“9 Chinese Oil Workers Are Kidnapped in Sudan”

“We carried out operations in the oil regions before and warned the firms and individuals that whoever is there is considered a legitimate military target,” said Raymond Yu, a spokesman at the Chinese Embassy. The Article “9 Chinese Oil Workers Are Kidnapped in Sudan” that was published on Monday, October 20, 2008 shows us, the reader, how dangers the nation of Sudan is to live and work in. The article state how nine Chinese oil workers and their two Sudanese drivers were kidnapped in central Sudan on Saturday, which is the third such abduction in a year in this oil-producing region. Southern Kordofan, where the kidnapping occurred, is an area that provides a large part of Sudan’s oil wealth. China is the biggest foreign investor in Sudan. The group was seized from a small oil field while doing contract work for the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company, an exploration and production joint venture of China, Sudan and other countries. The Sudanese government blamed the Justice and Equality Movement, or J.E.M., a Darfur rebel group that is official based in London, for the kidnapping. In October 2007, J.E.M. kidnapped five oil workers, which include an Egyptian, an Iraqi and three Sudanese. The reason for knapping of foreign oil workers was a warning to oil companies it accused of financing the Sudanese government. The workers were later released. However, Chinese diplomats said the captors were probably local tribesmen. The Sudanese government and several rebel groups routinely trade accusations about human rights abuses in Darfur, which borders Southern Kordofan. Conflict has raged in Southern Kordofan since 2003.

My opinion of the Article “9 Chinese Oil Workers Are Kidnapped in Sudan” is that it sad that China's thirst for oil is causing bloodshed. When it comes to oil consumption, China is second only to the U.S. and almost half of China's oil needs come from imports. The Chinese rely on Sudan to supply a big part of that. Sudanese oil shipments to China increased 63% from 2003 to 2006 and soared 113% last year alone. In return for access to oilfields to help motor its growing economy, China provides Sudan with Chinese weaponry such as assault rifles, heavy machine guns, and mortars. As result of this finical backing the Sudanese government has started the first genocide of the 21st century on the citizens in regions like Darfur and South Sudan It is beyond my knowledge, why the Chinese government is not stopping the oil relationship with the nation of Sudan when they realize that they are providing the Sudanese authorities revenue that it uses in attacks on civilians in the western Darfur region?



Article written by: Reuters
The New York Times
Monday, October 20, 2008
Article on page A10 of the New York edition.