Sudanese President considers the war in Palestine, South Lebanon and Darfur as one war

July 13, 2006 SANA Syria report Sudanese President Criticizes International Silence over Israeli Offensive - copy in full:

President Omar Hasan al-Basher of Sudan criticized Thursday the international community silence over Israeli violations in Palestine and Lebanon.

Al-Basher, speaking at an assembly of more than 10 thousand youths from National Conference in Khartoum, considered "the war in Palestine, South Lebanon and Darfur as one war", renewing rejection of any foreign interference in the Sudanese province of Darfur.   

Meanwhile, Russian former Premier Yevgeny Primakov announced that the Israeli attack in Lebanon is an uncovered aggression and a real war.

Primakov, speaking to the Russian NTV Channel, warned against escalation of Israeli offensive, saying that there is no way out of this situation except by negotiations and "if Israel rejects negotiations, it will hold responsibility for that."

July 13 2006 UN News Centre report - Secretary-General sends top advisers to Middle East to defuse crisis; calls key leaders

SOCIAL BACKWARDNESS

Note, Gaddafi lashes out at 'backward society' in Middle East.

Aid worker shot dead in N Darfur - Children are our future, they will build Darfur and to do that they must learn things

Some camp residents are pessimistic about the future. "Maybe I will have to stay here in this camp forever," says Khadmalla Hassan, "Only Allah knows." But others like Elzina Adam Ismae, who now teaches children to read in a camp in South Darfur, are more positive. "The children are our future, they will build Darfur and to do that they must learn things." (BBC/Peter Biro IRC)

Aid worker shot dead in North Darfur

Hassan Ahmad Idris, 23, an agricultural officer, was travelling in North Darfur with two local members of staff and a driver when their vehicle was stopped by armed robbers, who shot him dead, humanitarian agency Relief International said in a statement. One of the assailants had been arrested, it added - IRIN report July 13, 2006 - excerpt:

The UN envoy for Sudan, Jan Pronk, has expressed concern over the increasing violence in Darfur, saying the clashes between rival groups continued to displace civilians. "I am very concerned about the increase in violence in some specific areas of Darfur," Pronk told a news conference in Khartoum on Wednesday.

He named the most volatile areas as the northern part of North Darfur and eastern section of Jebel Marra, between Kutum and El Fasher, the state capital.

Thousands of Sudanese continue to pour into camps in Darfur despite the peace deal agreed between the Khartoum government and one rebel faction two months ago. This woman arrived in Abu Shouk camp in the north last month after her village grew increasingly insecure. It is the pattern across Darfur, in the south one field worker estimates 15,000 people have arrived in Nyala in the past few months. (BBC/Peter Biro IRC)



Pro-government Arab Janjaweed militia have driven over 2m from their homes in the last three years. In southern Otash camp, women and children collect water early to avoid the blazing rays of the midday sun. One of the group, Khadmalla Hassan, recalls her recent escape. "It was midday. The Janjaweed killed seven people. They burnt our houses and we were hiding in the desert for a week. We were very hungry and thirsty. Eventually we saw a truck drive by, which brought us here."

BBC NEWS In pictures - Darfur's camp life. Text and photos by Peter Biro of the International Rescue Committee.

Darfur: What Should the U.S. Do? (Bill Fletcher Jr)

Here is one of the few opinion pieces to come out of Washingon, D.C., that I agree with. Let's hear more voices like it please!

Excerpt from Chicago Defender Commentary Darfur: What Should the U.S. Do? by Bill Fletcher, Jr [via Hell on Earth]

There are some things that the Bush administration can do; the only question is whether they are prepared to actually do them. The Darfur crisis must be resolved by Africans. Any suggestion of NATO troops or U.S. troops entering in and forcing a solution will simply not work. Leadership for the resolution of the crisis must come from the African Union. Admittedly, the African Union is weak, indeed, in many respects it is just getting off the ground. Precisely for that reason, its on-going efforts need to be supported. If the Bush administration wishes to help, then let them support the African Union financially and diplomatically. Provide the AU with sufficient logistical support to deploy more peacekeepers. Provide assistance for the refugees currently living in neighboring Chad, and those internally displaced within the Sudan.

I wish that I had confidence that the Bush administration could play a positive role in international affairs. All evidence points to the contrary. Thus, my conclusion tends to be that which is the first instruction to physicians: do no harm!

Bill Fletcher, Jr. is a Washington, DC-based writer and activist involved with labor and international issues. A former president of TransAfrica Forum, he is now a Visiting Professor in Political Science at Brooklyn College-CUNY. He can be reached at papaq54@hotmail.com.

A dying peace deal in Darfur - The Boston Globe (John Prendergast)

So called "Sudan experts" seem to feed off each other and hearsay, regurgitating it into mainstream media to further their own cause and bamboozle readers in the process. They sound like clones on a game of some kind to get attention. Are they all Blair/Bush haters or what? Bad mood. Trying to track news, see hundreds of reports but only a scrap of it is hard news. It's hard work and time consuming trawling through so much rubbish. Mainstream media are letting us down. Lazy bums. Don't believe much of what I hear or read in the news.

