月22日上午八点三十分，杭州市 中级法院正式开庭审理吕耿松案，庭审持续到中午十一点四十分。吕耿松的妻子女儿以及另外两名友人都旁听了开庭过程。与此前吕耿松家属预计不同的是，法庭并 没有当庭审判。莫少平律师表示，根据中国相关法律规定，法庭应该很快就会做出判决，“按照中国法律的规定，起诉到法院的案件，法院在正常情况下一个月到一 个半月之内开庭并做出判决。检察机关实际上是1月10日起诉到法院的，那么法院应该2月25日之前必须做出判决。”
检察机关以“涉嫌颠覆国家政权罪”起诉吕耿松， 究竟有哪些证据呢？莫少平律师透露，检方搜集了吕耿松发表在互联网上的总共226篇文章，大约有100多万字，然后从中挑出被认为是“有问题”的19篇文 章，最后又从这19篇文章中的4篇文章里选出一些段落语句，总计470字左右，作为起诉的证据。而这些文字在吕耿松发表文章的总字数中所占比例还不到 0.1%。
莫少平律师认为，就算吕耿松在文章中表达过一些 观点，但也依然在宪法赋予的言论自由范围之内，因此向法庭作出无罪辩护，但是法庭是否对此予以采信，还要等最后宣判的时候才能知道。而根据中国法律规定， “煽动颠覆国家政权罪”罪名成立的话，将可能遭到重刑惩处，“煽动颠覆国家政权罪情节一般的话是五年以下有期徒刑，如果法庭认为是首要分子，情节严重的 话，可以判五年以上十五年以下的有期徒刑。”
DW：“欧美应执行统一的对华政策”
德语媒体 | 2008.01.24
科隆大学政治学和欧洲问题研究所教授吕尔博士早年是德国议会新闻记者、广播电台、电视台和报社驻外记者，八十年代任德国政府发言人和国防部国务秘书。法兰克福汇报本周刊登了吕尔教授有关德国和欧洲对华政策的文章，他认为：
“欧洲国家一直不知道如何与中国建立现 实主义关系，这主要因为它们把对内政策放在首位：欧洲是全球人权律师事务所，它更多考虑的是本国人民的感情和想法，很少想到这样做对事情是否有利，西方的 价值能否影响中国。与欧洲所有国家相比，在施密特、科尔以及施罗德任德国总理期间，德国与中国的关系最好，德国也从中获得了最大的经济利益。与其它欧洲国 家一样，德国也不能影响北京的政策和中国的内部发展进程。”
接着，吕尔教授回顾了美国自尼克松时代以来对中国的既合作、又对抗的政策，认为这对矛盾同样是欧洲、尤其是德国对华政策的中心问题：
“德国的战略范围有限、资源匮乏、依赖外贸、经济十分敏感，所以德国必须避免对抗、加强与中国和俄罗斯的合作，同时又不要为此在贸易、技术转让以及中国与俄罗斯资本在德国投资问题上做出让步。为了德国和欧盟的安全利益，必须跨越大西洋维护和利用与美国的联系。
在这两者之间保持平衡也许是未来最艰难的长期政治任务，这也因为北京以刚毅、往往也咄咄逼人的形象出现在世界舞台上，为自己寻求好处。它支持独裁政权，以便在这些国家系统地扩张中国的影响，近几年来，非洲就是一个例子。这一切使得西方难以推行自己的任何政策。”
吕尔教授的文章最后指出，欧洲为了维护自己的利益，必须把中国视为崛起的大国，即使发生政治冲突也一样。欧洲应与美国一起，执行一致的对华政策：
“2002年底以来，欧盟虽然对共同对外政策和 欧洲安全防务政策有一个形式上的‘战略’方案，但在地缘政治战略行动框架内，目标和重要性的先后顺序仍然付之阙如。就象没有共同的中东政策一样，欧洲也没 有共同的对华政策。在这个问题上，对布鲁塞尔不能抱有希望。但至少可以期望柏林执行现实主义的对华政策，以促进德中双方的共同利益，在德国影响力有限的情 况下，尽可能扩大双边互利伙伴关系。”
德国记者在陈光诚家门前遭殴打 袁伟静欲探夫第四度受阻
2008.01.24
一月二十四日，正在临沂监狱服刑的山东盲人维权人士陈光诚的妻子袁伟静带着两岁多的女儿准备去探视丈夫，却被七个监控她的人强力拦截回家。德国电视一台四位记者赶到陈光诚东师古村家门前不远处，也遭监控人员殴打。下面是自由亚洲电台“心灵之旅”节目主持人张敏的采访报道。
