Rebel JEM slams Qaeda’s call for holy war in Darfur
September 20, 2007 (LONDON) — Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has condemned statements made by Al Qaeda’s second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahri called for a holy war on the peacekeeping force to be deployed in Darfur.
Al Qaeda urged Sudanese Muslims on Thursday to fight African Union and United Nations peacekeeping troops that he said were invading Darfur, and criticized Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for accepting the 26,000-strong joint A.U.-U.N. operation.
The Hybrid Force is not occupying or an invading force, it is however, a UN mandated force to protect the people of Darfur who are hundred percent Muslims, protecting them from their criminal Muslim Government in Khartoum.
“We witnessed recently several attempts by the Al-Qaeda leaders to exploit the plight and the legitimate cause of the people of Darfur for their own sick and backward propaganda and agenda.” Ahmed underlined.
JEM would like to put it clearly and loudly to Al-Qaeda and other extremist organisations that: stay out of the issue of Darfur… Stay away from Darfur… We will never allow you to prolong the suffering of our people. The people of Darfur have nothing to do with Al-Qaeda; people of Darfur have no common ground what so ever with AL-Qaeda.
“Western countries, Western organisations and Western activists they deserve to be praised and commended for their good work and support in responding to the plight of the people of Darfur.”
“I appeal to the international community not to listen to this rubbish and nonsense statements and focus on the efforts to respond positively to the challenges and magnitude of the plight of the people of Darfur. Indeed, it is time to bring about security and a fair, comprehensive and inclusive political settlement to the Darfur Conflict.”
He warned that “Darfur is not going to be a safe heaven for Al-Qaeda or any other extremist or terrorist organisation. People of Darfur will fight hard any such attempts.” He also reminded that People of Darfur are peaceful, open, tolerant and civilize Muslims, who believe in the peaceful and civilize values of Islam, which promote and embrace co-existence, co-operation and friendship among the nations.
The rebel spokesperson further slammed the “regime hardliners who created such terrorist environment” in the country.
“Indeed, AL-Zawaheeri statement didn’t come out of the blue, it was encouraged and anticipated by similar statements and propaganda by the Regime leaders, including al-Bashir and his Defence and Interior Ministers, who have been repeating and preaching the same statements and propaganda.”
“I will never for get al-Bashir statement in a public rally in Khartoum when he said ‘I will swear, the Darfur land will be the graves of the international troops’.” He added.
A Sudanese Armed Forces spokesman denied any Al Qaeda presence in Sudan, while a diplomatic source in Khartoum said the joint U.N.-A.U. mission was watching developments closely after Zawahri’s statement.
“The borders in Sudan are porous and it would not be hard for people to move around,” the source said.
The United Nations has approved a 26,000-strong U.N. and African Union peacekeeping force for Darfur.
(ST)