Excerpt from an opinion piece (A dying peace deal in Darfur - The Boston Globe July 13, 2006) by doom merchant John Prendergast, senior advisor at the International Crisis Group (who pays for the food on his table?):

The specific security guarantee every Darfurian talks about is a United Nations force that will ensure the Janjaweed disarm, and that will protect refugees and help them return home.

[...]

It is time for serious pressure. The United States should tell regime officials it will work multilaterally to impose targeted sanctions, help the war crimes investigations of the International Criminal Court, and support the divestment movement that seeks to have companies stop doing business with Sudan.

Eh what? Every Darfurian? How would he know? After reading that line and his calls for sanctions, prosecutions and divestment, I couldn't take a word of the piece seriously. Most of the displaced Darfurians can't even read or write, what would they know when it comes to political issues beyond what power crazed rebel leaders are feeding them? And, while I am at it, there is no such thing as the so called janjaweed. Calling for "janjaweed" to be disarmed is like calling for "insurgents" in Iraq to be disarmed in one fell swoop. It's much more complicated, involving different tribes, tribal leaders and a culture going back to the year dot. They live on a different planet. Only they can sort it out. Get it? [Afterthought: shame them into sorting it out] See July 13 2006 Darfur: What Should the U.S. Do? (Bill Fletcher Jr).

UN's Egeland claims "We need a UN force on the ground"

Fundraising time. Donors conference takes place in Brussels July 18. You can set your clock for the time when UN aid chief Jan Egeland pops up in the media with horror stories from war-torn Sudan, a country the size of Europe (with just as many different tribes) that's never been at peace with itself.

Man is a predator. Many parts of Africa are still wild. Fighting and killing is a way of life there. Thugs get away with murder. Opportunists with guns are rife. Millions of Sudanese people can't even read or write. See Gaddafi lashes out at 'backward society' in Middle East. It'll take hundreds of years before they're anywhere close to catching up with today's world. Meanwhile, like wild animals, they are tamed and ruled with a stick.

Mr Egeland cries "We need a UN force on the ground" but doesn't explain how UN peacekeepers will fare better than AU peacekeepers. See IRIN report Factional fighting displaces thousands more in Darfur July 13, 2006 - excerpt:

"It is heartbreaking to see that what the SLA groups had rightfully accused the Janjawid [government-backed militia] of doing, they are now doing themselves to the civilian population caught in the crossfire," Egeland told a news conference in New York.

"In Darfur, security is non-existent for the civilian population and non-existent for humanitarian workers," said Egeland. "I have also received reports that the government is using white helicopters, the same colour that AMIS [the African Union Mission in Sudan] and the United Nations is using. This is a violation of international principles and poses a direct threat to UN and non-governmental organisation staff who normally [use] white helicopters and are neutral and impartial and should not be attacked," he added.

A member of CARE staff had been killed in the massive Kalma refugee camp, a UN World Food Programme convoy ambushed and looted a few days ago in South Darfur, while the abduction of a national staff member and mounting security concerns had forced Oxfam to suspend operations in two of its six offices in North Darfur earlier this week, Egeland said.

He said AMIS lacked the capacity to effectively protect civilians or provide adequate security for humanitarian operations. "We need a UN force on the ground (...) It is completely unsustainable the way it is now," he added.

The African Union has extended the mandate of its peacekeeping mission in Sudan until the end of 2006, and Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has agreed to the reinforcement of the AU presence, but has fallen short of agreeing to the eventual deployment of a full UN force for the region.

Egeland stressed that nations that had thus far pledged to support a UN force for Darfur were the organisation's traditional troop contributors, mostly developing countries, and not western states. It was therefore incorrect to state that the UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan would be a "western force and, therefore, should be resisted", he said.

- - -

Reminder: March 12 2006 Sudan's Salah Gosh met UK and US officials last week in London for talks on al-Qaeda and Darfur peace process

SLA's Minnawi nominated as head of Darfur Authority

Going by their recent commentary, some pundits like Flint (July 12, 2006 Where is the African Union in Darfur?) and Reeves (July 11, 2006 Darfur Security in Freefall: Humanitarian Collapse May Occur Any Moment) - who make themselves patently clear they are onside with SLM-Nur and against SLA-Minnawi - seem to see it as wrong that the two main signatories to the Darfur Peace Agreement, namely SLA's Minnawi and the Government of Sudan, are working together to implement the peace deal.

So what? Dissident rebels brainwashing their followers into dismissing ceasefires and peace deals have been given every opportunity to join the peace movement. When and where do you draw the line? Why shouldn't insurgents be treated as outlaws? From what I can gather, outlaws and their supporters (pundits included) have their caps set on pulling down the Darfur Peace Agreement and the fledgling African Union and its mission in Darfur. It seems obvious they and their followers are the ones who want to see the peace deal in tatters and a UN operation in Darfur. I wonder why.

Here is news of Minnawi's nomination as head of Darfur Authority. The pundits don't say where it leaves SLM's Nur. Note also how they don't address such issues (or when it comes to their calls for military intervention, that of the ICC and list of 51 names). Maybe the secret communications rumoured to be taking place between Nur and GoS will result in a position being created for Nur? Clearly it pays to be a rebel. Crime pays. They get away with murder and entry visas into Europe and the USA.

