JEM leader rejects linking Darfur talks to ICC decision

February 9, 2009 (PARIS) — The leader of the Justice and Equality Movement reaffirmed his support for justice in Darfur and pledged to halt engagement in the current peace process in Doha if it hinders the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Darfur crimes.

Yesterday JEM rebels were criticized by other factions for accepting to take part in the peace process just as the ICC judges are expected to give a go-ahead to the chief prosecutor and issue an arrest warrant that he had requested last July. The move is seen by the rebel SLM leader as allowing President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir to avoid international justice on Darfur crimes.

The meeting came as ICC judges are expected to release a decision as early as this week in which they agree to issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese president. Khartoum has been hoping that starting peace talks with the rebel groups would convince the UN Security Council (UNSC) to defer the ICC move against Bashir.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune from Ndjamena, Khalil Ibrahim said that JEM would not be the cause for aborting the international efforts to bring justice in Darfur. He reminded that his movement was the first to request an international investigation in Darfur crimes since December 2003.

“The movement of Justice and Equality would not impede the course of justice in Darfur and if the talks constitute an escape gate for the regime we will certainly close it,” said the JEM chairman.

Ibrahim added that he was confident that the court would issue its decision in the coming days. He also said the ICC has succeeded to resist the political pressures and preserve its integrity as an independent judicial entity.

Since the indictment of the Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir on July 14 last year by the ICC prosecutor, Arab and African leaders decided to work together to defer the ICC indictment through a mechanism in the UN Security Council and to support efforts for peace in Darfur. Different joint delegations are working to persuade the Security Council to block the indictment and suspend the ICC jurisdiction.

Last September Qatar was awarded the sponsorship of the peace negotiation and it works closely with African Union-United Nations envoy Djibril Bassolé. Also, the two sides formed a ministerial body co-chaired by the Qatari Prime Minister, Hamad bin Jasim, the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Jean Ping and the Arab League Secretary General, Amr Musa. The joint committee has to coordinate the efforts supporting the peace process.

Ibrahim, who described Doha meeting as “exploratory,” dismissed the accuracy of a document published recently in Khartoum purporting to be a framework agreement that JEM would sign with the Sudanese government in the Qatari capital.

The published framework document provides for cessation of hostilities and military operations in Darfur and for improved security in Darfur. Also, the document speaks about the formation of a committee to deal with the pre-negotiation consultations, to promote political dialogue and to create the appropriate atmosphere for the talks. Further, it deals with power- and wealth-sharing mechanisms.

“It is a document prepared by the government and we will not accept one word of it; we struggle since all these years because we want a new process totally different from Abuja. We want to negotiate not only the Darfur problem but all the rights of marginalized people in the Sudan,” he said.

Ibrahim also stressed that JEM wants a comprehensive solution including the re-foundation of the state and the re-structuring of power in Sudan to create democratic institutions where the states rule themselves, and to grant religious freedom and freedom of expression as well as education and health services.

He admitted that the talks would be more difficult than the war but underlined that JEM is in a good political and military situation. He also said that “time is our ally and not them.”

The rebel leader, who opposed the Abuja peace deal signed between the Sudanese government and Minni Minawi in 2006, said he would not accept any partial solution because it would be rejected by the people on the ground as it is in the case of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA).

“People would reject any partial solution and they would pursue their struggle without us. Yes, they would kick us out and continue the war. We would face the same future as Minnawi,” Ibrahim said. He added that Abuja signatories do not even dare to go to the IDPs camps to speak about the DPA.

GOVERNMENT CREDIBILITY

Ibrahim affirmed that their delegation goes to Abuja with an open mind to see whether Khartoum is serious about reaching a just and lasting peace in Darfur. He further added that the Sudanese government before beginning talks should exchange Prisoners of War (POW) with JEM, including the release of fighters arrested and sentenced to death after an attack on the capital.

On May 10, 2008, the rebel troops attacked the position of the Sudanese army in Omdurman, the twin city of the capital Khartoum. Some 222 people were killed in this raid. Sudanese courts sentenced more than 30 rebels to death.

Asked if they received some guaranties about the release of JEM members, Ibrahim said that they are not sure about the seriousness of Khartoum over this issue but he added that they have many POWs from the army officers and they are not only asking Khartoum to release their troops but want an exchange of POWs.

Besides the release of JEM members, confidence-building measures include bringing a halt to harassment of IDPs, a halt of forced repatriation of the displaced, and the cessation of air strikes on civilians.

Ibrahim warned that this step is a determinant for the rest of the peace process. “If they are not serious we would not continue the process with them.”

THE CPA AND THE SPLM

Asked about the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed by the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in January 2005, Ibrahim hailed the landmark peace agreement which ended two decades of war in southern Sudan and is supposed to lead the country to a democratic regime.

“The CPA led the country to a good distance but we want to complete the journey by providing regional autonomy not only Darfur but to all the Sudanese regions. Also the National Congress Party (NCP) aborted the implementation of the democratic transition and we intend to cooperate with the SPLM and other democratic forces to achieve it.”

By the end of last October, SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum agreed with the JEM chairperson that the relations between the two parties should be developed and strengthened in the interest of the “New Sudan.”

They also agreed that the SPLM, as partner in the government of national unity and a political force, should play an active role to achieve peace in Darfur.

Khalil Ibrahim said they expect that SPLM is avoiding sending people to Doha whom the NCP could easily manipulate as was the case during the Abuja process. “We expect the SPLM leadership to send in the delegation of National Unity Government people like Pagan Amum and Yasir Arman to Doha,” he stressed.

(ST)