Meanwhile, SLM rebel leader Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur continues to use the media to direct the Darfur war from Paris, France while dismissing all Darfur peace initiatives and proposing none. See details in reports copied here below.
Abdelwahid Nur is a chubby cheeked thirty-something Darfurian fat cat who directs the Darfur war from his armchair in Paris while living freely in the lap of luxury. He talks big but is too much of a coward to return to Sudan where he belongs. Why he has not been arrested, is beyond my comprehension.
Look at his photo here below, no worry marks on his face. What kind of stuff is someone like him made of I wonder. Maybe he is gullible and as thick as two short planks put together. I regard him as France's puppet, useful for French interests in Chad and oil business. Why else has France hosted and harboured Nur for so many years? What is in it for them? Surely the intelligence agencies are monitoring his every word and move.
Going by what I have read and gathered here at Sudan Watch, Darfur is no longer an emergency. So why not start pulling out aid if Nur refuses to attend peace talks? Sudan is one of the most ancient civilizations in the world. It has managed to survive since the year dot. It can manage without billions of taxpayers dollars being used to prop up the careers of leeches, lowlifes and volunteer busy bodies outside of Sudan with nothing better else to do except stir up trouble. Why not send Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur back to Darfur where he belongs? Get African rebels out of Europe, especially Germany. Pay attention to the machinations of the self serving savedarfurcrowd in America and bodies like Aegis Trust here in the UK who appear to be accountable to nobody.
Photo: A picture taken on August 13, 2007 shows the leader of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) Abdel Wahid Mohammed Nur addressing journalists after a meeting with Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade at Wade’s residence in Paris (AFP)
Of course, none of this will happen because nowadays too many people are making a living off the backs of poor uneductated Africans. The savedarfurcrowd and their ilk recently banded together and continued to allow themselves to be influenced by people who are driven by self interest. A good example is John Prendergast who is raking in a small fortune for his speeches and writings on Africa that brainwash people who are unwilling to think for themselves while ingratiating himself to naive American celebrities in order to worm his way up the greasy pole into the Obama administration. God help Mr Obama if he heeds any advice from that lot. And God help America if Hilary Clinton, in place of Dr Rice, heeds any advice from John Prendergast and the Eric Reeves' of this world. While in office as US President, Mrs Clinton's husband ordered a bombing of Sudan. Such vociferous money making pressure/lobby groups are, in my view, undermining democracy. They should be held more accountable and the news wires should stop publishing articles camouflaged as hard news or clearly label them as personal opinion pieces/press releases.
Here is a good example. An anonymously authored "Briefing" entitled Sudan - A gleam among the ruins from The Economist print edition November 20, 2008. Why is it classed as a "Briefing"? A briefing for whom? I see it is an opinion piece camouflaged as news, intent on influencing the way people think politically. Dangerous stuff. Mainstream media ought to be more discerning and cautious about their sources and the labelling of articles they print.
Photo: President George W. Bush welcomes Sudanese Liberation Movement leader Minni Minnawi to the Oval Office Tuesday, July 25, 2006, in Washington, D.C., meeting to discuss the Darfur region of western Sudan. White House photo by Kimberlee Hewitt
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DARFUR REBEL CHIEF DISMISSED BASHIR STATEMENTS ON FRENCH PRESSURE
December 1, 2008 (PARIS) Sudan Tribune report - excerpt:
A Darfur rebel leader has dismissed statements by Sudanese President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir in which he said that France would press him to take part in peace talks mediated by the Qatari government.- - -
“It would be better for him [Al-Bashir] to create conducive environment instead of such unproductive declarations” Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur, leader of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) told Sudan Tribune today.
Yesterday Al-Bashir was quoted as saying that his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy pledged to pressure Al-Nur to attend any future peace talks. The two presidents had met on November 28 on the sidelines of a UN meeting on development held in the Arab Gulf state of Qatar.
“I told him that the Darfur tragedy has now gone on for too long, that he must take initiatives and change things" the French president told reporters after his meeting.
Al-Nur, who is the founder of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), urged Al-Bashir to prove his seriousness for peace “by halting the killing of the innocent civilians, the rape of women and to disarm the government backed militias”.
The SLM leader further said Bashir’s statements are “lip service” and would not change his movement’s stance on the peace process. "The embattled president actually wants to persuade President Sarkozy to vote in favor of suspending his indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC) more than to achieve peace in Darfur," he underscored. (...)
The rebel chief said his movement would not participate in any peace talks unless Khartoum implement a set of demands he labeled as "Conflict suspension" where he demands implementation of a ceasefire signed in April 2004, militias disarmament, return of IDPs to their villages and expulsion of newcomers who settled in the IDPs areas.