一月24日早八点四十三分，德国电视一台四位记者（三男一女）赶到正在临沂监狱服刑的山东盲人维权人士陈光诚东师古村家门前，在约二十米远处，被监控陈光诚妻子袁伟静的人打倒在地，记者中的翻译喊“我们是外国媒体，我们有话可以跟你们讲！”
袁伟静从家里冲出来，看见监控者们每人手中都拿着约两拳大的石头，要砸向记者，并说“把他们砸死！”袁伟静奋力拦阻，棉衣被拽破，德国记者上车离开了村子。
这天是临沂监狱一月一次的“探视日”，袁伟静带着两岁多的女儿要去探视陈光诚，被七个监控她的人强力拦截回家。
袁伟静要求他们说明理由，对方说“领导不叫你去，不叫去就是不叫去！”袁问：“你凭什么？”对方答：“我就干这活，拿人钱，就干这不要脸的活儿”。
这是袁伟静连续第四个月被剥夺探视狱中丈夫的权利。
山东盲人维权人士陈光诚2005年揭露临沂地区在“计划生育”中使用暴力。 去年1月，在律师被殴打、证人被绑架不能出庭的情况下，陈光诚被以“故意毁坏财物罪和聚众扰乱交通秩序罪”判刑四年零三个月，现在临沂监狱服刑。
从2005年8月到现在，陈光诚的太太袁伟静一直处于不同形式的监控之中，近几个月被每班七人日夜看守软禁在家里。
1月7日袁伟静接到德国电视台记者电话，得知对方计划9日到访她家。8日夜里，警方威胁陈光诚的大哥，不准袁伟静见记者。9日，村内监控袁伟静的人增加到约四十人，并把守要道。德国记者闻讯取消了来访计划。直到1月13日晚，监控袁伟静的人数才逐渐减少，恢复到每班七人。
袁伟静说，近日村里正向每户村民发送“村规民约”，其中有“民主管理，乡风文明”、“严禁非法限制人身自由，要依法执政，学法、知法、守法，自觉维护法律的权威和尊严。。。”袁伟静家昨天刚收到一份。
以上是自由亚洲电台“心灵之旅”节目主持人张敏在美国首都华盛顿采访报道。
VOA: 开封有居民指责地方当局野蛮拆迁
北京 2008年1月24日 |
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| 去年开封拆迁冲突中受伤者照片 |
中国河南省要求各级政府在做出房屋拆迁等涉及群众利益的重大决策之前必须进行“社会稳定风险评估”，以预防和减少矛盾纠纷。可是在河南开封市，一些居民指责当地政府不顾群众利益实行“野蛮拆迁”，破坏了社会稳定。
*用03年房价补偿06年住房*
历史文化名城开封，是中国七大古都之一，早在北宋时期就是全国的政治、经济、文化中心，也是世界上最繁华的都市之一。为了再现古都当年风貌，2006年，开封市政府启动了宋都古城修复工程。
这本来是件好事，但是它给部分拆迁户带来的却是恶梦。一名拆迁户居民告诉美国之音：
“一开始，我们群众相当配合。可是后来呢，把价格公布以后，用2003年这个房价，买我们06年的房，价格相当低，合1000左右的价格，当时市场价新房已经是3000多一平方，老房子呢也是1500到1700中间，所以老百姓接受不了。”
她质问道，用2003年的房价来补偿和计算2006年下半年被拆迁的住房，同时又用上涨了几倍的现在的房价卖给他们房子，这样做公平、公正、合理、合法吗？
*地方拆迁办藐视国家信访局*
一些群众指责政府有关部门与香港开发商联手，跟处于弱势地位的平民百姓争利，激化了社会矛盾。结果，一批批开封市民走上了上访之路。一名上访民众说：
“在国家信访局，官员表示，这个补偿价格是明显不合理的。他说，什么时候拆迁证拿到手了，就按当时的市场贸易价格给你们补偿。回去以后，我们就对拆迁办的工作人员直接说了。他说，那是不可能的。他说，国家是国家，地方是地方。”
*如此阵势 流血冲突*
争执双方出现了僵局。当僵局持续到去年九月份的时候，一场流血事件发生了。据现场民众说，事件是由当局准备对居民秦旭亮家执行强行拆迁引发的。
