Darfur SLM-Nur urges UN to protect Darfur refugees

June 8, 2006 (NAIROBI) — The Rebel Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdelwahid al-Nur welcomed the Security Council visit to the refugee camps in Sudanese Darfur and Chad, the SLM urged the United Nations to protect the affected Darfur civilians.

In a press release issued Thursday the SLM-al-Nur renewed its rejection for the African Union brokered peace deal signed on 5 May between the Sudanese government and the SLM-Minawi faction. The rebel group repeated appeals for UN mediation to settle Darfur conflict.

The rebel SLM al-Nur faction and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) refuse to sign Darfur Peace Agreement, saying Khartoum has to meet crucial demands related to militias’ disarmament, power sharing and individual compensations for Darfur affected civilians.

The SLM also raises for the first time the question the, Tribal Lands Ownership, and call for its reinstallation.

Last week, in reaction to the Darfur SLM call for UN takeover of Darfur peace file, the African Union has rejected calls for negotiations on reaching peace in Sudan’s Darfur region to be handed over to the UN, saying the deal would not be held hostage by recalcitrant factions.

Rebels had until May 31 to agree to the peace deal, drawn up in Abuja on May 5, or face UN sanctions, but only one faction of the main Sudan Liberation Movement signed ahead of the deadline.

Below the text of the SLM/A Press Satement:

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June 8, 2006 (NAIROBI) — The SLM/A welcomes the UN Security Council delegation’s visit to Sudan, Darfur, IDPs camps, and refugee camps in Chad. The SLM/A believes that, protecting innocent civilians and bringing stability and tranquility in Darfur should be a priority. To that end, the SLM/A appeals to the UN Security Council to enforce all previously approved resolutions, which are associated with the Darfur conflict, including those that are associated with the CPA.

The SLM/A affirms its refusal to the AU mediation with regard to resolving the Darfur conflict. The mediation file should be taken over by the United Nations. It is no secret that, the AU has failed to bring peace to Darfur, both from a political and a security standpoint.

The GoS should show genuine intensions by committing itself to addressing the root cause of the conflict, which includes, issues of equitable share in power and wealth for Darfur as well as a formulation of a clear plan (to be agreed upon by the parties) to ensure that Genocide and ethnic cleansing never reoccur in Darfur, or in any other part of Sudan.

The issue of compensation to war-affected persons, has always been a key demand, and it should not be subjected to any comprise, political or otherwise. Compensating war-affected persons is crucial to creating a healthy environment in realizing reconciliation in Darfur. It is also important to enforce UN Security Resolution 1564 with regard to the issue of compensation as stipulated on the previously mentioned resolution.

Also the SLM/A believes that, Tribal Lands Ownership (Hawakeer) shall be reinstated to their historical and traditional lines/marks. Any monetary compensation for tribal lands lost during the war in Darfur and as stipulated in the Proposed DPA, is categorically and unequivocally unacceptable.

The SLM/A affirms its commitment to abide by all previously signed agreements (N’Djamena, Addis Ababa, and Abuja Protocols to enhance the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur). We will work with the international community at large to bring peace and stability to Darfur. We would also like to take the opportunity to wish the UN delegation to Sudan all the success in its mission.

Jaffer Monro

Spokesperson and Press Secretary, SLM/A

For more info regarding this Press Release, please contact:

Nouri Abdalla, SLM/A

GSM: +254-72-752-2952

Email: [email protected]

(ST)