SLM's Minawi nominated for Senior Assistant to the President post AP reported 13 July 2006 (via Sudan Tribune). Excerpt:

Sudan has taken the first toward appointing a Darfur rebel leader as head of the administration that will run the western region once peace has been restored. The Sudan Liberation Army, the only rebel group that signed the Darfur Peace Agreement on May 5, nominated its leader, Minni Minnawi, to the post of senior assistant to Sudan’s president in meeting with a presidential adviser on Tuesday night, state media reported.

Once endorsed by President Omar al-Bashir - considered a formality - the position will make Minnawi the head of what will be the Darfur Authority, the administration that will run Darfur as an autonomous part of Sudan once the terms of the peace accord have been implemented.

"This is a historic day for our country," Samani al-Wasilah, the state minister for foreign affairs, told the official Sudan Media Center after the SLA delegation handed the nomination to presidential adviser Majzoub Khalifa. "Sons of the homeland have come together to cement the pillars of peace and work together to implement the Darfur Peace Accord."

The UN chief envoy to Sudan, Jan Pronk, expressed "concern" Wednesday about the ongoing harassment of civilians and attacks, but he did not blame any specific group.

Pronk told reporters in Khartoum that even the rebels who do not support the May 5 accord - such as a breakaway faction of the SLA and the Justice and Equality Movement - were obliged to observe the cease-fire signed in 2004.

Minnawi himself told reporters in Cairo on Tuesday that the only achievement of the DPA was that the cease-fire was holding in some places.

"(In) some of the area now, there is a cease-fire 100 percent. The government respected the cease-fire and also our troops are respecting the cease-fire," he said.

Speaking before the Tuesday night meeting, Minnawi said he would accept the nomination if it were made, and that he would soon return to Sudan. He did not give a date.

After the president has endorsed Minnawi’s appointment, it will have to be ratified by Sudan’s parliament, but this is considered a mere procedure.

The DPA sought to put a stop to three years of fighting between several rebel groups and pro-government forces that have killed 200,000 people and displaced another 2 million. The agreement is not popular in the refugee camps, where many people have tribal links to the leader of the breakaway SLA faction and argue that the peace terms are inadequate.

Sudanese government and SLM's Nur hold secret contacts

Regardless of what the pundits say and make up as they go along, sitting in their armchairs thousands of miles away from Africa, we know only a tiny fraction of what goes on in Sudan, a country the size of Europe.

Since none of us during wartime knows what goes on politically behind the scenes and in secrecy, one wonders how Darfurians in refugee camps can have an informed opinion on whether a peace deal is good for them or not.

According to the Sudan Tribune, Sudan's plan to disarm the Janjaweed was given to the African Union on July 8, 2006. Perhaps this accounts for the lull in media reports. A donors conference is due to take place in Brussels July 18 to raise funds for the AU Mission in Darfur/reconstruction of Darfur. Surely the donors will want to know how much money is needed and why. Will the funding required support the AU troops in Darfur from Sept 30 thru to the year's end, or longer?

Here's another thing that could account for the lull in news reports re the AU. According to a report by the Sudan Tribune 11 July 2006, its sources say the Sudanese government seeks to convince holdout rebel group SLM-Nur to join the Darfur peace agreement and that contacts are going on between the two parties. Excerpt from the report:

Sudanese government launched secret contacts with the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdelwahid al-Nur in a move to convince him to join DPA. According to ST sources, Khartoum made several concessions in term of compensations and political representation but al-Nur insists on the International guaranties particularly in the disarmament of the Janjaweed militia, and the UN role in the peacekeeping mission.

The expected visit of the Sudanese First Vice President to Asmara should pushes in this direction to persuade Nur to join the peace deal with the signing of complement document.

The Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi is also involved in these contacts with al-Nur; a delegation of his movement was in Tripoli to present their point of view to the Libyan official last June.

A dissident group from al-Nur SLM provoked a surprise in Khartoum by declaring their nomination of Abdelwahid al-Nur for the position for the position of the Assistant of the President of the Republic.

Ibrahim Abdeldayem al-Sideiq, the spokesperson of the SLM (Free Will), a faction from al-Nur group which joined the DPA in June, said they hope that al-Nur would join peace agreement soon.

Nur says he will sign the peace deal, but only if first the government accepts some of his key demands in an annex accord.

The demands include greater compensation from Khartoum for Darfur war victims and greater SLA involvement in monitoring the disarmament of the Janjaweed and the return home of refugees.

Further engagement with Sudan needed on UN Darfur force, peacekeeping chief says

Misunderstandings between the Government of Sudan and the international community concerning a proposed UN mission in Darfur must be cleared up if the peace agreement it is meant to support is to be successful, the UN's top peacekeeping official said July 12, 2006. UN News Centre report July 12, 2006 - excerpt:

"There was not enough engagement," Jean-Marie Guehenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, told the press after briefing the Security Council on his discussions with Sudanese President Omar al Bashir and other African leaders on the margins of the African Union (AU) Summit meeting held in Banjul earlier this month.

In his talks with President al Bashir in Banjul, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that there was agreement on the need to immediately strengthen the AU mission in Darfur (AMIS) and to consolidate the peace accord in that region, which has seen scores of thousands of people killed and over 2 million displaced.

