Darfur rebels seek positions but ignore lasting solution – government
February 26, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese government accused Darfur rebels of fighting for their own interests and ignoring the real causes of the conflict.
Among the six pending issues that the two parties failed to agree upon it during the direct negotiations there are the demand of a vice-president of the republic form Darfur and a special status for the region.
Last December Khartoum rejected the proposals made by the mediators because they suggested to designate a vice-president from Darfur who also chairs a regional authority. The proposals said he would coordinate the activities of the three states and represents it at the Sudanese presidency.
Amin Hassan Omer, chief of the government negotiating team made this remarks Saturday while the mediation was preparing a meeting on Sunday for the parties after receiving their responses on the new proposals.
“Darfur rebel groups are scrambling for governmental positions and put the demands of the people of Darfur at the bottom of their concerns,” Aminl said Saturday. He further said they are waiting the definitive proposals the mediation would put out to the parties in Sunday’s meeting.
Ghazi Salah Al-Deen, presidential adviser tasked with Darfur file, will be in Doha on Sunday to participate in this meeting with the mediation and the LJM rebels.
Last January Ghazi said the appointment of a vice president is a presidential prerogative and no region can claim such privilege. He also said Darfurians will decide in a referendum on the fate of the region.
LJM top negotiator, Tadjadine Bechir Niam, told sudan Tribune this week they could reject the new proposals stressing that all the Darfurians agree on these two demands.
The new proposals separate between the vice-president and the head of the regional authority, Niam said.
The mediation spoke about the need to amend the constitution before to allocate a post of vice-president to Darfur. On the other hand, the competences of the regional authority in the new text focus on the implementation of the peace agreement and the conduct of the referendum on the special status of Darfur.
The proposals deal with six issues related to Power Sharing; Wealth Sharing; Compensation and Return of IDPs and Refugees; Justice and Reconciliation; Permanent Ceasefire and Security Arrangements; and Human Rights.
(ST)