Valuable lessons to learn now from the Sudan conflict

Jakarta Post - Opinion and Editorial - October 22, 2008

Anand Krishna, Jakarta

Sudan would have been long forgotten by the so-called civilized world had it not been for the conflict in Darfur. Sometime back, while participating in a conference overseas, I had the opportunity to meet with a western professor recruited by the United Nations to help in the conflict resolution in Darfur.

The professor, an expert on Sudanese affairs, was at a complete loss, "The people fighting in Darfur are all Muslims, belonging to one and the same sect."

The United Nations estimates the conflict has left as many as 500,000 dead from violence and disease in less than five years. NGOs operating there claim the number of dead is at least double the UN estimate. Millions have been displaced.

Drought is considered one of the main causes of the Darfur conflict. The indigenous Baggara nomads of Darfur were compelled to take their livestock further south, to land mainly occupied by black African farming communities.

Rivalry and competition between these two communities marked the beginning of Darfur conflict. "Now," the professor said, "it is no longer clear who is fighting who. People of the same community could kill each other for a piece of land with a well."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon believes global warming is behind the Darfur conflict.

But, the billion dollar question is: Is Sudan, on the whole, a drought-stricken country? The answer is: No. So, the conflict there actually makes no sense.

The Sudan, under the leadership of President Omar al-Bashir, is not a democratic country. The infamous leader has been charged with war crimes against his own people by the International Criminal Court.

Surprisingly, when prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo asked the same court to issue an arrest warrant for al-Bashir, he was criticized by many. Who are those critics? Why do they side with the dictator and not with the people of Sudan? What is their vested interest?

Recently, Sudan was reported to have leased more than 800,000 hectares of its most fertile land to the Saudis. Following the lead of the oil-rich monarchy, several other Gulf countries, including Egypt, are in the process of closing similar deals. It is expected several hundred thousand hectares more will be leased out by the end of this year.

The lease tenure is 99 years. At least two generations of Sudanese will have to live with the decisions made by their leader.

Sudan is not as drought-stricken as some would imagine. It has chunks of fertile lands, which could be cultivated for its own people in Darfur and elsewhere. But, the leadership of Sudan is not interested in that. It would rather lease out the land to the Arabs. The international community, including our beloved Uncle Sam and his coterie of selected friends are keeping mum on this subject.

Rapid population growth across the Gulf, water scarcity and rising food prices have forced the Arabs to grab agricultural land in foreign territory. Not only Sudan, but countries such as Pakistan are being targeted.

According to a report published by Commodity Online, rising prices in Saudi are already causing disquiet; something very much dreaded by the monarchy, which fears revolution above all else.

According to Dubai-based think tank Gulf Research Center, it takes 1,212 cubic meters of ground water to produce a metric ton of barley in Saudi Arabia. This has left the Saudis with no option but to stop cultivating their native soil. They must look for food elsewhere.

Not many of us are aware that inflation in the kingdom rose to a record high of 10.6 percent last June. Reason: Rising food prices.

The situation in other Gulf countries is in no way better, considering 60 percent of their food must be imported. In case we did not know, just 1 percent of land in the UAE is arable, while in Saudi Arabia the situation is marginally better at 3 percent.

"The Gulf region is not conducive to sustainable agriculture and has been dependent on imported food, which it has been able to buy at the prevailing international price without difficulty.

"However, when oil and other natural resources diminish in the future, the region will not be able to maintain the same level of dependence on external food supplies," said Shoaib Ismail, a halophyte agronomist associated with the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture in Dubai in a recent interview with Inter Press Service.

Ismail also said Gulf countries were cooperating with developing countries that have similar cultural, religious and political backgrounds, and with which they have had longstanding ties. Adding, "They could get basic commodities at relatively low prices, thereby reducing their dependency on Western countries..."

Let us try to read the writing on the wall. What is the truth behind the Darfur conflict? In the 1970s the Gulf countries unsuccessfully attempted to convert Sudan into their breadbasket after the U.S. threatened to cut food supplies following the oil boycott. That time they failed, now they are succeeding.

Now, what is the truth behind the conflicts in our country? What is the truth behind the Bali bombers enjoying the status of state guests, the porn bill and "deviant sect" issues? Consider the increasing number of visits made by our officials to the Middle East, and the petro dollars being poured in the name of religion, education and, of course, investment.

Thanks to our ignorant and oblivious officials and leaders, very slowly the entire nation is being enslaved both culturally and economically. The dark forces of evil and self interest are working together to tear apart our nation, so it would be easier for them to control our resources. We, the people of Indonesia must wake up and raise our voice against such atrocities. And, the time for that is now, or never.

The writer is a spiritual activist (www.anandkrishna.org, www.aumkar.org, www.californiabali.org).

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