China yesterday condemned the killing of five kidnapped Chinese oil workers in Sudan as an “inhumane terrorist” act, but said that its involvement in the war-torn country would not change.
“We express strong indignation and condemnation for the inhumane terrorist deed of the kidnappers in killing these unarmed workers,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu (姜瑜) told reporters.
The Sudanese government said Darfur rebels on Monday shot and killed five kidnapped oil workers and that two others escaped with gunshot wounds.
Nine workers from the state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) were snatched on Oct. 18 in Korodofan outside Darfur, a region of western Sudan that has been the scene of a nearly six-year war.
The other oil workers remained in captivity, according to the Sudanese government.
China is the main buyer of Sudan’s oil, a key economic investor and perhaps Khartoum’s most powerful foreign ally.
This has drawn criticism in the West that China has not done enough to help bring an end to the conflict in Darfur and on occasions shielded the Khartoum government from international pressure.
Jiang said China would maintain strong ties with the Sudanese government, despite the killings.
“In the future we will continue to value and implement a friendly policy towards Sudan,” she said.
“Meanwhile we hope that Sudan will provide good conditions for the people to people relations between the two countries,” she said.
The rebel group accused by Sudan of abducting and killing the Chinese oil workers denied any responsibility yesterday.
Sudan said the abductors had identified themselves as the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
“Does JEM have or did JEM do it? The answer is no. We don’t kidnap. We don’t take hostages. JEM has nothing to do with it,” Tahir el-Faki, the London-based chairman of the movement’s legislative assembly, said by telephone.
“We have forces in the region, we have the support of the people there. Some of the Messeria people are affiliated to us. Some of them may take actions but not in the name of JEM,” Faki said.
Tribesman around Kordofan have well-known grievances and are opposed to Chinese oil activity in the region, he said.
Gibril Ibrahim Mohamed, an adviser to JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim, also denied any responsibility.
“I don’t know if someone is acting in our name, but what I’m sure about is that JEM would not do such a thing,” he said from London.
The Arab-dominated government in Khartoum has labeled JEM a “terrorist” organization and the group attacked the Sudanese capital in May.
In the past, Darfur rebels have kidnapped foreign oil workers from Sudanese oilfields, often targeting Chinese companies because of their strong ties with Khartoum, although all of those abducted eventually emerged unscathed.
In October last year, JEM attacked an oilfield run by the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company, a consortium involving China’s CNPC. JEM said the oilfield was a legitimate military target.
The Saudi-owned Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper last week identified the alleged leader of the kidnappers as Abu Humaid Ahmad Dannay, who reportedly said he commands JEM in Kordofan and belongs to the Arab Messeria tribe.
The Messeria were blamed for kidnapping four Indian oil workers and their Sudanese driver in the same area in May. All five escaped or were released.
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