Darfur JEM claims free reign in region, warns government

January 30, 2009 (WASHINGTON) — The Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) dismissed government claims of defeating their fighters during recent clashes that displaced thousands of civilians.

JEM’s deputy general commander, Suleiman Sandal told Sudan Tribune by phone from an undisclosed location that his group has free reign “all over Darfur and Kordofan”.

“Our military work is continuing and the initiative is in our hands. We have the ability to attack all the major cities at the right time” he said.

Sandal also described allegations by Khartoum of Chadian support as “lies”.

This week the Sudanese state minister for information Kamal Obeid told reporters that Chadian troops took part in recent attempt by JEM rebels to break out the siege of JEM troops in Muhajriya, South Darfur.

“Chadian forces from the Republican Guard entered Darfur with supplies and ammunitions to lift the siege imposed by the Sudanese armed forces on JEM troops” the Sudanese official said.

The UN said that JEM seized the dispute location on January 15, after clashes with the group belonging to former rebel Minni Minnawi.

Sandal accused the Sudanese army of using inflicting civilian casualties and property losses through the “extensive” use of aircrafts.

“They used aircraft painted with UN logo which prompted us to request clarification from General Martin Agwai [Darfur peacekeepers commander] who denied that any of their planes were in use at the time” the JEM commander said.

But today the African Union – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) released a statement saying that their flights “are for the sole purpose of carrying out its mandate and no flight is conducted before the necessary clearances are obtained from the appropriate parties”.

“UNAMID refutes such rumors which not only jeopardize the safety of UN personnel but also compromise the Mission’s efforts to provide protection for civilians and necessary humanitarian assistance to the population” the statement read.

Sandal said that their rules of engagement require them to shoot down any planes that do not obtain advance permission”.

Fighting has escalated in Darfur ahead of an expected decision from the International Criminal Court on whether to issue an arrest warrant against Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on charges of war crimes in Darfur.

(ST)