US diplomat disapproves Sudan’s plan for a referendum in Darfur
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March 31, 2011 (THE HAGUE) — US diplomat disapproved Khartoum’s plan
to hold a referendum on Darfur administrative status saying the
government should agree on the issue first with the rebel groups.
JPEG - 18.4 kb
Ambassador Dane Smith (L) listening to a relief worker in Darfur
during a recent visit to the region (photo US State Dept)
Ambassador Dane Smith who is appointed last December as U.S. Senior
Advisor on Darfur told the Netherlands based Radio Dabanga that Doha
where the peace talks are held is the right place for such decision.
"We believe that the referendum is an issue that should be discussed
in Doha," he said before to add "Holding a referendum should not be
undertaken unilaterally but as part of the Doha process".
The mediation in the Qatari capital proposed to establish a
transitional authority in Darfur which will supervise the organisation
of a referendum on the administrative fate of the region one year
before the general elections in the Sudan. But Khartoum’s rejection of
the regional entity stalled the talks.
President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir on March 29 issued a decree providing
to organize a referendum in the troubled region where Darfurians have
to decide whether they want to keep the current status or to create a
regional authority to administrate the region and represent them in
Khartoum.
Presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen Attabani who is entrusted
with Darfur file; said this referendum will allow to settle the
deadlock in the negotiations on the status of the region with the
rebel groups. He also said as long as no agreement is signed in Doha
the government has to abide by the 2006 accords signed with Minni
Minawi before to rebel again.
The envoy was also clear in his support to the Doha peace process. He
went further to dismiss an alleged support to the government strategy
to bring peace in Darfur through internal dialogue instead of the
negotiations with the rebel groups.
"We have not endorsed any government strategy for Darfur," Dane said
stressing when he was asked if he actually supports Khartoum plans to
settle the conflict from inside the Sudan as it was reported by some
Khartoum based dailies.
According to the American envoy, The US only said the Doha process
(once an agreement is reached) "could lead to a Darfur based
consultative process". He further said the internationally monitored
consultation should be "very inclusive of all the key elements in
Darfur " and the participants should "feel confident".
He emphasized several times in his interview with Radio Dabanga on the
urgent need for a ceasefire agreement to be concluded in Doha. He also
said the participation of all the rebel groups in the peace process is
required.
During the interview, the US official showed a clear support to the
Qatari sponsored peace talks more than the former special envoy for
Sudan Scott Gration. He further denoted the "encouraging signs" coming
out of the talks as the parties started working on the same text. He
also underlined the political cooperation between the rebel Justice
and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Liberation and Justice Movement
(LJM).
Nonetheless, he pointed out that proactive approach in the talks will
accelerate the ongoing efforts for a durable settlement of the
eight-year conflict.
"We want to encourage the parties; the Government of Sudan; the LJM
and JEM to engage directly face to face, and really make every effort
to reach a settlement including a ceasefire in the near future to
bring this process to a fruitful end,"
(ST)
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