JEM veteran rebel establishes collective leadership, confirms split
October 7, 2007 (LONDON) — A new splinter group from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) announced the formation of a collective leadership for the rebel group. It also said that a general conference to be held.
JEM veteran Abu Garda was relieved from his position as Secretary for Western Sector on September 26. He was against the removal of the former JEM commander in chief, Abdalla Banda.
He charged Khalil Ibrahim of adopting totalitarian style of leadership. “He has became a threat for the unity of the movement” said the statement accusing him of monopolizing the leadership of the group with his two brothers.
The head of the breakaway group also described Khalil as “threat for the unity of Sudan” because he calls for the separation of Darfur. Abu Garda also said Khalil endangers the “success of the forthcoming peace talks” in Libya at the end of this month.
The splinter leader reinstated the former commander in chief of JEM forces, Abdella Banda to the position from which he was sacked.
He also said will undertake contacts with the mediation team to join the forthcoming peace talks scheduled to begin on 27 October in Libya.
Yesterday the JEM chairman said he would not attend peace talks in Libya this month if more than two rival rebel groups — JEM and SLM — are invited, casting further doubts over the peace process.
HASKANITA ATTACK
Abu Garda, who was accused of being author of the attack against the AU peacekeepers in Haskanita in northern Darfur on 29 September, strongly denied the charge. He condemned the attack and said read to cooperate with the AU-UN investigation team to identify the responsible.
In a statement to Radio France International on October 1, Abu Garda said he had no troops in Haskanita, and added that Khalil Ibrahim had accused him of this attack because of the “internal problems” with him.
(ST)
The following is the press statement issued by the JEM Collective Leadership
Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)-Collective Leadership
The Movement has been established for an equal distribution of Wealth , Power , services , removal of injustice from marginalized and to settle values of justice and equality ,freedom and democracy , accountability ,transparency human rights and rights of woman in particular.
For realization of above indicated objectives the Movement forced to carry an arm. In very short period of time defeated the regime in all military, political and negotiation fields and forced it to sit with the JEM movement and signed several agreements and protocols under the care of African Union, neighbouring countries and international community.
(2004 – 2005)
In May 2006 the fraction of Mini Minawy has signed a weak so called ” Abuja Peace Agreement.
The military and executive Bureau of the movement rejected that Agreement , in cooperation with other Movements , IDPs , refugees and other Darfurian leaders at home land and external , organizations of civil societies-were sabotaged the agreement through vast military and diplomatic actions witnessed by the enemies before the friends.
Under such circumstances the chairman of the movement Dr : Khalil Ibrahim has arrived in the field in June 2007 after he suffered allot at abroad . He was absent from the field since the beginning of military operations early 2003 up to June 2007. He carried with him to the field factors of conflicts and differences to the core of the cohesion Movement which supported by the Darfurians and International community. Since the deputy chairman and secretary General Mr : Bahar Idriss left Darfur operation sectors in March 2007 leading the delegation to Arusha (Tanzania) consultations, visit Libya, Eritrea and Egypt, Mr: Khalil has done the following conspiracies :
1-Disagreed with the Speaker of the Legislative Committee Mr : IBrahim Yahya therefore, the later left the field and joined the Khartoum regime in June 2007.
2- Fired the chief commander of Justice and Equality and Movement and National Redemption Front (NRF) General : Abdella Banda Abaker in July 2007 .
3-rejeted the appeals of the Executive Bureau to revise his decision of firing the Commander in Chief for public interest and to maintain the unity of the movement. The Bureau met at Libya on July 23rd, 2007 to discuss the reasons behind firing of Commander.
4-Khalil has attacked the Commander in Chief on July 27th, 2007. By taking this action he established An immoral and bad habit and created internal fights with his opponents ( who is not with us is against us).
5- Attempted to extend the battle field to Kurdufan and singed agreement with people of ‘SHAHAMA’ on June 18th, 2007 and hired Mr: Mahamed Bahar Ali Hamdan as secretary General and vice chairman of Kurdufan without consultation of the executive Bureau, its known that the signed Abuja Declaration of Principles (DOP) on 5th of July 2005 has determined the settlement of the conflict within Darfur Region .
6- Threatened the unity of Sudan , the safety of its territory ,and its Independence by his statements on BBC on September 17th 2007 calling for separation of Darfur . It’s an obvious retreat from the DOP which singed in Abuja (Nigeria).
7- Dr: Khalil has became a threatening element for the success of forthcoming negotiations on October 27th, 2007 at Tripoli (Libya), he intended by his announcements on BBC to sabotage the negotiations by declaring the separation of Darfur if it failed . Normally people go to negotiations with good faith. Issues like compensations, land, Region, redistribution of wealth, and all other aspects are negotiable on Round Table .
8- He became a threat to the unity of the movement and its cohesion. and practically the movement is divided now into absolute majority of military, political, foreign offices, IDPs, refugees, internal and external Darfur intellectuals and tribal leaders who are supporting the reforms and few individuals (three brothers; Dr. Khalil Ibrahim, Dr. Gibreal Ibrahim and Abdelaziz) working for the exclusion of others and weakening the unity and the solidarity of the Movement.
