Rebel movements agree to coordinate positions for peace in Darfur
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March 22, 2011 (DOHA) — The rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)
and Liberation and Equality Movement (LJM) agreed today in Doha to
fully coordinate their positions in the Doha peace process for peace
in Darfur and to prepare ways for their merger in the future.
JPEG - 15.5 kb
Azhary Shatta for LJM (L) and Ahmed Hussein Adam for JEM hold up a
copy of the coordination agreement signed Tuesday 22 March in Doha
(ST)
The peace negotiations between the two movements and the Sudanese
government are deadlocked due to the disagreement over the
administrative status of Darfur. Khartoum infuriated the rebels
recently when it announced a referendum on the future of the region
transgressing the framework agreements, which provide to discuss it
with them.
Today’s agreement is seen a step forwards full unity of the two groups
after their first rapprochement announced on 29 January when they
committed themselves to work hand to hand for the first time in the
Doha peace forum.
"We have agreed to unify our efforts, join our ranks and have full
coordination between us; in the hope to reach a full unity in the very
foreseeable future, and aiming at including all the resistance forces
concerned in such unity," reads the agreement signed today by Ahmed
Hussein Adam, a leading JEM figure recently appointed adviser for
external relations and Azhary Mohamed Shatta LJM Chairman adviser.
The parties, who called upon the other rebel groups in Darfur to unite
and denounce fragmentation, further said they will continue their
discussion on the coordination along issues related to negotiations,
media, politics and the field.
They also said they will set up "the appropriate committees and
mechanisms" to achieve the declared goals.
The two groups stressed that a negotiated solution is the best choice
to end the conflict. They further emphasized they are committed to the
"Doha Forum as the sole venue for the negotiation process".
Ahmed Hussein Adam told Sudan Tribune that a joint delegation from the
two signatories formally handed a copy of the agreement to the
mediation today after the press conference held in Doha to announce
the agreement.
He also stressed that peace remains a strategic option for JEM, adding
"We are not here to obstruct the process but to create the needed
conditions for a just and lasting peace. This is a message of hope for
Darfur people who suffer since long years ago".
Khartoum was very critical to the return of JEM rebels to the
negotiating table in Doha, saying they are not serious to reach an
agreement to end the conflict and want only to hamper the talks with
LJM.
Last week the mediation submitted four chapters to the government and
the two rebel groups asking them to adopt it before to resume talks on
the pending protocols. JEM despite the fact that these chapters were
negotiated by the government and LJM gave its approval to many points
and formulated some observations to others.
Divisions among Darfur rebels is one of the reasons hampering the
settlement of the conflict. International community and Darfur civil
society groups called on the different armed movements to unite for
the interest of the region.
The two rebel groups reaffirmed today in their press conference held
in Doha today that this alliance is strategic and will not only
limited to the peace in Darfur but because they want Darfur people to
be in the "driving seat" to determine the future of the Sudan.
In a parallel move, the Justice and the Equality Movement and the
Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Minni Minawi issued a joint
statement asserting to work for the unity of the resistance forces in
Darfur.
They also called for the unity of all the political forces in the
country to rid the country of Bashir’s government.
Ahmed Hussein said they are also consulting with the SLM led by Abdel
Wahid Al-Nur to gather all the rebel movements around one political
platform.
(ST)
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