The SLM rejected the signing of Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) over the issues of individual compensation, establishment of one region in Darfur instead of the current three states and more political representation of Darfuris in the national institutions including a vice-presidency for Darfur.
Al-Nur said since he is in France, "the Republic of democracy and human rights", he had never ever been subjected to any pressure.
He stressed his demands for the state to provide security to its citizens, a matter that according to him is one of the main reasons d’être of the state as institution. He further added that no one in France or elsewhere would differ with him over that.
The rebel figure hailed the statements made by Sarkozy after his meeting last weekend in Doha about the need to stop the conflict and undertake serious steps to achieve peace in Darfur.
DARFUR REBEL LEADER RESISTS PEACH TALK PRESSURE
December 02, 2008 KHARTOUM (Reuters) report by Andrew Heavens
A Darfur rebel leader on Tuesday said he was resisting international pressure to attend peace talks in Qatar and vowed to boycott all negotiations until government militias were disarmed and attacks ended.- - -
Abdel Wahed Mohamed Ahmed al-Nur said he was having regular consultations with officials in France, where he currently lives, and other international bodies, who all said he should take part in talks with Sudan's government.
But the chairman of the insurgent Sudan Liberation Army said he was sticking to his often-repeated position that he would not negotiate until "security" returned to Sudan's violent west.
"Without security we will not be part of any process," Nur told Reuters.
"The first step must be conflict suspension. They must stop killing our people. They must stop the rapes. They must disarm the janjaweed (a name used for mostly-Arab government-backed militias). They must move the people who have occupied our land."
His comments came as 15 human rights groups issued a report accusing the Sudanese government of continuing attacks on Darfur civilians, despite promising a new peace push in the region. (...)
Nur said he had recently had consultations with French authorities "several times". "I respect their position. ...They want us to negotiate for peace in Darfur without security on the ground ... But our position is clear."
Darfur's rebel Justice and Equality Movement on Monday said a delegation of its commanders was in Doha, Qatar to consult with the peace talk organisers. JEM commander Suleiman Sandal told Reuters his force had still made no commitments to attend.
JEM HOLDS TALKS WITH QATARIS OVER DARFUR PEACE PROCESS
December 02, 2008 (DOHA) report from Sudan Tribune:
The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has started a series of meeting with the Qatari officials in order to exchange views over the peace process that Doha intends to sponsor between Khartoum and the rebel movement in Darfur.- - -
Photo: Ahmed Hussein Adam
A delegation composed of Tahir Al-Faki, Jibril Ibrahim, Ahmed Hussein Adam and Khatab Widaa arrived to the Qatari capital to deliver a message from JEM chairman Khalil Ibrahim to the Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr Al Thani.
The spokesperson of the rebel movement, Ahmed Hussein Adam told Sudan Tribune from Doha that the message deals with the JEM vision on the peace process. The delegation handed it to the Qatari State Minister for Foreign Affair Ahmed bin Abdullah al Mahmoud on Monday.
Adam said that JEM has formulated a comprehensive vision on the topics and procedures that the mediators could consider for the process. The delegation is expected to meet again with the Qatari official on Wednesday to discuss the paper.
JEM was very critical for the former team of mediation on Darfur crisis for the lack of consultations with the rebel movements on the organisation of the peace negotiations. They also accused the two mediators of only dealing only with Khartoum.
Last month the Qatari state foreign minister held talks with the JEM chairman in a location close to the border with Chad on Thursday November 6. Ibrahim pledged to send a delegation to discuss the mediation but cautioned that this step would not signify they accept to negotiate with Khartoum under the Qatari sponsorship.
"We are here to discuss the Qatari mediation and to exchange views over the process but yet we have to take our decision," JEM spokesperson said from Doha.
Darfur rebels have expressed reserves over the Qatari mediation because it comes as result of an Arab initiative last September to bring peace to Darfur. The Arab move, which come after the indictment of the Sudanese president by the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor last July, is seen by the rebels as attempt to help President Al-Bashir to avoid ICC arrest warrant.
Ahmed Hussein Adam said JEM believes that the peace process should not be mixed with the ICC efforts on Darfur crimes.
He also said that the Sudanese government before the talks has to create conducive environment to prove its good faith and seriousness.
"Khartoum has to stop IDPs harassment as well as bombardment of civilians; also the authorities should stop hindering the activities of aid workers." Adam said.
He further added "Sudan should release any prisoner detained in events related to Darfur."
