Darfur IDP’s have tough words for US special envoy

September 13, 2009 (PARIS) — The US President Barack Obama’s special envoy for Sudan, Major General J. Scott Gration, faced hostile audience today during a meeting with Darfur displaced people who charged with complicity with Sudanese government going as far as demanding his resignation.

Gration who arrived in North Darfur state on Saturday met today with representatives of four Internally Displaced People (IDP)camps, Abu Shouk, Al-Salam, Zamzam, Koushab.

The meeting took place in Abu Shouk at 10:00 local time on Sunday.

The IDPs who had announced the boycott of Gration’s visit to the restive region said they changed their mind fearing reprisal by security services and also to use this opportunity to loudly voice their plight. The special envoy was accompanied by a large number of journalists.

They also said wanted to tell him why they reject any dealings with him and call on Obama to replace him “not only because of his failure to improve the security and humanitarian situations, but also because he is acting against their interests in the areas of peace and justice,”.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune from Abu Shouk, the IDP’s representative from the four camps queried Gration about what he did since his previous visits to Darfur and their demands for security and protection.

“We asked him about demand for security and protection. We explained to him that we are still subjected to militias’ attacks and detention by security services,” said one of the representatives who requested not to be named.

“We also reminded him about our need to strengthen the mandate of the peacekeeping mission. What have you done for us Mr. Gration? We asked him?”

The camps residents further said they questioned the US special envoy about the aid groups that he previously said that Sudan had agreed to let them back in the region.

“We accused him of providing the cover to Khartoum and misleading the international community when he said that Sudanese government had negotiated with him the return of American nongovernmental aid groups to replace the 13 expelled groups”.

“We have seen nothing till now and the situation is worsening every day. Gration is in part responsible for the deterioration we do believe. Because the international community thought he was telling the truth.” another one said.

Sudan expelled 13 foreign aid groups on March 4 after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity, which include murder, rape and torture.

Sudan, after talks with US envoy Scott Gration and US Senator John Kerry said that the expelled groups would not be allowed to return to Darfur but said it would consider new humanitarian aid.

The IDPs said they tackled the issue of the peace process in Darfur with the US special envoy who is involved in a unification process of some rebel factions parallel of another one conducted by Libya.

They reiterated to Gration their opposition to any peace process before the disarmament of the pro-government militias, return of IDPs to their homeland after individual and collective compensations. Also they reaffirmed their request to prosecute the responsible of Darfur crimes.

“We told him that we are against this so called unification because it encourages all the war traders and brokers to exploit our misery and benefit from it while we consider Abdel Wahid Al-Nur as our unique representative”.

“This is why also we are opposed to the participation of ‘Civil Society’ in the talks because it is difficult to define who is civil society under the current repression and emergency law in Darfur,” they further stressed.

During their hour long telephone interview the representatives of the four camps, also pointed out they spoke during their meeting with the American envoy about the government claims about the voluntary return.

They said the camps populations are increasing not decreasing as the authorities say. They said Zamzam and Dali camps received recently news IDPs after attacks on Korma near Jebel Marra.

They further spoke about the ongoing preparations to hold general elections and expressed their rejection to the electoral process before a lasting and just peace.

EXCUSE TO DARFUR PEOPLE AND RESIGNATION

In a mark of defiance to Scott Gration, the IDPs representatives after detailing their positions of Darfur conflict accused the special envoy of titling Sudanese government and favoring it.

They further asked him to apologize for Darfur and resign from his position because of his statements on “remnants of genocide” and his request before the Congress to ease economic sanctions on Sudan.

“We told him it is better to apologize to Darfur people about his statements on genocide, and Sudanese government support to terror groups or the left of sanctions” they said.

“We hope that the journalists who came with him will report what we said, but also we want Sudan Tribune to report our message to President Obama and the American people,” they further said.

Gration yesterday addressed the opening session of the Third General Conference of the National Congress Party (NCP) in North Darfur where he praised the efforts done by the government to improve the humanitarian situation, the official SUNA reported.

He also spoke about his efforts to reunite rebel groups and organize civil society organizations.

Hussein Abu Sharati, the spokesperson of Darfur IDPs said on Friday that Gration is not welcome in Darfur adding he ignored their demands for security and did nothing to ease the bad humanitarian situation particularly after the expulsion of 13 foreign aid groups last March.

During a visit to South Darfur on July 18, Gration met with 48 IDPs representatives of Darfur camps in Kalma. The US official sought to hear their claims and points of view on the Doha peace process.

(ST)