Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) –American director Steven Spielberg has renounced his role as “artistic advisor” for the Beijing Olympics.  In a document published yesterday, he accused China of not doing enough to stop the “continuing human suffering” in the tormented Darfur region.

In the text Speilberg writes: “I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue business as usual. 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”. 

In the meantime a group made up of Nobel Laureates has sent a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao to ask him to put Sudan – allied to Beijing -  under pressure so that the atrocities being carried out in the region are stopped. As Sudan’s economic and military partner and member of the UN security Council, the write that “China, in hosting the next Olympics, has the opportunity and the responsibility to contribute to peace in Darfur”.

 After four years of violence resulting from civil conflict in Darfur over 200 thousand people have died and over 2.5 million been forced to flee.  In Sudanese government continues to attack cities in the western region, but denies the numerous deaths registered by International organisations.

In the last 6 years Beijing has been the principal supporter of the Sudanese government, buying over 70% of all Khartoum’s exports and selling them military provisions and weapons.   China has its largest quantity of foreign investments in Sudan; an average 10 thousand Chinese work in the country. China has invested a total of 1.6 trillion euro in Sudan, through building oil wells and over 600km of oil pipelines, refineries and ports.

Beijing has consistently opposed, even to the point of vetoing, any intervention by the international community, maintaining that a rebellion is under way in the region and that it is the responsibility of the legitimately elected government.