Following a raid on Khartoum last May, the Sudanese courts sentenced to death dozens of JEM fighters including Abdel Aziz Asher the brother of Khalil Ibrahim the leader of the rebel group. However, the issue was discussed during large consultation held in Khartoum last month but the ruling NCP seemed not willing to respond to this demand.
Ahmed also said they met with joint mediator, the French and Norwegian envoys to Darfur who are in the Qatari capital. (ST)
ABDELWAHID DISMISSES ALL INITIATIVES, PROPOSES, NONE, OFFICIAL
December 03, 2008 Sudan Vision report from Khartoum by Mona Al Bashir:
Sudan Government downplayed Abdelwahid's statement dismissing his participation in Doha talks. Authorized source described Abdelwahid statement as repetition of his same behavior. "Abdelwahid continues to reject any initiative or sincere negotiation proposals," commented spokesman to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding, "ever since the crisis sparked off up to now Abdelwahid has continued his stubbornness without delivering any alternative that proves his keenest on peace realization."- - -
Abdelwahid uttered yesterday statements claiming that he turned down international pressures to join Doha talks and he would not negotiate till security will have been realized in Darfur.
The spokesman commented that Abdelwahid's preconditioned demands are unanswerable and contravenes rational sense, adding that Wahid should have got to the negotiating table for debating those demands. The spokesman noted that Darfur security was the core of Doha negotiations.
"Negotiations should have been redundant if those demands were easily realizable," said him.
He further labeled Doha summit that assembled AU -UN and Arab League as an international initiative, describing the environment as conducive to peace attainment in Darfur. Moreover he urged Abdelwahid to recognize Darfur issue as political that should be resolved in this capacity as was the case with Southern Sudan issue.
It is worth mentioning that France has pledged to persuade Abdelwahid to come on board.
JEM delegation chaired by Dr Jibril Ibrahim was involved in series of meetings commenced with His Highness Qatari state Minister at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Bin Abdallah.
JEM appreciated Qatar role and expressed optimism about peace and Darfur which they see as strategic as their strategic option.
BASHIR'S DARFUR PEACE PROMISES ARE EMPTY: GROUPS
December 02, 2008 Reuters report by Louis Charbonneau - excerpt:
The Sudanese government's continued attacks on civilians in Darfur show how empty Khartoum's promises of peace for the ravaged region are, 15 human rights organizations said in a report issued on Tuesday.---
"Far from trying to improve the situation as it claims, the government of Sudan continues to conduct large-scale military attacks against populated areas, to harass aid workers and to allow impunity for the worst crimes committed in Darfur," Human Rights Watch, the Save Darfur Coalition, and 13 other rights organizations said in a highly unusual joint report. (...)
According to the rights groups' 22-page report, Khartoum has been working hard to convince the international community that it wants peace in Darfur in an attempt to pressure the Security Council into suspending the case against Bashir.
Bashir has announced a new peace initiative in western Sudan's Darfur, agreed to peace talks currently being mediated by Qatar and pledged to punish anyone guilty of crimes in Darfur.
But there are few signs of peace in Darfur and the policy of impunity for more than five years of mass murder in the region continue, making clear that the government's pledges are empty rhetoric, the report says.
The groups say that the only area of improvement has been in the deployment of the joint U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force for Darfur, known as UNAMID.
The humanitarian situation and security in Darfur have deteriorated significantly in recent months, the groups say.
Sudanese U.N. Ambassador Abdalmahmoud Abdalhaleem told Reuters that the activist groups were "warmongers" whose main objective was "to undermine peace in Sudan because they are beneficiaries of the war." He dismissed their accusations.
"The enemies of Sudan, including those organizations, will never be lacking in their negative campaign against chances and hopes for peace in Sudan," he said.
RIGHTS GROUPS: SUDAN LYING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS IN DARFUR
December 02, 2008 Voice of America News report - excerpt:
15 human rights organizations said in a joint report released Tuesday, the Sudanese government is lying about improvements in the situation in Darfur.---
Human Rights Watch, Save Darfur Coalition and 13 other rights organizations said the Sudanese government continues to conduct large-scale military attacks against populated areas, harass aid workers, and allow impunity for the worst crimes committed in Darfur.
Sudan wants the U.N. Security Council to suspend the International Criminal Court's consideration of an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.
The new human rights report said Sudanese officials have been lobbying Security Council members to order the suspension of the ICC investigation of Mr. Bashir.
The ICC prosecutor is scheduled to brief the Security Council Wednesday about the progress of his investigation.