However, the Sudanese President's agreement on the deployment of a UN force, which peacekeeping officials have said was needed by January 2007 to fully implement the peace accord, was not secured in the talks, Mr. Guehenno said, although progress had been made in dispelling any notion that such a force would have any "colonial" or other hidden objectives.

"The international community is interested in Darfur because it is interested in helping the people of Sudan and the Government of Sudan in establishing the authority of the State and peace and security throughout the territory," the peacekeeping chief said he stressed.

Mr. Guehenno also emphasized that further engagement with the Government was needed. "I think we need to continue that discussion, because clearly the Government of Sudan has to be a part of the solution."

In any case, he said it was important to strengthen AMIS and make sure that the situation in Darfur does not deteriorate in the next six months, and for that reason he said he had highlighted to the Council the importance of a conference aimed at supporting the AU mission, to be held on 18 July in Brussels.

Absence of constitution in Nuba mountains affects affairs of the state

According to the Sudan Tribune today, a senior member of the Nuba community has blamed the lack of services in southern Kordofan State on the absence of a state constitution. Report excerpt:

Speaking at a meeting of Nuba traditional leaders in Kadugli last week, Nuba Relief Rehabilitation Development Organization Executive Director Lazim Suleiman said the delay in passing the Southern Kordofan's state constitution will affect the affairs of the state.

He told Sudan Radio Service that the state's constitution will provide the basis for the state government to provide services to its people.

"In this partnership we want the people to have a clear basis to provide services to the people who lived the war for not less than 21 years. So any negative impact will appear on the traditional leaders because they are basic of any development and peace. Therefore if the peace, a real peace could be created it will be by the traditional leaders", Lazim Suleiman.

Suleiman also urged traditional leaders to know their role in bringing lasting peace to Sudan, saying it would be traditional leaders who could make the greatest impact.

Southern Sudan's ex rebel group SPLM needs representatives with in-depth oil industry knowledge

An agreement to end more than 20 years of civil war in south Sudan has been violated and its implementation especially in the oil-rich Abyei region is behind schedule, a commission monitoring the deal said on Wednesday, Reuters reported 12 July 2006 (via Sudan Tribune). Excerpt:

"There is a growing sense of frustration and disappointment among the people about what they perceive as a lack of progress in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)," Assessment and Evaluation Commission Chairman Tom Vraalsen told reporters in Khartoum.

"I don't think any of the two parties when they signed the CPA ... (in) January last year, fully recognised the challenges ahead of them," said Vraalsen, who refused to appoint blame for the CPA's slow implementation and violation.

He highlighted the deadlock over the status of the Abyei region, which contains one of Sudan's two largest oil fields. Sudan pumps around 500,000 barrels per day of crude.

The region has a special autonomous status with the right to vote in a referendum on joining the north or a possible separate south in 2011.

The dispute over whether it will go to the north or the south has created instability in the area and hampered aid efforts.

Note, the report points out that analysts have said another obstacle to the petroleum commission's work is the lack of SPLM representatives with in-depth oil industry knowledge. The commission's mandate includes examining oil output and oil contracts.



Photo: A Sudanese man cries as he holds a SPLM flag, Wednesday, May 26, 2004 as he waits for the signing of the last three protocols between the Sudan govt and SPLM in Naivasha, Kenya (AP).

After peace, wild life returns to South Sudan

The stamp of approval on the prevailing peace and tranquility and the success of the CPA have been given by the wild animals who are returning to the jungles of South Sudan. Yes, herds of wild elephants and other animals have been spotted throughout the forests of South Sudan. Why these wild animals have fled these forests earlier and why are they coming back now?

Read more by Luc Kodah, an Indian chap in Sudan who blogs under the name of Parakkodan at Sudan - A Personal Experience.



Photo: Elephants at Nimule (Luc Kodah) via Sudan Tribune 12 July 2006.

What makes the UN believe its peacekeepers would be able to protect civilians better than AU peacekeepers?

It would seem from the following report that UN aid chief Jan Egeland thinks UN peacekeepers would be able to protect civilians better than the current AU force. I wonder what makes him think so. The UN Mission in Southern Sudan is, as far as I can tell, under Chapter 6 mandate. A UN force in Darfur without Chapter 7 mandate would meet far more resistance than the existing AU Mission in Darfur.

I cannot understand why AMIS is allowed to be under resourced, demoralised and hamstrung. Its mandate in Darfur is to monitor a ceasefire agreement, not as a Chapter 7 protection force. Critics ought to give the AU troops the credit they deserve. Overall, they've carried out their duties professionally, proving themselves to be patient, disciplined, diplomatic and great ambassadors of their home countries. So what if rebel supporters prefer UN (read money) to AU - they should be thankful for the help they are getting against all odds, it's a lot more than what civilians are getting in northern Uganda where far worse things are going on. I've read that doubling of peacekeepers in Darfur - or even increasing the numbers by tens of thousands - would not make much difference unless the warring parties are serious about wanting peace. Greedy ruthless power hungry leaders of rebel groups SLM-Nur and JEM/NFR-Ibrahim aren't going to play second fiddle to SLA's Minnawi, are they? They're all wannabe John Garang's. None show great leadership skills or qualities making them fit to govern. Using a gun to fight for what you want is one thing, holding a position in government is very different.

