Fighting the Global War on Radical Islam?

Filed here for future reference: a copy of one of the 18 comments posted to Younghusband's blog entry at ComingAnarchy.com 9 Aug 2006 re Reader Question: Fighting the Global War on Radical Islam?

Comment by Kirk H Sowell, Arab World Analysis:

Two comments, one general and one in response:

1) We should remember that while the phenomenon is Islamic terrorism, the enemy is neither Islam nor terrorism - it is radical Islam. I stress this point because sometimes the purely military terrorist groups like al-Qaeda are viewed as the greatest threats, but in the long run they don't have staying power - in fact they don't have a lot even now. But those radical Islamic organizations with political and social wings like Hamas and Hizballah are the greatest long-term threats. They can survive when others cannot. This is not the place to prescribe a remedy, and I explain below why I think this one would not work, but I think this distinction is important to bear in mind. Hizb al-Tahrir has no military wing, but seeks to establish the Caliphate and then declare war on the West. That is a greater threat than al-Qaeda.

2) This plan would not work because it would be be portrayed as a "war against Islam" and the modifier "radical" would drop out. I don't follow all areas of the Muslim world so closely, but in the Arab media this is how just about everything comes through. If the Taliban kills 1,000 Shia Muslims in a weekend killing spree, as they did to the Hararas when they were in power, it isn't worth noting. But if an American missile goes astray and kills 10 Afghans, the America is waging war on Islam. If Israel kills a Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative who directed a suicide bombing that killed 25 Israeli civilians in a market, he is a martyr, and Israel is waging war on Islam. Syria can assassinate as many Lebanese opposition figures as it wants, and this barely causes a ripple in Arab societies outside Lebanon itself. If Israel kills the same number accidentally fighting Hizballah, Israel is waging a war on Islam. When Britons of Pakistani origin try and blow up buses or airplanes, then Al-Jazeera talks about how bad it is for Muslims in Britain. I'm serious. This is exactly what they did after 9/11 and 7/7.

You get the point - there isn't the slightest chance that any message like this would get through without the greatest amount of distortion. Some Muslims would certainly agree with it, but none of them will have supported radical Islam anyway.

Eric Reeves says DPA is serving as cover for escalating internecine fighting, especially in northern Darfur

Eric Reeves' opinion piece appears in today's "Comments is Free" section of the Guardian's website (via POTP).

Here below is an excerpt that shows how Reeves continues to pull down the AU troops in Darfur and portray the Darfur conflict as Arabs vs Africans/Arabs seeking to kill and eliminate Africans/Arabs committing genocide.

Note too how he highlights the Germans, making no mention of any other European government other than that of Britain. France, Norway and The Netherlands, to name a few, have been most vigorous in their efforts to help the people of Darfur, not just the Germans and British.

The only reason I can think of why Eric Reeves would denigrate the AU and feel the need to highlight the German involvement in Darfur is that he aims to manipulate and influence his readers. It seems to me he is onside with the Sudanese rebels (but not SLA-Minnawi) and wants what the rebels want, namely (for a start) UN troops in Darfur. Here is the excerpt from the piece entitled "Darfur's downward spiral: Violence continues to escalate in Sudan. Can we avert a catastrophe?"

" ... But the hopelessly ineffective AU is unable to enter the vast majority of camps for fear of attack, and has mounted many fewer patrols in recent months. The AU mission is currently slated to end at the end of September, but the UN has still not authorized a successor force.

Although UN secretary general Kofi Annan recently presented plans for an ambitious UN peace support operation in Darfur, the Khartoum government has for months adamantly refused to accept any UN force. This refusal has been consistent, and was recently reiterated by senior members of the National Islamic Front (which has renamed itself, innocuously, the National Congress Party).

The NIF - which stands accused of genocide by not only the US government but by senior officials of the German and British governments, as well as the parliament of the European Union - has no interest in seeing the Darfur crisis resolved. Indeed, current "genocide by attrition" completes the ambitions more violently in evidence in 2003-2004, when the regime's regular military forces coordinated with the notorious Arab Janjaweed militia to destroy over 80% of all non-Arab villages (primarily those of the Fur, the Massalit, and the Zaghawa).

Even so, the international community continues to reassure Khartoum that the UN will enter Darfur only with the regime's consent.

Perversely, the one rebel faction to sign onto the DPA with Khartoum was that of Minni Minawai - a Zaghawa whose forces have been consistently implicated in wide-ranging atrocities, especially against other African ethnic groups. Minawi recently became "Assistant to the President," fourth-ranking position in the merely notional "Government of National Unity" in Khartoum, a fig-leaf for continued NIF control of Sudanese national wealth and power.

Recent reports from the ground make clear that Minawi's rebel faction is actively coordinating with Khartoum's regular military forces in attacks on civilians and other rebel forces that have not signed the DPA. In effect, the DPA is serving as cover for escalating internecine fighting, especially in northern Darfur.

Absent robust and urgent international humanitarian intervention, there is every reason to believe that we have entered the most destructive phase of genocidal destruction in Darfur. More than half a million people have already died; as many more could die in the coming months.

The world's choice is to look at Darfur through the lens of Iraq - or Rwanda. The expedient consensus is clearly to do the former; but Darfur's realities are shamefully closer to those of the latter.

Related stories

Aug 12 2006 AP via Turkish News - MtvU's Darfur campaign earns TV academy honor: MTV's college network, mtvU, will receive the television academy's 2006 Governors Award for its campaign to inform students about the crisis in Sudan's Darfur region and engage them in solutions. [MTV's campaign seems news to me. I don't recall seeing much about it]

Snapshot of some "news" reports circulating in today's Google newsreel

Darfur Escalation NOW!
Columbus Free Press, OH - Aug 10, 2006
As security continues to dissolve and the humanitarian crisis deepens in Darfur, Africa Action invites you to participate in our escalation campaign to stop ...

Editorial: Plea for Darfur
Waco Tribune Herald, TX - Aug 10, 2006
In Sudan, Janjaweed militias sponsored by the government have killed 400,000 people in that country's northern region of Darfur. ...

Activists ask Bush to do more to end Darfur crisis
ABC News - Aug 9, 2006
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration voiced concern on Wednesday over increasing violence in Sudan's Darfur region and sought to counter criticism at ...

Amnesty urges UN to deploy peacekeepers in Darfur
Sudan Tribune, Sudan - 15 hours ago
Dear Ambassador, Amnesty International welcomes the report of the UN Secretary-General on Darfur as an important step towards ensuring the protection of the ...

For more links to activists' "news" reports circulating in mainstream media, see GIF's News from Darfur Aug 11 2006 [hat tip CFD]

Government of Sudan under international law does have to try and protect women

The Minority Rights Group International is sending an open letter to human rights leaders calling for better protection for women in Darfur. Gender officer Katrina Naomi says, "Rape is being used as a tool of war and militias are being allowed to act with impunity."

Full story Aug 11 2006 SudanTribune article - Open letter calls for protection of Darfur women - excerpt:

"... After all, the government of Sudan under international law does have to try and protect women within the state, regardless of who's actually carrying out these attacks"..."

[Under international law? That's interesting. I wonder if Sudanese children are protected by international law]

US says UN peacekeepers must be in Darfur by Oct 1

Quotes from AP report 10 Aug 2006 via ST:

[State Department spokesman Sean] McCormack said the US said, however, the [AU] peacekeepers have tried hard, but "the situation has evolved and become much more complex and difficult."

"Consequently, a United Nations peacekeeping force must deploy without delay. Only a large, robust, mobile, and fast-reacting UN force is capable of stopping the violence and protecting innocent lives".

"The African Union has consistently called for transition ... to a U.N. operation without delay. Such a transition should take place by October 1."

"The United States is firmly committed to peace in Sudan," McCormack said. He said the peace agreement "provides the best opportunity for lasting security, peace, reconciliation and reconstruction in Darfur. It accommodates the reasonable political, economic and security goals of the people of Darfur."

Sudan dishonest about international Darfur force - UN

Reuters 9 Aug 2006 Opheera McDoom via ReliefWeb:

Sudanese government officials are telling 'fairy tales' to convince people a UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur would amount to a Western invasion, the top UN envoy in Sudan said on Wednesday.

Jan Pronk also said it would be wise for the leader of the only one of three rebel factions to sign a Darfur peace deal in May, Minni Arcua Minnawi, to keep some political posts open for rebels who may in the future sign up to the unpopular accord.

"I call on members of the government to be honest and not to tell fairy tales to their people that the United Nations wants to invade," Pronk told reporters in Khartoum on Wednesday.

Three months after an African Union-brokered peace deal, aid agencies say they face more danger than at any other time during 3-1/2 years of conflict.

Some 14,000 aid workers care for 3.6 million Darfuris affected by the war and eight humanitarian workers were killed in July alone.

Despite this the northern party which dominates central government is refusing calls for a U.N. force from war victims, the international community, and the struggling African Union peace monitoring mission currently deployed.

Critics of the northern National Congress Party say it fears U.N. troops may be used to arrest officials likely to be indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigating alleged war crimes in the western region.

Tens of thousands have been killed after more than three years of rape, murder and looting in Darfur, violence Washington calls genocide.

