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------Original message------ From: John Ashworth <[email protected]> To: "Group" <[email protected]> Date: Monday, March 5, 2012 11:08:48 AM GMT+0300 Subject: [sudan-john-ashworth] Bashir mobilises militia with 'death pledge' 1. Sudan’s Bashir orders mobilisation of paramilitary forces, slams US and its special envoy March 3, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir vowed to flush out remaining rebel pockets in South Kordofan as he ordered the setting up of camps across the country for the Popular Defence Forces (PDF). Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) is fighting insurgencies on multiple fronts in the western region of Darfur and in the border states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile. South Sudan stands accused by Khartoum of aiding the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) that is fighting SAF in the border states. The SPLM-N fighters fought alongside the forces of what is now the South’s ruling party, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) during Sudan’s two decades of civil war which ended with a peace deal in 2005 and led to Southern secession in 2011. Juba says it broke any links with the SPLM-N after the South seceded but military officials in Khartoum say that several divisions of South Sudan’s army are still fighting with the rebels. To makes matters worse, SPLM-N joined with Darfur rebel groups late last year to form the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF). The latter claimed last month to have launched its first attacks against SAF in South Kordofan managing to take Jau town and Toroge area. SAF at the time acknowledged the fighting but said it was South Sudan’s army, Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), attacking and that they eventually managed to repel them. Events in the war zones are impossible to confirm as access to these areas is severely restricted. Bashir said that he plans to soon perform prayers in Kauda which the SPLM-N stronghold in South Kordofan. "We will soon liberate the area from the rebellion and our coming battle will be in Kauda," he told a rally of PDF fighters in Khartoum, including females, who pledged their lives to Bashir in the defence of the country and the Islamic programme. "Just like we prayed in Kurmuk [Blue Nile state] we will soon pray in Kauda....We have warned those people [SPLM-N]" he added. The Sudanese leader said camps will be created to accommodate thousands of PDF recruits. "We direct all the states governors to open PDF camps and equip an entire brigade of these forces, to be named the Deterrence Forces, to confront all the agents and traitors," he said. The new recruits will "beat anyone who tries to disturb the security of Sudan," Bashir vowed. Bashir recalled how SAF managed to defeat SPLM in their stronghold of Torit during the civil war years but that later they heeded to the call of peace despite being in a good position militarily. "We were victorious and not defeated," the Sudanese leader said before adding "We gave 18,000 martyrs and are willing to give the same number today", he warned. "Conspiracy [against Sudan] will continue and our response will be that Allah will suffice and He is the best guardian" Bashir said amid chants of "There is no God but Allah" and "Allah is Great". Alongside with Bashir was his defence minister Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein who had an arrest warrant issued for him on Thursday by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Bashir himself has been wanted by the Hague based court since March 2009. The two men, who dressed today in military uniforms and later danced before the crowd, are accused of being responsible for war crimes committed in Darfur since the conflict erupted in 2003. "We heard two days ago that our brother Abdel-Rahim they said they want him in the ICC," Bashir said before being interrupted by PDF militia members with their cries of support. "Why? This [ICC investigation] has been going on since 2003 so why now?" Bashir posed the question before saying that this was timed with SAF victories in Blue Nile and South Kordofan and that ICC wants to target the army’s symbol in the person of the defence minister. However, it is widely believed in Khartoum that Hussein is an unpopular figure within the army and whose presence is forced upon the military by Bashir. "Anyone who raises his finger at Sudan will cut it for him and anyone who lifts up his eyes we will poke in it," the Sudanese leader warned. Bashir hailed the Arab Spring in neighbouring nations saying that Sudan had the first one during his coup in 1989. "We tell them congratulations because they won against the powers of oppression and got rid of tyrants led by Muammar Gaddafi may god damn him", he said. "All of you know the dirty role played by Gaddafi and others and thank God for giving us the chance to respond back," he added. After Gaddafi’s regime started to crumble last year, Bashir lashed at him publicly saying that the Libyan leader was responsible for many of Sudan’s woes particularly in Darfur through supporting rebels. ’US NASTY CARROTS’ Bashir also took shots at the United States in the wake of comments made on Wednesday by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clinton accused Bashir personally of working to undermine the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the newly established state of South Sudan. "The Americans always said they will treat Sudan with a carrot and stick. We want to say to them: we don’t want their carrot because their roots are poisoned and nasty. And we don’t fear their stick" he said. "We have been tested [by Americans] for over 20 years" Bashir added. He also hinted that US special envoy Princeton Lyman is collaborating with the rebels. "They have someone who comes wondering around here" Bashir said in reference to Lyman. "[SPLM-N leader in South Kordofan] Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu