Darfur figure still in wait for Sudan green light

September 3, 2007 (PARIS) — A Darfur rebel figure who is confined in a UN hospital in southern Kordofan said Sudanese president has directed his release in order to allow his departure abroad but the presidential decree not yet reached the UN.

Suleiman Jamous, the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) humanitarian coordinator told Sudan Tribune from UN military hospital in Kadogli, that Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir has issued a presidential decree authorizing the UN mission in Sudan to proceed with his transfer aboard for treatment.

Whoever, Suleiman said that the decision is not yet notified officially to the UNMIS. The humanitarian coordinator who suffers from an abdominal complaint needs a stomach biopsy which cannot be performed in the U.N. hospital.

Last month, U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said the Khartoum government told the world body that Jamous was free to leave the hospital for medical treatment abroad and could return to Darfur under condition he not fight.

Jamous has been virtually imprisoned in a U.N. hospital near Darfur for more than 13 months after the United Nations airlifted him there for medical treatment. Khartoum was not informed of the U.N. move and calls Jamous a criminal. It had said he would be arrested if he leaves U.N. care.

The United Nations had moved him to a U.N. hospital near Darfur more than a year ago without informing Khartoum. Sudan has called him a criminal and has said it would arrest him if he left U.N. care.

Suleiman Jamous, 62-year-old, had been detained by Minni Minawi on 20 May 2006 after his opposition to Darfur Peace Agreement. The former UN special envoy to Sudan, Jan Pronk had obtained his release on 22 June 2006 and transported him to Kadugli in a UNMIS hospital for medical treatment; but also to protect him from Minawi.

(ST)