CAIRO: Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon on Monday issued a statement expressing concern over the Sudanese government's reported recent arrests of human rights workers and journalists in Darfur and its closing down of Radio Dabanga in Khartoum. “Canada is deeply concerned over Sudan's arrests of several Darfur human rights workers and journalists, as well as its closure of the Khartoum office of Radio Dabanga. This crackdown on independent media and human rights workers calls into question the government's commitment to the reconciliation it promised in its own Darfur Strategy,” Cannon said in the statement. Canada has been pushing hard for a cessation of violence in the troubled country, ahead of a vote in the southern part of the country on whether they will secede from Sudan. In Darfur, despite a decline in widespread violence, the tension in the Western Sudanese state continues. “These actions aggravate tensions in an already precarious situation and create an environment of intimidation that undermines civil-society participation in peace consultations. They send exactly the wrong message at a time when the international community is hoping for stable conditions for a free and fair referendum in January for Southern Sudan self-determination. “Canada calls upon the Government of Sudan to allow civil society organizations, including human rights groups and the media, to operate free from harassment and intimidation. Canada also urges the government and all other parties to allow the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur and humanitarian agencies full, safe, unhindered access to protect civilians, ensure security and deliver much-needed assistance to vulnerable communities in Darfur,” Cannon added. “Canada's main objective is long-term peace and stability in Darfur and all of Sudan,” he said. Sudan is one of Canada's foreign-policy priorities. Canada has contributed over $800 million for peace, humanitarian assistance, development aid, security and peace building in Sudan since 2006. BM
