Darfur rebel faction suspends contacts with the SPLM
June 3, 2007 (ROME) — A Darfur rebel faction has suspended its contacts with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement to protest hostile statements made by the Sudan’s envoy to Washington who described rebels groups as “terrorists”.
??Esameldin Elhag, the spokesperson of a rebel faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), said in a press statement that his faction suspended contacts with the SPLM which intends to organize a finding common ground meeting in Juba for the different rebel factions before to engage peace talks with Khartoum.
Elhag, who represents a splinter faction from Minni Minawi, condemned statements made by Sudan’s Ambassador to the USA, John Ukec Lueth Ukec, during a press conference held on Wednesday May 30, to protest the new sanctions imposed by the US against Sudan.
Ukec accused the US government and NGOs of exaggerating the Darfur crisis and denied that genocide took place in the war ravaged region of Sudan. He further criticized the international community for not treating the Darfur rebels who rejected the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) as “terrorists”.
The SPLM Washington office condemned Ukec’s statements saying it represents his personal view. But as it was said by many Darfur rebel leaders to the Sudan Tribune, this condemnation is considered as insufficient. They are waiting for the reaction of the SPLM leadership.
The rebel spokesperson considered Ukec statements as the continuation of the negative role played by the SPLM delegation during peace talks in Abuja last year and repetitive hostile press statements by the SPLM leadership.
Since the death of the late John Garang, a silent crisis is looming between the SPLM and the Darfur rebel groups. First Vice President Salva Kiir is considered as little concerned about the resolution of Darfur crisis. Since the failure of Abuja talks Salva Kiir is speaking about SPLM role in Darfur crisis resolution but even after the announcement of Juba Conference few steps are effectively taken in this direction.
Reverend Clement Janda, who is appointed as SPLM special envoy to Darfur “has did nothing since his designation” and many Darfur rebels say SPLM leadership statements on Darfur resolution are just for the “public consumption”.
Darfur rebels are also frustrated to see the repetitive verbal attacks made by the SPLM foreign minister, Lam Akol, who used to attack the hold out rebels without any reaction from his political leadership arguing that he represents the national unity government.
During his visit to Chad two months ago to explain his initiative, Salva Kiir only met the former governor of Darfur Ahmed Diraij who has no real political influence among the rebel groups. The other rebel leaders were out of the Chadian capital and didn’t appreciate the lack of coordination before the visit.
Observers consider Ukec statements as “the last drop that made the vase overflow”. They consider that the SPLM leadership should have an effective political steps in this regard before losing a precious ally in its political struggle with the National Congress Party.
(ST)