Rebel JEM group rejects Sudan’s statements on Darfur protection

August 19, 2007 (LONDON) — A Darfur rebel group denounced the “vicious campaign” carried out by the Sudanese government to undermine the UN resolution 1769 on the deployment of hybrid troops to protect Darfur civilians.

Ahmed Hussein Adam, the spokesperson of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement slammed statements by officials from the ministry of defense denying the protection of Darfur civilians by the hybrid forces. Ahmed said “We reject totally the wrong interpretation of the UN Resolution 1769 given by the Sudanese army officials.”

In a press conference held on Saturday, the minister of national defense, Abdelrahim Ahmed Hussein, described the UN Security Council Resolution 1769 as supportive of the country’s sovereignty, security, and stability, in contrast to the previous resolutions which sought to abolish sovereignty.

While, General Majzoub Rahamah, the officer in charge of international relations at the defense ministry said that the military personnel in the hybrid operation do not have the right to protect civilians. He further said that this force has the right to act under chapter 7 only in the case of self-defense.

Ahmed said if the UN resolution leaves things under the discretion of the Sudanese government what people of Darfur can expect from the AU-UN operation. He also reiterated his rejection of these statements because “it comes within a plan to hinder the implementation of the UN resolution and prevent the deployment of Darfur forces.”

“The provision 15 of the resolution provides the protection of civilians under the authority of chapter 7. The whole situation in Darfur according to the resolution 1769 constitutes a threat to international peace and security.” he said.

Ahmed urged the international community to reject these statements saying we request “a clear position from the UN Security Council over these wrong interpretations.”

He also added that Sudan’s government had “lost Darfur’s sovereignty since the day they committed genocide there.”

(ST)