Darfur IDPs and refugees urge rebels’ unity before talks
December 7, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Darfur internally displaced persons (IDPs) urged rebel groups to reunite and coordinated positions before any peace talks with the Sudanese government.
The two main rebel groups in the restive region of Darfur have said they are considering ways to resume or to start talks with Sudanese government in Doha, the official venue for the peace process.
A delegation from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) is still discussing with the mediators on the resumption of the peace talks. The rebels consider the free movement of their leader is one of the most important of 10 demands they filed.
Also, Abdel Wahid Al-Nur concluded a series of contacts and meetings with his group and is expected to organize a meeting in Paris to define the positions of the Sudan Liberation Movement for peace talks with Khartoum.
“We, in the Displaced and Refugees body, urge our sons and brothers who take arms against the government to gather again under the leadership of the two main movements because divisions mean more suffering for us in the camps,” said Hussein Abu Sharati the official spokesperson of Darfur IDPs independent body.
He further called upon the two rebel groups to determine one stance over the peace process. And then “they have to adopt a joint negotiating position including the basic demands of the people of Darfur,” he further said.
The Sudanese government and the rebel Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) are scheduled to sign during the upcoming days a peace agreement ending talks that started in March 2010 between the two parties.
The Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir last week said rebel groups who are not part of the current process can join Doha peace agreement or if they want to open new negotiations they have to hold talks from inside the Sudan.
However, observers, say Bashir cannot ask rebels to come inside the country as they are fighting government. They also said the mediators who met him twice recently continue their contacts with these rebels.
The mediation during the current peace process organized two meeting in Doha with the civil society and IDPs delegates to set out define their position on issues dealing with compensations and land.
Abu Sharti further said the IDPs and refugees have to be part in the peace process on all the issues of concern.
“We have to be involved in the process as a key party,” we need to say our opinion on issues dealing with our suffering and rights”.
He condemned the voluntary return operations organized by the state governments in Darfur saying “we are witnessing actually forced return.” He said “How we can gather people from different areas in one new village and come to say this is a voluntary return”.
“So we need to decide on all that.”
He also regretted the removal of Minni Minnawi from the head of the transitional authority saying “IDPs cannot imagine that Darfur matters at all levels are managed by people who took part in Darfur crimes”. Abu Sharati hinted to accusations directed against the new chairman of the regional body and governor of western Darfur.
Minnawi who is based in Southern Sudan capital is accuse by the government of being preparing to carry out attacks in Darfur after the referendum.
(ST)