Actress Mia Farrow is stepping up her campaign to stop the killing in Darfur, taking on China. She even had tough words for former President Jimmy Carter who is trying a new diplomatic channel to promote peace.
Farrow, who has traveled a number of times to the war-torn region of Sudan, wrote an op-ed in today’s Wall Street Journal calling on China (“Khartoum’s largest and closest business partner”) to turn around its relationship with Sudan. “What better time for China to step up and change its image?” she wrote. “In the face of mounting criticism of its support of brutal repression and cultural destruction in Burma and Tibet, Darfur represents an opportunity for Beijing to create a positive impression — and desperately needed favorable PR in anticipation of the 2008 Olympic games.”
Still, she said, “The undeniable fact remains that China continues to underwrite genocide and the immeasurable suffering of millions of human beings in the Darfur region of Sudan.”
As for President Carter, Farrow is clearly disappointed with his trip to Darfur with Desmond Tutu and several other prominent figures as part of the newly formed “Elders” group of senior diplomats that advocates peace in the world’s troublespots. On her Web site, Farrow headlines a posting: “WAKE UP JIMMY! YOU’RE OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER.” She took issue with Carter’s characterization of a meeting with Sudanese President Omar al Bashir as “constructive” and Carter’s comment in a BBC report that al Bashir’s promise of $300 million — mostly a loan from China — was a clear indication of (al Bashir’s) commitment.”
Today, wire services reported that government forces and militias burned down the Darfur village where 10 African Union soldiers were killed last week.
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