一名目击者说：“整个拆迁地区等于戒严了，有公共汽车堵路的，有警车、消防车、救护车，拆迁人员戴著钢盔，手拿撬杠，民警戴著防毒面具，手持盾牌，一眼望不到边。据我们目测，没有上千，最少也有700、800。”
另 外一名当事者说：“我拿话筒向他们喊话，‘要文斗，不要武斗；要和谐拆迁，不要野蛮拆迁。’公安局那边，一个砖头打过来，打在我的头上，打得满头是血。这 样激起了被拆迁户的气愤。在这种情况下，公安向天鸣枪，催泪弹、烟雾弹一起打将过来。在混战当中，我们许多同志受伤，重伤的有十几位。”
*血色拆迁 此起彼伏*
在经济快速发展的中国，旧城改造和商业开发屡屡造成拆迁双方的尖锐对立。开封市的流血事件并不是孤立的。
据 中国媒体报导，1月20号，广东省佛山市一家房地产开发公司派人将砍刀架在房主的脖子上押下楼，然后把部分房屋强行拆除。1月8号，刚刚过完70大寿的湖 南省长沙市居民刘斌义，因为拒绝拆迁，在与拆迁人员冲突后死亡。今年元旦当天，河南省某置业有限公司派人闯入原郑州市油泵油嘴厂家属院，强行将房子推倒， 迫使23户居民露宿在寒冷的冬夜中。对此，中国网发表评论说，别让拆迁成为百姓心中永远的痛。
*以舍小家顾大家名义侵权*
谈到开封市当局在拆迁问题上的做法，河南省维权人士汪海洋表示：
“他们这种行为是违法的，不合理的，是剥夺公民的合法财产权和居住权、生存权。因为拆迁也好，旧城改造也好，必须按照国家的有关政策，不能以舍小家、顾大家的名义肆意地剥夺老百姓的合法权益。”
*河南推广和谐拆迁 追究迫迁惹事人*
也有些地方由于处理得当，拆迁进行顺利。据新华社发自河南郑州的消息，漯河市的一项涉及5600多户居民和136万平方米房屋的拆迁工作，短短两个月就顺利完成，没有发生一起上访事件。这个被称为“和谐拆迁”的经验，正在推广中。
报导说，河南省要求各级政府在做出事关群众利益的重大决策时，必须进行“社会稳定风险评估”，以便最大限度地预防和减少因决策不当而引发的矛盾纠纷。
新华社的报导还说，河南按照“谁主管、谁负责”和“谁惹事、追究谁”的原则，针对包括开封市宋都御街强行拆迁等事件，对有关单位和责任人进行了通报批评和责任追究。
*民：压力没减*
不过，一些开封市民众反映，他们不知道有哪些领导受到批评和追究。他们只是感到强迫他们接受不合理条件的压力并没有减轻。
“十七大有一个‘住有所居’。就根据这四个字，我们感到有希望。当时我们说，’肯定我们的条件要改善了。’不管咋着，我们只要能买到房子，就行了。这是最低的条件。可是等来等去，却是这样的结果， 我们感到很寒心。党的阳光什么时候能照到我们身上啊！”
美国之音记者曾多次打电话给开封市政府查询此事。但是，不论市领导还是区领导，不论宣传部门还是拆迁部门，有关官员都以各种理由拒绝了记者的采访要求。
IHT: China’s genocide Olympics
The central problem is that in exchange for access to Sudanese oil, Beijing is financing, diplomatically protecting and supplying the arms for the first genocide of the 21st century. China is the largest arms supplier to Sudan, officially selling $83 million in weapons, aircraft and spare parts to Sudan in 2005, according to Amnesty International USA. That is the latest year for which figures are available.
