Rebels say inter Darfur dialogue only valid after peace
February 17, 2008 (LONDON) – A Darfur rebel group has denounced the launch of Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultations (DDDC) in the South Darfur State saying such process should be conducted following the conclusion of a lasting peace deal.
The governor of South Darfur on February 17 attended a ceremony organized by the State Radio and TV Corporation to mark the launch of the DDDC process in the State, Radio Nyala reported.
Ahmed Hussein Adam, the spokesperson of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) said that according to the Declaration of Principles agreed with the rebel movements in Abuja, the DDDC has to be organised by Darfur political and civil forces without any interference from the central government.
“Such manipulation aims at the destruction of the social fabric of Darfur. What is happening now is a kind of hijacking” Ahmed said.
The rebel spokesperson further asserted that JEM was the instigator of the idea of DDDC, adding that this process has to be conducted after the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement between the government and the rebel movements in Darfur.
“According to us this DDDC can only be held in a healthy environment following the end of hostilities and violence because it means to give the ownership of the peace agreement to all the people of Darfur including the different, political, tribal and social forces but not in this acrobatic way.” He underlined.
Ahmed described the current process as “a distortion of the DDDC and an abortion to the rational behind the idea”. He further accused the National Congress Party of hijacking the inter Darfuris dialogue process.
“The DDDC at this stage is a superficial operation far from the people and used by Khartoum as instrument to hit the social fabric because the government does not want the unity of Darfur people.” He said.
Ahmed urged the African officials in charge with the DDDC to assign the money allocated to this operation to something else useful for Darfur people because at this stage it would be a useless expenditure.
(ST)