Aid for Sudan is too high a price
Saturday October 24 2009
THE tribal elders in Darfur, who were instrumental in the release of Sharon Commins and Hilda Kawuki, stated publicly that during negotiations the Irish Government promised that future Irish aid to Sudan would be in the form of direct aid at inter-governmental level.
Last year, the head of the Sudanese government, President Omar al Bashir, was charged by the International Criminal Court with war crimes.
It is widely believed that the Sudanese government were involved, in some form, in the abduction of Sharon Commins and Hilda Kawuki to force the international community, including Ireland, to drop the charges.
While everyone is rejoicing in the release of Sharon and Hilda, all aid to Sudan should remain at UN and non-governmental level and not in partnership with a government involved in war crimes.
Brendan Butler
NGO Peace Alliance, DUBLIN 7
Irish Independent
