There have been some interesting developments recently in the run-up to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. As today's linked article from the Star Tribune reports, actress Mia Farrow and several former Olympians presented a letter (also signed by several Nobel Peace Prize laureates) to Chinese premier Hu Jintao at the Chinese Mission to the UN in New York, yesterday, urging him to play a more constructive role on Darfur. More dramatically, film director Stephen Spielberg withdrew from his role as an artistic adviser to the Olympics, citing concern over China's relationship with the Sudanese government in view of the situation in Darfur. Across the world, including in Sudan, activists declared their support for Spielberg's decision. If nothing else, this keeps Darfur firmly in the headlines. But as Spielberg himself said, "China's economic, military and diplomatic ties to the government of Sudan continue to provide it with the opportunity and obligation to press for change." If pre-Olympic pressure continues to mount, then, Chinese leadership on Darfur could follow...
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
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2 comments:
That Mia Farrow is out of her mind.
After so many years of inaction and indifference by the West, we suddenly want to blame Darfur on China? There are many countries to blame, starting with US support of the SPLA and John Garang 10 years ago:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Darfur+CIA+early+involvement
At any rate the original Darfur mess has since been replaced with inter-tribal conflict and herdsmen fighting for territory. Neither Khartoum nor Beijing has much influence over that.
China is simply a scapegoat.
Hi Bobby
Thanks a lot for this.
Yes, I know what you mean - there is a bit of disconnect here on a number of different levels. This struck me late last night as I pondered over my daily post...
First, as you say, the build-up to the situation in Darfur is complex, with many contributing factors and actors involved - the Chinese being just one constituency. Second, there are so many issues within China itself - human rights related and other - that would make more obvious targets for Olympics-based campaigning... Or is Darfur seen as a 'safer' issue to raise in this context? Perhaps.
Nevertheless, there is no doubt that, as things stand, if Hu Jintao were to work more proactively with the Sudanese government (there seems to be some sort of trust there) to help resolve at least the humanitarian crisis, that would be something. This would seem to be a legitimate request...
E
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