Mr Egeland told a news conference on Tuesday that the mainstream rebel faction, led by Minni Arcua Minnawi, was in conflict with splinter factions of the SLA, Reuters' Evelyn Leopold reported July 12, 2006. Excerpt: SLA infighting had resulted in indiscriminate killings, rape, looting and the displacement of some 8,000 civilians over the past 10 days alone, Egeland said.

"It is heartbreaking to see that what the SLA groups had rightfully accused the Janjaweed of doing they are now doing themselves to the civilian population caught in the crossfire," he said.

Egeland said there were reports that government security forces were supporting attacks against splinter groups of the SLA. They were using white helicopters, the same color that the African Union, the United Nations and relief groups fly.

"This is again a violation of international principles and a dire threat to U.N. staff who go on the white helicopters that are neutral and impartial and should not be attacked," Egeland said.

He also said that humanitarian workers throughout Darfur were being attacked "on an almost daily basis."

Egeland said United Nations peacekeepers, which the Khartoum government opposes, were sorely needed because the 7,000-strong African Union monitoring force, the only bulwark against atrocities, was "not able to protect effectively the civilian population" nor humanitarian staff.

New York Times' reporting on Darfur worsens

Note how Nicholas Kristof, an American columnist for the New York Times, informs his readers of the complex situation in Sudan. In his latest commentary entitled Darfur: When Genocide Worsens he concludes by saying:

So here's a suggestion: Let's charter a few cargo planes to carry the corpses of hundreds of new victims from Darfur and Chad to the U.N. The butchered victims of Darfur could lie in state as a memorial to global indifference - and as a spur to become serious about the first genocide of the 21st century.

Also, among other pieces of his advice, he tells his readers:

"we need to press Europeans to become more involved."

What a cheek. Which Europeans does he speak of? Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany , Greece, Ireland, Italy, Slovenia, Sweden, Netherlands, United Kingdom and all the other members of the European Union? Not to mention other European countries like Norway, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia? As if they've not been heavily involved all along. If it weren't for the European Union, the African Union and its peacekeepers would not even exist!

Kristof makes my blood boil. He fails to properly inform his readers. Perhaps he thinks they are more stupid than himself.

Julie Flint: Planning for the all-Darfur conference now

Commentary in The Daily Star Where is the African Union in Darfur? by Julie Flint July 12, 2006. Excerpt:

More force - whether in the shape of a NATO force or another foreign army - will only add fuel to the fire in Darfur. A UN force to replace the present AU mission is rejected, with increasing conviction, by the Sudanese government. Without a change of heart in Khartoum, UN peacekeepers would have to fight their way into Darfur. The lesson of Abuja is inescapable now: There is no quick fix, and no lasting peace that is not both consensual and comprehensive.

With the conclusion of the Abuja talks, there is no political process, no table around which Darfurians can sit to thrash out their outstanding differences and seek to resolve them. Priority must be given to creating a new forum - perhaps through the Darfur Joint Commission, in which all parties to the conflict, including the dissident rebel factions, are represented. The UN and the AU's Abuja partners - the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, France, Italy and the Netherlands - must take the lead in planning for the all-Darfur conference now.

Related reports

Mar 30 2006 Darfur-Darfur dialogue (DDDC) to be organised after signing of Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA)

SLA rebel Minnawi invited to Washington later this month

The U.S. has invited the Darfur rebel leader who agreed to peace with Sudan to visit Washington amid signs the American-brokered accord is in danger of unraveling because of infighting and violence against civilians, Bloomberg's Janine Zacharia in Washington reported July 11, 2006. Excerpt:

Minni Arkou Minnawi, leader of one of two feuding factions within the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army that has warred with the central government in Khartoum, will visit later this month for about a week, a State Department official who asked not to be identified said. The discussions with U.S. officials will explore how to get other rebels to sign the accord.

Among rebel leaders in Darfur, only Minnawi was persuaded by U.S. negotiator Robert Zoellick to support the power-sharing agreement in May. Now Minnawi is facing rising opposition to his leadership among commanders in northern Darfur, including those from his Zaghawa ethnic group, according to the United Nations.

The State Department official said Minnawi's itinerary was still being determined, including whether he would confer with Bush at the White House. National Security Council spokesman Frederick Jones said late yesterday he had nothing to announce about the president's schedule.

To entice Minnawi to sign the Darfur agreement, Bush promised the rebel chief in a personal letter that the U.S. "will strongly support implementation of the peace accord" and will insist that any party not cooperating "be held accountable by the UN Security Council.''

The State Department official described reports about new violence by Minnawi's faction as part of a pattern though not on the scale seen earlier in the conflict.

Straight out of the African bush into a five star Washington lifestyle rubbing shoulders with GW Bush eh? It pays to be a rebel. I've not yet seen any reports that explain how SLA's Minnawi, SLM's Nur and JEM/NFR's Ibrahim fit into the one position of power they all covet, ie Vice Presidency of Darfur.

Peace loving American activist Jay McGinley calls for 20,000-30,000 peacekeepers in Darfur

American activist Jay McGinley has published a blog entry calling for 20,000 - 30,000 peacekeepers (preferably African Union and non-Western UN) to be on the ground in Darfur, beginning October 1. Jay concludes by saying:

"I am open to any appropriate way to go to nonviolent war as long as it equates to fighting to win and doing the very best that we can do."

