isopatch, Chinese intervention in the Sudan is about to make the Arab/African war in east Africa get very ugly.....I hope that the Chinese are ready for their "Vietnam".....
News Article by THE TELEGRAPH posted on August 28, 2000 at 23:53:15: EST (-5 GMT)
Chinese pour in for offensive against rebels
Date: 28/08/2000
THE TELEGRAPH
London: Tens of thousands of Chinese have been moved into Sudan in preparation for an offensive against southern rebels to try to end one of Africa's longest- running conflicts, Western counter-terrorism officials say.
The Chinese, a mix of prisoners and soldiers, have been brought in by air and sea, ostensibly to guard Sudan's increasingly productive oilfields in which the China National Petroleum Corporation is a leading partner.
Colonel Johnny Garang's Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) has managed in recent weeks to advance within 15 kilometres of the oilfields in the Upper Nile region, causing the country's Islamic regime to activate emergency plans drawn up with allies who have interests in the oil project.
These plans aim to crush the rebels from the mainly Christian and animist south and end the 17-year civil war that has cost an estimated 2 million lives.
Since oil production began last year arms have been arriving from Libya, Qatar and China. The ruling National Islamic Front (NIF) is spending $A750million a year
of its oil revenues on weapons, according to Western intelligence sources.
The NIF denies this charge, but last month a Sudanese Army spokesman told conscripts that thanks to the growing oil industry Sudan was now manufacturing ammunition, mortars, tanks and armoured personnel carriers.
The SPLA captured a group of Chinese last week. An internal document from the Sudanese military said that as many as 700,000 Chinese security personnel were available for action.
The Canadian multinational Talisman Energy, the main backer of the pipeline with Chinese and Malaysian national oil companies, has faced public outcry over its involvement.
Reports of thousands of African civilians being killed or driven from their homes to secure the oilfields have led North American consumers to boycott petrol stations and pension funds.
As fighting has escalated, the NIF has stepped up attacks on civilian targets. On Saturday the United States condemned the raids on civilian and relief targets, including schools, hospitals and feeding stations. The SPLA said five such attacks took place last week, making it impossible for agencies to deliver aid.
One aid worker said: "We've all seen the Chinese being brought in and can only pray about what's going to happen next." |
