SLM statement on the perspectives of Darfur peace talks

June 18, 2007 (LONDON) — Below a statement by the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement on the prespectives of peace talks with the government :

DARFUR crisis is complex, it embedded in deep rooted causes and larger issues, perhaps, require a profound level of attention before scuttling toward any political negotiations. To make it simple, the crux of the Darfur catastrophe divided into two interconnected and overlapping parts. First and the most alarming one is the current human security. There are an immense human destruction such as murder, rape, torture and massive displacement. Second, the problem of citizenship rights, which in principle, is the core source of the human turmoil in Darfur and elsewhere in the Sudan. In respect, there are few political elites holding an obnoxious racial and religious ethos against the majority of citizens.
To solve such difficult dilemma, we should deal with the two parts of this disaster respectfully.

In deed, peaceful political resolution instate of conflict means is our vital end. Certainly,we are searching for durable solutions that overcome the suffering of our people and transform our country into a peaceful democratic state that respect our differences and endorse the value of equal citizenship rights. However, before pursuing any negotiations with the Khartoum regime, we should consider some crucial factors. Khartoum regime is rouge, despotic and brutal regime. The recent history and experience proves its cruelness and dishonest behavior.

On this view, the rational of this fact is, this tyrannical regime regularly committing genocide against its own people in Darfur and in various parts of the Sudan, conducting unwarranted provocation against its neighboring countries and the world; violating international standards of acceptable behavior by failing to implement a single UN Security Council Resolutions on Darfur or live up other national and international treaties. Such behavior seems quite implausible. As in adequate consideration, most of the world are, somewhat doubt and even more cynical about such strange attitudes. As a result, we are very anxious, however, any political negotiations with such creepy behavior will be ineffective, and might even cause further outbreaks of violence, crime against humanity and genocide. Therefore, it is necessary to state that any genuine perspective political negotiations with Khartoum brutal-rouge regime, obviously, will requires a conducive environment, and that should concentrate in practical implementation of the following:

– Immediate and unconditional cease fire all over Darfur region.
– Immediate humanitarian intervention to stop the ongoing atrocities, prevent undesirable outcome of more human destructions and implementation of all UN Security Council Resolutions on Darfur, especially Resolution 1706, the deployment of UN troops in Darfur, and Resolution 1591, the disarmament of the Janjaweed and all other Khartoum government militias.
– Open humanitarian corridors in all Darfur region without any preconditions.
– Enforce arms embargo and a non-fly zone all over Darfur region.
– Declare Oil- for -Food Programme, to use oil revenues in exchange for food, medicine and other humanitarian needs as well as compensations for the victims of genocide and reconstruction of their region.
– Remove all new settlers from the Darfuri-indigenous lands (Hawakeir).
– Withdrew all Khartoum troops and allied militias from all SLM/A areas and move back to their areas prior to N’Djamena cease-fire agreement in April 2004.
– Release all political prisoners whom their cases are related to Darfur conflict.

These are extremely vital requirements. It is necessary at this point to state that we reiterate our commitment to N’Djamena cease-fire agreement and all UN Security Council resolutions on Darfur. At the same time we are acting in our people’s interest and we are vigilant about their security and prosperity. As intuitively, inherited in our core and indisputable moral merit, we will not let them die or being killed. They should be safe from any harm, and be able to live in a decent and dignified life. This is not only our duty; in fact, it is a duty of the international community, states and peace loving individuals. Thus, it is necessary to put an end to the ongoing genocide, reflect a holistic concern about the security of people and then we can embark on constructive political negotiations and reach into perpetual peace that we judge to be just and beneficial.

We conclude with a caveat. Peace will occur precisely with the immense attentions to security of the people and the resolution of the root causes of the current genocide, punishment of the perpetrators, readdress the injustice of the past, reconstruct positive relations among the people, and create new political order that admire the attraction of our differences, respect human dignity as equal citizens. To make it short, without genuine commitment, no conclusion of any peace settlement with the Khartoum regime will consider valid, but it will reserve the material for future conflict and human distraction.

Abdulwhaid Mohamed Ahmed Alnur SLM, Chairman

June 13, 2007