CONTINUING ABUSES

The U.N. Human Rights Commissioner Louise Arbour's office said in a report on Wednesday rapes of civilians had also increased since the deal.

"There has also been an increase in rape and attempted rape cases," the report said, along with attacks on villages by armed militias, on at least one occasion backed by government troops, which resulted "in the torture and killing of civilians".

Much of the renewed fighting is between Minnawi and other rebel factions in North Darfur. They accuse him of enforcing the peace using violence and torture, some cases of which have been documented by the African Union.

Minnawi, who denies the charges, was sworn in as special assistant to the president on Monday, a position which will give him much authority over Darfur.

He and officials from his wing of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) have said only they can nominate and fill all posts dictated by the deal, including positions in central government, parliament and on a state level.

Pronk called on Minnawi to be inclusive and reserve some positions for other rebels might come on board.

"I made a plea: Don't close the door for others ... and make clear to the others that they are still welcome and that you are reserving seats," he said. "It should be an inclusive process. When it becomes exclusive it's wrong."

But he said the final decision was for Minnawi and the NCP.(Additional reporting by Robert Evans in Geneva)

Pronk discusses Darfur with AU, Sudan officials

UN SRSG Jan Pronk met with Presidential adviser Majzoub Alkhalifa and Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, the Special Representative of the AU Commission Chairperson in Sudan, a UN spokesman told reporters in New York.

Pronk also attended a swearing-in ceremony yesterday for a leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), Minni Minawi, who was appointed a Special Assistant to the President and ex-officio head of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority, the spokesman added.

Full report Sudan Tribune (Source: UN) 8 Aug 2006.

Annan report to UN Security Council re Darfur and proposed UN mandate

Coalition for Darfur blog entry points to July 28, 2006 report of the Secretary-General on Darfur to the UN Security Council. Report excerpt:

1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Security Council resolution 1679 (2006), in which the Council called upon the African Union (AU) and the United Nations to agree upon requirements necessary to strengthen the capacity of the African Union Mission in the Sudan (AMIS) to enforce the security arrangements of the Darfur Peace Agreement, and requested me, after the return of the joint African Union and United Nations assessment mission, to submit to the Council recommendations on all relevant aspects of the mandate of the United Nations operation in Darfur.

2. In addition to the recommendations in Security Council resolution 1679 (2006), the present report will describe the main elements of the Darfur Peace Agreement and identify the implementation priorities in that regard; identify some of the major risks and challenges involved in deploying a peacekeeping operation in Darfur; elaborate on support the United Nations could offer to AMIS to enhance the ability of the AU mission to protect civilians and implement the Agreement; propose a mandate and mission structure for a United Nations operation in Darfur; and provide details on the various components of the proposed mission and their specific functions.

Sudan to reform Gum Arabic trade

The symposium on Gum Arabic has recommended the setting up of a council meant for mapping out policies that would streamline production and trade of Gum Arabic - see full report Sudan to reform Gum Arabic trade - Sudan Tribune Aug 7, 2006.



Photo: Gum Arabic. The Gum Arabic Company, Ltd., holder of the monopoly position for the export of crude Gum Arabic from the Sudan. The Sudanese gum is produced in Kordofan region 49.3%, Kassala region 24.4%, Darfur region 23.4 % and White and Blue Nile region 2.9%.

Sudan internet cable repaired after three-day fault

Sudan's internet connexion with the world is re-established Tuesday night after a three-day disruption due to a technical problem on submarine internet cable feeding the country from Saudi Arabia. The fault in the only cable link to Sudatel has severely hit business and press services, Sudan Tribune reported.

Presidents of Chad and Sudan had a warm hug Tuesday

Chad's president Idriss Deby had a warm hug Tuesday for the Sudanese president, welcoming him as a guest at his inauguration for a third term.

Deby said Chad and Sudan can resolve their differences using "African wisdom."

See full report Sudan can resolve differences - Deby ST 8 Aug 2006.

Sudan appoints former rebel leader Minni Minnawi as President's Senior Assistant

Sudan's President Bashir has issued a Republican Decree appointing the leader of a former Darfur rebel faction Minni Minnawi as the Senior Assistant of the President of the Republic and Chairman of the Regional Interim Authority of Darfur.

Minnawi was expected to arrive Aug 5 in Khartoum, but refused to go there before being named as senior presidential assistant. More at Sudan Tribune.

MINNAWI HAS BEGUN HIS ROLE AS SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT

Aug 7 2006 BBC report - Darfur rebel takes government job: Minnawi takes responsibility for government policy in Darfur.

Aug 7 2006 AP report via ST - Darfur rebel leader sworn in as Sudan presidential aide

Aug 7 2006 IRIN report - Former Darfur rebel leader named presidential assistant : A key bone of contention is Minnawi's support for a United Nations military role in Darfur, despite al-Bashir's repeated refusal to accept a possible transition from the AU peacekeepers to a more robust UN operation.

Aug 8 2006 AFP report via IOL - Rebel leader sworn in as president's aide: "My arrival in Khartoum for the first time and my oath-taking ceremony today (Tuesday) are the first step in the implementation of the Darfur peace agreement," rebel leader Minni Minnawi told reporters.



Photo: Former Darfur rebel leader Minni Arcua Minnawi (L) is sworn-in as special assistant to Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir (2nd R) in the capital Khartoum, August 7, 2006, which some hope will mark the real start of implementation of a May peace deal. Picture taken August 7, 2006. Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah (Sudan)



Photo: Former Darfur rebel leader Minni Arcua Minnawi leaves the Republican Palace in Sudan's capital Khartoum, August 7, 2006, after he was sworn in as special assistant to Sudan's President Omar el-Bashir. Picture taken August 7, 2006. Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah (Sudan)



Photo: Former Darfur rebel leader Minni Arcua Minnawi addresses a news conference in Sudan's capital Khartoum, August 7, 2006, after he was sworn in. Picture taken August 7, 2006. Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah (Sudan)

Speaking of Darfur's tribal war in terms of Arabs vs Africans is not accurate - Reinforced AU troops are the best option

Please don't miss the following piece. I'm interrupting a blogging break to leave it at the top of this page. I agree with everything it says (except I'm not on any side, only that of defenceless women, children, elderly and infirm). It's a copy of commentary by Drima, author of The Sudanese Thinker, published in the comments at his blog entry A Reply To Michael Herzog Aug 4, 2006:

When talking about this conflict and describing it in the context of a genocide, we need to cover a few things first. I have generally done that already in my reply to Michael.

On the micro level we could consider this as a genocide waged by some tribes against other tribes. Most if not all tribes in Darfur are a mix of Arab and African. Some have a skin darker than others. Speaking in terms of Arabs VS Africans is not accurate. However speaking about it in terms of tribes would be much more accurate.

The Khartoum government is not interested in wiping out a certain ethnic population. They're only interested in smashing the rebellion and staying in power. This is not motivated by racial factors. It's about power and wealth. Even with the African south it was mainly about power, wealth, religion, and then race.

For years Darfur was impoverished as corrupted politicians of Khartoum kept big money to themselves while investing the rest mainly in Khartoum and ignoring the rest of Sudan. In Khartoum there are many Darfurians living side by side with northerners. Hell, even here on my university campus there are many Darfurians (Fur, Zaghawa tribes etc). We're all good friends and get along fine. Moreover if you ask any of them, they'll tell the notion that an Arabs VS Africans genocide is not true. They'll all agree it's about power and wealth.

There are certainly Darfurians who do claim it as a genocide and they're smart for doing that. The Darfurians doing this are the rebels and those supporting the rebels. I believe that's how the media picked it up as a genocide in the first place. Keep in mind that many non-Darfurians (including oppostion parties like Al-Umma) do this too as they relate to the rebels' cause. They even support UN troops coming in.

(Remember that on a political level I support anything against the current criminal regime. However don't forget to look at Darfur from a humanitarian perspective. UN troops coming in won't make things more humanitarian in Darfur. UN troops coming in will mean war and more death for innocent civilian Darfurians. Is that the price supporters of UN troops are willing to pay?).

When I was in Portland, Maine my aunt told me that many Darfurians there pushed the idea it's a genocide too. The reason simply being that they know the word "genocide" will attract huge attention and strengthen their cause. It certainly did. Shlemazl, that's where well meaning Jewish organizations come in. They can relate to the painfull word "genocide". Some women my aunt knows in Maine also told her they lied on their asylum forms saying they got raped and tortured just to get refugee status.

The main goal of the rebels when they started was seperation or proper representation in Khartoum and fair wealth sharing. Oil, minerals and uranium being discovered in Darfur was a huge catalyst. However the bigger and more important catalyst was when peace was signed with SPLM and they got what they wanted for years ie. fair power and wealth sharing.

With regards to the conspiracies behind the international community's intentions, I posted something previously about it entitled The Agenda Behind Darfur.

http://sudanesethinker.blogspot.com/2006/07/agenda-behind-darfur.html

In it I explain why I now too believe an agenda does exist to some extent. I also think those behind it might have manipulated the term "genocide" for their own benefits. Bacon Eating Jew, this is where you have a point about Sudanese people generally being only keyed up about Israel. Read the post and you'll know what I mean.

