Sudan’s Darfur JEM to create an inclusive political party

Nov 8, 2006 (LONDON) — The Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) said planning to create a political force to represent all the marginalized regions in the country.

In a meeting held in German city of Bielefeld on 4 and 5 November, the JEM decided to establish an inclusive political party aiming to represent the aspirations of the marginalized regions in Sudan.

The JEM spokesperson, Ahmed Hussein Adam, told Sudan Tribune that this plan is seen as strategic objective for the movement after the realization of the peace in Darfur region.

Adam further said that Bielefeld meeting decided to campaign for blocking Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir from being the head of the African Union next year as it convened in African summit in Khartoum last January.

“Giving Sudan the AU chair would be tantamount to rewarding (President) al-Bashir regime, accused by the United States of genocide in Darfur, and would damage the AU’s credibility” JEM spokesperson said.

He also welcomed the regional and international efforts to bring and end to the three years armed conflict in Darfur.

He furthermore stressed the need to involve the international community in any future mediation.

“The participation of the international community in any negotiations is crucial to guarantee the implementation of any deal. In addition, donors participation is important for Darfur post war reconstruction” Adam indicated.

(ST)

Below the text of JEM Press Release

Preamble:

In response to the current momentous political developments in Sudan, the leadership of the Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) held a plenary meeting on November 4-5 (2006) in the German city of Bielefeld. The meeting included representatives of JEM General Congress, the Legislative Council and the Executive Board.

The meeting also received phone inputs of Mr Abubakr Alqadi, the Chairman of JEM General Congress Mr Abubakar Alqadi, Chairman of Legislative Council Mr. Ibrahim Yahia,, Vice-President and Secretary for Darfur Sector Mr. Bahr Idris Abugarda and JEM Commander L. General Abdallah Banda.

Other phone participants included representatives from Libya, UAE, Chad, USA, Nigeria, Eritrea, Egypt and USA

The meeting had a large attendance from JEM leadership in Europe, including JEM Leader, Dr. Khalil Ibrahim Mohamed.

The participants paid tribute to those who offered lives for freedom and justice in Sudan; they saluted their families for their exemplary endurance; and wished the injured speedy recovery.

Special tribute was paid to NRF fighters in the battlefield for their repetitive victories against Khartoum regime. The IDPs were commended for siding with the Darfur cause and for their endurance in the camps despite Khartoum’s continuous attacks, intimidations and terror

Special tribute was paid to leaders of the NRF, in particular Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim Direij, comrade Khamis Abdallah and Comrade Dr. Sharif Harir.

The meeting also praised the courageous stand of the SLA leaders Mr. Abdel Wahid Mohamed Nur, Abdel Shafe and Commander Adam Bakheit,

Equally saluted were civil society organizations, Trade Unions and Political Parties. Darfur international friends and Darfur people in general.

JEM leadership commended the people of Darfur, in particular, for the positive role they played regarding the Darfur Crisis.

Following elaborate deliberations, the meeting made some crucial decisions and valuable recommendations.

A. Major Decisions:

Relevant offices are instructed to embark immediately on contacting NRF partners with a view to effecting structuring of the NRF.
Relevant offices are to commence without delay the transformation of JEM into a political party.
Preparation for the coming negotiations to be effected immediately.

B. Other Recommendations:

1- Mobilization of support to block nomination of President Albashir for AU Presidency, January 2007.

2- Campaigning and cooperation with all international bodies to ensure that violators of humanitarian law, war criminals and genociders are brought to justice under the auspices of the ICC.

3- Commitment to hold meetings of the Legislative Council, JEM, in regular intervals..

4- Doubling efforts to hold JEM meetings regularly

5- Strengthening organizational structure and offices of JEM all over the Sudan.

6- Intensification of JEM diplomatic relations with organizations and states at regional and international levels

7- Boosting of JEM external offices and branches.

8- Activation of the Social work and the building of JEM social bodies.

9- Consolidation of all institutions and secretariats of JEM

10- Continuation of production of press releases, books and pamphlets.

Ahmed Husein Adam

Spokesperson for JEM

Contact : Tel: 0044 7909578070