JEM proposal for Sudan Interim Govt must be rejected

By Isaiah Abraham

August 14, 2008 — Darfur JEM is making it clear that their intention is to overthrow the current Interim Government of the Sudan by hooks and crooks, and this isn’t a secret or a joke- they mean it. They are everywhere: in the field, at the UN and lobby groups (Human rights and ICC) and virtually anywhere. Their ranks have swallowed with supporters from other armed groups from Darfur when the larger Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) disintegrated into splinter groups opposed to each other. They are equipped with guns, communication means, money and intention. Their ranks including (possibly) others who are known as distance brothers (does that sound like Chad Zaghawas? May be or may be not). Oh, no! May be that is too much of speculations.

These people (JEM) after their failed attempt to take over Khartoum and overthrowAl Bashir they never stop there: they then resort to master the power of the media, capitalize on the suffering people in the displaced camps in Darfur and Janjaweedphobia factor in that region. They bend things so cleverly and lured Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo in to becoming a stuff or say part and parcel of Darfur problem. He is no longer a solution given his shrouded legal puerile or irresponsible approach against the people of the Sudan through their President. You could read how badly that man look like (inconsistency in defence)) during his latest interview on the same about his world politicize and publicize indictment against PresidentAl Bashir.

JEM furthermore, made another dangerous move by posting its position or face of what they want to do when they take Khartoum’s power through Luis Moreno-Ocampo (ICC). They say there is ‘uncertainty’ and ‘vacuum’ after the ICC and hence it’s ok to establish Sudan on these premises;

1) Institution of rule of law and preservation of citizen rights

2) Preservation of unity of Sudan and its people

3) Implementation of fair division of power and wealth.

I must stop here for a moment. JEM objective is beyond Darfur just to narrow our argument; they are there to establish Sudan on new basis in which Darfur shall be the seventh state within a state. It’s a condensed plan. But who is really behind all these plans. Dr. Khalil Ibrahim Ahmed is the man- a physician cum politicians and held social, health and education portfolios under NCP- is a serious Islamist and former staunch member of the NIF when El Turabi was at the helm of things or right when the Junta came to power in June 1989. No one is against his personal conviction however, it good to believe in Allah, Allah is indeed great and good!

This man thrust himself in to Sudanese political world after the arrest of his mentor Dr. Hassan Abdallah El Turabi in 1999. He knows what he is doing and must not be ignored. He would go for anything to make sure that the Islamic fanatics government under Dr. El Turabi is back in power in Khartoum. For him the CPA is nothing but a document that could be amended or expanded. They see nothing wrong so long as this isn’t a threat to Sudan territorial integrity and unity.

For my people Southern Sudanese, let’s exercise discreet and care when things are at this stage. In this situation especially after the ICC things are at cross road, either for good or bad to our people; possibly not for our own good. I have a feeling that the CPA is indeed in danger of going Addis Ababa or Khartoum Charter history lane. We must not close our eyes and assume that JEM and Darfur would not affect us indirectly or directly.

Transition wouldn’t be for our favor. Northern political history against the Southern Sudan is still fresh. After the CPA the majority of our people thought the North is changing towards Southern Sudan and allow it to pick its chattered pieces of their lives. JEM and Darfur move at this point is a bigger picture of what we have been suspecting and experiencing from the North. Their proposal of the new government shows that color so clearly.

Whenever Southern Sudan goes one step forward, the Northerners always makes it two steps far behind or backward; how long would that continue God? I’m reading tough times ahead unless the head of our Government maintains his current stand against the ICC indictment. We will lose as the writing of the wall is a classical reminiscence of Northern routine abrogation of Southern Agreements. How dare is JEM to reconstitutionalize Sudan after historical Peace Agreement?

I don’t care whether you are a Pan-Africanist or simple Sudanese who see another part of the Sudan burning and then sympathize. The indictment of President ofAl Bashir would harm us as people Southern Sudan and even other marginalized areas. How? The departure ofAl Bashir whether through ICC or others (coup de tat) shall make the CPA irrelevance or difficult to be implemented fully. That must not surprise anyone, its right here. This is a bitter truth.