This brief description doesn't do the real situation justice but I hope it gives you a better and clearer understanding. Keep in mind that in the past Darfur existed as a prosperous sultanate ruled by the great Sultan Dinar. It was only made a part of Sudan quite recently during the 20th century. As such demands for seperation are quite natural. With seperation however Khartoum will say bye bye to the Darfurian oil.

Finnpundit, I've thought about what you said previously regarding China's role. I didn't pay much attention to it previously but now I am. I'll be posting something about China in the coming days. I think in terms of securing oil reserves for years to come, Sudan seems to be stuck in a tug of war between China and the US. The energy consumption of both nations is increasing and as such they'll need to secure sufficient supplies for years to come.

Reinforced AU troops are the best option. Opposition and cultural sensitivities towards "white" UN troops make them undesireable. Take into account what Al-Qaeda said too about Darfur. Plus, UN troops did squat in Congo and Rwanda.

Don't you find it funny how the whole world including the UN jumps on the current madness in the M.E. when the number of people who died in Darfur in the last 3 years are probably more than all those who died in Palestine's conflict with Israel in the past 50 years?

By the way, I'm trying to come up with something to bring more attention to the Darfur cause. I also want to counter the idea of supporting UN troops. I want to let people know there's a better alternative which is pushing the UN & NATO to reinforce the AU troops instead. Any ideas?

I have one. I'm thinking of writing a brief email about this and sending it out throughout the blogosphere. The email would ask the receiver to forward it around. The impact of this will depend on the number of people I send it to. I've started going through blogs and collecting email addresses with the hope of making a huge and super long list. My realistic aim is to get 500-1000 emails. Any help with more productive ideas would be very appreciated.

The challenge for me is to fix the distorted perception people have of the conflict and convincing them reinforced AU troops are a better option. One big challenge I tell ya. Sigh! Again any help is welcome.

Related reports

Aug 4 2006 Pronk says Sudan's response to UN takeover of AMIS could not be misunderstood: "We are against such a transition. This is our final answer"- Bashir

Aug 4 2006 Jan Pronk Weblog: Is there a Plan B? Most victims are Africans, pursued and killed by Arab militia and Arab Janjaweed

Aug 4 2006 Arab militia and Arab janjaweed: How to tell the difference between the two?

Intermission

Short break to catch up on emailing, reading and compiling list of Darfur rebels. Back soon. Sudan news updates at ST, POTP and CFD.



Comfortable coupe for woman...

Photo: Woman from a Hamar tribe sitting in special construction over camel...

Bedouins from a Hamar tribe using as travel coupe for their woman and they called "houdadj".

En Nahud, South Kordufan province, Western Sudan.

Caption and photo by Sudanese photographer Vit Hassan.

This photo has a note. Click here and move your mouse over photo to see it.

Click here for a closer view.

Darfur rebel groups: SLA-United/SLA-G19 split from SLA-Nur and joined NRF

Thanks to Eric Reeves for the following excerpt, extracted from his latest opinion piece "Assistance in Darfur Hanging by a Thread"

The main fighting elements of the "National Redemption Force" (NRF) in North Darfur are those of the Sudan Liberation Army faction know as SLA-United, or SLA-G19 after the 19 SLA commanders who split from Abdel Wahid el-Nur. Abdel Wahid is the SLA leader who did not sign the Abuja agreement and who shows signs of both political and military weakness and increasing isolation Because he is a Fur, however, the largest ethnic group in Darfur, he retains considerable significance in any peace or reconciliation effort. Abdel Wahid's primary military base is in the rugged Jebel Marra area in central Darfur.

SLA-United/SLA-G19 enjoys considerable popular support and has gained military control over virtually all territory north of el-Fasher in North Darfur, having defeated the forces of yet another SLA faction, that of Minni Minawi, who did sign the Abjua accord and is widely reviled by Darfuris, even those in his own Zaghawa tribe. It is Minawi who has been receiving military support directly from Khartoum in his attacks on civilians in North Darfur in a desperate bid to regain his previous control of the area. Minawi is slated to become the fourth-ranking member of the National Islamic Front "Government of National Unity," with the title of "Presidential Assistant."

- - -

DARFUR REBEL LEADER TO BE HONOURED IN KHARTOUM

Aug 4 2006 IRIN report excerpt:

Earlier on Thursday, the SLM/A held a political rally at Hajj Yousif, on the outskirts of Khartoum, where many war-displaced Sudanese live. "The purpose was to enlighten the people on the culture of peace and to introduce the SLM/A ideology, and its political mission, cultural, social and economic plans for the wellbeing of the New Sudan," he said.

Some Fur citizens who support Abdelwahid Mohamed al-Nur's Darfur rebel faction reportedly disrupted the rally, however, by throwing stones and chairs into the crowd, but Hussein dismissed the violence.

Photo: Rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) faction leader Minni Arcua Minnawi signs a deal with the Sudanese government in the Nigerian capital Abuja May 5, 2006, after days and nights of intense talks under global pressure. The government of Sudan and the main Darfur rebel faction signed a peace agreement on Friday to end three years of fighting that has killed many thousands of people and forced 2 million to flee their homes. (Reuters/STR)



Photo: Rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) faction leader Minni Arcua Minnawi (R) is congratulated by Republic of Congo's President and Africa Union chairman Denis Sassou Nguesso (L) and an unidentified person (C) after he signed the deal with the Sudanese government in the Nigerian capital Abuja May 5, 2006. (Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde)

Arab militia and Arab janjaweed: How to tell the difference between the two?

Note to self. When it comes to violent conflict in Sudan, the only side I am on is that of the millions of defenceless women, children and elderly suffering at the hands of fit young men causing untold misery and grief, pillaging, raping, maiming and killing to get what they want. I favour non-violent conflict resolution.

Here below is an excerpt from the latest blog entry by UN SRSG Jan Pronk. Note the last line. I am pondering on why he's made such a statement. He's intelligent and educated. He's worked in Sudan for a few years and talks to many people at all levels. I can't imagine he'd make such a statement without believing it to be true. Note too he appears to be describing two different groups (1) Arab militia and (2) Arab janjaweed. How to delineate between the two I wonder. How would one know who is militia and who is janjaweed when it comes to disarmament and implemention of the Darfur Peace Agreement? How can one tell the difference if the janjaweed is just a collective name for a gangs of bandits? How would anyone know how to disarm the janjaweed if they can't even be identified? Do Arab militias wear identifiable uniforms? Here is the excerpt:

" ....The fear of the Sudanese, often openly expressed, is that the UN has a second agenda. [cut] Many suspect that the objective of the West is to re-colonize Sudan. They simply cannot understand that the aim is to protect people against violence and that the Security Council is motivated by an international outrage about the massacre of tens of thousands of people. They disregard the fact that nearly all victims and all refugees and displaced persons, waiting protection, are Muslims. In their view Western countries use peace keeping as a pretext: their real objective is to wage a war against Islam. They close their eyes for the fact that most victims are Africans, pursued and killed by Arab militia and Arab Janjaweed and are enraged about what they perceive as a conspiracy against Arabs. ..."

Related reports

Aug 4 2006 Arab militia and Arab janjaweed: How to tell the difference between the two?

Aug 4 2006 Pronk says Sudan's response to UN takeover of AMIS could not be misunderstood: "We are against such a transition. This is our final answer"- Bashir

Aug 4 2006 Jan Pronk: Is there a Plan B?

Pronk says Sudan's response to UN takeover of AMIS could not be misunderstood: "We are against such a transition. This is our final answer"- Bashir

Excerpt from Jan Pronk Weblog Aug 1 2006:

" ... [ ] In that political climate about two months ago a high level delegation, sent jointly by the African Union and the United Nations, came to Sudan to consult the Government about a transition from the present AU peace keeping force towards a UN force. As I wrote in one of my earlier weblogs (see nr 26) President Bashir's response could not be misunderstood: "We are against such a transition. This is our final answer". Several weeks later, at the Summit meeting of the African Union in Banjul, Gambia, he did not change his position. He promised the Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Annan, that the Sudanese Government would submit its ideas on a possible role for the United Nations in the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement. Whether such a role would imply more than humanitarian assistance and support for reconstruction and development remained unclear.

The uncertainty necessitated the UN and the AU to hold an international meeting in order to request donor countries to pledge finance for a continuation of the African Union peace force in Darfur. The meeting took place in Brussels, mid July. The AU had informed the UN that it could finance the troops in Darfur only until the end of the month and that for that reason the mandate of the AU, which lasted until October, could not be extended. Donors pledged enough financial resources to enable the AU to continue until the end of the year. The idea was that the UN could take over on 1 January 2007. The delegations left Brussels with the idea that such a transition was indeed possible, because the Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lam Akol, had declared that Khartoum had not yet taken a decision. This was understood as a tiny opening: as against what had been said by President Bashir, it seemed that the Government of Sudan had not yet decided against a transition. That the Government had not yet decided in favor of the transition was taken for granted: a few months time had been gained.

The optimism does not seem to be justified. First: close scrutiny of the financial commitments by the donors reveals that less money has been pledged than had been assumed. So-called 'new money' had been mixed with reconfirmation of pledges which had already been made earlier and had already been taken into account. Whether the African Union is indeed capable to continue after September is not yet certain.