SUDAN ACTIVISTS FEAR MORE ARRESTS OVER WAR CRIMES CASE
December 02, 2008 Reuters report from Khartoum by Andrew Heavens:
Sudanese rights campaigners are afraid the authorities will arrest more activists suspected of giving prosecutors evidence for a war crimes case against the president, a senior campaigner said on Tuesday.----
Amir Suleiman, of the Khartoum International Centre for Human Rights, said he and two other activists had been held and later released last week.
"We fear that maybe other activists will be arrested," Suleiman told reporters. "We are under pressure all the time."
International Criminal Court judges are considering a request made by the ICC's chief prosecutor for an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, accusing him of genocide and other war crimes in the western Darfur region.
International experts say 200,000 people have died and more than 2.5 million left homeless in five years of fighting between mostly non-Arab rebels and government-backed militia in Darfur.
Suleiman said security forces repeatedly asked him about his links to the Hague-based ICC during two days of interrogation last week. He denied supplying any evidence to the global court.
There was no immediate comment from Sudan's intelligence services.
U.N. officers told Reuters this week that aid workers faced increasing harassment in South Darfur where government officials have forced staff to hand over confidential files and emails to try to collect evidence of collaboration with the ICC.
The Sudanese government's Humanitarian Aid Commission in the region denied any harassment had taken place.
Commentators say the ICC judges may not reach a decision on the arrest warrant until the new year.
Amnesty International said along with Suleiman, security forces detained and later released Osman Hummaida, a British citizen and the former director of Sudanese Organization Against Torture (SOAT), as well as activist Abdel Monim Elgak. (Editing by Katie Nguyen)
DARFUR AID GROUPS FACE HARASSMENT - UN OFFICIALS
November 30, 2008 Reuters report from Khartoum by Andrew Heavens
Humanitarian aid groups are facing growing harassment in South Darfur where government officials have forced staff to hand over confidential emails and files, United Nations officials said on Sunday.
But the head of Sudan's state Humanitarian Aid Commission in the region denied the accusations, saying his office was doing all it could to assist development groups.
The U.N. officers, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters that Sudanese officials had ordered a crackdown on aid groups they suspected of supplying evidence to the International Criminal Court for a war crimes case against Sudan's president.
Aid agencies have launched the world's largest humanitarian operation to support 2.5 million people driven from their homes by more than five years of fighting in Sudan's violent west.
"There has been really severe intimidation...NGOs are in a state of shock in South Darfur," said a senior U.N. officer.
"They have been able to intimidate international and national staff into going into computers, open their private emails -- Gmail, Hotmail. (The officials are saying) if you don't give me your password, you won't get out of this country."
Most aid workers have to apply for exit visas every time they want to leave Sudan.
Senior Sudanese officials have repeatedly accused humanitarian groups of spying on government forces in the past and scores of aid workers have been expelled since the conflict started in 2003.
Sorour Ahmed Abdullah, the head of Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) in Nyala, capital of south Darfur, told Reuters the accusations were based on "wrong information".
"There is no harassment by this authority which gives all the facilities necessary for international organisations," he said, adding that HAC officers had not launched any investigations linked to the International Criminal Court.
DEEPLY TROUBLED
The U.N. Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said he had brought up the harassment reports with South Darfur's governor during a visit to Nyala last week. The governor promised to investigate the complaints, Holmes added.
A spokesman for the U.S. embassy in Khartoum said its officials were also "deeply troubled" by an "ongoing campaign of harassment and intimidation of international NGOs", particularly in South Darfur.
The U.N. officers said harassment had been on the rise since ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo asked judges for an arrest warrant for Sudan's President Bashir in July, accusing him of masterminding genocide and other war crimes including mass rape in Darfur.
"The government feels that the information released by the (ICC) prosecutor to document his case against the president was most likely coming from the NGOs," said one Khartoum-based U.N. officer.
The officer said the government's suspicions were unfounded as most of the prosecutor's material had been gathered from human rights groups based outside Sudan, and publicly available U.N. human rights reports.
Other U.N. officials said teams from HAC visited a string of aid agencies in south Darfur in late August, demanding staff hand over copies of sensitive files in a bid to find proof of collaboration with the global court.
In the following months, internal documents from aid groups have been leaked to state media, aid workers have been denied travel permits and stopped for questioning, deliveries of fuel into displacement camps have been restricted and programmes relating to rape and sexual health shut down, they said.
The U.N. officials said there were particular worries about the copying of files containing personal information about women who had made allegations of rape or received treatment and counselling after sexual attacks.
One officer said there were "concerns about ... intimidation against individuals in case they want to go into court ... or potential retaliation against the victims." (Additional reporting by Khaled Abdelaziz)
