Sudan says JEM rebels discussed jobs only

March 30, 2010 (DOHA) — Sudan’s government on Tuesday slapped the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) saying it had only discussed the power sharing with them in Chad and submitted a series of “impossible demands”.

On Monday JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim held a press conference in Doha announcing the willingness of the rebel group to negotiate with Khartoum government and accused the later of stalling the peace process.

The leader of the rebel group also accused the government of violating the ceasefire several times adding that Sudanese army is undertaking military buildup and preparing for war. Also, JEM spokesperson accused the government of attempting to seduce his group by speaking with them in Ndjamena only about positions adding they want election postponement.

In a press conference held in Doha on Tuesday after his return from Khartoum, Amin Hassan Omer, government top negotiator accused JEM of neglecting the demands of Darfur people and negotiating only with them on the positions and jobs they want to get in the government and states functions.

He further disclosed a long list of positions and jobs that JEM had submitted to the government through the Chadian facilitators.

JEM demands “greatly bewildered officials in N’Djamena just as much as it did to the (Sudanese) government”.

According to the Sudanese official JEM demands 25% of the jobs in the federal government, the position of Vice President of the Republic, two presidential assistants, three presidential advisers, six federal ministries: two sovereign ministries, two service ministries and two economic ministries and eight state minters.

The top negotiator continued to say that JEM asked to be represented in the federal parliament by 60 seats with the post of deputy speaker in the National Assembly, and to have the chairmanship of four from the eight parliamentary commissions. JEM also asked to get the position of deputy speaker at the Council of States, the higher chamber which represents the regional states.

The rebel group demands to have 12 ambassadors plus 15 consuls at the foreign ministry; the position of deputy director of the intelligence and security services, the director general of Sudan police, deputy director of the customs police. The rebels also claim eight positions of university directors and 10 deputy directors as well as the position of director of student fund.

JEM also asks to be represented with 25% of the positions in the Sudanese administration and civil service.

JEM rebels demand the position of Khartoum governor, two state ministries, three heads of the six districts in Khartoum, three positions of secretary general at the state government and 25% of the members of the Khartoum state legislative assembly.

Besides that, the rebel group claims all the post of governors of three Darfur states, and two deputy governors in Darfur, 75% of ministers the three states of Darfur, 60% of the members of the legislative chambers of Darfur, deputy speakers in the three states legislatives assemblies, besides the control of 40% of public establishments in Darfur.

In Kordofan, the rebel group demands 60% of ministerial positions, 60% of MPs in the state legislative assembly. Also the rebels ask for 10% of the MPs of the rest of northern Sudan states.

In southern Sudan, JEM requests one state minister in the ten states of the semi autonomous region, a state governor and 5% of the membership of southern Sudan parliament.

According to the list disclosed by Sudanese government, JEM demanded to have 3533 military positions that start with the rank of Lieutenant General, besides the integration of 93280 fighters.

The rebels demanded various positions in the justice authorities as the position of deputy chief justice and four judges in the Constitutional Court which is composed of nine judges, three of them are chosen from the south.

JEM finally demands $ 1500 as compensation for each displaced persons and refugees. Yesterday, JEM leader confirmed this figure and said it had been rejected by the government. Amin said such amount requires eight billion of dollars.

Sudan Tribune has learnt from informed sources that when Khartoum refused this list, JEM said accepting a previous proposal made by Khartoum and published at the time by Sudan Tribune including two posts of presidential advisers, three ministers and one state minister in the federal government, one governor in Darfur, five regional ministries including three in Darfur and two in other regions, and seven members in the national parliament.

But, Khartoum withdrawn this offer also.

The sources in the Chadian capital said discussions were very heated during the latest round of talks in Ndjamena, following what President Deby decided to stop his efforts to facilitate an agreement between the two parties and ask them to resume it in the official venue of mediation, Doha.

The head of the Sudanese negotiating team said that JEM blocked the talks since the signing of the framework agreement on february 23 and started talking about things not included in the accord like the postponement of general election scheduled for next April.

On Tuesday, the mediation met for the first time with JEM delegation since the arrival of Khalil Ibrahim to Doha four days ago. The meeting discussed ways to resume the deadlocked negotiations. Also the other rebel group, Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) is still negotiating with the government.LJM and Sudanese government are reportedly discussing power sharing nowadays.

Amin Hassan Omer said they have no power to continue the talks after the 9 of April due to the general elections that will start in the country on April 11. He added that there statements in this regard do not mean to threat to end the process but the government they represent will cease its existence at that day.

“After that date the government will turn to caretaker government that has no authority to conclude local or international agreements until the handover of power to a new elected government,” he said.

He also accused JEM of violating the ceasefire 22 times since its signing last February.

(ST)