Darfur rebels censure reconciliation attempts with militia leader

December 5, 2007 (PARIS) — Darfur rebel main movements showed dismay at attempts by Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) officials to organise reconciliation meeting between some of rebel groups and a janjaweed militia leader in Juba.

One of the Darfur Arab leaders, Musa Hilal, who is suspected by the US state department of being a leader of the Janjaweed militia, said that he had been invited by a SPLM high ranking official to meet Darfur rebel factions in Juba but southern Sudan authorities rejected his visit.

Abdelwahid al-Nur, the founder of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and Ahmed Hussein Adam, the spokesperson of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) regretted in statements to Sudan Tribune such initiative saying Musa has to take a clear and public position on his responsibility in Darfur crimes before reconciliation attempts.

In an interview with the UN sponsored radio Miraya FM, Musa Hilal said that the SPLM responsible for unifying the Darfur Factions, Edward Lino, asked him to visit Juba for consultations on the success of the next round of the Sirte peace talks.

Hilal said that he was surprised by the SPLM decision rejecting him from visiting Juba :“I was supposed to go to Juba today or yesterday, Mr Edward Lino phoned me and invited me to come to Juba, to meet with the Darfurian Movements, there may be some general discussion to overcome the Darfur crisis, but we were informed that the Chairman of the SPLM has no idea about our visit, and he rejected it.”

“It is sad to undertake this step while Darfur people are still subjected on daily basis to the violence practiced by Khartoum militias.” Said Abdelwahid al-Nur.

Ahmed Hussein Adam, wondered “if this invitation is based on a new position from the militia leader over his abject role in Darfur crimes”.

The SLM leader and JEM spokesperson underlined that Musa Hilal is suspected of committing crime against humanity and crimes of war which are now under the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICC). They stressed that these crimes are imprescriptible “with no immunity or amnesty.”

Both of them said that there should be no confusion between Hilal and the Arab tribes in Darfur. They added they have regular contacts with Darfur Arabs and know their rejection of Hilal criminal passive.

“Arabs are not responsible of crimes committed by Hilal.” Adam said. “Confusing Darfur Arabs with culprits means playing the game of Khartoum and we are fully aware of that” added Al-Nur.

JEM spokesperson expressed doubts that Musa is poised to acknowledge his wrong doing. He also accused Hilal of visiting Khartoum to demand military support and to prepare for the post deployment of international.

In an interview conducted by Human Rights watchin September 2004, Hilal states that the government of Sudan directed all military activities of the militia forces he had recruited. “All of the people in the field are led by top army commanders.”

At that time, this statement was considered as important prove of the direct responsability of Sudanese government in Darfur crimes.

Musa Hilal’s forces were initially recruited from among his tribesmen in North Darfur, and have been active for several years around the Kebkabiya area.

(ST)