Sudan expels top Canadian, European Union envoys

Photos

Sudan expels top Canadian, European Union envoys

see larger image

uploaded by Barry ORegan

Opinion

Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor

Of course the media report the Sudanese government expelling a Canadian Top Envoy and EU Envoys, all the while the Sudanese Officials are quick to point out that they are Keen to maintain friendly relations with Canada and the EU.   Sudanese just do not like to be bothered with Canada's advice on such Sudanese annoyances such as ethnic cleansing in Darfur, jailed and torturing Sudanese journalists who expose the corruption, you know petty things every African country must put up with. Golly Gee, but we shore likes them Yankee,Canadian and EU dollars. So just put up, shut up and sign over them cheques, my mercedes mechanic Horst in Switzerland needs to get my Mercedes in top tune, so I can go visit the poor folk and show them mah Bling.

Ahh, isn't that so precious of the Sudanese to say that while they are hoisting a boot into our diplomats ass, considering the half billion dollars or more in aid we give them annually, of course they still want contact with us, nothing personal, it is a money they want, not our advice on how to spend it.  Like other African dictators who use IMF money for personal wealth maintaining fat bank accounts in Switzerland.  Perhaps the Sudanese taste for German Autos and other western niceities are just too tempting to give up on principle of course. 

My Final Thought
I say turn off the monetary tap, and see how far they get on their own.
Of course everyone is calling on Bush and America World Police to intervene.  Funny when a country is in the Crapper rife with ethnic cleansing they want help, and when we give it to them they all of a sudden find Allah, Mohamed, Yuri Geller, etc and want us out.  Iraq for example. Whats strange is where was Allah, Mohamed and other true gods while this was going on?  Perhaps they were all out having a late supper with Jaysus, and having an after dinner smoke with their wine.  (reference to Muslims portraying Jesus with cigarette) . So much for faith. 

Sad to say, but true. Oh yeah as for me, Been there, done that.

All one has to do is Google "Sudanese Government Corruption" to get the "Gist" of what I am talking about.

It's funny our government who gives them our money in aid must not be able to find "Google" I guess.

url="http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/TopStories/ContentPosting.aspx?feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V2&showbyline=True&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20070823%2fsudan_diplomat_070823"]Sudan expelled the Canadian and European Union envoys from the country Thursday for "meddling in its affairs," according to the state news agency.

Sudan expels top Canadian, European Union envoys

Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Nuala Lawlor, the charge d'affaires in Sudan, has been asked to leave.

"We have asked the Sudanese authorities why they have expelled her," Foreign Affairs spokesperson Rodney Moore told CTV.ca Thursday.

"In the finest example of Canadian diplomacy, she has stood up for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law in Sudan."

Meanwhile, the EU has confirmed that its diplomat Ken Degerfelt was also asked to leave.

Despite the expulsions, Sudan's Foreign Ministry told the envoys that "Sudan is keen to maintain the relation of cooperation linking it with the European Commission and with Canada," spokesperson Ali Al Sadeq told The Associated Press.

"This incident should not hamper the relations between the Sudan and both the EC and Canada," he added.

No specific details have been given by the Sudanese government as to why Lawlor and Degerfelt were expelled. But Sudan's turbulent Darfur region has been the focus of international concern since 2003, when ethnic African rebels began fighting against the country's Arab-dominated central government.

The government is accused of retaliating with the brutal janjaweed militias, blamed for terrible atrocities against Darfur's rebels.

The conflict has displaced more than 2.5 million people and more than 200,000 have died.

Sudan's state news agency quoted a government spokesperson saying the envoys were "involved in activities that constitute an intervention into the internal affairs of the Sudan, a matter that contradict their diplomatic duties and mission."

Payam Akhavan, a law professor at McGill University and a former U.N. war crimes prosecutor, said the expulsions were likely part of a larger political strategy.

"I really think this is part of a broader diplomatic game of portraying the Western presence in Sudan -- whether diplomatic or otherwise -- as a conspiracy, as meddling in Sudan's internal affairs," he told CTV Newsnet.

John Thompson, president of the Toronto-based Mackenzie Institute which studies political instability and terrorism, told The Canadian Press the envoys were likely just doing their jobs.

"For countries like Sudan, they (expel diplomats) because the diplomat is becoming effective, getting close to things and looking at things they don't want people to pay attention to," he said. "In this case it is a sordid little dictatorship worried about diplomats actually doing effective work."

He added that for both envoys, "it is a tremendous professional compliment."

With files from The Associated Press[/q]