Second, it seems that the tiny opening indicated by Lam Akol does not exist. Soon after the Brussels conference Sudanese politicians, addressing domestic audiences, declared that a transition towards a UN force is out of the question. There was no sign whatsoever the government was considering a u-turn or that an effort was made to prepare the population for a 'yes' instead of the repeatedly declared 'no' to the UN. On the contrary: President Bashir himself was quoted today as telling a rally in north Kordofan: "We shall never hand Darfur over to international forces which will never enjoy being in the region that will become their graveyard". And he cited Iraq, where despite the presence of international forces there is "destruction, damage and sedition between the Sunnis and Shiites instigated by Western intelligence, in addition to torture and killing of inmates in Abu Ghirab and other prisons".

It is a preposterous statement, but all over Sudan the audiences swallow such tirades. The opposition, including both the parties led by such different ideologues as Turabi and El Mahdi, has declared to be in favor of a UN peace keeping force in Darfur. But the NCP assumes that they s only say so because they are against the Government. Minnie Minawi has said to welcome the UN. However, since he has signed the DPA he does not carry much weight anymore in the eyes of the hard core NCP. Vice President Kiir and other SPLM politicians have publicly taken distance from the NCP: "Why is the UN welcome in Southern Sudan but not in Darfur. What makes Darfur so different from us in the South?" However, they know that in the eyes of the Northern politicians the South may be a protectorate which they may let go, Darfur is theirs. It is their un-alienable property; it is part of their history, part of the very existence of Sudan. That Darfurians think differently is for them another reason to reject a role for the UN: the international community might eventually take sides against the regime in Khartoum. The NCP politicians have not forgotten that only two years ago Western countries were considering 'regime change' in Sudan.

No wonder that in this situation President, instead of mellowing his stance, has taken a hard line. In doing so he does not risk his domestic political position. His regime is based on a number of groups with different interests, but united in their aspiration to cling to the power in the country. He has skillfully carried out several balancing acts to stay at the top. His strong stance against foreign intervention has reaffirmed his position. Since a couple of months the President himself has taken the lead in the debate. He was the first to link the situation in Lebanon with the one in Darfur: "If they (i.e. the UN) really want to protect the people of Darfur, what are they doing about the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and Palestine and the killing of women, children and innocents there?" This statement is no less preposterous as the one quoted above. After all, the killing of innocent citizens in Darfur was done by Sudanese themselves. The Sudanese Government bears a heavy responsibility for those atrocities. However, nobody can deny that the Israeli attacks in response to the provocation by Hezbollah, the fate of the women and children in South Lebanon, the destruction of the civilian infrastructure in Beirut and the US rejection of an immediate cease fire has reaffirmed the belief of many in the Arab and Muslim world that the Western countries see them as dispensable. In their view the UN is part of a Western conspiracy. They are wrong. However, they believe that they are right and they can point at many facts which reinforce their opinion. The fact that the UN kept its promise in Kassala and withdrew when the job was finished, does not carry much weight in comparison with its inability to halt attacks and to protect the people in Lebanon.

Soon the Security Council will have to take a decision about a UN peace keeping force in Darfur. Will the resolution containing that decision have a better fate than its resolutions concerning Lebanon and the Palestinians? Or is there a Plan B?
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Aug 1 2006 Jan Pronk Weblog: Is there a Plan B? Most victims are Africans, pursued and killed by Arab militia and Arab Janjaweed

Aug 3 2006 Activists, pundits and mainstream media, not Khartoum, are sending mixed messages about UN troops in Darfur

Aug 3 2006 Sudan accepts AU troops not under UN umbrella - calls for UN sanctions on NRF terrorists - says UN undermines AU: Sudan said on Aug 3 that its plan to disarm the Janjaweed will not be made public, and allowing UN troops to take over from an AU monitoring mission in Darfur would be a violation of the Darfur Peace Agreement.

Jan Pronk Weblog: Is there a Plan B? Most victims are Africans, pursued and killed by Arab militia and Arab Janjaweed

The last sentence of the following excerpt from Jan Pronk's must-read blog entry Aug 1, 2006 made me Google search the answer to a question I could not answer, namely: "What is an Arab?" Posted below are excerpts from Wikipedia. Not sure of the accuracy of such an outline but it gives an idea, at a glance, of the complexity of Sudan and difference between a Sudanese 'African' and a Sudanese 'Arab'.

The latest information about the talks in Asmara concerning a possible Eastern Peace Agreement is rather promising. Parties have agreed on a number of principles and have committed themselves to end hostilities and to exchange prisoners. So far the Eritrean mediation seems to have functioned rather evenly. [cut]

So, the UN should not promote itself as the only option, neither in peace keeping nor in peace mediation. [cut]

The fear of the Sudanese, often openly expressed, is that the UN has a second agenda. [cut] Many suspect that the objective of the West is to re-colonize Sudan. They simply cannot understand that the aim is to protect people against violence and that the Security Council is motivated by an international outrage about the massacre of tens of thousands of people. They disregard the fact that nearly all victims and all refugees and displaced persons, waiting protection, are Muslims. In their view Western countries use peace keeping as a pretext: their real objective is to wage a war against Islam. They close their eyes for the fact that most victims are Africans, pursued and killed by Arab militia and Arab Janjaweed and are enraged about what they perceive as a conspiracy against Arabs.

Also, note the last line of Mr Pronk's blog entry:

Soon the Security Council will have to take a decision about a UN peace keeping force in Darfur. Will the resolution containing that decision have a better fate than its resolutions concerning Lebanon and the Palestinians? Or is there a Plan B?

Note, in above blog entry Aug 1 2006 Jan Pronk said Sudan's response to UN takeover of AMIS could not be misunderstood: "We are against such a transition. This is our final answer"- Bashir

See Aug 3 2006 Sudan accepts AU troops not under UN umbrella - calls for UN sanctions on NRF terrorists - says UN undermines AU: Sudan said on Aug 3 that its plan to disarm the Janjaweed will not be made public, and allowing UN troops to take over from an AU monitoring mission in Darfur would be a violation of the Darfur Peace Agreement.

Aug 3 2006 Activists, pundits and mainstream media, not Khartoum, are sending mixed messages about UN troops in Darfur

Aug 1 2006 Jan Pronk Weblog: Is there a Plan B? Most victims are Africans, pursued and killed by Arab militia and Arab Janjaweed



SUDAN AND ARAB CULTURE: WHAT IS AN ARAB?

The Arabs are an ethnic group mainly found throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

Arab, Arabian (a member of a Semitic people originally from the Arabian peninsula and surrounding territories who speaks Arabic and who inhabits much of the Middle East and northern Africa)

On its formation in 1946, the Arab League defined an "Arab" as follows:

"An Arab is a person whose language is Arabic, who lives in an Arabic speaking country, who is in sympathy with the aspirations of the Arabic speaking peoples."

During the 8th and 9th centuries, the Arabs (specifically the Umayyads, and later Abbasids) forged an empire whose borders touched southern France in the west, China in the east, Asia Minor in the north, and the Sudan in the south. This was one of the largest land empires in history. Throughout much of this area, the Arabs spread the religion of Islam and the Arabic language (the language of the Qur'an) through conversion and assimilation. Many groups came to be known as "Arabs" not through descent but through this process of Arabization. Thus, over time, the term Arab came to carry a broader meaning than the original ethnic term: cultural Arab vs. ethnic Arab. People in Sudan, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and elsewhere became Arab through Arabization.

Arab nationalism declares that Arabs are united in a shared history, culture and language. Arab nationalists believe that Arab identity encompasses more than outward physical characteristics, race or religion. A related ideology, Pan-Arabism, calls for all Arab lands to be united as one state. Arab nationalism has often competed for existence with regional and ethnic nationalisms in the Middle East, such as Lebanese and Egyptian.

Anti-Arabism is hate or prejudice against Arabs. It is usually also associated with anti-Muslim hatred.



PEOPLE IN SUDAN BECAME ARAB THROUGH ARABIZATION

Culture
Sudanese culture melds the behaviors, practices, and beliefs of about 600 tribes, communicating in 142 different languages, in a region microcosmic of Africa, with geographic extremes varying from sandy desert to tropical forest.



Ethnicity
In 1999, Sudan was one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse countries in the world. It had nearly 600 ethnic groups speaking over 400 languages and dialects.
During the 1980s and 1990s some of Sudan's smaller ethnic and linguistic groups disappeared. Migration played a part, as migrants often forget their native tongue when they move to an area dominated by another language. Some linguistic groups were absorbed by accommodation, others by conflict.
Arabic was the lingua franca despite the use of English by many of the elite. Many Sudanese are multilingual.



Religion
As of 1991, the primary religions of Sudan are Islam (approx. 75%), Christianity (between 4% to 10%) and traditional indigenous religions (approx. 33%). Sunni Muslims predominate in the north, while the south contains most of the followers of Christianity and traditional indigenous religions (animists).