China provides Sudan with A-5 Fantan bomber aircraft, helicopter gunships, K-8 military training/attack aircraft and light weapons used in Sudan’s proxy invasion of Chad last year. China also uses the threat of its veto on the Security Council to block UN action against Sudan so that there is a growing risk of a catastrophic humiliation for the United Nations itself.
Sudan feels confident enough with Chinese backing that on Jan. 7, the Sudanese military ambushed a clearly marked UN convoy of peacekeepers in Darfur. Sudan claimed the attack was a mistake, but diplomats and UN professionals are confident that this was a deliberate attack ordered by the Sudanese leaders to put the United Nations in its place.
Sudan has already barred units from Sweden, Norway, Nepal, Thailand and other countries from joining the UN force. It has banned night flights, dithered on a status-of-forces agreement, held up communications equipment and refused to allow the United Nations to bring in foreign helicopters. The growing fear is that the UN force will be humiliated in Sudan as it was in Rwanda and Bosnia, causing enormous damage to international peacekeeping.
Another possible sign of Sudan’s confidence: An American diplomat, John Granville, was ambushed and murdered in Khartoum early this month. Many in the diplomatic and intelligence community believe that such an assassination could not happen in Khartoum unless elements of the government were involved.
Chinese officials argue that they are engaging in quiet diplomacy with Sudan’s leaders and that this is the best way to seek a solution in Darfur. They note that Sudan has other backers, and that China’s influence is limited.
It’s true that since the “Genocide Olympics” campaign (www.dreamfordarfur.org) began a year ago, China has been more helpful, and it’s only because of Chinese pressure on Khartoum that UN peacekeepers were admitted to Darfur at all. But the basic reality is that China continues to side with Sudan – it backed Sudan again after it ambushed the UN peacekeepers – and Sudan feels protected enough that it goes on thumbing its nose at the international community.
Just a few days ago, Sudan appointed Musa Hilal, a founding leader of the Arab militia known as the janjaweed, to a position in the central government. This is the man who was once quoted as having expressed gratitude for “the necessary weapons and ammunition to exterminate the African tribes in Darfur.”
Other countries also must do much more, but China is crucial. If Beijing were to suspend all transfers of arms and spare parts to Sudan until a peace deal is reached in Darfur, then that would change the dynamic. President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan would be terrified – especially since he is now preparing to resume war with South Sudan – and would realize that China is no longer willing to let its Olympics be stained by Darfuri blood.
Without his Chinese shield, Bashir would be more likely to make concessions to Darfur rebels and negotiate seriously with them, and he would no longer have political cover to resume war against South Sudan. That would make long-term peace more likely in Darfur and also in South Sudan.
I’m a great fan of China’s achievements, and I’ve often defended Beijing from unfair protectionist rhetoric spouted by American politicians. But those of us who admire China’s accomplishments find it difficult to give credit when Beijing simultaneously underwrites the ultimate crime of genocide.
China deserves an international celebration to mark its historic re-emergence as a major power. But so long as China insists on providing arms to sustain a slaughter based on tribe and skin color, this will remain, sadly, The Genocide Olympics.
