Darfur top negotiator seeks to improve Sudan's image, not peace -- JEM.

June 17, 2009 (PARIS) -- The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) lashed out at the new government chief negotiator for Darfur peace talks, saying his appointment is a "cosmetic operation" to make the government more acceptable to the international community.

Ahmed Hussein Adam

Ghazi Salah Eddin Attabani, a holder of a doctorate in Biochemistry from a British university and fluent English speaker, replaced last month the presidential assistant Nafi Ali Nafi, who is preparing the campaign of the National Congress Party for the upcoming elections. "The appointment of Ghazi came in the framework of attempts by the government to embellish its image thinking that he is acceptable to some international circles," said JEM official spokesperson Ahmed Hussein Adam. Adam stressed that this reshuffle does not imply any change in the government policy toward the resolution of the six-year conflict. "In fact, the government still adheres to the same old strategy: to resolve the conflict militarily." Attabani, who was designated by his party to deal with the issue of relations with United States earlier this year, will lead the government delegation to take part in a forum for supporters of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). The meeting is to take place in Washington on June 23. "Ghazi is now going to Washington not to discuss the CPA or ways to settle the Darfur problem, but he wants to tackle normalization of relations with the US without concessions," the rebel official said. He further said that the lack of seriousness of the government is apparent in the behavior of the Sudanese delegation in Doha. "They are trying to gain time and did not implement any of the points agreed in the goodwill agreement that we reached last February." The JEM spokesperson, who was speaking from the Qatari capital where they are supposed to negotiate with the Sudanese government delegation, added they implemented all their commitments and demand that Khartoum honor its own, before going further to tackle other issues. "We are combating carjacking in Darfur, and released 24 prisoners of (POWs), also there are 60 others waiting for the Red Cross to finalize their release. Besides that, we succeeded to unify 18 groups that joined our movement in order to reach a comprehensive peace." He further criticized the government position accusing it of breaching the confidence-building measures. The government expelled 13 aid groups; hanged 9 Darfuris accused of decapitating a journalist; and unjustly sentenced to death 103 POWs in flagrant violation of the goodwill agreement. Moreover, there is the ill-treatment of the detainees who sent a letter last month to the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Sudan Sima Samar, the rebel official said. "We believe that there is no need to sign any new agreement if the government does not implement the previous agreements," he said, referring to the government's demand for a ceasefire agreement. He said that the government rejects to release the POWs before the signing of a ceasefire agreement, pointing out that this "new clause" is not included in the goodwill agreement. He further said that they strongly refuse government statements on the humanitarian situation on the ground. "Our assessment of the situation in the camps is based on credible reports we receive from the grounds inside the camps." Adam accused the government of planning to re-divide the troubled province to five states instead of the current three to counter their demand for one region. The UN estimates that some 300,000 died in the Darfur conflict and some 2.7 million are displaced from their homeland following attacks carried out by the army and its militias. This figure does not include those who fled to Chad, Khartoum or elsewhere. (ST)

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