In the early 1990s, the largest single category among the Muslim peoples of Sudan consisted of those speaking some form of Arabic. Excluded were a small number of Arabic speakers originating in Egypt and professing Coptic Christianity. In 1983 the people identified as Arabs constituted nearly 40 percent of the total Sudanese population and nearly 55 percent of the population of the northern provinces. In some of these provinces (Al Khartum, Ash Shamali, Al Awsat), they were overwhelmingly dominant. In others (Kurdufan, Darfur), they were less so but made up a majority. By 1990 Ash Sharqi State was probably largely Arab. It should be emphasized, however, that the acquisition of Arabic as a second language did not necessarily lead to the assumption of Arab identity.



In the early 1990s, the Nubians were the second most significant Muslim group in Sudan, their homeland being the Nile River valley in far northern Sudan and southern Egypt. Other, much smaller groups speaking a related language and claiming a link with the Nile Nubians have been given local names, such as the Birqid and the Meidab in Darfur State. Almost all Nile Nubians speak Arabic as a second language.
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More photos by Vit Hassan

-Rashaida-


The Rashaida crossed the Red sea from the Arabian Peninsula to the Sudan in the second half of the 19th century, and they still preserved much of the habits and of the material culture of their country of origin. (Caption and photo by Sudanese photographer Vit Hassan) See more of Vit's superb photos at Flickr.

Darfur rebels SLA-Minnawi deny Amnesty torture accusations

Darfur rebels on Thursday denied accusations of a human rights group that they had killed and tortured opponents to the Darfur Peace Agreement, Reuters/ST reported Aug 3, 2006:

Amnesty International issued a statement this week accusing the SLA-Minnawi faction of killing, raping civilians in July in Korma town in North Darfur who were against the peace deal.

In a separate statement, the AU said SLA Minnawi members in their compound in AU headquarters in el-Fasher had severely beaten an unidentified male and rebuffed AU efforts to intervene.

"We the SLA have never attacked anyone and have never tortured anyone," said Abdel Karim al-Sheikh, the head of Minnawi's advance delegation in Khartoum.

Al-Sheikh also sent a veiled warning to the AU. "We have already met and spoken with the African Union about their issuing statements which are not helpful to the peace deal," he said angrily.

Photo: SLA rebel group leader Minni Minnawi shakes hands with US President GW Bush during a meeting at The White House. See report from Khartoum 29 July 2006 by BBC correspondent Jonah Fisher.

UN official says violence against aid workers due to tensions/rumours among local population

Aug 3, 2006 IRIN report - Deaths of aid workers threaten Darfur operations - excerpt:

Other sources in the region said some of the displaced were being prevented from reaching the relative safety of the IDP camps. "Previously, the Janjawid wouldn't really care what happened after they had pillaged a village - the fleeing population would cause more displacement and facilitate their scorched-earth campaign," he said. "Minnawi wants to hide his crimes, however, and is trying to prevent people from reaching the towns - leaving them enormously vulnerable."

'Other sources'? I wonder about anonymous sources. Could they be rebels, relatives of rebels, IDPs, AU, UN? As it is an IRIN report, I guess the source might be UN personnel. Rumours are rife and, as the above report goes to show, dangerous.

Peacekeepers, aid workers, military personnel and police working in war zones know the risks before they accept the job. I wonder how aid workers would feel assured by UN troops marching into Darfur. If AU troops leave Darfur in October or by the end of the year, would they be replaced by UN troops without a UN resolution? China and Russia would never agree a Chapter 7 mandate or any other move that's against Khartoum's will. If the UN went in against Khartoum's will, it would be treated as an invasion, an act of war. Aid workers could be dismissed from the country. Where would that leave the refugees? Sometimes I wonder if Drima and I the only ones online backing an AU, not UN, force for Darfur.

Sudan accepts AU troops not under UN umbrella - calls for UN sanctions on NRF terrorists - says UN undermines AU

Sudan said on Aug 3 that its plan to disarm the Janjaweed will not be made public, and allowing UN troops to take over from an AU monitoring mission in Darfur would be a violation of the Darfur Peace Agreement, Reuters' Opheera McDoom reported today (via DefenseNews.com) - excerpt:

Presidential Advisor Majzoub al-Khalifa also said those who use military force to oppose the AU-brokered peace deal were terrorists and should be sanctioned by the United Nations.

"According to the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) there is no room for the U.N. forces to come," Khalifa told Reuters.

"We are not going to accept any UN force."

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan recommended to the Security Council this week that a force of up to 24,000 UN troops be sent to Darfur to take over from an AU force of 7,000. Such a force would be the largest UN mission.

"The parties accepted ... only to stick to an AU force...and anything else (other) than that is a violation to the DPA," Khalifa said in an interview.

Last month former U.S. President Bill Clinton said Sudan should consider Muslim troops for Darfur, but Khalifa said any troops under the UN umbrella were unacceptable.

Khalifa, who was head of the government's negotiating team at the Darfur talks, accused the United Nations of trying to undermine the African Union's efforts in Darfur.

"The UN and other donors (have left) the AU in a position so that they cannot support their troops because of (lack of) financial support and compel them and press them and squeeze them so they will find no other way except asking for the transition," he added.

Washington calls the violence in Darfur genocide and blames the Khartoum government and their allied militias. The government denies this charge. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating alleged war crimes in Darfur.

Khalifa's dominant National Congress Party (NCP) says UN troops are a front for Western colonialism.

Opposition parties, most of whom have voiced their support for UN troops [Sudan Watch ed: is this true? Unless it involved rebels, I can't recall seeing such news] say the NCP fear those troops would be used to arrest any official likely to be indicted by the ICC.

Only one of three negotiating rebel factions signed the May Darfur peace accord. Tens of thousands of Darfuris have protested against it saying they want more compensation for war victims, a rebel role in disarming Arab militia known as Janjaweed and more political posts.

Many of the commanders who have not signed the Darfur agreement have formed a new alliance called the National Redemption Front (NRF). They attacked the government town of Hamrat al-Sheikh in the neighboring Kordofan region last month, despite a 2004 truce.

"We consider them as terrorists," Khalifa said of the NRF.

Khalifa also said the government plan for disarming the Janjaweed, blamed for much of the rape, murder and pillage which has forced 2.5 million from their homes in Darfur, was confidential and would not be made public.

Sudan discovers new oilfield in southern Kordofan

Perhaps the following report gives us a glimpse into why last month JEM/NRF rebel group targeted their attack on Hamrat al-Sheikh in northern Kordofan resulting in Sudanese planes being deployed to defend the attack in which, reportedly, 12 people were killed.

Sudan has discovered a new oilfield in the southern Kordofan region, which is pumping 24,000 barrels per day (bpd) and hopes to reach 40,000 bpd, the oil ministry said on Wednesday. - Reuters report via ST Aug 3, 2006:

The Neem oilfield is in oil block 4 run by the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC). It is in South Kordofan, an area of conflict between Sudan's north and south who signed a peace deal in January 2005 to end Africa's longest civil war.

"It is expected that the crude oil reserves in Neem oil field are very large," the ministry said in a statement. It gave no further details.

The ministry did not say when the field would reach 40,000 bpd. It was pumping 24,000 bpd in July 2006.



Photo: Chinese manpower at an oil field of Petrodar in southern Sudan. (Petrodar)

GNPOC is a consortium of state-owned China National Petroleum Corp. CNPC (40 percent), state-owned Malaysian Petronas (30 percent) and India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd. ONGC (25 percent). Five percent belongs to Sudanese state-owned Sudapet.

It operates Sudan's main oil pipelines, which pump around 320,000 bpd of crude. Another pipeline opened earlier this year to raise production to 500,000 bpd. But due to technical problems this has been delayed likely to end of the year.

Sudan's oil was a crucial catalyst in its bitter north-south conflict and the Neem field is in an area which is still contested between the two sides despite last year's peace deal.

The boundaries of the central neighbouring states of Abyei and South Kordofan were decided by an independent commission under the accord. But the northern ruling National Congress Party rejects the commission's findings.

Critics attribute this to their desire to hang onto some of the oil, which lies mainly in the south.

Western companies divested from Sudan's petroleum industry amid allegations of rights abuses during the north-south war. Oil companies were often accused by southerners of forcibly removing their people from their land to explore for oil.

Activists, pundits and mainstream media, not Khartoum, are sending mixed messages about UN troops in Darfur

Coalition for Darfur points to an opinion piece by Alan Rock published by Globe and Mail Aug 3, 2006. Excerpt:

Finally, let's prepare for the transition later this year from the AU force to a larger and well-equipped UN protection force. The Sudanese government continues to send, at best, mixed messages about allowing UN troops into Darfur. We need to get Moscow and Beijing, with influential regional actors such as Egypt and Libya, to press Sudan.

The world must simply refuse to take no for an answer from Khartoum, whose allegations that such a force would "recolonize" Sudan ring hollow, especially given the presence of thousands of UN troops in southern Sudan under the peace agreement that settled the prolonged conflict there.

If you read a cross section of media reports on the Sudan you will notice how journalists are doing a poor job of extrapolating and sharing news on Sudan. I've read many news reports but have never perceived the Sudanese government as sending mixed messages about allowing UN troops into Darfur. To me, they have always sounded crystal clear in that regard. However, if you follow just one newspaper (especially if it is American) you might find yourself agreeing with Alan Rock.

From what I can gather, the situation in southern Sudan is very different from that in Darfur. South Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is quite different from that of Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). UN peackeepers in southern Sudan are doing a different job from that of what is needed in Darfur. In Darfur there is no peace to keep.