We aren’t in a monarchy to have another (continuation) of the NCP dynasty ruling Sudan, are we? Removal of Al Bashir isn’t that easy; he’s highly likely not going to go to The Hague alive whether as head of state or after leaves it! Ali Osman Mohamed Taha moreover can not be like Salva Kiir of the SPLM in succession; there are others after this seat in Khartoum. JEM is one of them among other hosts.

The ICC and others won’t go forAl Bashir and leave behind the institution in tact. He isn’t just an individual but head of a government and when the head of the government is gone through that process, how would the transition look like in our crowded political competition of this country?

You might argue that this agreement (CPA) is an institutional agreement but will insist on saying it’s a bilateral agreement. You know that difference, yeah? This distinction is critical. If not JEM and others couldn’t have struggle to topple it. Why remove a system when you won’t change its laws. JEM is exactly doing it (remove the system). Where are we going to be if non signatories of the CPA come to power? Don’t talk about an agreement between the North and the South. It’s not like that.

That is what Southerners say and others but that is not what northern political parties or leaders think. JEM and other political parties in the North want the South to declare and independent unilaterally and then turn to accuse us of being separatists. They know this won’t be recognized so long as they haven’t sanctioned it. They could borrow from Georgia (Abkhazians), Russia (Chechnyans), DRC (Katanga), Nigeria (Biafra), Somali (Somali land) etc.

Are these ‘nations’ mention above independents yet? Probably not so soon. Why? Because, of the power of the center- no amicable agreements or cooperation to reach that right (example are Ethiopia vs Eriterea, Indonesia vs East Timor, Somalia vs Djoubti, South Africa vs Namibia etc.) The final phase of anything dear people is legal spectra. Go for it even if the going is tough, it’s safe and sure.

Isn’t that cheaper to have the NCP for three more years to decide whether to remain part of the Sudan or be an independent nation than to have another uncharted future? I strongly think that the NCP will deliver in its promises in the agreement. The opportunity is on our hands, why do we want to throw it away when we know the outcome of each situation ahead of us? It would be wise therefore to have a devil that will deliver than running after solidarities. I have taken you around for a reason…

JEM are already toying with the idea that the CPA wasn’t cast on stone. That is a familiar language for us (symptoms of dishonoring agreements), right? But what better offer could JEM Government gives to Southern Sudan that the current Northern Party (NCP) hasn’t? To make President Kiir ‘equal’ with other six vice Presidents of the Northern President is that the cost and cause that snuffs away 4.5 million lives within a span of fifty years?

We must be grateful to the President of this country, H.E. Omar Hassan Al Bashir and his party as Southern Sudanese despite our past bad history with them. Southern Sudan should rally behind President Al Bashir at this crisis and stand to support H. E. Lt. General Salva Kiir Mayardit in his effort to avert ICC ill timed and biased attack against the people of the Sudan in general and people of the Southern Sudan in particular.

The latest move by the SPLM on a solution for Darfur is good. Dear President Kiir, go ahead and never listens to those who want to mislead when they won’t be there when things are out of control or to help. Lips service doesn’t work. Stand with Al Bashir and he will stand with our people. Sudan is after peace more than any other thing at the moment- we have been saying it times and again here.

Mr. Persecutor (Ocampo) is not sincere with the ‘mandate’ the UNSC gave him about Sudanese Al Bashir as to indictment. How could anyone be independent body and at the same time acts on behalf of another? This is a contradiction. UNSC was after crimes that threaten world security. May be Darfur crimes weren’t threatening world security or genocide either. So could Lawyer Ocampo justify his cases when the UN itself isn’t in agreement to some terms he uses to put forward his defence? I don’t think the Security Council go further than strengthening its mission in Darfur.

