SLM-AW leader rules out dialogue with Sudanese regime until security situation improves
September 7, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – The leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdel Wahdi al-Nur (SLM-AW) has emphasised that providing security to civilians in Sudan’s war zones is crucial to their participation in national dialogue aimed at achieving full democratic change.
Al-Nur was speaking to Sudan Tribune by phone from Addis Ababa after attending a meeting of between Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) groups with peace mediators to discuss ways to achieve comprehensive peace in the country and to ensure democratic reforms.
The UN secretary-general’s special envoy for Sudan also took part in the consultative meeting held last Monday.
“We reiterated our demand to protect civilians on the ground before any dialogue with the regime. Peace must begin with security and ends with a genuine democratic change,” al-Nur said.
“We should not only reach a comprehensive cessation of hostilities agreement before starting the political process but the genocide in the camps must be stopped and militias must be disarmed,” the rebel leader added, claiming that government forces were responsible for killing six civilians in a recent raid on Kalma IDP camp in South Darfur.
Since his refusal to sign the African Union-brokered Darfur peace agreement in May 2006, al-Nur has also declined to negotiate with the government, demanding that civilians be protected and government militias disarmed.
He stresses that such measures need to be implemented rather than discussed before talks can proceed on the root causes of the conflict.
The rebel leader pointed out that ongoing tribal fighting in Darfur is part of “the genocide” implemented by government forces and its allied militia.
Al-Nur disclosed that during the SRF meeting with peace mediators he drew a comparison between the apartheid regime of South Africa and president Omer Hassan al-Bashir’’s regime, saying any change in Sudan must be genuine and comprehensive.
He said he had questioned lead AU mediator Thabo Mbeki, why the rebel alliance should agree to negotiate with Bashir given that his regime was responsible for committing genocide when negotiations with South Africa’s apartheid-era leadership had been based around ending racial discrimination.
The rebel leader acknowledged that while the struggle for genuine change in Sudan and the establishment of a democratic regime that ensures equality between citizens and the separation of religion and politics is an arduous and long process, they are determined to achieve this “just demand”.
He added that the rebel group derives its legitimacy from the support of ordinary Sudanese and would continue to reject dialogue with the regime as long as there is no security on the ground for citizens.
“I appeal to the international community to support our demand for a comprehensive democratic change in Sudan. This regime is known of dishonouring agreements. They did not implement 44 agreements they have already sighed,” al-Nur said.
DIALOGUE DELEGATES SIGN DECLARATION
Two delegates from the national dialogue high committee, Ahmed Saad Omer of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Ghazi Salah al-Din al-Attabani chairman of Reform Now Movement (RNM), also met with the SRF factions and signed with the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) a declaration of principles on national dialogue and constitutional process.
Al-Nur disclosed to Sudan Tribune that he did not take part in that meeting, saying the purpose of his to Addis Ababa was to meet with peace mediators and not with representatives of the 7+7 committee chaired by president Bashir.
He said that he is ready to discuss the peace agenda when security measures are implemented in all the conflict zones in the country to protect civilians.
He also stressed the unity of the SRF, saying it calls for regime change by all peaceful and military means.
SRF’s secretary for external relations, Yasir Arman, on Friday hailed the agreement on national dialogue and constitutional process inked by the national dialogue subcommittee for external liaison, saying it boosts their calls for a comprehensive and inclusive process.
Arman further renewed rebel calls for the ruling National Congress Party “to choose the way of change or it will be changed”, stressing they “will not compromise in their demand for change” in Sudan.
(ST)
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