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African campaigners call on China to help Darfur

(KAMPALA, 3rd November 2006) African campaigners have today urged China to do more to help the people of Darfur in Sudan. The call comes as African leaders prepare to participate in the opening of the China Africa Forum in Beijing.

“China is now a crucial player in Africa and the opportunities for a productive partnership are huge. But we will only realise these opportunities if China also upholds its responsibilities,” said Dismas Nkunda, spokesperson for the group.

“Darfur needs China’s help now. In particular, China must fully support the African Union (AU)’s call for the deployment of United Nations (UN) peacekeepers to protect civilians in Darfur.”

So far China has remained muted on the issue, even abstaining from the United Nations (UN) vote that authorised the deployment. “China’s silence not only undermines the AU’s efforts in Darfur, it also means civilians are being killed who could otherwise have been protected.”

Nkunda said that the group had written to China urging that it:

* Support the African Union by actively encouraging the Sudanese government to allow the expansion of the UN mission in Sudan and the deployment of UN peacekeepers to Darfur;
* Assist the African Union and the United Nations to effect the deployment by providing political, financial and technical support;
* Discourage the Sudanese Government’s military scale up in Darfur; and
* Urge government and rebel groups to adhere to the ceasefire and commit to a finding a political solution to the conflict.

China invested over US$32 billion in Africa last year. It owns a 40% stake in Sudan’s oil industry. Estimates suggest that almost 10% of China’s oil comes from Sudan. China has also reportedly sold large quantities of arms and ammunition to the Government of Sudan.

“China cannot hide behind the idea of non-interference in other countries’ affairs when it props up their economies and supplies them with weaponry. We believe China has the potential to influence Sudan and help bring an end to this crisis. Unless China backs the African Union consensus on Darfur, it will look increasingly like its silence can be bought for a few drums of oil,” said Nkunda.

ENDS

1 TOGO SANS ETHNIES

Action Professionals Association for the People

Aegis Trust Rwanda

African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies

African Center for Development

African Center for Justice and Peace Studies

Africa Internally Displaced Persons Voice (Africa IDP Voice)

African Security Dialogue and Research (ASDR)

African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET)

The Ahueni Foundation

Alliances for Africa

Amman Centre for Human Rights Studies

Andalus Institute for Tolerance

Anti-Slavery International

Arab Coalition for Darfur

Arab Program for Human Rights Activists

Association Africaine de Defense des Droits de l'Homme (ASADHO)

Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies

Centre for Minority Rights Development (CEMIRIDE)

Centre for Research Education and Development of Freedom of Expression and Associated Rights (CREDO)

Citizens for Global Solutions

Conscience International

Conseil National Pour les Libertés en Tunisie

Darfur Alert Coalition (DAC)

Darfur Centre for Human Rights and Development

Darfur Leaders Network (DLN)

Darfur Reconciliation and Development Organization (DRDO)

Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre

East Africa Law Society

Egyptian Organization for Human Rights

Femmes Africa Solidarité

La Fédération Internationale des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH)

Forum of African Affairs (FOAA)

Human Rights First

Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA)

Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa

Institute for Security Studies

Inter-African Union for Human Rights (UIDH)

Interights

International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya)

International Refugee Rights Initiative

Justice Africa

Justice and Peace Commission

Lawyers for Human Rights

Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections

Legal Resources Consortium-Nigeria

Ligue Tunisienne des Droits de l'Homme

Makumira University College, Tumaini University

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Minority Rights Group

National Association of Seadogs

Never Again International

Open Society Justice Initiative

Pan-African Movement

Rencontre Africaine Pour la Defense des Droits de l'Homme (RADDHO)

Sierra Leone STAND Chapter

Sisters' Arabic Forum for Human Rights (SAF)

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)

Sudan Organization Against Torture (SOAT)

Syrian Organization for Human Rights

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)

Universal Human Rights Network

WARIPNET

Women Initiative Nigeria (WIN)