Darfur SLA says Khartoum is unwilling to offer Vice-Presidency

April 19, 2006 (ABUJA) — A regime that is unwilling to offer a
position of Vice-President to Darfur does not deserve to be a
partner.

– The crucial question to be asked is whether
or not the Government of the Sudan has, indeed, taken a political
decision to participate genuinely in the search for a solution to
the conflict in Darfur.

– So far, the evidence is to the contrary.

– A few weeks ago, the Sudanese TV hosted a
number of Chadian opposition elements, despite the fact that Chad
had continued to act as Co-Mediator in the Inter-Sudanese Peace
Talks.

– It is obvious that the Government of the
Sudan has been capitalizing on the recent events in Chad. The
timing of the Vice-President’s visit to Abuja, ostensibly to cover
the Talks, cannot be unconnected with the Chadian opposition’s
recent attempts to overthrow their country’s government.

– After ten days of the Vice-President in
Abuja, we can safely say that he has come with nothing. Chairman
Mini Minawi Arko has had several meetings with the VP, and they
have exchanged views on substantive issues such as: Presidency
issue; Region; representation in the capital, Khartoum, as well as
in the executive and legislative organs; resource allocation to
Darfur; the question of positive discrimination and compensation
for developmental disadvantages; security arrangements including
maintenance of the Movements’ forces during the transition and
gradual integration into the national armed forces, etc. There has
been no breakthrough on these matters.

– The VP’s proposal that small groups be set up
to sort out these issues cannot be accepted, as these matters had
been exhaustively discussed during the negotiations. By this
proposal, the VP is only trying to ease the international pressure
on the Government of the Sudan; it is façade for the Government to
claim that it has succeeded in building confidence between it and
the Movements. After several meetings with Chairman Mini Minawi
Arko, the VP should come up with concrete solutions and need not
indulge in further time wasting.

– We are now like striving to bring the body
and soul of the Sudan together once again. This cannot be achieved
without leaving the Movements’ forces intact, and thereafter
integrating them into the national security forces in a way to
ensure proper implementation of a peace agreement.

– We are conscious of the fact the next stages
will be more difficult for the people of the Sudan. This is so
because the Government is oppressive and cannot find a solution to
the present situation. The citizens are looking forward to a new
Sudan to be built, not through military coup d’état or “intifada”,
but rather through recognition of the regional aspirations of the
people in a political space imbued with tolerance. This is
necessary for the country to remain united for the benefit of all
its citizens; a Sudan in which all and sundry will participate in
reaping the fruits of concerted efforts.