Why the massacre in Darfur is still happening

By Galen Sanford, Staff Writer

I’m assuming you know about the genocide in Darfur. If you do not, put the paper down and go to crisisgroup.org. The killing continues as you read these words and it is not going to stop. No country with the ability to intervene will and the reasons why are disturbing. In no particular order: Salah Abdallah Gosh, Iraq and oil.

The Sudan has a lot of oil, most of which is not currently being extracted. In 1997 and 2001, Western oil companies left the Sudan because of human rights violations. China, India and Malaysia immediately moved in. China is the major exporter of Sudanese oil, and therefore has the most at stake in Sudan. If the human rights abuses stop, Western sanctions against Khartoum, the capital of the Sudanese regime, may be removed, at which point China would face competition for petroleum.

In an interview with John Prendergast, the senior advisor at the International Crisis Group and a leader of the Save Darfur coalition, he told me China will not intervene in the genocide because they have a “perfect authoritarian partner to clear the oil fields.” Not only does China condone the killing, they are advocating it. China has supplied Khartoum with the money it needs to arm the Janjaweed Militias who are forcing indigents off their own land. China wants the people moved because they want uninhibited access to the oil fields. Distant strangers hold little priority to a petroleum starved country like China. Read more >>>