Sudan number two sets out Darfur peace proposals

KHARTOUM, Feb 5 (AFP) — Sudanese number two Ali Osman Taha said his government was prepared to make “sacrifices” Saturday for the sake of peace in Darfur but warned ethnic minority rebels that continued insurgency would not bring reconstruction to their devastated region.

The first vice president called upon “the holders of weapons” to abide by a much broken 10-month-old truce and return to the negotiating table in search of a comprehensive settlement, state television reported from the North Darfur state capital of El Fasher.

“The gun will not bring about a solution to the problem — development and services will not be reached via subversion,” Taha said, urging the rebels to “put down the gun so that all of us will carry the spade for building Darfur.”

The vice president appealed to the Darfur insurgents to join the political process opened up by last month’s peace deal with southern rebels of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and held out the prospect of greater autonomy for the western region.

Greater participation by all of Sudan’s opposition groups had been “guaranteed” by the January 9 peace deal with the SPLA, he said.

“We reiterate our commitment to a decentralised rule in Darfur and the people of Darfur will rule their region at their own will.”

Taha warned the rebels not to rely on foreign intervention to secure satisfaction of their demands.

“Seeking foreign protection and resorting to international powers will not contribute to confidence building and will only lead to renewed fighting among the sons of the homeland.”

The vice president, who was recently appointed the government’s pointman in the Darfur conflict, said the search for a solution was proceeding on three tracks.

One subcommittee would investigate complaints of criminal acts against the security forces and their allied militias, another would look into compensation for the victims, while a third would address the root causes of conflict between the minorities and the region’s Arab tribes.

Taha said the subcommittees would tour the entire region to listen to grievances and vowed: “There will be no courtesy or leniency with anyone who has done injustice.”

UN envoy Jan Pronk said Friday that he feared last month’s peace deal ending two decades of conflict in southern Sudan would prove short-lived without an end to the bloodshed in Darfur.

“I am convinced that without a solution in Darfur, the north-south will not remain a sustainable peace agreement,” he told reporters after briefing the Security Council in New York.

The European Union has called for an immediate end to the “impunity” of government forces and militias in Darfur, which are held responsible for widespread rape and murder in the suppression of the nearly two year old rebellion.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Friday that the Security Council would decide how to bring to justice suspected war criminals in Darfur but Khartoum has said it is totally opposed to any overseas trials of its nationals.

Tens of thousands of people have died and nearly a million and a half been driven from their homes since the rebellion began in early 2003.