Sudanese govt. refuses to accept conditions set by rebels in Darfur
ADDIS ABABA, July 16, 2004 (Xinhua) — The Sudanese government refused here on Friday to accept six conditions set by two rebel groups in the country’s western Darfur region, saying “political talks” should be held without preconditions.
The conditions are “unpractical,” especially disarming of Arab militias, because some militia groups are illegal and underground and the government needs time to address the issue, said Ibrahim Mohammed, spokesman of the Sudanese government delegation after an unofficial talk with mediators from the African Union (AU).
Answering how the talks with rebels will be affected after the six conditions are rejected, Mohammed said “it is not up to us as the government. We are waiting for the final reply from the Movement (rebels) and political talks should have no preconditions.”
According to an anonymous source, leaders of the two rebel groups, the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM), will come from Asmara, capital of Eritrea to Addis Ababa for a meeting with mediators on Friday evening .
The government delegation, composed of six officials, including three ministers, is expected to hold talks with rebels in Addis Ababa which are meant to cover the status of a shaky ceasefire in the remote western region, disarmament of combatants, the humanitarian situation and deployment of the African Union ceasefire monitors.
The two rebel groups on Thursday laid down their conditions in the AU-sponsored peace talks, with forcing troops withdrawal high on their agenda.
In a list read out by SLM representative Adam Ali Shogan, the ” removal of government troops and Janjaweed militia from Darfur, including those who are integrated into the police or other government offices” was the top priority to be addressed in the meeting.
The other conditions are access for an international inquiry into genocide charges, bringing criminals who committed genocide or ethnic cleansing to justice, creating unimpeded humanitarian access for delivery of food aid, release of prisoners of war and detainees and agreement on a neutral venue for future talks.
However, Mohammed said that all prisoners of war will be released except those who were accused of committing crimes.
He also said the Sudanese government will accept peacekeepers from African countries, who will be deployed in Darfur to provide protection for the AU’s observers and the civilians in that region, where at least 10,000 people were killed and over one million displaced since indigenous revolted against the Khartoum government on February, 2003.
The spokesman expressed the hope that a breakthrough will be acquired in this talks, adding more high-level talks should be held in order to solve impending issues.
The Darfur crisis was the center of attention in last week’s AU summit in Addis Ababa, considered as a test for the AU’s commitment to security and peace, an issue which bugs the impoverished continent for decades.
The AU sent its Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare to Chad in a sit down with the Sudanese sides just before the summit, which booked the talks of Thursday.
The talks are chaired by the AU, the United Nations and Chad, with the United States and European Union attending as observers.