Arman vows to end war in Darfur

March 14, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Yasir Arman, SPLM candidate for Sudan president, vowed today to stop the war in western Sudan and to respond positively to the demands of Darfurians.

Arman launched today his electoral campaign in the restive region by visiting Al-Diyaen and Nyala in South Darfur. He was flanked by the SPLM Deputy Chairman James Wani, SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum, the Movement’s candidate for South Darfur governor Omer Abdel-Rahman.

The thousands of people who attended the meeting welcomed Arman by chanting slogans like “Yasir Arman has a new regime” and “Darfur land for Darfur people”. Arman’s media officials said local authorities had attempted to prevent residents of Nyala camps from attending the rally.

Addressing the crowded electoral meeting, Arman said his first presidential decision will be to end war in Darfur by responding to the legitimate demands of Darfurians including the establishment of one region and refugees and IDPs voluntarily returning to their homeland.

The SPLM candidate also pledged if elected to provide the necessary compensations to the war-affected persons so that they can heal themselves and return to their normal life. Arman, in addition, promised to direct the budget of war to the pressing development issues in Darfur.

The National Congress Party-led government is negotiating with Darfur rebel groups in Doha, Qatar, to find a lasting solution for the seven year conflict. The two main rebel groups refused in 2006 a peace deal that did not include clear solutions for the issues of land ownership and individual compensations.

In accordance with Abuja deal signed only by Minni Minawi, the administrative situation of Darfur — whether to remain as three states or unite into one region — should be determined by a referendum.

Abdel Wahid Al-Nur, the founder of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), refuses to join the Doha talks asking instead that Khartoum first provide security to the IDPs and to disarm the militiamen who were the principle cause of their rebellion.

The Sudanese government and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement agreed last month to sign a peace deal on March 15. However, the IDPs say they would not be affected by the accord as long as it does not prioritize their major concerns for security, and land ownership.

The issue of ethnicity also is of major importance in this conflict, as JEM leadership belongs to a minority group, Zaggawa; the dominant group of Fur is expected to reject the peace deal as it would be detrimental to their influence in the region.

(ST)