Sudan will invite rebels to Darfur comprehensive peace conference – Bashir

July 23, 2008 (ELFASHER) – President Omer al-Bashir said today that rebel movements would be invited to take part in an inter-Sudanese comprehensive conference to restore peace and stability in Darfur.

Sudanese president visited today the troubled Darfur region defying the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court who accused him of committing genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes during the five year conflict in the region.

Al-Bashir announced during a mass rally in the capital of North Darfur that his government is preparing for a peace conference where all the Sudanese political forces, all the Darfuri civil, social and religious leaders.

He further added “even all our brothers in the (rebel) movements, signatories or non-signatories (of the Darfur Peace Agreement), will be invited to participate (in this conference) to achieve peace in Darfur, to achieve justice in Darfur, security and tranquillity and peaceful coexistence between people of Darfur.”

Following an aborted raid by the Justice and Equality Movement on the Sudanese capital last May, al-Bashir excluded JEM from any peace talks. He explained that the rebel movement aimed at achieving regime change in Sudan.
Al-Bashir had said JEM is not part in the equation of Darfur or in the equation of the peaceful exchange of power “and so we have no reason to negotiate with the Justice and Equality (Movement).”

The Sudanese president admitted that there were crimes committed in Darfur and injustice. But He added that the government wanted to provide security and stability.

“Yes, we all know there are problems in Darfur and we all know that there are injustices that took place in Darfur but we are from the first day we were keen to provide security for all the people of Darfur and achieve stability” he said.

He also said Darfur people with their heritage and history are able to overcome the current situation, and pledged that his government would support these efforts for peace there.

Bashir further said he was committed to peace in Darfur and signed the Abuja Agreement to resolve the issue. He blamed the problem on what he termed “enemies of Sudan, Islam and Darfur”, whom he said do not want peace to be realized in the region.

Darfur rebel movements took up arms in the remote western region in early 2003, accusing the government of neglect. To quell the rebellion, the central government mobilised local militias who are accused of atrocities including widespread rape, murder and looting.

U.N. experts estimate some 300,000 people have died and 2.5 million have had to flee their homes during the Darfur conflict, sparking the world’s largest humanitarian operation.

Al-Bashir avoided to speak about the charges by the ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo and his request for an arrest warrant against him. But he thanked the African, Arab and non-aligned movement countries for their support. He also alluded to the enemies who try to divide the Sudanese to different tribes, en reference to what Ocampo said about genocide against Fur, Masalit and Zagawh tribes.

He also spoke about Ocampo describing him as the one who hinders government effort to achieve peace in the region; when he said that efforts for peace will not be obstructed by Ocampo “because we know who are behind him, is about those who try to block us whenever we make some progress”

(ST)