Darfur IFC condemns Bashar’s death and deplores surge of violence
June 4, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Implementation Follow-up Commission (IFC) on Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) Tuesday condemned the killing of the leader of a former rebel group, and deplored the deterioration of security situation in the region.
In an extraordinary meeting held in Doha on Tuesday 4 June, after listening to a report on the incident provided by UNAMID, the Commission considered that “the killing of Mohamed Bashar and his comrades was “intentional and premeditated aiming to dissuade those who wish to join the peace process, and not just a process of revenge”, says a statement seen by Sudan Tribune released in Doha after the meeting.
The late leader of Justice and Equality Movement- Sudan (JEM-Sudan), Mohamed Bashar, and his deputy Arko Suleiman Dahia were killed on 12 May near by the border between Chad and Sudan while they were returning to Darfur from Chad after the signing of a peace deal with the government on 4 April.
Also, were killed a Chadian security officer and some Chadian people who were near the place of the attack. Other leading officials of the former rebel group who were travelling in the same convoy have been detained by JEM fighters.
Following the incident of 12 May, JEM-Sudan said their leaders were killed at four kilometres from the Sudanese border inside he Chadian territory stressing that his convoy was not armed, and only accompanied by a Chadian local security officer.
The mainstream group led by Gibril Ibrahim had another version. JEM said they were attacked by Bashar group inside the Sudanese territory, and stressed that the two leading commanders were killed during the clashes. The holdout rebels also pointed out that people captured after the fighting, are “defectors” from the movement and they will be tried before its courts.
The meeting, however, condemned “the violation of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Chad, and the killing Chadian nationals”. They also called to “hold accountable JEM-Gibril Ibrahim faction and all the perpetrators of violence and to bring them to justice”, IFC statement said.
The participants, despite the extraordinary nature of the meeting, expressed their “deep concern” for the deteriorating security situation in Darfur and the large number of people who have been displaced as a result of increasing violence since the beginning of this year in Darfur.
“The members noted that the increase in violence will negatively affect the Doha Document for peace in Darfur”, said the statement.
The meeting reiterated that the military option will not be a solution to the conflict, and called on all the parties to renounce violence and commit themselves to a peaceful solution without preconditions. The participants also called to work towards a lasting cease-fire, a comprehensive and inclusive agreement on the basis of the DDPD framework.
The one-day meeting was attended by representatives of Qatar which chairs the IFC, African Union, Arab League, UNAMID, United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Chad, China, Egypt, European Union , France, Japan, Russian Federation, Sudan, United Kingdom, United States of America, Liberation and Justice Movement, and the Justice and JEM-Sudan.
Speaking after the meeting; Abdel Rahman Banat, told Sudan Tribune that the meeting decided to form a fact finding committee to probe the incident and submit its findings to the IFC.
The ICF-members will decide on whether to seek international sanctions on the assailants, once the conclusions are received.
Banat further said their group is seeking to mobilise international human right groups to denounce this attack as the families of the victims also make efforts to submit the case to the International Criminal Court as war crime.
(ST)