Darfur JEM says it will not stay in Doha ‘forever’, dismisses Mbeki’s initiatives
January 16, 2011 (WASHINGTON) – The Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) on Sunday slammed the Sudanese government for what it described as “foot dragging” in coming to the peace talks in the Arab Gulf state of Qatar.
However, Khartoum later appeared to reverse its earlier position and sent back its delegation for indirect talks with JEM on cessation of hostilities which were ongoing until the Sudanese government called back its negotiators.
Talks with the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) have reached a deadlock over the government’s refusal to approve of the one region status for Darfur or in the alternative grant them the position of Vice president.
“Our commitment to the talks is not open ended. The government must indicate clearly whether it wants to sit with us to reach a peaceful settlement but we cannot stay in Doha forever,” JEM spokesperson Ahmed Hussein told Sudan Tribune by phone.
Hussein reiterated his movement’s refusal of the government’s new Darfur strategy saying that insisting on it contradicts with the ongoing process in Doha.
The Sudanese government plan aims to domesticate efforts to resolve Darfur conflict though promoting dialogue among local actors from states governments, tribal leaders, civil society and IDPs. It also plans to establish security and support the return of displaced persons besides recovery and development projects there.
The government’s strategy is founded on the conviction that the rebel groups have become an obstacle to end the conflict. Ghazi Saleh Al-Deen, presidential adviser tasked with the file, considers also that the rebels distorted the origins of the conflict which had been disputes over pastures and land between cattle herders and farmers.
The head of the African Union panel on Darfur Thabo Mbeki and U.S. special envoy Scott Gration have voiced their approval of Khartoum’s plan.
“You cannot say you approve of the government’s plan and at the same time announce that you support the Doha process. These two things are mutually exclusive” JEM official said.
“The so called domestication plan is a security plan that seeks to impose a military solution to the conflict and the codeword for a new phase of violence,” he added.
The JEM spokesperson also criticized Mbeki saying that he is working to further Khartoum’s new strategy in Darfur.
“We have to ask ourselves; whatever happened to Mbeki’s recommendations? He admitted last November that he failed to carry them out and now he is on board with Khartoum to give the perpetrators the upper hand over the victims,” he said.
“People around Mbeki advising him are also part of the problem. We have nothing to do with him. He is engaged in competition with [chief UN-AU mediator Dijibril Bassole] which is only prolonging the sufferings of the Darfur people,” Hussein added.
He also dismissed the Darfuri dialogue initiative to be administered by Mbeki saying JEM will not deal with it.
“This is an insult to the people of Darfur and we will not be a party to it and will not be bound by its outcome,” JEM spokesperson said.
Hussein hailed the conclusion of the South Sudan referendum process saying that Southerners have earned the near-certain independence through their struggle over the years.
He warned that unless the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) changes its policies the secessionist sentiments will spread throughout the country leading to fragmentation of Sudan.
(ST)