Chinese leader Hu Jintao gets the red carpet treatment in Khartoum, and pledges further support for Omar al-Bashir’s regime:
Chinese President Hu Jintao has agreed on a series of economic deals in Sudan, which China has protected from UN sanctions over the Darfur conflict.
China announced an interest-free loan to build a new presidential palace, and said it would build two schools. China already buys most of Sudan’s oil.
Mr Hu called for “dialogue” to find a peaceful solution in Darfur.
Clearly a top priority, that presidential palace. As for the dialogue over Darfur, well, as this note makes clear, sent to the NYT’s Nick Kristof from some of those involved (at Coalition for Darfur, to avoid the NYT subscription), even aid workers are now fair game:
Clarifications on party raided on 19/1/07 in Nyala was at 6 PM. There was no loud music, only music from a lap top. There was a little alcohol present, but nothing on the scale of other expat parties. The raiding party (from Nyala police, national security and HAC) had clear, premeditated plans as they came with a video camera. There were 3 Sudanese and 17 expats present plus 3 from AMIS. Everyone in the house was beaten and abused. The woman who was sexually assaulted was assaulted by a known HAC official. He must be held accountable. Nothing that happens in Nyala is by accident. Governor needs to be held accountable for the incident and its resolution….
The softly softly approach does not work with this regime. If an external body (EC, US, UN, NATO, etc.) is not willing to follow up threats with action, it is better for them to be quiet.
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