Sudan says no release of JEM POW’s without ceasefire

June 27, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government declared today that it will not release any prisoners from Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) without a ceasefire.

The pro-government Al-Rayaam newspaper quoted the head of the Sudanese delegation to Qatar talks with JEM Amin Hassan Omer as saying that their position “is a clear one”.

“We will not release any fighters without a final ceasefire,” Omer said.

After almost two months of talks on the implementation of the goodwill and confidence building deal and the framework agreement signed last February, the Doha negotiations were suspended for two months. The parties are expected to meet again at the end of July.

One of the sticking issues between the two sides is POW’ swap. JEM insists that the February deal they signed with Khartoum which includes a clause for implementing a procedure for exchanging POW’s must be implemented.

However, Omer said that even if a ceasefire is signed it is not a guarantee that they will release any of JEM captured fighters citing possible legal or constitutional issues.

The Sudanese official accused Chad of playing a “negative role” that will not help the peace process saying they are unwilling to press JEM.

He stressed that the government of capable of getting rid of the rebel groups but is “wary of the social repercussions”.

The statements by the Sudanese official contradicts those made by the Joint African-Union United Nations Mediator Dijibril Bassole who told Sudan tribune this week that JEM and Khartoum agreed on prisoners exchange.

“The Sudanese government and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) have agreed exchange prisoners of War (POWs) in the coming days” he said.

The ongoing mediation which is sponsored by the Qatari government is collectively supported by the African Union, the European Union, the United Nations and the international community particularly the US, China and Japan

(ST)