In a formal statement, Spielberg had quit his role as one of the artistic advisers for the 2008 Olympics. Spielberg had accused China in his statement of not doing enough to pressure the Sudanese government of stop the turmoil and bloodshed that plagues the country’s Darfur region.
Almost a quarter of a million people have been killed in the conflict that had lasted for five years. At least two million if not more are displaced after being forced to flee from their homes. In this aspect, it is somewhat linked to the incident with the French charity Zoe’s Ark and the Chadian government of child trafficking.
The six French aid workers from Zoe’s Ark said they were tricked into believe that the children were orphans from Sudan.
So far in regards to Spielberg stepping down, the Chinese government has yet to issue a response to his statement. This could be another major setback for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Recently in the previous year, the International Olympic Committee had raised concerns about the cases of tainted food in China.
Another setback could be attributed to the international human rights groups urging a boycott of the Olympics in Beijing due to numerous cases of human rights violations.
James Reynolds of BBC had explained that the decision made by Spielberg could be damaging to the government’s plans. He adds that the government will probably have both anger and worry.
The government has tried to maintain the separation between the Olympics and the country’s politics.
Spielberg explained that the cause to stop the chaos and killing in Darfur was more important than taking the job as the 2008 Olympic’s creative adviser.
“I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue business as usual,” Spielberg said in his statement. He added: “At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that continue to be committed in Darfur.”
He would continue with saying: “Sudan’s government bears the bulk of the responsibility for these on-going crimes, but the international community, and particularly China, should be doing more.”
However, Spielberg isn’t the first or only person to make the link between the Olympics and China’s politics.
During last year’s Democratic Debates on CNN, former US Democratic presidential hopeful Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico gave an explanation on how China has economic control over the region because the country is the number one customer of its oil.
He had given the suggestion that pressure should placed on China to do something to stop the killing and violence going on in Darfur. Richardson said that the United States should boycott Beijing’s Olympics to send a message that the country should do more in regards to Darfur.