I never really gave the whole Sudan divestment thingy a lot of thought until I read this comment by PeacefulVanguard:
Hi Drima,
I don’t agree with you on this one actually. I just do not think sanctions against Sudan are a good idea because they are not comprehensive or done in a concerted effort by the international community. Sudan, as you know, has a strategic and reliable partner in China. As the US divests from Sudan, all we really are doing is pushing Sudan further into bed with the Chinese govt. rather than cut off economic opportunity for Sudan. Keep in mind that China makes zero human rights requirements on the governments they do business with, so as the USA divests from Sudan, and China invests, we may be institutionalizing the human rights abuses that occur there even more, albeit unwittingly. Divestment also gives us less leverage over the course of time, especially since “he who pays the bills calls the shots.” I just don’t think it is wise to divest from Sudan as long as China and others will pick up the slack. Divestment only works if it’s done together.
It seems that piecemeal divestment is really a tool for people/entities to use in order to make it seem as if they are doing something when they have no other options. In this case, individually divesting from Sudan gives people and the US govt. something to pat themselves on the back over, but at the end of the day, it probably won’t work, and may turn out to be rather counterproductive. Of course the goal must be to stop human rights abuse in Sudan, I’m just not convinced divestment will do it, and worry it will just disengage Sudan from any discussion about improving human rights altogether since they won’t have any incentive to do so with China, India, and the AL as their major trading partners.
To be honest, I prefer a different tactic. I would like to figure out how to engage Sudan strategically so that all the people in the country feel as if they have mutual, unbiased partners who are interested in all the people of Sudan winning together. If Darfur’s initial problem was lack of constructive engagement from the govt., how can the international community address that while also helping the rest of Sudan meet their needs as well? This is where I think we need to put our brainstorming efforts.
These are just my two cents for whatever they’re worth. Thanks.
Stupid me!
SudaneseThinker
SudaneseThinker
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Drima,
About the Sudanese-Chinese relations you got to know the truth. Well the Chinese are raping Sudan and the Sudanese goverment are allowing that for a piece of the cake. What I am trying to say is that China is in with the Sudanese goverment for the cheap petroleum. At the time that the price of one barrel reached a peak of about $60-$70 the Chinese were buying them from Sudan for about $20 a barrel even though the registered price for it was about double that price. The theory is that some deals were made beneath the table with some of the goverment officials. The Chinese are sucking the life out of Sudan and they will stop at nothing to keep this goverment from leaving fearing a new honest and loyal goverment. So if i was Sudanese I wouldnt trust the Chinese goverment and they’re judgment.
Well those are my thoughts that wanted to share,
Salam.
AKA 47, thanx. I’m very aware of what you said very well. People are too busy bashing the US while they forget the silent enemy (China).
Peaceful Vanguard, thankx for the enlightening observation.
To AKA 47 and other commentators (if you ever exist, and not just made up figures)
I just wonder were got the information that “the Chinese were buying Sudanese oil for about $20 a barrel”.
Were were you when the American were stealing billions worth of Uraniume from south of Sudan while pretending to be digging for oil when Numiari was in power?
What about exploitation, occupation and all other crimes committed against African and other 3rd world countries by the West under the pretext of spreading democracy and respection for human rights? It is a very very very long list of crimes that resulted in the wellfare of the west and poverty of the rest of the world.
Ask yourself, why all african, Latine American, Arab and other Assian are shifting towards China as a strategic ally? If the Sudanese gov is sick, what about the rest of the world.
UN, Democracy, and human rights is the duck the lays, or used to, golden eggs for the West.
Muzzamil Osman, Expert in Western Plolitical Behaviour
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