JEM says Sudan’s rejection to release POWs proves lack of credibility

August 3, 2009 (LONDON) — The rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) slammed the rejection of Sudanese government to release its fighters before to sign a ceasefire agreement saying it gives another example of the lack of credibility of Khartoum.

The Sudanese presidential adviser Mustafa Ismail stated on Sunday said that government would not release any prisoners from the JEM without a progress in peace talks and a ceasefire. He added that JEM without a ceasefire would use them to attack the government again.

JEM and Sudanese government signed last February an agreement of goodwill to build confidence between the two parties before to engage the peace talks. They agreed to release POWs and to improve the humanitarian situation in Darfur.

“They agreed with us that the detained JEM members are prisoners of war and accepted to exchange them,” said Ahmed Hussein Adam JEM official spokesperson in a telephone interview with Sudan Tribune.

Ahmed said this behavior shows clearly the lack of “real peace partner” and proves the existence of power struggle within the ruling National Congress Party over the way forward to settle the six year conflict in Darfur.

“Mustafa Osman Ismail is maneuvering to strengthen his position within the party,” he said. According to the rebel official Ghazi Salah Eddin , who is officially in charge with Darfur file, “does not have the upper hand over the talks” stressing “this struggle between the different NCP factions would hinder the peace process.”

“We want them to speak with one voice,” he said.

During the upcoming days a government delegation is expected to meet with a group of five rebel factions called “Tripoli Group” to sign a ceasefire agreement and a framework agreement for the peace talks.

Asked whether they would join the meeting, Ahmed said they didn’t receive an invitation for this meeting.

Previously JEM had a series of talks with the Sudanese delegation from May to June but they failed to agree over the peace process.

Libya, which leads the African Union, conducts consultations with the different rebel groups in order to facilitate the Doha process. A JEM delegation was in Tripoli last week where it held talks with the head of Libyan intelligence service Abdallah Al-Sanousi.

Asked about the outcome of the meeting, Ahmed said the Libyan official asked JEM to submit a roadmap to reach a peaceful settlement.

Also JEM delegation reaffirmed its commitment to reach a negotiated solution to the conflict and reiterated the need to include the other rebel groups in the talks.

“But we asked to identify who is a rebel group and who is not. There is a need for criteria in this regard,” he further said.

JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim threatened last month to boycott the Doha process if the mediation involves the other rebel factions saying the presence many groups will complicate the talks and weaken the position of Darfur rebels.

(ST)