9- The last series of his conspiracies was his alleged of firing the Vice chairman and the Secretary General of Darfur and head of Arusha (Tanzania) Consultation Team, he fired Mr: Bahar Idriss Abu Garda depending on an argument of planning for coup d’état in collaboration with military and political leaders (September 25th, 2007).
10. His two brothers; Dr. Gibreal (Economic Advisor of the Chairman) and Abdulaziz (Military Commander for Eastern Sudan and Vice Secretary for Political Affairs) exercise a parallel power to the Chairman and his Deputy. They have hindered many times the decisions of the Chairman and his Deputy and Mr. Abdelaziz has excluded members from Eastern Sudan and committed serious mistakes.
11- Khalil has kidnapped and arrested a number of political and military leaders e.g. Omer Bakhiet Abakar member of executive body and field commander and Deputy Secretary of Social Affairs, General Mahamed Saleh Mongo Chief Commander of moralization, Mr : Ahmad Labdo , Abdelaziz Sulieman Oury ( CFC)and others .
To this deteriorating situation, depending on our historical and national responsibilities, to achieve the ambitions of our relatives in refugee camps , internally displaced persons, to realize the rights and justices , to stand upon the movement principles and its declared objectives, to comply the blood of our heroes , sacrificed, injured and handicapped men and women.
After intensive and wide arrange of communications and consultations with members of executive bureau, our offices in abroad , IDPs , refugees and homeless, internal and external leaders , tribal and traditional leaders , sympathisers and supporters of Darfur problem, we have decided the followings:
1. Established Collective leadership under the presidency of Mr. Bahar Idriss Abugarda On 03rd of October, 2007and the list of the committee which composes of 15 members will be announced later.
2. In cooperation with other institutions, the Collective Leadership Committee conducts the political, military and negotiation activities by contacting African Union, United Nations, International Community and the organizations concerned with Darfur problem until the General Assembly will be held. Such meeting should be well prepared and led by serious and neutral members.
3. After consultations of the concern, the Head of Collective Leadership Mr. Baher Idriss Abugarda has reappointed General Abdalla Banda Abaker as Commander in Chief (CNC) of JEM forces from today 4th of October, 2007.
4. In coordination and preparation with our colleagues in other movements to form united delegation and opinion to make the forth coming negotiations of Tripoli successful.
5. We appeal all brothers in other movements and groups for the necessity of creating one body and team work. We are ready to cooperate with anyone shows his/her willingness for such purposes.
6. To stand upon the basic issues (Region, Compensation, Specification of certain amount for reconstruction of Darfur, participation in the civil services based on the population criteria, resolving the land issue and others).
Finally, the Movement shows its deep sorrow and condemns the attack on the African Union forces at Haskaneeta (Southern Darfur) and send its condolences to the families, friends , countries, the Chairman of all commissions and the entire international community. We are absolutely ready to cooperate with the African Union in its investigations to reveal the truth and we appeal all African states to participate and keep their forces in Darfur. Also the movement assures its stated commitment to all agreements and protocols which signed with other parties.
The Movement takes this opportunity to appreciate and thanks the neighbouring countries of Sudan (Chad, Libya, Eritrea, Egypt and central Africa ) for their continuous efforts on hosting refugees, facilitating and providing them all they need and their genuine will to find peaceful solution to conflict, and the movement blesses the efforts of the International Wisdom Committee under the chairman of Bishop Dosmon Toto , president Carter and Akhder Alibraheemy and expresses its absolute readiness to cooperate with them for just, comprehensive and lasting peace in Darfur. Also thanks the African Union, United Nations, European Union, Arab League, The Organization of Islamic Conference, United States of America, Canada, Norway, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, ICRC, all countries, humanitarian organizations and the goodwill personals who provided unlimited support to the people of Darfur.
To contact:
Mr. Baher Idriss Abugarda
Chairman of Collective Leadership Tel. 0088 216 21 20 79 39 / 0088 216 21 33 51 29
Mr. Mohammed Abderhman Labadu
Representative of the Movement (CFC) in Darfur Tel. 249 910718407
Tadjadine Basheir Niam
Deputy Chief Negotiator and Rep. of the Movement in African Union
Tel: 00235 6 26 46 60 / 00235 9 99 80 64
Issued in the Librated zones, on 4th October, 2007.
Rich de Ayong Yor
JEM veteran rebel establishes collective leadership, confirms split
hello,
Dafurian, It is good step that you are about. Unite yourslef, as long as your are doing the same objectives, that is liberating of your people from Khartoum (NIF) Regime; which has nothing to do with sudanese accept killing of their community even some of its good leaders in NCP.The APA signed by Mini is now a friend of (KA) Khartoum Agreement, and Addis Ababa Agreement. however, the different is only a periodic matter or time factor.
Now, libyia will do nothing to your citizens, The only solution is UN to be on the ground in Darfur with very strong army under that good article 7, from western world and some from Europe, not Chinees,Egype nor Afganistan.
*Unite….Unite…..Uniiiiiiited*. It is where they will fear from you.
Thanks.
Rich