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Threats in Darfur worry China
27/11/2007 15:21 - (SA)
Khartoum - China on Tuesday voiced deep concern about the safety of its peacekeepers in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region after rebel groups boycotting the peace process declared they were not immune from attack.
"Up to now there has been no incident, but we are deeply concerned about the matter," the Chinese ambassador to Khartoum, Li Cheng Wen, said.
More than 100 Chinese engineers deployed to Darfur last week to build roads and bridges and dig wells to prepare for a 26 000-strong African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force, but they were immediately told to go home by rebels.
In all, 315 Chinese engineers at the invitation of the UN would deploy by December to the region, where war had raged for nearly five years.
Peace and stability
The ambassador said: "Joining the peacekeeping action in the Darfur region reflects China's constructive role in solving Darfur's problem properly.
"This is good for Darfur peace and stability. It benefits reconstruction and improves people's life in Darfur.
"So it is very difficult for the Chinese side to understand and we cannot accept the criticism of joining the peacekeeping operation. Furthermore, we stand against the public threat to the Chinese peacekeepers' safety.
"I will contact certain organs in UNAMID (the joint African Union-United Nations force) to guarantee their safety and take all necessary measures to protect them."
Chinese 'not immune from attack'
The Chinese military engineers carried small arms and were entitled to defend themselves if attacked, in line with UN resolutions.
"China hopes those military groups that have not signed the Darfur Peace Agreement will join the peace process as soon as possible and work so that peace and development can be realised," added the ambassador.
Darfur rebels had charged that as "allies" of the government in Khartoum, the Chinese were not immune from attack.
China was the biggest buyer of Sudan's oil and sold weapons to the Khartoum government - blamed for fanning the violence in Darfur.
Since February 2003, more than 200 000 people had died from the combined effects of war, famine and disease in the Darfur region, while 2.2 million others had been left homeless.
The Sudanese government said only 9 000 people had died.
- AFP
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