Note, in the blog entry, Jay quotes the late great Mahatma Gandhi. Wish I could find a piece I'd read about Gandhi's thoughts on Africa: he'd said something like "there can only be African solutions to African problems".

The current AU Mission in Darfur costs $1 billion per year. A donors conference is due to take place soon in Belgium to raise more funds for AU peacekeeepers in Darfur.

Surely peace is in the hands of the Sudanese people and rebels. I'd like to see the Sudanese people who left their country to receive an education in the West, return home to share knowledge, skills and expertise and pull together to get drinking water flowing across the Sudan. Water is key to Sudan's future and survival.



"My life is my message" - M.K.Gandhi

Sep 30 2004 M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence - First Annual Gandhian Nonviolence Conference October 8-9, 2004

"Open Letters to the President of Sudan"

Here's an excerpt from a blog entry I wrote here at Sudan Watch 22 April 2005:

... A few days ago, I was on the verge of giving up blogging about Darfur. Posting nearly every day for one year seemed pointless and too disheartening. So many rubbish news reports and propaganda around. Politicians and bloggers don't have much to say. It was sickening seeing Darfur news reports churned out again like a repeat from last year ... shortage of food ... short of funds ... rainy season coming ... janjaweed still attacking. Out of frustration, I experimented with starting up a blog to post "Open Letters to the President of Sudan" in a lateral thinking effort to gain some understanding of what is really going on and why peace is taking so long. I even toyed with the idea of sending President Bashir a copy of Mahatma Gandhi's Autobiography "The Story of My Experiments With Truth" via Amazon.com. But within 24 hours, I deleted the whole thing after realising what a complete waste of time and energy it would be trying to make contact with someone who doesn't even care to understand his own people, nevermind us. ...



Found on the Internet - source unknown

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "While abhorring segregation, we shall love the segregationist. This is the only way to create the beloved community."

Over and over, he stressed separating the doer from the deed. He believed this was a crucial element to nonviolent struggle not only because of the moral obligation to love our enemies, but because he knew that part of the "truth-force" that Gandhi taught was to understand that men are neither gods nor devils to be falsely exalted by either praise or scorn. A beloved community relies upon honesty and equality, which are both endangered when anyone is given the powerful and illusive label of "bad guy."

Plagiarism at Sudan Tribune - Darfur Minawi group denies UN "accusations" of rape and killing

Once again, the Sudan Tribune has published an article without referencing source and/or author. Stealing the work of news reporters and passing it off as their own is blatant plagiarism. It's hard work trying to figure out the source of their reprints. They've allowed themselves to get away with it for too long.

Yesterday, here at Sudan Watch, I noted a UN Sudan Situation Report containing news from AMIS about an SLM-Nur informant alleging rape and murder by SLA-Minnawi faction. The Sudan Tribune headlined the story as "UN accuses Darfur SLM-Minawi of rape, murder" - they'd copied a report by Sapa/AFP, inserted a few extra words, created a title and passed it off as their own work.

Today, the Sudan Tribune published another unsourced article entitled Darfur Minawi group denies UN accusations of rape and killing. Excerpt:

A Darfur rebel faction, which signed a May peace deal for the western Sudanese region, denied accusation published in a UN report s of raping and murdering civilians in an offensive against rebel holdouts.

A spokesman for the Minnawi faction, Mahjoub Hussein, denied these charges Monday in an interview with the pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera.

We officially reject this statement made by the UN, and we demand an immediate international investigation," said Hussein, wearing a camouflage shirt. "These allegations are an attempt to tarnish the image of the movement."

The UN mission issued "situation reports" for Sunday and Monday that reported numerous attacks in North Darfur, particularly around Um Sidir, Tawilla and northwest of El Fasher. Most of the incidents were reportedly cases of the Minawi faction of the Sudan Liberation Army attacking the Abdelwahid faction of the same rebel group.

Minni Minawi, the overall leader of the SLA, signed the May 5 accord, but Abdelwahid Elnur, the leader of a breakaway faction, rejected it.

"Intra SLA fighting in and around Tawilla has forced the displacement of about 4,000 Internally Displaced Persons," the UN reported.

The report quoted the refugees as accusing the Minnawi faction of raping, kidnapping and killing people indiscriminately in the Tawilla district.

"One Internally Displaced Person alleged he witnessed 15 young women being raped and then killed," said the UN situation report for Sunday.

Decades of low-level clashes in Darfur over land and water erupted in early 2003 when ethnic Africans took up arms against the Arab-led government in Khartoum, which responded with a counter-insurgency campaign that is accused of widespread atrocities.

The conflict has killed 300,000 people and displaced another 2 million. Some 235,000 refugees from Darfur fled across the border into Chad. And an estimated 50,000 Chadians have fled their homes near the border in recent months.

As noted here previously, the UN merely reported an allegation made to AMIS by an SLM-Nur informant.

I'm tired of propaganda and self serving warmongers. James Smith of Aegis Trust managed to get his opinion piece in The Times (see here below). From what I can gather, no other news reports have emerged counteracting claims by the head of AMIS that - contrary to what the AU president announced at the AU summit - the AU is pulling out of Darfur on September 30. Note September 30 is the date when Save Darfur organisation in Washington DC has another rally planned.

