Sudan protests statements by Malaysian special envoy to Darfur: report
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May 3, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government protested remarks
attributed to Malaysia’s special envoy to Darfur in which he blamed
Khartoum for the situation in the war ravaged region, according to
media reports.
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Malaysia’s special envoy to Darfur Syed Ariff Fadzillah (New Straits Times)
Sudan’s ambassador to Kuala Lumpur Nader Youssef said in press
statements that he had lodged a formal complaint with the Malaysian
foreign ministry against its envoy Syed Ariff Fadzillah.
The Malaysia official has reportedly decried the situation in Darfur
saying that "serious violations" are taking place. He also accused
Khartoum of lacking seriousness in its quest for peace in the region.
Youssef stressed that the position articulated by Fadzillah does not
represent those of the Malaysian government.
"We have expressed our rejection to the statements made by the envoy
that are not consistent with the policy of the Malaysian government,"
the Sudanese ambassador said according to the Khartoum-based Al-Sahafa
newspaper.
He further said that the Malaysian special envoy went beyond his
humanitarian mandate to extend to political issues.
Youssef said that they have to yet to ascertain the authenticity of
the remarks but also noted that Fadzillah has neither confirmed nor
denied them.
It is not clear where or when the Malaysian special envoy made these
highly unusual statements on Darfur which comes from a government that
has traditionally been a strong ally to Khartoum.
The New Straits Times newspaper quoted Fadzillah in an interview last
month as expressing pessimism over the future of Darfur more than
eight years after the conflict erupted.
"Not many are talking about Darfur now. There is a different focus in
Sudan with the imminent creation of a new state in Southern Sudan," he
said.
"The referendum in Sudan has cost the people of Darfur. The
humanitarian problem can be expected to assume new proportions. They
will become much worse with so many people crowding into the area" the
Malaysian special envoy added.
Fadzillah, who assumed this role in 2007, pledged to press his
government to provide more funds for humanitarian efforts in Darfur.
"I intend to brief the minister on what is happening in Darfur and how
Malaysia is helping in the humanitarian effort. We need to review our
activities there."
The United Nations estimates some 300,000 people have died since
mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in Sudan’s west against Khartoum
in early 2003.
The world’s largest U.N.-funded peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) works in
Darfur but has struggled to stop clashes.
Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir is wanted by the
International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and genocide in
Darfur, the only sitting head of state the court has indicted.
After the ICC warrant for Bashir, he expelled 13 aid agencies working
in Darfur and a wave of kidnappings targeting foreigners has
restricted those remaining to the main towns.
(ST)
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