Nothing to apologize for

A couple of days ago, Sudan decided to declare personna non grata two diplomats for allegedly "interfering in its internal affairs." The favourite code of dictatorships, especially the most brutal ones. One diplomat is from Sweden, the other from Canada. Their sin? Calling out Khartoum for its continued foot-dragging on the Darfur genocide. Tonight, it seems the one from Sweden has a reprieve for three weeks, the balance of his tour of duty. Sweden's rep also represents the interests of the EU as a whole.

While the EU issued a statement apologizing for any "misunderstanding," it's my opinion there's nothing to apologize for. Genocide is genocide, and what Sudan is doing to the people in Darfur is genocide. In fact, it's the belief of many and not just myself that Khartoum wants to spark a regional war with Chad and the Central African Republic.

200,000 have been murdered so far, part of a wider civil war in the country that has claimed over 2 million over the last quarter century. The only reason why the United States has spoken out in favour of the refugees is because the country has oil, a lot of it. (Rwanda, by contrast, does not so Bill Clinton allowed 800,000 to be murdered because it wasn't worth his time.)

The one country that could put an end to the bullshit is Mainland China, which only last month finally stopped using its veto at the Security Council to allow a peacekeeping force to intervene (although it's going to be a heck of a lot more peace making, just like NATO had to do in Bosnia-Hercegovina). Why has it failed to do more than the bare minimum? Why, because it's Sudan's biggest customer for Texas T, of course! They're equal partners in the genocide.

There's a reason why diplomatic immunity was created -- so the messenger wouldn't be killed. It should never be used as an excuse to flout a country's laws regarding everything from moving violations to drug-smuggling and even murder but a country's "guests" are there for a reason, to be the official conduits of policy from other governments. Our ambassador, and his counterparts, are doing their job in speaking in favour of human rights.

A country that treats its diplomatic corps like that which Khartoum favours deserves equal treatment. If Sudan is expelling our ambasador there, PMS should return the favour and tell Sudan's top voice in Ottawa to get the Hull out of Canada.

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