By the way, what justice are we talking about here when the atmosphere for it isn’t there? Take for example: if an arrest warrant is passed what would be next step? The man shall still be there firmly in power and if the intention of the ICC is to intimidate Al Bashir to make peace, what if he complicated it. Mark that word (complicate). On the nutshell, nothing is certain after the ICC thoughtless created environment; it might just add more troubles to an already troubled situation in this country.

But why would anyone attempt to intimidate the head of a volatile government on an unverifiable circumstance and allow rebel groups to do the same with impunity? The United States of America should come out and help the people of Southern Sudan in this crisis by deferring the ICC case against the Sudanese President until at an appropriate time when peace is restored across the country. Uncle Sam has a big role to play to stop this mad man (Luis Moreno-Ocampo) from destroying the aspirations of the Sudanese and that of the Southern Sudanese and its three traditional marginalized areas of Nuba Mountain, Southern Blue Nile and Abyei.

Get me right, am not saying Darfur should not be safe but safe on unstable grounds and on my expense is not acceptable! I know how it has been to suffer. Southern Sudan case is too big and unfinished and once it’s over, we will see whether to help Darfur and others to burn that ‘house’ or not. Right now, La!

May be ours was the most tough under successive regimes in Khartoum in which Darfuris were key arms of our suffering. Do they really know now that what it’s to kill, maim an innocent armed civilian, burned their villages and clear the land from people in the name of religion? Southern Sudan has a heart, otherwise its easy to open up wounds against Darfuris. We aren’t recovered and anything that brings that dark memory to light is egregious and contemptuous.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement implementation has been bumpy but on track. This is a fact and we should appreciate and acknowledge it. The voices that say its dead are just gangstering for a real death nail on the same agreement. It’s on the implementation and safely under responsible leaders (Field Marshal Al Bashir and Gen. Salva Kiir). There are hawks of course somewhere under Al Bashir but it’s too late to scrap this agreement at this point in time.

Politicians and the public must make this agreement live through compromises and negotiations. Hopes of millions of people are in this agreement. Renegotiation of this agreement will be a disaster. Darfur JEM must stop interfering with this document. JEM must claim its share of wealth and power from within the parameters of the CPA (Northern quota) not to erect another one or act to advance interest of another body or country.

JEM’s clause in their proposal to protect ‘the tandem CPA’ isn’t justifiable; it is in question given the preceding package of the proposed government. How do you protect the CPA out of the system or guarantee its existence when you pulled out its structure (constitution) or rewrite it. Southerners won’t buy this proposal simply because someone clones it with the word “CPA”; not at any ‘cheap’ price. This is a hoax.

No clever scheme shall stop the people of Southern Sudan (and the three areas) from exercising their right to self determination. The SPLM leader has taken a correct and wise decision to stand with the NCP objection of the ICC allege charges, specifically the intention to remove Al Bashir from power at this time in space. Their paper for Darfur is workable and a good move. ICC Prosecutor and JEM must not ignore President Kiir concerns about peace in the Sudan. JEM paper is bad for the people of Southern Sudan (and the three areas). This Proposal is an opportunistic and an extension of an agenda to disrupt or Dafurite the whole country.

A story before we go. Once upon a time, two sons of a cruel man met when the elder/older boy requested that its time to eliminate their father so to divide his inheritances or properties between them. The little boy (younger) instinct advises him to ask his brother for time. Fortunately or unfortunately t a friend of this little boy came along and they both share their thoughts over the matter. This friend told his friend (little boy) to object his brother plan to kill their father on the ground that if he (little boy) accepts this plan, his elder brother might turn up as another cruel ‘father’ like their father. The option? He continued, is to wait until ‘you become mature enough to decide on your own’. The plan collapses because the older boy couldn’t kill the father alone. Southerners aren’t ready to join bandwagon or mob justice to kill the ‘cruel father’. We also know our friend, don’t we? Africans leaders are…

Isaiah Abraham lives in Southern Sudan; he’s on [email protected]