Sudan: Beautiful Country in Danger of China's Greed, or Plagued by Darfuri Rebels?

It came out this week that The International Criminal Court (ICC) is going after Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for three counts of genocide, five crimes against humanity, and two counts of murder.

For the long story, go here. I'll try and give the quick history lesson on what this means:

In Sudan, The Western region of Darfur is primarily non-Arab in it's ethnicity. While none of the country is purely Arabic, and most of the country is in fact Islamic, there is the ethnic separation between Arab-African Sudanese and Darfuri peoples that is mainly on a tribal level. In 2003 a rebellion broke out due to what was considered oppression of non-Arabs. It has incorporated many smaller groups together over the past five years, but was begun mainly by the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement. The government struck back with their own forces, as well as endorsing militia groups known as the Janjaweed. The result: a death toll of 400,000 and climbing seeded by rapid desertification in the region and then made worse by the serial rape, murder, and displacement of thousands and thousands of native Darfuri people.

So what does this mean for China then, and why do we care?

China, obviously, is hosting the 2008 Olympic Games this year in Beijing. The only frighteningly Red spot on the globe is hosting the international festival of peace through sports.

This is a farce.

China recently showed how much they loved their fellow man by continuing their oppression of Tibet, but that's for another day. Their Sudanese connections are just as nefarious, if not worse, for the simple fact that they are driven by money.

In 2005, 90 percent of Sudan's small arms were sold to them by China. In 2006, 90 percent of all oil that left Sudan went to China. Isn't a country that funds the violation of civil rights guilty by association? And if so, is it really anything more than a show for them to hold a ceremony showing how much they love global peace and harmony?

Not even Sudan can trust China, as their ally to the east is playing middle ground to keep the coffers full. In 2005, when Sudan was undergoing investigations by the ICC approved by the UN Security Council, Big Red refused to vote against the approval with their veto power. Sounds like somebody wants Beijing to be all smiles come August.

Why am I saying all of this?

Because I want to do my part to make it known that we shouldn't be afraid of China. Oppose the Olympics in any way you can...don't support the companies that sponsor the games. Is this in an angry way, or a rebellious way? No. I'm supporting Darfuri people by NOT supporting the Olympics. It's not something negative or hate filled...I'm trying to do my small part through keeping money out of their pockets, as well as educating others on the reasons that they should do the same. The important thing to remember is that their are people everywhere dying before they hear the name of Christ, and at the risk of sounding all new-age-y, we need to support life, not death.


Joshua