A Bloody week is Al-Bashair’s response to the Doha Agreement
By Abdullahi Osman El-Tom
February 23, 2009 — The signing of the Doha Agreement, February 17th 2009, was certainly a step forward along the road for peace in Darfur. Although the Agreement did not include a ceasefire, it was certainly not anticipated to induce the government to escalate violence in the beleaguered Darfur Region. But looking at the government actions in Darfur throughout the first week following the Agreement, that is precisely what happened. Below is a daily account of what JEM reaped in its first week of the Doha Agreement:
1- Tuesday, February 17th. Agreement was signed amid continuous attacks on JEM forces in Muhajaria and east Jabal Marra area. Aerial bombardment of innocent civilians continued throughout the day.
2- Wednesday 18th February: Combined forces of government army, SLM Minnawi and Jannjaweed militia attacked JEM troops in Thabit area. Aerial bombardment of JEM forces as well as villages occupied by non-combatants continued throughout the day.
3- Thursday 19th February: Government army, Janjaweed and SLM- Minnawi forces led by Jumaa Haggar attacked JEM bases in Shieirya, west of Alfashir city. Numerous villages west of Alfashir and in particular Shijaira town were bombarded by Antanov planes and helicopter gunships.
4- Friday, February 20st: JEM sustained a vicious attack aiming at disrupting its supply lines to its troops in Jabal Mara area. The attack was launched by a combined force of Janjaweed, government army and unknown bandits. Aerial bombardment continued as usual.
5- Saturday, February 21st: Janjaweed, Government army and SLM-Minnawi (led by Jibril Taik) and Janjaweed militias attacked JEM units in Golo and Shijaira area, west of Alfashir. The entire area was also bombarded.
6- Sunday and Monday, 22nd and 23rd February: Numerous villages in a wide territory west of Alfashir suffered intense bombardment. No information regarding engagement with JEM forces.
Khartoum’s bloody week in Darfur has also been accompanied by media frenzy that is incompatible with the spirit of the Doha Agreement and the effort towards confidence building. In the eve of the ICC ruling on Darfur, negative media is focused on the international community and their national sympathisers. Hence, Salah Gosh, Sudan’s Chief of Intelligence warned Sudanese supporters of the ICC work saying: “Anyone who attempts to put his hands to execute [ICC] plans we will cut his hands, head and parts because it is a non-negotiable issue” (Sudantribune, February 22rd, 09).
The Intelligence Director further threatened a return to savagery, or uncivilised state in his own words, in dealing with Darfur international stakeholders and who worked tirelessly for peace in Darfur:
“We [the government] were Islamic extremists then became moderate and civilized believing in peace and life for everyone….However we will revert back to how we were if necessary. There is nothing any easier than that” (same source above).
It is clearly evident that JEM approached the Qatari negotiations with a good will. JEM was also cajoled into the talks by many national and internationals circles which had sincerely and some naively believed that Al-Bashir had learnt his lessons, and if given the opportunity, he would embark in a genuine peace process and bring an end to the suffering in Darfur. Unfortunately, this past week proves beyond doubt that Al-Bashir has been granted trust that he does not deserve and that it is utterly futile to expect him to preside over peaceful settlement of Darfur crisis.
The author is the head of Training and Strategic Planning Office of the Justice Equality Movement.