Sudan rejects to release JEM prisoners before ceasefire
May 31, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese government reiterated today its rejection to release rebels imprisoned in Khartoum as Darfur rebels request in a peace talks held in Qatar.
Delegations from Sudanese government and rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) started since last Wednesday a second round of talks on the implementation of a goodwill agreement signed last February.
Sudanese government has some reserves over the release of JEM Prisoners of War and considers that their release should intervene following the signing of a cessation of hostilities, said the Sudanese ambassador in Qatar, Ibrahim Faqiri who a member of government delegation in the ongoing talks.
Faqiri stressed that the need for the cessation of hostilities in order to provide humanitarian aid to the civilians. He also asserted that the confidence goodwill agreement provides to release POWs in stages during the different rounds of negotiations.
Faqiri stressed the need for the cessation of hostilities in order to provide humanitarian aid to the civilians. He also asserted that the goodwill agreement provides for the release of the POWs in stages during the different rounds of negotiations.
“We cannot release JEM fighters before they sign a cessation of hostilities,” he added.
According to the goodwill agreement of Febrauary 17, “the State of Qatar and the AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator will maintain contacts with both parties to workout a time-line for concluding the release” of the POWs.
JEM rebels say do not intend to leap to a new round of negotiations without first pausing at the implementation of what was agreed upon in the confidence building agreement. They further say if the mediation is unable to implement this agreement how it could be able to implement a comprehensive peace agreement later.
Also the rebel group refuses to stop the fighting during the talks in order to defend its demands while the mediation and the international partners urge the signing of a ceasefire to ease the humanitarian situation and to prevent military escalation.
(ST)