Bashir says “bye-bye” to war in Darfur
KHARTOUM, Sudan, April 28, 2004 (PANA) — Peace could return to civil war-ravaged
Darfur in the near future if the regime of Sudanese President
Omar Hassan el-Bashir lived by his announcement to end the war in
Sudan’s western Darfur region against two rebellious movements.
In a rare visit on Tuesday to Alfashir city, capital of north
Darfur region since the war erupted in February 2003, Bashir said
in a live televised speech, “Bye-bye to military operations and
the coming period is for peace, development and progress”.
He told residents who chanted “Allahoo Akbar, Allahoo Akbar”
(Allah is great), “Let us put our hands in yours to go forward
without any hesitation because we want Darfur without suffering
…without wars…without grievances…walking in the path of
development and peace”.
Bashir later inaugurated some basic service projects as an
apparent sign that the government has turned attention to the
real crisis of the region that has long suffered marginalisation
and the lack of health, education and water services.
Bashir’s visit came amid severe critics and accusations by the
international community and human rights organizations charging
his government of backing Janjaweed militias and not providing
enough protection for unarmed civilians from militias attacks.
The militias are accused of engaging in ethnic cleansing and
committing atrocities against civilians in western Darfur.
President Bashir called on the rebels to reason and begin
contributing toward the building and development of the remote
region.
The rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and Justice and
Equality Movement (JEM) launched the revolt one year ago to press
for greater political and economic rights for the region that has
been marginalized by Arab Muslim authorities in Khartoum.
On 8 April, the Khartoum government and SLM and JEM signed a
renewable 45-ceasefire deal, but the rebels accused militias
supported by Khartoum of constant violation of the truce.
Meanwhile, authorities in Khartoum has rejected a US request to
give an entry permission for a panel to Darfur to investigate
human rights situations and to assess the humanitarian needs,
saying the US “wants to deepen the crisis instead of looking for
a solutions”.
Presidential advisor for political affairs, Gotbei Al-Mahdi said
in a press statement here Wednesday that the US delegation has a
“hidden agenda and the government is fully aware of the targets
of the their visit”.
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Colin Powell demanded Sudan to
“open Darfur to international relief workers and move speedily to
finalise a long-expected but much-delayed peace agreement with
southern rebels”.