Sudan’s oil money should be under UN control – Darfur rebels

March 28, 20007 (ABECHE, Chad) — A Darfur rebel said that Sudan’s oil money should be under the control of the UN to finance humanitarian operations, reconstruction and development.

In a meeting held in Abéché near the border with the visiting UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Darfur, Jan Eliasson, the rebel Justice and Equality said that “Sudan is too rich to allow its people to be fed by the international community.

The UN should take control over Sudan’s oil revenue and redirect it for feeding, reconstruction and development of the Sudan.” The rebel group explained that Khartoum uses oil revenue to kills its own people.

In a meeting attended by forty commanders, JEM reaffirmed that no military solution for the war in Darfur because Darfur problem is a political one. “Inclusive negotiations are the only way out of the current stalemate.”

JEM’s further pledged its full cooperation to facilitate flow of humanitarian works in Darfur and indicated its willingness to use, and if necessary sacrifice lives of its troops, for the purpose.

The rebel group “registered its extreme reservation against Salim Ahmed Salim but singled its readiness for involvement of the AU with the UN in the coming round of Talks.” JEM press release said.

JEM also affirmed Eliasson’s emphasis on the unity of the Movements before the next round of talks. “As stated, JEM is now focussed on this issue with some limited success already been achieved” the rebels said.

The UN envoy told the rebels that the UN forces cannot proceed under Resolution 1706. A new UN Security Council resolution may be needed after peace is achieved in Darfur, the statement said.

He further stressed on the need to involve all the political forces in the Darfur Peace Agreement. “The DPA cannot be implemented as it stands now and has to be widened to accounts for views of non-signatories.”

On Tuesday March 27 Eliasson told a joint press conference in Khartoum that the path to peace in Darfur needs not only the support and goodwill of the parties involved in the conflict, but broad public support as well before a durable solution can take effect.

Eliasson and his African Union (AU) counterpart Salim Ahmed Salim have been travelling around the region this week to try to re-energize the political negotiation process so that a comprehensive solution can be found to Darfur, which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said is home to the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

(ST)