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JEM dismisses as ‘laughable’ Sudan’s demand that its leader be arrested

May 10, 2010 (WASHINGTON) — The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) today downplayed the significance of
Sudan’s announcement that it wants all states to cooperate in arresting its leader Khalil Ibrahim for his role in the May 2008 military assault at the twin capital city of Omdurman.

x610-2.jpgThe International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has already issued a ‘Red Notice’ for JEM chief since 2006 at Sudan’s request which charged him with terrorism for targeting oil pipelines along with a handful of other Darfuri rebel figures.

Today the Sudanese Justice minister Abdel-Basit Sabdarat told the government sponsored Sudanese Media Center (SMC) website that Ibrahim still faces 14 counts related to his group surprise attack at the outskirts of Khartoum.

Sabdarat said that Khartoum asked the INTERPOL to apprehend him wherever he is and also urged all states not to harbor him and be keen on extraditing him so that he can face the charges pending.

“This means peace process over,” said an international source familiar with the Darfur file who declined to be named when interviewed by Reuters.

The surprise remarks by the Sudanese official appear to confirm reports that president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir expressed his ‘extreme unhappiness’ to Egyptian officials this weekend over Ibrahim’s official visit to Cairo.

The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and intelligence Chief Omer Suleiman met yesterday with Bashir on a one-day visit to Sudan.

Aboul-Gheit minimized the dispute over hosting Ibrahim saying that Cairo is seeking to assist in resolving the Darfur crisis and achieving peace.

In Cairo, JEM official spokesperson Ahmed Hussein described the remarks by Sabdarat as “childish”.

“They are really showing their disrespect to Egypt by timing this announcement when Dr. Khalil is in Cairo discussing with Egyptian officials the fate of the peace process in Darfur. In any case this is just laughable does not mean anything to us but a childish attitude on the part of Khartoum” Hussein told Sudan Tribune by phone from the Egyptian capital.

Hussein revealed two meetings between JEM leader and Egyptian intelligence chief where they discussed the faltering talks in Doha denying any intention to move the venue to Cairo as some have speculated.

Asked whether the issue of the INTERPOL notice came up, Hussein said ‘No’.

“Egypt told Bashir that it wants to maintain ties with all parties in Sudan like they did with [SPLM leader John] Garang or otherwise they will have no mediation leverage” JEM spokesperson said.

Following the Omdurman attack, the Egyptian government rejected a request by Khartoum to hand over three JEM officials who were present in Cairo at the time which included JEM’s top negotiator Ahmed Tugd , Ahmed Sharif and Mohamed Ali.

Hussein said that Khartoum is resorting to tactics that aim at deflecting attention from issues the government is facing.

“This is propaganda by Khartoum and an attempt to cover up their military defeats in Darfur and frustration over growing diplomatic engagement of regional and international players with our movements,” he added.

“Sabdarat to be more concerned with the Mawasir market scandal their officials were involved in and trying to get people their money back. He can be of more use then or he can advise [president] Bashir to stand before the International Criminal Court rather than demand the arrest of Dr. Khalil” Hussein said.

Khartoum, which mobilized mostly Arab militias to crush the uprising in Darfur, signed a ceasefire with JEM in Qatar in February this year, as well as a “framework” agreement setting out the terms for future negotiations which was hailed as major breakthrough in resolving the seven years old conflict.

Days later, initial discussions reached stalemate when JEM objected to Khartoum starting talks with another Darfur rebel grouping, the Liberation and Justice Movement.

This month JEM suspended talks with Khartoum accusing the latter of breaching the ceasefire.

JEM was one of two mostly non-Arab rebel groups which took up arms against Sudan’s government in 2003, accusing it of starving the remote western region of funding and marginalizing its people.

(ST)

6 Comments

  • julius mowanga
    julius mowanga

    JEM dismisses as ‘laughable’ Sudan’s demand that its leader be arrested
    Dr; John Garang had left to us a heavy burden over our showlders,we the freedom fighters,to handle Darfur Liberation Mission.DarFur had been a prior task of the First-Vice President of the Sudan,but the SPLM replacement brought a wrong one.

    GOSS managed DarFuri rivals in a unique and unprecedented tactic,and spended a lot of money and logistical supplies to the cause,defying their power-partner ‘s views.

    The internal insecurity issue ,is the main task of the first-vice President of the Republic of Sudan,Salvator Kiir.The DarFur issue is at the top of that agends.Salva Kiir had been exausted by SPLM/A interior affairs and crises,residing in Juba, reducing himself to the level of a Civil Officer of Wau Town’s Council Adminstration!!!!! equiped with all that power and influence,but unforetunately he is occupied by the malicious isues,idling without tasks…..

    Reply
  • Abyei
    Abyei

    JEM dismisses as ‘laughable’ Sudan’s demand that its leader be arrested
    these Darfurian are still in darkness since they were converted to believed in Islam.now even still they don;t know what is going on between bashiir’s army and the sla? please darfurian,avoid any how movement.bashir is a damage human structure who would likes to cover his dried ras [head] with you guys during his final death day.

    take care brothers and be clever enough to face this idiot living stone age badinage monkey

    Reply
  • jalabi
    jalabi

    JEM dismisses as ‘laughable’ Sudan’s demand that its leader be arrested
    Indeed Mr.Khalil is a terrorist and should spend the rest of his life in Guantánamo Prison, as long as he is remoted by his leader Alturabi he will never sign a peace agreement with the government. We’ve a deal with Chadian president not to support Mr. Khalil and never support south Sudan secession that is why he commented negative recently on south Sudan referendum, we won’t support Chadian rebellion any more now on.

    Jalabi (Abo Jalabia)

    Reply
  • Deng Ateny Lueth
    Deng Ateny Lueth

    JEM dismisses as ‘laughable’ Sudan’s demand that its leader be arrested
    well, some people are still crying for john Garang vission of new sudan, but that could not happen unless Darfurian, Nubian, and people of blue Nile first developed strong heart and renounced being arab stooge. until they will realize their existence in sudan as people. following arab always will not promote any sense of respect to them. being islamic loyalist doesnot meant you forget who you are. so crying for Garang vission but is done just as God created the world once and that was it.

    Reply
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