JEM leader lashes out at Arab and African countries for their support to Sudan’s Bashir
December 20, 2008 (DOHA) — The leader of the Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement lashed out at the Arab and African states saying they are acting to rescue the Sudanese president from the indictment of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Khalil Ibrahim launched a scathing attack on the Arab League and the African Union because of what he described as “biased” role in favour of Bashir’s government and their support to the Sudanese president.
Criticising the Arab League and the African Union, Ibrahim said there are some “non-democratic regimes which are scared for their safety” and wants to save President Bashir but not to solve the Darfur conflict.
He said “If they are really keen to resolve it, why they did not provide “one Tariffa (the smallest currency in the Sudan) during Seven years” for Darfur people. He underscored “they did not provide medicine or clothes, they are biased, and the Arab League is not eligible for mediation”.
Since last September the Arab League and the African Union formed a joint committee to work out a mediation to end the ongoing conflict in Darfur where 300000 people where killed and more than 2.5 million are displaced.
The incredulous Darfur rebels are very reluctant to accept the proposed mediation because they believe it comes in the frame of the ongoing efforts undertaken by the two groups at the level of the UN Security Council, to suspend the jurisdiction of the ICC and halt a probable arrest warrant to try Al-Bashir over charges of genocide, crimes against the humanity and war crimes.
The rebel movement sent a delegation to Doha last month to hold talks with the Qatari officials but didn’t yet give a definitive response on its participation on the peace negotiations.
JEM chairman also voiced his opposition to run the 2009 general elections in the country before the end of the conflict and the signing of a comprehensive peace deal with the Sudanese government.
“This government rigs elections. But the equation will change. We determine whether or not elections take place” Ibrahim warned. He stressed that participation in the forthcoming elections, in the presence of President Omer Al-Bashir in power “is not feasible”, because “the outcome is already known: forgery”.
However, the rebel leader reiterated his conditions for peace talks with the Sudanese government. He asked to engage talks with his movement only and to release JEM members who are sentenced to death after a raid on the capital Khartoum last May
He explained his position by saying that JEM is the only movement on the ground and the other rebels are “individuals who have mobile phones and appear on satellite channels.”
The rebel leader who is under international pressure to take part in a comprehensive peace process went to say that regime change is the ultimate goal of his movement in order to establish a democratic regime in the country where all the marginalised regions can equally share power and wealth in Sudan.
“Our strategic goal is to topple this government and govern ourselves” he said, before adding “half-solutions are no longer viable.”
Alluding to the impact of the expected decision of the ICC judges, Khalil Ibrahim stressed “We are now facing a historic moment”, adding “The regime inevitably will fall very soon, and they know it, in Khartoum, even President Omar Al-Bashir said he was ready to step down if he is asked to do so”.
(ST)