Unlike the CPA, the DPA does not have a UN force written into the agreement. The CPA allows for the people of South Sudan to follow different religions and vote in six years time to break away from Sudan and become 'New Sudan'.

North Sudan (where most of Khartoum's supporters live) benefits from the oil in South Sudan. Not much oil in the North. The oil rich region of Abyei is still being disputed. [Note Kordofan/Abyei] Going by what I have read, Darfur is still set to remain under Sharia law and as part of Sudan. Darfur has newly discovered oil and other unexplored natural resources.

The UN force in southern Sudan was deployed under Chapter 6 mandate. African Union (AU) forces in Darfur were permitted entry into Darfur as monitors not as a protection force or anything like Chapter 7 mandate. They are there to monitor a ceasefire agreement signed a few years ago. The mandate may expire September 30.

Experts talk of a "robust" force needed in Darfur, in other words Chapter 7 mandate. China and Russia on the UN Security Council could never agree to a UN force being deployed under Chapter 7 mandate as Khartoum would oppose such a move. The UN does not have the power to alter the mandate of an AU force but the AU Peace and Security Council could dictate (which, sensibly, it won't) a mandate without requiring Khartoum's approval.

It is not difficult to think of many reasons why an AU force needs to be backed to the hilt, respected and treated as number one in Darfur. They are doing a great job against all odds and ought not be maligned and denigrated - like the rebels go to great lengths to do in order to get UN troops onside. See two previous posts here below.

Blogging Drima, The Sudanese Thinker at the UN: Where are the educated political parties that should be governing Sudan?

Aug 1, 2006 blog entry by Sudanese blogger Drima of The Sudanese Thinker - excerpt:

"Rape & Murder To Enforce Peace!

Those are the strategies being employed to enforce the peace deal by the SLA rebels who signed the peace deal. Minnawi denies those crimes happened. My foot! It's a known fact that rebels participated in many of the atrocities committed before. I'm sick of this conflict being portrayed by the media as "ooh evil Arabs VS poor Africans, Africans need UN troops' help to fight evil Arabs".

Current regime and Bashir = ex-rebels

Salva Kiir and SPLM = ex-rebels

Now Minnawi as Vice President = ex-rebel

We're being ruled by freaking ex-rebels. Ex-Rebels who killed and murdered to get to where they are today. Where are the educated political parties that should be governing?"

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DRIMA THE SUDANESE THINKER AT THE UN

Few individuals have the potential to make a big difference to the lives of millions of impoverished people. I believe Drima is one of the gifted few and hope he ends up in politics. His intelligence, humanity, humility and friendly sense of humour would make him a fun politician and a great joiner of people. John Garang was U.S. educated. Kofi Annan started at Harvard. Hopefully, I'll live long enough to see the day when Drima is seated in a real position of power at the UN.



Excerpt from recent blog entry by Drima (not his real name) pictured here, above and below, in photos he blogged during his recent travels across the U.S. that included a visit to the UN's HQ in New York:

"I've got 2 more years to graduate from university. I'll be 21 that time. I'll work for a while to get some experience and after that I truly hope to do my postgraduate studies in either Canada or America. I aim to get accepted in Syracuse, Princeton, Harvard or maybe Ottawa's Carlton. Big dreams for a small man huh? I always like to tell people something. Either I'm too small for my dreams and they're not really that big or I really am very big but my dreams are just way bigger. Time will tell. Until then, I'll always keep dreaming and thinking. That's why I am Drima, The Sudanese Thinker."

THANK YOU AMERICA

Excerpt from July 21 2006 blog entry by Drima re his recent trip to the USA:

"Thank you America for giving me such a good time. I'm glad my visa was approved and that it gave me the chance to witness this great country for myself. I truly loved and enjoyed my stay here. A big thank you too to all the wonderful people I've met for being so hospitable and friendly. Please be sure that I'm not saying this for "sucking up" purposes. I really do mean what I say. You people really aren't bad at all and you certainly don't deserve the "infidel" label. Thanks again and peace out. I leave back to Malaysia today."

REINFORCE THE AFRICAN UNION

Excerpt from July 29 2006 blog entry by Drima re Bashir: Darfur Would Be UN Troops' Graveyard:

"If the UN wants to freaking help then they should just reinforce the AU troops. Why is it so difficult for them to understand that?"

Yes Drima, why indeed? Pressure on US President GW Bush from misguided activists, I suspect. Media attention and pressure sure helps political activists, donors and aid agencies. Northern Uganda and DR Congo, where far worse things are happening, attract nowhere near the same amount of limelight, compassion, assistance, attention or funding.

DARFUR + UN TROOPS + AL QAEDA = ONE BIG ASS GIGANTIC DISASTER

Excerpt from July 31, 2006 blog entry by Drima re SaveDarfur.org Pushing For UN Troops:

"Okay so previously I've talked about how I appreciate Save Darfur's great job in bringing Darfur to the attention of the American public and the world but NOW I don't really think I like THIS. They're organizing a concert with the aim of pushing for UN troops to be sent to Darfur. I've explained before in a simple and straight forward way why I believe the UN troops won't improve the situation. There is strong opposition to UN troops in Sudan and it's growing more by the day. Even Darfur tribal leaders are opposed to UN troops. I'll say it again only with some updates.

Darfur previously = Disaster

Darfur now = STILL a disaster but to a lesser extent

Darfur + UN troops = Bigger disaster

Darfur + AU troops reinforced by UN & NATO = HUGE improvements.

Darfur + UN troops + Al Qaeda = One big ass GIGANTIC Disaster !!!

People, pleeeeeeeeeeease tell me you get it. How can I make it simpler than this to understand? Pleeeeeeeease tell me you understand when I say that UN troops will NOT make things more humanitarian for the people of Darfur. [edit]

I would not mind the UN troops if

1- there was no local opposition to them
2- I was sure Al-Qaeda isn't serious

However that's not the case... SO... For the MILLIONTH time... Reinforce the damn AU troops and keep your freaking UN troops AWAY! That's the BEST solution. Thank you for your kind/"kind" intentions but UN troops will just contribute more to the damn problem. As for the Sudanese government... Well, Sudanese people all over the world... It's time to start a freaking revolution! Foreign meddling NOT welcome. It just complicates things. Shias VS Sunnis in Iraq anyone?

Grrr... I'm seriously thinking about starting a campaign or a petition to convince people UN troops are not a good idea but that reinforcing the AU troops with NATO and UN is. I REALLY REALLY AM!!!"

Warm thanks to Drima for all the great blog entries. I'd support any campaign or petition that backs the African Union and its mission and peacekeepers in the Sudan. All peacekeepers deserve a medal. Here's wishing Drima all the best in the future. And thanks for all the laughs!

Postscript: Copy of opener at The Sudanese Thinker:

I'm Drima and I'm a pro-democracy, anti-communist, caring capitalist, HUGE fan of American pop culture (Friends anyone?), grateful consumer of Western products (Danish cheese anyone?), NOT a fan of double standards within America's foreign policy, NOT a fan of Islamic fundamentalism, strong believer in the notion "the pen is mightier than the sword", independent thinking kind of guy seeking to expand his mind by engaging in productive, open-minded and peaceful discussions. Hello!

Misguided activists' rally at UN in NYC Sep 17 calling for UN force in Darfur is organised by Savedarfur.org

Aug 3 2006 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Local coalition will travel to U.N. in support of Darfur:

The Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition will travel to New York City Sept. 17 to march and rally at the United Nations as the General Assembly meets. It will gather with other advocates to call on world leaders to deploy a U.N. force to Darfur to end the genocide. The event is being organized by the national Save Darfur campaign.

Annan's plans for UN peacekeeping force in Darfur is a totally lost case

Here is a copy of comment posted by a reader of the Scotsman's 2 Aug 2006 report on Annan's plans for massive UN peacekeeping force in Darfur:

1. Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD, Dar-Es-Salaam Tanzania 2 Aug 2006
I am sorry for mR. Annan. This is a totaly a lost case.
He may as well use his energy somewhere else.

I agree. Pushing for UN force in Darfur has been a waste of precious time, bolstered the rebels and unfairly tarnished and pulled down the fledgling African Union. All of the energy and effort expended over the past two years on pushing for a UN force in Darfur could have been spent on boosting the African Union peacekeepers in Darfur. Calling for a UN force in Darfur is not only dangerous, it risks aid not reaching those most in need, aid workers being dismissed from the country and gives the rebels what they have been calling and patiently waiting for all along: UN troops onside. Peacekeepers living and working in dangerous and difficult conditions without enough of the right equipment - and their hands tied behind their backs - ought to be helped and encouraged, not dismissed, denigrated and demoralised. Stop pandering to the rebels! AMIS peacekeepers are doing a great job and deserve our help, admiration and praise.

"AMERICA STOP"



June 25, 2006 photo: A Sudanese youth holds a banner reading in Arabic, "AMERICA STOP", during a rally in front of the parliament building in Khartoum, to protest against UN plans to deploy peacekeepers in Darfur. The UN's bid to gain backing for its Darfur peacekeeping plan suffered a fresh blow when Khartoum accused the world body of providing cover for a rebel leader who rejects a recent peace deal. (AFP/Isam al-Hag) See full report and more photos at Sudan Watch 22 July 2006.