July 7 2006 Bad reporting has made Darfur's conflict worse, and might even lead to an unnecessary international war (Reuters)

July 10 2006 Self-Service & Kiosk Association - Kiosks add impact to Clooney genocide exhibit: Nick [Clooney] collaborated with Cincinnati’s National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to exhibit the work. The museum staff opted to use kiosks with the exhibit, to offer immediacy and interactivity. They draw foot traffic to the exhibit with a looping five minute video, narrated by Nick. The exhibit runs June 14 through July 15.

July 11 2006 James Smith, Aegis Trust - The clock ticks. Sudan heads for disaster: The world seems to be turning away from the refugees of Darfur - but the United Nations has a duty to act. A COUNTDOWN of less than 90 days has begun until the vulnerable people of Darfur are abandoned by world leaders who cannot make a decision - whether to protect them or leave them at the mercy of a Government that has killed at least a quarter of a million and driven millions more from their land. The scene is set for the world's worst humanitarian crisis to tip from bad to worse.

UN Sudan Situation Report 10 July 2006

United Nations Sudan Situation Report 10 Jul 2006 by the UN Country Team in Sudan - via ReliefWeb.

Douglas Farah: Intelligence report links Al Qaeda to Janjaweed in Sudan

Not sure about this opinion piece but I am filing it here for future reference as it claims a recent international intelligence document says there are credible reports that a cadre of about 15 al Qaeda operatives in Sudan are providing training to troops under the control of Janjaweed leader Musa Hilal.

See July 10 2006 Douglas Farah opinion piece entitled Intelligence Report Links Al Qaeda to Janjaweed in Sudan. Excerpt:

The confidential report says the trainers are foreigners who have arrived in Sudan from Kenya, Mali, Libya, Somalia and southern Egypt, and possibly Yemen. There are indications the cadre came out of Afghanistan and Iraq to join the janjaweed for training and combat.

The report suggests that in the last week of April 2006, Arab militia have left from Kabkabiya, Misteria and Fata Borno. Their movement has allegedly been ordered by the prominent Janjaweed leader Musa Hilal.

Hilal who is allegedly being supported by Al Osman Mohamed Taha (VP) has recently received 20 Toyota vehicles from VP Taha. It was also reported that the go-between person for VP Taha and Musa Hilal is a military officer whose name is Saeed (last name not yet known). Assisting him in some of his efforts is a person called Mohamed Suleiman Rabi who is a "waha" or chief of some of the Arab Nomads especially around the Mallit area.

Other report suggests that an Arab chief by the name of Mohamed Quiness Toe (last name spelt phonetically) who is from the Old Rashead tribe, received 17 vehicles from an unknown sponsor who then transported them to Giri village, one of the three suspected training camps.

UN Sudan Situation Report 9 July 2006 - AU helicopter shot at - Bashir stresses no more negotiations on Darfur

United Nations Sudan Situation Report 9 July 2006 by the UN Country Team in Sudan - excerpts:

On 7 July, Vice President Taha returned to Sudan. At the airport, he told the press that he had interrupted his holiday because of the difficult circumstances facing the country. On 8 July, local media reported a close-door meeting between President Bashir and SVP Taha at the President s residence to discuss recent developments in the country. Comment: Arab-language press has been reporting allegations on the differences between the two, particularly on the role of the UN in Darfur. On 6 July, President Bashir publicly denied a rift, saying that the rumours were fabricated by the media.

On 8 July, at the opening ceremony of the New Manshiya Bridge, President Bashir restated his opposition to international forces in Darfur. He called for Darfur rebel groups to join the peace process and stressed that there would not be more negotiations on Darfur.

In an interview with Sudan Radio Service on 7 July, Cabinet Affairs Minister in the Government of National Unity, Deng Alor Kual called on the NCP to implement the Abyei Protocol.

North Darfur - Security:

On 8 July, a G-19 senior field commander (SLA/AW (Abdul Wahid)) reported that Birmaza (G-19 controlled-area) was under attack by SLA/MM (Minni Minnawi) rebels. A Government Antonov aircraft joined by a white helicopter was observed circling the area. Further investigations revealed that it was a white Government helicopter which passed over the town heading in the direction of Muzbat. Comment: As a result of this renewed and potential ongoing fighting, UNDSS issued warnings to UNMIS, UN Agencies and NGO's through OCHA that operations in the above reported areas should be reviewed and suspended until further notice.

On 8 July, an AMIS helicopter was shot at by unknown individuals carrying an unidentified projectile(s) 12 km Northeast of Shangil Tobayi. The helicopter was completing an air patrol at a 100 meter altitude with about 12 passengers. No further information is available. Comment: UNDSS has temporarily restricted flights to the area.

On 8 July, a G-19 senior field commander confirmed that SLA/MM rebels, allegedly supported by SAF troops from El Fasher, attacked and captured Umm Sidir (G-19 controlled-area, 90 km North of El Fasher).

On 7 July, SLA/MM rebels attacked Al Aradib Ashara and Faiga villages, both under SLA/AW (Abdul Wahid) influence. Three people were reported killed and one was injured.

On 5 July, the SLA/MM and SLA/AW factions were reported fighting in the SLA/AW controlled village of Tina (12 km Southwest of Tawilla). The SLA/MM rebels were based from Susuwa (Southwest of Tawilla). A SLA/AW senior field commander had also participated in the fight with his forces.

