By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, November 16 -- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the UN Security Council's Sudan meeting Tuesday morning referred to Khartoum having arrested and harassed even people who met with the Council in Darfur in October. She said "activists are arrested, some merely for speaking to members of this Security Council."
Afterward Inner City Press asked UK Foreign Minister William Hague about the statement, and what has been done by the UK, which led the leg of the Council's trip that went to Darfur. Hague said he would be raising the issue to the Sudanese later in the day.
As the Council meeting moved behind closed doors, Sudan's Foreign Minister Ali Karti came out to take questions. His delegation urged two reporters to ask Karti about improved relations with the United States.
Inner City Press asked Karti directly about the people arrested after the Security Council traveled to the Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced people outside El Fasher in Darfur. Karti insisted that these were “gang members” apprehended by Sudan.
Minutes later, Karti and his entourage went into the Security Council chambers. Inner City Press asked if this would be the Karti - Hague meeting, and was told “yes.”
Ten minutes later, the Southern Sudan delegation went in. Can't tell the players without a scorecard.
Footnote: Inner City Press also asked Karti about the statements by Hillary Clinton and Hague that the US and UK are working on reducing Sudan's debt. These are just talks, Karti said, while calling them positive.
Sudan's Permanent Representative then read off of a paper, “someone asked about new good will with the US.” Karti lit up, said it seems that this might be. A reporter asked about the International Criminal Court. “The US is not a member,” Sudan's Permanent Representative answered, smiling.