Drima, The Sudanese Thinker on SaveDarfur.org pushing for UN Troops

As usual, I agree with Drima at The Sudanese Thinker. In the comments at his blog entry SaveDarfur.org Pushing For UN Troops he writes:

"The problem is that UN troops coming in will mean full scale war and it will turn Darfur into another Iraq. I also wonder which side the UN troops will take if they do come in. We can make something happen but it's gonna shed a lot of blood more than is already shedding."

Drima is the only likeminded blogger I've ever found. Drima is a young Sudanese chap studying in Malaysia. I am a white English born woman, living in England with no vested interest in Africa, politics, activism or commerce. Just interested in how the media handles and portrays complex situations like the Sudan, how such things come about and the reasons for man's inhumanity to man. Truth seeking and having an outlet in which to moan when I get a knee jerk reaction to propaganda and people easily influenced by propaganda. Well meaning Americans need to do more reading and thinking to know what they are really doing when they march and rally for war.

See Aug 3, 2006 Blogging Drima, The Sudanese Thinker at the UN: Where are the educated political parties that should be governing Sudan?

AU condemns SLM/A-Minnawi group torture - It's possible Minnawi's troops acted against his instructions says UN SRSG Pronk

News from the African Union Mission in Darfur has been pretty quiet for a while. All of a sudden today, the day when the Sudanese government is expected to provide the UN with a plan for change in Darfur, there are a number of news reports quoting the AU.

This could be a reason for the AU's silence: see July 9 2006 Sudan's plan to disarm Janjaweed given to AU July 8, 2006?

Since the following article refers to SLM/A-Minnawi faction as "a former Darfur rebel group", it would appear Minnawi's group, after signing the Darfur Peace Agreement, is now considered part of the official Sudanese forces.

Aug 1, 2006 Sudan Tribune report says the AU has condemned the torture practiced by 'a former Darfur rebel group', which signed peace deal, inside the AU compound in Al-Fasher. Excerpt:

The AU said in a press release issued today that AU representative in Sudan Baba Gana Kingibe, "shocked and horrified at the incidence of torture which occurred in the SLA quarters in Al Fasher whereby a middle aged unidentified individual was brutally beaten and blooded all over, including severe blows to his head, on two successive days, the 17th and 18th July, 2006".

The AU force attempted to intervene, but were rebuffed by SLA elements who dragged the victim back into their compound, the AU said. Colonel Ali Mokhtar, the leader of the group claimed that the victim was an SLA soldier under discipline. The fate of the victim is not known. "This incident lends credence to the previous incessant allegations" said the AU statement.

Ambassador Kingibe urged Minawi to order an immediate end to this practice. He further demands a thorough investigation of this particular incident and the culprits made accountable.

The AU affirmed its readiness to provide non military support to the Sudanese parties as required by the DPA, "but such cooperation cannot be expected by any party that condones torture and inhumane treatment of its own members, much less the civilian population in Darfur".

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SLM/A-Minnawi faction attacked civilians in Korma region nr El-Fasher

Aug 1, 2006 Swissinfo/Reuters report excerpt:

Darfur rebels who signed a peace deal with the government killed and raped civilians to try to force them to support the unpopular accord, human rights group Amnesty International said on Tuesday.

"Some 72 people were killed, 103 injured and 39 women raped in targeted attacks against civilians in the Korma region," said Amnesty in a statement.

The attacks were at the beginning of July in Korma, about 70 km (45 miles) north west of el-Fasher, Darfur's main town. Around 8,000 people fled their homes, emptying Korma.

"The attackers were members of the Minni Minnawi faction of the armed political group the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), reportedly supported by the Sudan armed forces and the Janjaweed," London-based Amnesty said.

Amnesty said civilians had reported the attacks to the AU force on July 5, but the SLA had opposed the AU going to Korma. Only an AU outpost in nearby Tawila had gone to Korma but it had not issued its findings.

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It's possible Minnawi's troops acted against his instructions says UNSRSG Pronk

July 25, 2006 Coalition for Dafur blog entry Pronk on the Splintering DPA

"Sudan Watch notes this informative post from Jan Pronk's blog:

In particular Minnie Minawi's faction has been accused of attacking civilians as well, with gross violations of human rights. Minnie Minawi has denied this and as long as an investigation has not taken place he should be given the benefit of the doubt. It is possible that his troops acted against his instructions. It would not be the first time that this has happened on either side of the conflict .The AU has refrained from carrying out an investigation, which makes it difficult to ascertain the truth. However, thousands of people have fled their homes. They have told stories which resemble those of last year, when they were attacked by militia."

Sudanese 'Vice President' Minni Minnawi to begin official duties in Khartoum Aug 5

Bahrain News Agency reports that SLM/A president Minni Minnawi will arrive in Sudan next Saturday to commence duties as Sudan's Vice President.

Sudan Tribune report July 27, 2006 describes Minnawi as the leader of a former rebel Darfur group, nominated to the position of the Assistant of the President of the Republic, due to arrive in Khartoum on August 5 to mark the implementaiton of Darfur Peace Agreement.

Oxfam staffer killed in West Darfur

It is with deep sorrow that Oxfam announces that one of its staff members, Nouraldeen Abdalla Nourein, is believed to have been killed last Friday, 28 July, in West Darfur. Full story Oxfam 1 Aug 2006.

SAF Antonov bombing of Hassan village, Kulkul, N Darfur: Ceasefire Commission probing violation of Security Council Resolution 1591 (2005)

AU envoy Baba Gana Kingibe and UN SRSG Jan Pronk, expressed "utmost concern" about the 29 July attack against a rebel group that has not signed the Darfur Peace Agreement, UN News Centre reported Aug 1, 2006. Excerpt:

The incident in the area of Kulkul in North Darfur State was preceded by fighting between the same rebel group and the Sudan Liberation Army/Minni Minawi faction, and then between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the rebel group.

"The Special Representatives express dismay and disappointment that despite their appeal to the parties in their joint statement on fighting in Jebel Moon on 28 July to abide by the existing Agreement on ceasefire and security and humanitarian arrangements, fighting has continued in total disregard of the need to guarantee the safety of civilians," the two said in their joint statement.

The envoys voiced particular concern about allegations that an SAF Antonov bombed Hassan village, south of Kulkul. The Ceasefire Commission is probing these allegations, which, if confirmed, would constitute a violation of Security Council Resolution 1591 (2005), the statement noted. That text, on sanctions, was adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, allowing for enforcement measures.

Those who have not signed the Darfur Peace Agreement must abide by earlier commitments to observe the ceasefire, said the Special Representatives, reiterating their call "on all the parties to cease attacks and refrain from provoking attacks."

Rebecca Garang calls for new probe on helicopter crash

Widow of John Garang, the late leader of the SPLM/A rebel group that fought its 21-year long war for power in South Sudan at a cost of two million lives, has called for new investigations on the circumstances of the helicopter crash that killed him in southern Sudan July 30, 2005. Full story ST Aug 1, 2006.



Photo: Sudan's former rebel leader and First Vice-President John Garang shakes hands with crew members as he boards an Ugandan helicopter at Entebbe International Airport on his way to meet Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni at his country home in Mbarara, western Uganda in this July 29, 2005 file photo Reuters/Str/Sudan Watch archive.



Photo: Sudan's First Vice-President John Garang boards a helicopter at Entebbe International Airport on his way to meet Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni at his country home in Mbarara, western Uganda in this July 29, 2005 file photo. Garang, who this year made peace with the northern government, has died in an accident while flying from Uganda to Sudan, the Sudanese presidency confirmed on Monday. (Reuters/Sudan Watch archive)

Aug 1 2005 Sudan VP Garang killed in crash

Aug 1 2005 John Garang Sudan's first VP and former rebel leader killed

Aug 1 2005 Riots after Sudan VP Garang dies

Aug 1 2005 Garang helicopter wreckage, bodies found in remote southern Sudan

Aug 1 2005 Garang's body arrives at SPLM HQ in southern Sudan

Aug 1 2005 Anti-Arab riots break out in south Sudan capital after Garang death

Aug 1 2005 Sudan declares 12-hour curfew after Garang's death

Aug 1 2005 Probe into Garang's death requested

Aug 1 2005 Sudan's SPLM names Salva Kiir as Garang's successor

Aug 3 2005 John Garang In Memoriam - Experts say Salva Kiir can unify South Sudan

Aug 3 2005 BBC round-up of African media on Garang

Aug 4 2005 Alex de Waal on John Garang: Death of an Enigma

Aug 4 2005 Sudan: UN mission reports calm in Khartoum, south, ahead of Garang's funeral

Aug 5 2005 Son of John Garang mourns and helps prepare grave in Juba

Aug 5 2005 Evacuation of "Arabs" from Southern Sudan

Aug 6 2005 Sudan bids rebel leader farewell - John Garang Obituary



Photo: See In memoriam John Garang by Dr James Moore of Sudan: Passion of the Present.org August 01, 2005.