On 5 July, SLA/MM rebels attacked the villages Dalim, Kathim and Birka (about 40 km Northwest of El Fasher) which were most likely under SLA/AW influence. The number of injured civilians and large number of stolen livestock is unconfirmed.

AMIS reported that on 6 July, a town leader of Birka village (60 km West of Tawilla) was killed by SLA/MM rebels during the on going fighting between SLA/MM and SLA/AW in the Korma general area. The SLA/MM rebels travelled into the town via Dali IDP Camp (Southest of Tawilla).

Protection: Intra SLA fighting in and around Tawilla has forced the displacement of about 4,000 IDPs.

On 8 July, AMIS reported that about 650 new IDPs, mostly women and children, arrived in Zam Zam camp who fled from the ongoing fighting between SLA factions in the Tawilla area. All newly arrived IDPs belong to the Fur tribe and fled from 21 villages; Koyo, Kera, Kosheny, Sandingo, Karfolla, Dady, Hashaba, Saby, Khor Mally, Dybis, Hymeda, Dolma, Dawa, Wadadi, M Saleat, Dally, Nemera, D Ba, Carhma, Daybo and Abdia. The IDPs alleged that the SLA/MM faction was indiscriminately killing, raping women and abducting Fur civilians in Tawilla. One IDP alleged he witnessed fifteen young women being raped and then killed. He further alleged that about forty men were kidnapped and believed to have been executed. The general security situation was reported to be tense.

South Darfur - Security:

On 7 July, unknown armed men attacked a Government military camp at the outskirts of Duma (40 km North of Nyala). Two soldiers were killed.

On 6 July, Falata armed militia ambushed some Habaniya traders in Ragag (50 km Northwest of Buram) killing seven Habaniya tribesmen. In retaliation, on 7 July, fighting between armed militias of the Falata and Habaniya tribes continued. 15 people were killed from both sides. Government police and military reinforcements were sent to the area. The Commissioners of Buram and Tulus Localities held meetings with the Umdas and tribal leaders to resolve the problem.

On 7 July, two IDPs from Kalma IDP Camp were shot dead near Arbaha village (400 meters north-east of Kalma Camp).

On 7 July, two armed men in military uniform attacked a convoy of three UN Agency contracted commercial trucks carrying humanitarian supplies from El Obeid to El Geneina. They beat the drivers and looted about 75,000 SD and their mobile phones.

On 6 July, armed men attacked an UN Agency contracted commercial truck in Tortahan (53 km Southeast of Nyala) with 24 passengers while travelling from El Deain to Nyala. The truck overturned and 17 passengers were injured.

On 6 July, armed militia attacked the village of Saadon (2 km North of Gereida). In retaliation, Masalite tribesmen pursued them, however, eleven of the tribesmen were killed and seven wounded.

West Darfur: NSTR

Southern Sudan - Security:

On 6 July, inter-clan fighting was reported in the area between Bhar el Naam and Pacong (20km Southwest of Rumbek). Six people were reported killed. Comment: On 6 July, SRRC Rumbek advised UN agencies and UNMIS that the area should be considered insecure until further notice. WFP missions were cancelled as result of the fighting.

Due to recent ambushes on the Juba-Mangalla and Juba -Torit roads, all UN agencies and implementing partners are advised to use armed escorts on these roads and movements should be cleared by the Deputy Designated Official (DDO) through UNDSS in Southern Sudan prior to departure. UN agency staff is advised to contact the Security Office in Juba three days before travelling on these routes so armed escorts can be arranged.

Humanitarian:

On 7 July, a barge carrying 1,000 spontaneous returnees in which 14 cases of cholera were confirmed left Bor. The passengers destined to Bor disembarked despite requests that they remain on board until the cholera cases were stabilized.

An INGO clinic received 21 new cases of Hepatitis A from 3 to 5 July in Wau town. An unconfirmed report on a high number of recent deaths following this outbreak was reported.

On 8 July, an IOM convoy carrying 205 IDPs left Yei to arrive at the Lologo way station near Juba.

On 7 July, Yei County celebrated the second Girl Child Education Day with the Speaker of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly as a keynote speaker. There are 27,000 students in Yei 22,000 in primary schools and 5,000 in secondary schools. Speakers urged parents to stop the practice of the early marriages for girls and to encourage them to pursue their education so that they can fill the 25% of GoSS positions allocated for women. Civil Affairs:

On 7 July, the Jonglei Task Group, left for Akobo (Central Jonglei) to monitor the disarmament process and civilian arms control. The project is geared towards the disarmament, monitoring the process according to the UNMIS mandate, working to build confidence and supporting the CPA by reducing the resistance against the process.

According to an assessment mission undertaken by NGOs, displaced people in Mvolo (Western Equatoria State), from tribal clashes in May in Wulu County (Lakes State), are in urgent need of food, as well as Non-Food Items (NFI) such as sheets for shelter. Reconciliation activities are unlikely to be carried out until the needs of the displaced people are met, and they return to their villages.

Eastern Sudan: NSTR

[Source: Unified Mission Analysis Centre (UMAC), United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) , Khartoum, Sudan via ReliefWeb]