Sudan’s senior presidential assistant condemns deadly Darfur camp attack
By Wasil Ali
August 27, 2008 (WASHINGTON) – Sudan’s senior presidential assistant Minni Arcua Minnawi condemned Monday’s raid by Sudanese soldiers and security officers on a refugee camp that killed at least 30 people and injured many more.
The former rebel leader also warned of further escalation in violence as a result of the violent incident.
“The situation may well develop into another war. The silence of the international community is a negative signal” he said.
The Sudanese authorities justified the raid by claiming to have received reliable intel about weapons smuggled recently into Kalma camp which is at a strategic position because of its proximity to the Nyala airport and railways.
But Minnawi dismissed the government’s claims.
“I don’t think this is true. These are civilian camps. The people who were killed are civilians; innocent children, women and elders. Clearly they cannot be fighters” the senior presidential assistant said.
Asked about whether he had exact figures for the number of deaths Minnawi said that he doesn’t have any so far and accused Khartoum of trying to cover up the aftermath of the assault.
“The government blocked humanitarian access because they want to hide what they have done” he said.
Yesterday the United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) issued a strongly worded statement condemning the “excessive force” used by Sudanese authorities against residents of the camp.
UNAMID also said that the Sudanese authorities slowed down their access as well as their accompanying medical teams.
Minnawi however criticized the UNAMID forces and described their role as “absent”.
“They [UNAMID] have to protect the civilians” he said.
Minnawi left the Sudanese capital 4 months ago and informally suspended his participation in the government leading to speculations that he defected from the government of national unity.
It was reported at the time that he arrived in the Chadian capital and met with President Idriss Debi. However the former rebel leader firmly denied these reports.
Minnawi stressed to Sudan Tribune that he has no intention of returning “until there is good will from NCP [National Congress Party]”.
He further said that talks between him and Khartoum to resolve outstanding issues are far from complete.
Minnawi also downplayed the ‘People of Sudan’ initiative launched by President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir during his tour of Darfur last month.
“The principle is not bad but other political parties must take the lead on it. The NCP cannot be in charge of it” he stressed.
Asked about his membership in the “crisis committee” established by Al-Bashir to deal with the developments related to the International Criminal Court (ICC) Minnawi said that he will part of it but emphasized that this is a “legal issue”.
“Generally speaking it is a legal issue. But lack of progress on the ground and implementation of DPA makes things more complex” Minnawi said.
The ICC’s prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo announced in mid-July that he requested an arrest warrant against Al-Bashir.
Ocampo filed 10 charges: three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder. Judges are expected to take months to study the evidence before deciding whether to order Al-Bashir’s arrest.
Darfur rebels groups overwhelmingly hailed the ICC move but Minnawi’s faction has so far maintained silence. In the past the senior presidential assistant said he strongly backs the court.
Two years ago the Sudanese government has signed the DPA with the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) faction led by Minnawi who was appointed as the senior assistant of the Sudanese president in August of the same year.
However, Minnawi’s faction persistently accused the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) of ignoring the implementation of the DPA.
UN experts estimate some 300,000 people have died and 2.5 million driven from their homes. Sudan blames the Western media for exaggerating the conflict and puts the death toll at 10,000.
(ST)