The killing and raping continue in Darfur, Sudan.
On August 14, the UN Security Council voted unanimously
to establish a “hybrid” force of United
Nations and African Union troops and police under
AU command. As a result, a 26,000-member
peacekeeping mission has been authorized for the
Sudanese province of Darfur. China, which is
Sudan’s closest and most mutually profitable ally,
joined the resolution.
What’s not hitting a lot of front-page news is
China’s changes to the resolution. Being a member
of the Security Council, China has veto power over
language that impedes its plans. Removed from the
original language was a threat by the UN to enact
sanctions against General Omar al-Bashir’s
Khartoum government if it doesn’t abide by UN resolution
1769, which outlines protective measures
for Darfurians. Protection for the Africans under the
resolution looks far away. The appointed troops will
not be on the ground in Darfur until Dec. 31, 2007,
and the full force will not be deployed until the end
of 2008.
China will most likely applaud the UN resolution,
since it feels that much of the world has been
fooled into believing that the genocide will end –
thanks in large part to the cooperation of China.
The Chinese leaders hope that the international
campaign to shame China – negatively affecting its
role as host of the 2008 Olympics – will fade. The
shaming campaign goes on, but when will African
countries be able to protect their own, without
assistance from outside governments and regardless
of betrayal by allies? – forrest green III
