Darfur rebel leader condemns Sudanese president calls for war

November 18, 2007 (PARIS) — A Darfur rebel leader condemned today statements made by Sudanese president ordering to open paramilitary forces camps to train recruits. He further appealed on Sudanese youth not to be fooled by Bashir’s calls for war.

Abdelwahid al-Nur, the leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement, slammed statements by Omer al-Bashir at celebrations organised by the Popular Defence Forces (PDF) on Saturday in Medani to reopen training camps for a paramilitary force used during the north-south war.

Al-Nur, who demands to stop Darfur violence before talks, said “While we appeal for conflict suspension in the country to engage peace talks, president Bashir comes with a new call for “conflict escalation”.

“This government is fed by the blood of the people, and I want to call Sudanese and young people particularly to not listen to these bellicose calls because we need them to reconstruct the country, to build peace in a secular and democratic state;” he added.

He declared his support for the SPLM demand for the full implementation of a peace deal signed between the government of the National Congress Party and the former southern Sudan rebels in January 2005.

“The full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, is a legitimate demand for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM)”

The SPLM withdrew its ministers from the government of national unity last month, accusing Khartoum of stalling on the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended Africa’s longest civil war.

REJECTION OF THE CHINESE TROOPS IN DARFUR

The SLM founder also denounced Sudanese president rejection of troops from Norway and Sweden to replace Chinese and Pakistanis troops to be deployed in Darfur within the framework of AU-UN forces.

Al-Nur rejected the deployment of Chinese forces in the war-torn region of Darfur.

“China is a part of the problem because it has several military and economic agreements with the regime.” he said.

The rebel leader further said that weapons used by the Sudanese army and its militias in Darfur are provided by China. Adding if these weapons are bought from other countries they are paid by the money of oil extracted by Chinese firms.

“The killer can not be protector. This is way we consider China part of the problem and we reject its troops in Darfur.” He said.

(ST)