JEM wants hybrid force to deal also with Darfur rebels
February 12, 2008 (LONDON) — Rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) reiterated its readiness to cooperate with the Darfur hybrid forces urging it to deal on equal bases with the rebel groups and Khartoum government.
JEM spokesperson, Ahmed Hussein Adam, who reaffirmed the willing of his movement to cooperate with the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to protect Darfur civilian, has asked the hybrid forces to adopt openness and consultation policy with rebel movement.
“The UNAMID has to win the heard of Darfur people and not to content oneself with the government” Ahmed said.
He further said that the hybrid mission chairmanship till now didn’t seek to reincorporate JEM representatives to the Cease Fire Commission (CFC) in El-Fasher since they arrest and expulsion by the Sudanese government last January.
The rebel spokesperson said JEM leadership is studying the UNAMID frame work deal signed on Saturday between the UN, AU and the Sudan government to see if the mandate of the UN Security Council is well respected.
Ahmed expressed fears that the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) was used by Khartoum to restrict the UN 1769 mandate and attributions accorded to the Hybrid Operation.
He further added that they want to see who the notion of sovereignty was interpreted by the SOFA parties.
Ahmed was referring to the UN 1769 resolution which reaffirms the UN commitment to respect Sudan’s sovereignty.
Alluding to the African mission attitude in the past three years Ahmed said “what is important is that the UNAMID does not stick in old errors.”
The government, in its largest offensive in months, on Friday attacked Abu Surouj, Sirba and Suleia towns, forcing an estimated 200,000 from their homes — 12,000 of whom have fled into neighboring eastern Chad.
Sudan said it attacked the three remote West Darfur towns of Sirba, Abu Surouj and Suleia to force the Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement out of the area and reopen roads connecting the population to the outside world, closed since JEM occupied the area in December.
The joint force, which took charge of peacekeeping in Sudan’s west on December 31, has already come under fire from government troops in the volatile area north of West Darfur state capital el-Geneina, an area which has seen the fiercest battles in recent months.
(ST)