SLM’s Nur urges African Union to consider its demands
May 15, 2006 (ABUJA) — In a letter addressed to the head of the African Union executive body, the rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLM) of Abdelwahid al -Nur urged the Pan African body to intervene to bridge gap between them and the Sudanese government, and to consider its three demands.
In a letter sent yesterday to the Chairperson of African Union Commission Oumar Konare, the leader of a faction of the main rebel SLM Abdelwahid al-Nur called the African Union to put pressure on the Sudanese government to sign a supplementary document related to their demands.
Abdelwahid also indicated the three demands of the faction:
“We have consistently made three important demands. One is our demand for adequate compensation for the individuals and families who have suffered losses during the conflict. The second is full involvement of SLM/A in key aspects of security arrangements including ensuring the protection of civilians as they return to their original places and the mechanisms for monitoring the disarmament of the Janjaweed. The third is the question of political representation both at the center and at the State and local levels”, said the letter.
The African Union Peace and Security Council holds a meeting today to discuss the Darfur Peace Agreement signed Friday 5 May between the Sudanese government and the SLM-Minni Minawi faction.
Al- Nur wants the African Union to consider his demands before endorsing the signed deal.
Following the text of the al-Nur’s letter:
Sudan Liberation Movement/Army
Date: May 14, 2006
President Oumar Alpha Konare
Chairperson
African Union Commission
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Dear President Konare,
Let me commend the African Union for its commitment to achieving peace in Darfur and providing protection for the people of Darfur. We appreciate the sustained effort of your Special Envoy, Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, and his Mediation team in Abuja over the last six months. We recognize that much hard work has gone into the Darfur Peace Agreement and there is much in the text that we find worthy and which we can agree with.
However, as you will be aware, the position of the SLM/A remains that the Darfur Peace Agreement, despite its many virtues, fails to address several important fundamental demands of the people of Darfur. We have consistently made three important demands. One is our demand for adequate compensation for the individuals and families who have suffered losses during the conflict. The second is full involvement of SLM/A in key aspects of security arrangements including ensuring the protection of civilians as they return to their original places and the mechanisms for monitoring the disarmament of the Janjaweed. The third is the question of political representation both at the center and at the State and local levels. We have been asking for a supplementary document that addresses these specific concerns to be attached to the Darfur Peace Agreement. When I am assured that the supplementary document has addressed our demands and been attached to the Agreement, I shall then attach my signature to the Darfur Peace Agreement.
The situation in Darfur today is grave and dangerous. The people of Darfur have expressed their views clearly. There have been massive demonstrations across the country for more than ten days. These demonstrations have taken place in Khartoum, Wad Madani, Port Sudan, Elgadarif, and in Darfur in particular in cities like, Nyala, Elfashir, Kass, Elginainah, Zalengei, and all IDPs camps. As the result of these demonstrations, many people have lost their lives as the result. All these demonstrations have rejected the Darfur Peace Agreement. We would like to take this opportunity and appeal to the AU Peace and Security Council to seriously take note of these latest developments. The aim of a peace agreement is to bring peace and tranquility in Darfur, and not chaos.
I am dismayed and saddened by the killings of people in Kass and Alfashir during today’s demonstrations, as well as the destruction of some of AU’s properties in Darfur. I am calling on my people to show restraint and to remain calm during these times. In the coming days, I propose that our urgent priority is for all participants in the Darfur peace process to work together to calm the situation and prevent further loss of lives.
Therefore, Mr. President, on behalf of the people of Darfur, I appeal to you to help us bridge the gap between us and the GoS with the ultimate goal of reaching a comprehensive and sustainable peace in Darfur.
Best regards,
Abdulwahid Mohamed Ahmed Elnur,
Chairman and Commander in Chief
Sudan Liberation Movement/Army
Cc./
– H.E. President Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria
– H.E. President Sasou-Nguesso, President of the Congo Republic and current President of the African Union
– H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations
-Mr. Robert B.Zoellick, Deputy Secretary of State of the USA
– The Honorable Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for International Development of the United Kingdom
Contact:– Dr. Nouri Abdalla, SLM/A
– Email: [email protected]
– GSM, Abuja- +234-806-811-1656
(ST)