JEM rebels dismiss air strikes against them inside Chad

June 3, 2009 (PARIS) — The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) dismissed today a report about air strikes carried out by the Sudanese army against rebels inside the Chadian territory.

Tchadactuel.com said yesterday that Sudanese warplanes hit JEM rebels in “Bahai and Karyare, inside Chad while they were trying to join the headquarters of the rebel movement in Amdjeress,” a Chadian location near the border where JEM troops are allegedly based.

“JEM has no bases in Chad and that airstrikes referred to are a figment of bizarre imagination of the sources quoted by ST,” said a press release issued by the rebel movement on Wednesday in reaction to the report.

JEM leading commander Suleiman Sandal told Reuters yesterday that Sudanese army aircraft yesterday killed two civilians and 15 injured when it bombed Furawiya, which lies at 240km from El Geneina capital of West Darfur and 70 km from the Chadian border.

Sudanese army conducting air raids against Darfur rebels positions using Migs and helicopters besides Antonov bombardiers.

JEM rebels launched two attacks against two remote locations near the Chadian border — Kornoi and Um Baru — last May but had to pull out due to the heavy bombing by the Sudanese warplanes. The rebels said their withdrawal aims to protect live of the civilians.

Delegations from the Sudanese government and JEM are holding talks in the Qatari capital to review the implementation of a confidence building deal inked last February. However, the talks are at stalemate over the release of the prisoners of war while the mediators press for a ceasefire agreement.

(ST)