Sudan arrests Beja leader for opposition to Eritrean “interferences” – rebels
September 2, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese authorities have arrested the leader of Beja Congress inside Sudan, Dirar Ahmed Dirar, for his opposition to the growing Eritrean role in the implementation of a peace deal signed in October last year with Khartoum.
He has been detained just one day before the arrival of the Eastern Front leadership from Asmara on August 26. The Sudanese authorities feared that he might orchestrate a protest at the airport denouncing the agreement, the Eastern Front and “the Eritrean interference in our internal affairs”. A rebel source told Sudan Tribune.
Dirar held several meetings in many towns in eastern Sudan, speaking about the agreement, the Eritrean interference and calling to boycott the meagre posts left to the Beja in power sharing. He announced the withdrawal of the Beja Congress from the Eastern front.
Dirar, is the president of the Beja Congress inside Sudan. He lives in Port Sudan. He had been detained several times by the security services. After the killing of 22 people in Port Sudan in January 2005 following a protest organized by his party, he was detained for 6 months together with several leaders of the Beja Congress.
The rebel leader is favourable to the Eastern Sudan Peace agreement with Khartoum signed in Asmara last October. However, he was frustrated by the growing Eritrean intervention during the talks and after. Dirar denounced Asmara pressures on the former rebel front to share the obtained positions with tribal leaders allied to the Sudanese ruling party.
The inside Sudan leadership said that the Asmara backed tribal leaders didn’t participate in the struggle for eastern Sudan rights. Further, they said that this intrusion of the tribalism in eastern Sudan political activities would lead to divisions, confrontation and possible darfurism among the people of the region.
According to rebel sources, most of the 60 posts allocated to the East Front by the deal have been granted to people who have nothing with the rebels. “Some have been known for their membership in the ruling National Congress Party, other are security agents.” The source added “this situation was the result of a deal between the NCP and Eritrean authorities.”
“The leaders of the Beja Congress inside Sudan are against this deal, against the continuous Eritrean interference in our affairs. Those in Asmara just obey orders from above.” The rebel source regretted.
The Eastern Front was formed in 2005 by eastern Sudan’s largest ethnic group, the Beja, and the Rashidiya Arabs. The group has similar aims to its better-known counterparts in Darfur: greater autonomy and control of resources.
The Beja, the largest eastern tribe, spans the border of Eritrea and Sudan.
The Beja Congress is created since 1958.
(ST)