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The Sudan

The trouble and tragedy with the Sudan is how we the world community is willing to watch and say how outraged we are. There is a quiet civil war going on, quiet because reporters are restricted in Sudan. The world has a sense of a tragedy going on but doesn't want to look.

The Reporters Sans Frontieres calls the Darfur "an open wound Sudan". According to the RSF, about 15 journalists were arrested in 2006. Little wonder we don't much about what is happening in the Darfur. Even the non governmental organizations like Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has been intimidated. Paul Foreman, director of Sudan MSF operations was arrested in May 2005 for publishing false information. RSF called this incident "disgraceful and ridiculous". The alleged false report had to do with rapes in the region, which are well document, and a matter of course even today.

The US
In the meantime, the policeman of the world is paralyzed by Iraq and the anti war movement. Famous citizens like George Clooney have tried to rally action on the Darfur. He, Senator Barack Obama and Senator Sam Brownback went to the Sudan in April 2006, then pleaded for some action or at least some pressure on the Sudanese Government of Omar al-Bashir. The outrage of that day in April, has since become a forgotten footnote.

US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte came to the Darfur region on April 15th, 2007. It is doubtful, if Negroponte will be able to rally anything for the forgotten victims of the Sahara. At least he will garner media attention on the region, if not for himself.

African Union
The African Union has made attempts to look after its' brothers and sisters. The AU 7,000 strong force is absolutely inadequate in an area the size of France. In the Darfur, whole villages get pillaged, burned, and razed to the ground. Google Earth has even taken to making its' web satellite resources available to the cyber-world free of charge.

The UN
The legitimate policeman of the world is incompetent, bureaucratic, and politically compromised. Ban Ki-moon, UN chief is reported to poised to open high level talks on the Sudan by the Sudan Tribune. The UN could send 2,300 strong force to the Sudan to compliment the AU forces. Such as well often happen at the UN, this initiative has a greater chance to get derailed.

China
China has been the blocker to UN initiatives on the Sudan. China is very interested in the oil production of the Sudan, so it has become the main backer of the Sudanese Government. It gives economic aid, oil development money, and diplomatic cover for the Sudanese Government of Bashir. China, however could be the leverage that the UN has been looking for.

The Chinese are poised to host the 2008 Olympic games. These games will be a matter of national pride and honor to the Chinese. Some activists and lobby groups have taken to trying to make the Beijing Games be known as the Genocide Games. This is an attempt to underline China's' unfailing support of Sudan.

There are great troubles in this world. The Darfur region is one of them. Famously, we don't want war, so much so that we know "a genocide" is taking place. We will say how outraged we are, then go for coffee. The brave new world has a fashionable yellow streak behind its' back.

Check out these websites.
www.rsf.org
www.msf.or g
www.sudangenocide.org
www.bost on.com
www.sudanreeves.org

Learn more about this author, Jobie Weetaluktuk.
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