Europe and Sudan: How not to speak truth to genocidal power
Eric Reeves | April 8, 2019 | https://wp.me/p45rOG-2oN
For several years I have written about how European policies toward the regime of Omar al-Bashir in Sudan have been governed primarily by a desire to stanch the flow of African migration to the European continent (see, for example, “European Hypocrisy on Sudan: Expedient, euphemistic efforts to buy a halt to migration from Africa to Europe.” April 7, 2016 | http://wp.me/p45rOG-1SB/). Moreover, extraordinary investigative journalism by Der Spiegel in Germany has revealed in detail just how cynical these policies are:
“Questionable Deal | EU to Work with African Despot to Keep Refugees Out”
In an effort to help keep refugees from Africa at bay, the EU is planning to deliver personal registration equipment to Sudan, whose president is wanted on war crimes charges. Germany is leading the way (May 13, 2016 | http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/eu-to-work-with-despot-in-sudan-to-keep-refugees-out-a-1092328.html/)
But cynicism and expediency continue to define European Union policies towards a regime guilty of serial genocide against its own citizens. A statement today by the EU is but another exercise in cynical expediency, resting on the preposterous notion that the al-Bashir regime is capable of a “a peaceful, credible, legitimate and inclusive process that will allow Sudan to carry out essential reforms.” This is a deep betrayal of the aspirations of the people of Sudan, and their extraordinary sacrifices over the past 100 days as they struggle for peace, freedom, and justice.
The people of Sudan will see this statement for what it is—and they will not forget it.
EU calls to avoid use of violence against Sudan’s protesters | Sudan Tribune, April 8, 2019 (KHARTOUM)
The European Union has called for a peaceful process to achieve democratic reforms in Sudan and called to avoid the use of violence against protesters.
[The EU fails fundamentally in its understanding of the situation that led to protests: the al-Bashir regime is incapable of “democratic reforms,” a fact demonstrated continuously for thirty years. To expect people who have suffered so much under this regime to engage in some contrived “dialogue” to please Europeans is self-serving foolishness—ER]
Sudanese for four months hold sustained protests across the country calling on President Omer al-Bashir and his regime to go. However, the embattled president has refused to resign or to facilitate peaceful power transfer despite calls by the opposition leaders.
“The European Union expects that the call for change will prompt a commitment to a peaceful, credible, legitimate and inclusive process that will allow Sudan to carry out essential reforms,” said a statement released by the EU Commission on Sunday, after huge protests by unprecedented numbers of people in Khartoum streets that have started on 6 April.
[Again, the notion that the al-Bashir regime can engage in” a peaceful, credible, legitimate and inclusive process that will allow Sudan to carry out essential reforms” reveals either staggering ignorance about the nature of the regime or—much more likely—cynical disingenuousness, as the countries of Europe continue to count on the al-Bashir regime to stanch the flow of African migration to the European continent—ER]
The statement further called to not “use tear gas and live ammunition against peaceful protesters and to release political” prisoners as well. “The people of Sudan have shown remarkable resilience in the face of extraordinary obstacles over many years. Their trust must be won through concrete action by the government,” stressed the statement.
[More disingenuous nonsense—ER]