IHT: China’s genocide Olympics
By Nicholas D. Kristof
Thursday, January 24, 2008
The Beijing Olympics this summer were supposed to be China’s coming-out party, celebrating the end of nearly two centuries of weakness, poverty and humiliation. Instead, China’s leaders are tarnishing their own Olympiad by abetting genocide in Darfur and in effect undermining the UN military deployment there. The result is a growing international campaign to brand these “The Genocide Olympics.”
This is not a boycott of the Olympics. But expect Darfur-related protests at Chinese embassies, as well as banners and armbands among both athletes and spectators. There’s a growing recognition that perhaps the best way of averting hundreds of thousands more deaths in Sudan is to use the leverage of the Olympics to shame China into more responsible behavior.
The central problem is that in exchange for access to Sudanese oil, Beijing is financing, diplomatically protecting and supplying the arms for the first genocide of the 21st century. China is the largest arms supplier to Sudan, officially selling $83 million in weapons, aircraft and spare parts to Sudan in 2005, according to Amnesty International USA. That is the latest year for which figures are available.
China provides Sudan with A-5 Fantan bomber aircraft, helicopter gunships, K-8 military training/attack aircraft and light weapons used in Sudan’s proxy invasion of Chad last year. China also uses the threat of its veto on the Security Council to block UN action against Sudan so that there is a growing risk of a catastrophic humiliation for the United Nations itself.
Sudan feels confident enough with Chinese backing that on Jan. 7, the Sudanese military ambushed a clearly marked UN convoy of peacekeepers in Darfur. Sudan claimed the attack was a mistake, but diplomats and UN professionals are confident that this was a deliberate attack ordered by the Sudanese leaders to put the United Nations in its place.
Sudan has already barred units from Sweden, Norway, Nepal, Thailand and other countries from joining the UN force. It has banned night flights, dithered on a status-of-forces agreement, held up communications equipment and refused to allow the United Nations to bring in foreign helicopters. The growing fear is that the UN force will be humiliated in Sudan as it was in Rwanda and Bosnia, causing enormous damage to international peacekeeping.
Another possible sign of Sudan’s confidence: An American diplomat, John Granville, was ambushed and murdered in Khartoum early this month. Many in the diplomatic and intelligence community believe that such an assassination could not happen in Khartoum unless elements of the government were involved.
Chinese officials argue that they are engaging in quiet diplomacy with Sudan’s leaders and that this is the best way to seek a solution in Darfur. They note that Sudan has other backers, and that China’s influence is limited.
It’s true that since the “Genocide Olympics” campaign (www.dreamfordarfur.org) began a year ago, China has been more helpful, and it’s only because of Chinese pressure on Khartoum that UN peacekeepers were admitted to Darfur at all. But the basic reality is that China continues to side with Sudan – it backed Sudan again after it ambushed the UN peacekeepers – and Sudan feels protected enough that it goes on thumbing its nose at the international community.
Just a few days ago, Sudan appointed Musa Hilal, a founding leader of the Arab militia known as the janjaweed, to a position in the central government. This is the man who was once quoted as having expressed gratitude for “the necessary weapons and ammunition to exterminate the African tribes in Darfur.”
Other countries also must do much more, but China is crucial. If Beijing were to suspend all transfers of arms and spare parts to Sudan until a peace deal is reached in Darfur, then that would change the dynamic. President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan would be terrified – especially since he is now preparing to resume war with South Sudan – and would realize that China is no longer willing to let its Olympics be stained by Darfuri blood.
Without his Chinese shield, Bashir would be more likely to make concessions to Darfur rebels and negotiate seriously with them, and he would no longer have political cover to resume war against South Sudan. That would make long-term peace more likely in Darfur and also in South Sudan.
I’m a great fan of China’s achievements, and I’ve often defended Beijing from unfair protectionist rhetoric spouted by American politicians. But those of us who admire China’s accomplishments find it difficult to give credit when Beijing simultaneously underwrites the ultimate crime of genocide.
China deserves an international celebration to mark its historic re-emergence as a major power. But so long as China insists on providing arms to sustain a slaughter based on tribe and skin color, this will remain, sadly, The Genocide Olympics.
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