Photo: Refugees from southern Sudan read the Daily Nation newspapers in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi to catch up with the lastest news following the 01 August death of ex-Sudanese rebel leader John Garang. Garang is to be buried Saturday 6 August in Juba, the town he selected as the capital of an autonomous southern Sudan, his Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army said. (AFP/Simon Maina/Sudan Watch archive)

Aug 8 2005 UN envoy urges quick decisions on status of oil-rich regions in central Sudan: UN special envoy for Sudan Jan Pronk said quick decisions were needed on the status of several oil-rich regions in central Sudan claimed by both Khartoum and the SPLM where militia activity continues despite the accord. "The problem is not in the north or south of Sudan," Pronk told reporters after meeting Salva Kiir, Garang's successor as head of the SPLM. The problem is on the fringes of central Sudan. "There are groups, armed groups, that have become agitated, people are afraid of each other in Abyei," he said, referring to one of three disputed oil-rich zones that were left out of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in Kenya. "They need political discussions," Pronk said.

Aug 11 2005 Salva Kiir Mayardit sworn in as Sudan's vice president

Mar 14 2006 Insurers pay out on Garang crash

Apr 05 2006 Sudan VP Garang crash initial report blames pilot-SPLM

Darfur commanders impeach President of SLM/A Abdel Wahid Mohamed Ahmed Nur

On July 22, 2006 UN SRSG Jan Pronk blogged about two new rebel groups in Darfur, G19 & NRF, and revealed that SLM Abdel Wahid al-Nur declared his aim to become President of Sudan. Going by this, it apppears Nur's ambitions are along the same lines as JEM's. Not peace in Darfur but war to overthrow the now very experienced regime in Khartoum.

It seems to me that supporters of Darfur rebel groups, other than Minnawi's SLM/A, whether they realise it or not, are aiming for a change of regime. To be replaced by what? Another unelected group that stole power through the barrel of a gun? The Darfur rebel groups seem no better than the regime they aim to replace. Is Sudan ungovernable? It's evident that the current regime is doing a pretty good job of holding it all together. The Sudan is as large as Europe, packed with uneducated people who are governed by tribal leaders. Tribal leaders are the key to peace in Darfur, not naive Americans meddling in a country and culture that goes back as far as the year dot. Doing ones best to sound the alert and help get aid to people most in need is one thing, but influencing Westerners to stir up politicians to arrange military invasion of an African country against its will is something altogether different. Tribal leaders hold the key to peace in the Sudan, not the slick opportunistic operators based in Europe and America who use the lives of starving uneducated African women and children as pawns in their power games. In essence, Darfur war seems to boil down to oil and ruthless unelected thugs who want charge of it to line their own pockets. [See Sudan Watch Apr 18 2005: New oil field in Darfur]



Photo: Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, right talks to Abdel Wahid al-Nur of a faction of rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) before he walks out of a peace meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May 5, 2006. (AP/Sudan Watch archive)

Darfur commanders impeach SLM/A's Nur

Darfur commanders dismiss al-Nur from the SLM leadership, Sudan Tribune reported August 1, 2006. Copy in full:

July 31, 2006 (PARIS) - Military commanders of Sudan Liberation Movement known as Abdelwahid al-Nur Faction dismissed Abdelwahid al-Nur from the leadership of the movement, a press release said.

32 leaders of the SLM Military Council and the Field Command in a meeting held on 25 July in undisclosed place in Sudan's Darfur region removed the SLM historical leader Abdelwahid Mohamed Ahmed al-Nur. The press statement didn't give further details on the motivations of this decision. Sudan Tribune has learned that Abdelwahid is criticised for his lack consultations and contacts with the leadership of the movement inside the Sudan and particularly with the military command in Darfur.

Abdelwahid's detractors say he didn't act correctly with the African Union and the international community to explain the position of the SLM. They add that the movement lost a lot politically because of Abdelwahed mischief.

The military commanders designed Ahmed Abdelshafi Yagoub Baasi as a new chairman of the movement. They charged him to reorganize the structure of the movement within 75 hours. Baasi is the chief commander of the movement.

Different sources from the movement told Sudan Tribune that this move expresses the main stream within the movement. According to ST sources the new body is disposed to negotiate with the Sudanese government to joint the Darfur Peace Agreement.

Sudanese government softened its position towards Abdelwahid group after the signing of the 5 may deal hopping to persuade Abdelwahid biggest tribe in Darfur to join the deal.

Below the full text of the Press release
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Statement of the SLM/A Military Council & Field Command Office - Liberated areas

Re: Impeachment of President of SLM/A Abdel Wahid Mohamed Ahmed Nur. July 28, 2006 - Statement No :(1) Based on the meeting of the Military Council and the Field Command on Tuesday 25/7/2006; the following decisions were reached :-

Removal of Abdelwahid Mohamed Ahmed al-Nur from the Presidency of SLM/A
Appointment of commander Ahmed Abdelshafi Yagoub Baasi as president of the movement and commander in chief of the army
The new president of the movement and general commander in consultation with the military council must reorganize the structure of the movement within the next 72 hours following the publication of this statement
The new leadership must immediately take charge of SLM affairs until the general conference of the movement takes place.

We call upon the Sudanese people and Darfur people specially and SLM followers in the displaced citizens & refugee camps, villages and cities to rest assured that the new leadership and the field command will protect the rights of Darfur people and the rights of all Sudanese, and of the revolution. May all our martyrs rest in peace and our wounded gain their health. Glory to our Sudanese people and our people in Darfur.

Signitories:
1. Commander/ Ahmed Abdel Shafi Yagoub Baasi 2. C/ Al Haj Younis Abakar 3. Ustaz Babikir Abdalla Mohamed 4. C/ Abdou Abdalla Ismail 5. C/Abdel Basit Abdalla Abdel Gabbar 6. C/Abdel Aziz Mohamed Goumaa (Danforth) 7. C/Ahmed Siraj 8. C/Abou El Gasim Imam El Haj 9. C/Nasr El Din Torou 10. C/Ismail Karokoya 11. C/ Abdalla Abbakar Mohamed 12. Ustaz Mohei El Din Abdalla Abdel Gabbar 13. C/ Yagoub Abdalla Ali Sumbo 14. C/ Omer Mohamed 15. C/Ismail Abdalla (Abou Digin) 16. C/ Abdalla Al Sudani 17. C/ Adam Hassan 18. Dr. El Sanousi Mohamed El Sanousi 19. C/ Adam Younis 20. C/ Omer Tabra 21. C/ Yehia Karkaweel 22. C/ Mohamed Abdelrahim 23. C/ Osman Mohamed Ali 24. C/ Adam Abdalla 25. C/ Adam Ali 26. C/ Ismael Gevara 27. C/ Mohamed Yagoub 28. C/ Mohamed El Tahir 29. Ustaz Abdel Latif Abdalla Ismail 30. Engineer Moustapha Eisa Moustapha 31. C/ El Hadi Idris 32. Ustaz Mohamed Abdou

Contact Numbers:
C/ Ahmed Abdel Shafei Yagoub Basi Satellite No 008821651131140, Ustaz Babikir Mohamed Abdalla 008821633341564, Ustaz Mohei El Din Abdalla Abdel Gabbar 008821621344601, Ustaz Abdel Latif Abdalla Ismail Mobile Tel 00447850380180

Photo: Abdel Wahid Nur of the main rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), second right, together with members of his group walks out of the peace talks meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May, 5 2006. Sudan's government and the main Darfur rebel group signed a peace plan Friday, marking major progress in an internationally backed effort to end the death and destruction in western Sudan. Two rebel groups, though, rejected the accord backed by the African Union, United States, Britain, the European Union and the Arab League and skipped the signing ceremony in a hall at a Nigerian presidential villa. (AP Photo/George Osodi/Sudan Watch archive)

Annan sees up to 24,000 UN peacekeepers for Darfur

Yesterday, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan proposed a peacekeeping force for Darfur, numbering up to 24,000 troops and international police officers. The requirements for the force were outlined in a report to the UN Security Council, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.

Aug 1 Reuters Irwin Arieff report excerpt:

Annan said the UN mission would require an initial deployment of up to 3,300 police officers plus 16 trained units of riot police, typically of 125 officers each, for a total of as many as 5,300 officers.

With the officers to be deployed at over 100 sites, covering about 80 percent of Darfur's population, "this would be a minimum option," he said.

As for U.N. troops, the force would seek to protect refugee camps, humanitarian supply routes and nomadic migration routes via a "framework of mobile infantry battalions," Annan said, outlining three options ranging from 15,300 to 18,600 soldiers, depending on the number of aircraft to accompany them.

The best option, he said, would be to deploy 17,300 peacekeeping soldiers along with three fixed-wing reconnaissance aircraft and 26 helicopters.

"This force represents an optimal balance of key operational capabilities and likely offers the fastest route to a secure environment and eventual return to normality."

Should just 13 helicopters be made available, the force would require about 18,600 troops and would be less capable of responding to multiple security incidents by air, "possibly delaying the return to normality and peace."

Should the force be equipped with 35 helicopters, it could get along with about 15,300 troops by relying more heavily on rapid-reaction forces while "sacrificing some security presence," Annan said.

The smaller force would be more vulnerable to bad weather and would carry "a higher degree of risk on protection of civilians," he said.