Darfur JEM responds positively to UN call for Ramadan calm
Oct 2, 2006 (PARIS) — A rebel group responded positively to an appeal launched by the UN envoy to Sudan asking warring groups in Darfur to stop fighting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
The leader of Movement of Justice and Equality, Khalil Ibrahim said, in a letter to the Special representative of the UN Secretary General to Sudan, Jan Pronk, he has instructed his troops to stop fighting during Ramadan.
We “instructed all through not to act except in situations of self-defence and that instruction will be closely watched during the holy month” said Ibrahim.
He further added, “We hope that our adversaries will behave likewise.”
On 21 September, Pronk called upon the Sudanese government and the rebel groups to “to respect a month of tranquillity during Ramadan”.
An estimated 200,000 people have been killed since violence erupted in Darfur in 2003. Underfinanced African Union (AU) troops are struggling to enforce a much-violated 2004 ceasefire between government forces and rebel groups in the region.
In May, one rebel faction and the government signed a peace agreement but other rebel groups have refused to sign. Violence in the region has escalated since May and aid workers say their access has been cut significantly.
Khalil, also, invited the UN envoy to call for the resumption of peace talks to settle the endemic conflict. He further said Darfur crisis is a political conflict indicating, “Military confrontation has never been our first choice”.
Please find hereunder the text of JEM letter to the UN envoy:
The Sudan Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)
28/09/2006
Mr. Jan Pronk
Special Representative of Secretary – General to Sudan
United Nations
Khartoum, Sudan
Dear Sir;
Thank you very much for your letter dated September 22nd 06. We respond to your Excellency with Ramadan greetings; greetings of piety, charity, peace and reflection. As an honour to the holy month of Ramadan, we are pleased to respond positively to your appeal and dedicate this festive month for peace and tranquillity for our people in Darfur. We seek this opportunity to reconfirm to you that our forces on the ground are clearly instructed all through not to act except in situations of self-defence and that instruction will be closely watched during the holy month. We hope that our adversaries will behave likewise.
As for your call to use this month for dialogue for peace, it is our conviction that the problem of Darfur is essentially political and can at best be resolved through peaceful negotiations. Military confrontation has never been our first choice and we look forward to dropping the gun out of the politics of Sudan all together. We are ready for a call from your office for resumption of peaceful settlement of Darfur conflict, any time, any where. The people of Darfur have suffered too much. They cannot wait any longer.
Sincerely yours;
Dr. Khalil Ibrahim Mohamed
Chairman JEM,
Co-founder of NRF
(ST)