explained his plan to Lyman and got his blessings," Bashir claimed. The strong rhetoric by Bashir reflects the growing tensions in Sudan caused by increasing levels of fighting in the border states, worsening economic situation and the lack of progress in post-secession negotiations with South Sudan and particularly on the issue of oil. Bashir said in an interview last month that war with South Sudan is now a possibility. (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/Sudan-s-Bashir-orders-mobilization,41791 END1 2. Sudan’s paramilitary makes ’death pledge’ to Bashir March 2, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The Popular Defense Forces (PDF) are scheduled to meet on Saturday with Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir to make the "pledge of death" to defend the country. The paramilitary force said in a statement that it has been monitoring the movements of the forces of "evil and aggression" represented by American imperialism, world Zionism and neo-colonialism that are trying to eradicate the cultures of people, plunder their wealth and conquer their will. The PDF warned that while these powers succeeded in other nations they will not be able to do so in Sudan. "If some of our tolerance that we demonstrated to prevent bloodshed and strife tempted them, they should not expect more of that," read the statement. It hailed the stances of the Sudanese president who refused "all the plans and dictates of enemies and agents" and called on the government to punish diplomatic missions and organisations that exceed their mandate. The PDF also called for restricting United Nations (UN) mission’s movements to what was agreed upon and announced that one million of the "mujahideen" will be mobilised to train on special operations. The PDF fought along the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) during the two-decades civil war with South Sudan and many analysts believe that it is the military arm of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP). (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/Sudan-s-paramilitary-makes-death,41781 END2 3. Sudanese rebel calls for no fly zone in conflict areas By Ngor Arol Garang March 4, 2012, (JUBA) - The coalition of Sudanese rebel groups, fighting against the Khartoum government in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states on Sunday, called for a no fly zone to be imposed in the areas where they are fighting the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) to allow humanitarian relief to be delivered. The call comes after Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir instructed governors in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile to set up training camps for recruits to Sudan’s main paramilitary group - the Popular Defense Forces (PDF) - over the weekend. The commanding officer of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebel alliance, Abdel-Aziz Al-Hilu, said that Bashir was planning to use the PDF with Sudan’s official military to attack the group. Al-Hilu is the former deputy governor of South Kordofan, where fighting between his group - the northern sector of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-N) - against SAF and the PDF began in June 2011 after a disputed election result in favour of Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP). In August last year fighting also broke out in Blue Nile and the SPLM-N’s Malik Aggar, the elected governor, was replaced with a military ruler by Bashir. In February the SPLM-N and the three biggest Darfur rebel groups appointed Aggar the head of the SRF coalition, with Al-Hilu in charge of the group’s military operations. The SRF claim that they recently took control of Toroge in South Kordofan and Jau town, which both Sudan and South Sudan say lies within their territory. South Sudan has denied that it backs the SPLM-N and that its forces were involved in the Jau attack, despite accusations from Khartoum. Al-Hilu told Sudan Tribune on Sunday that the SRF we "not afraid" of Bashir’s attempts to mobilise the PDF militia, which played a prominent role on the side of the government during the Sudanese civil war (1983-2005). "They have tested our strength and they know us very well. The only problem is that their attacks targets civilian population making them [the civilians] becoming the victims of the military operations," Al-Hilu said from an undisclosed location. Khartoum claims that the SRF is using Unity state in South Sudan as a base for its operations in South Kordofan but Juba denies this. Al-Hilu said accused the Sudanese army and their affiliates of deliberately targeting local people perceived to be on the side of the SPLM-N. He said that Bashir has ordered an “extensive aerial bombardment” to aid ground attacks by SAF and the PDF against areas under their control in Nuba mountains, but also in Blue Nile and in Darfur. The rebel leader said that Bashir had "declared a war against Sudanese people in Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile and in Darfur" not just the rebel groups in these areas. "This is a clear indication that they are not committed to reaching a peaceful settlement”, he said denying that they are supported by neighbouring South Sudan. Al-Hilu said they are ready to defend their positions, however extensive the attack might be, in order to protect civilian populations from being attacked by the “notorious and ruthless” Khartoum based regime. The Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan saw some of worst fighting during the civil war, which saw many groups north of the border join South Sudan’s SPLM in their war with Khartoum. On Saturday Bashir said he soon planned to pray in the SPLM-N stronghold of Kauda just as he had done in Kurmuk the former stronghold of the rebels in Blue Nile state. "They know our capabilities to protect civil population. We have always frustrated their attempts to declare control of the areas under direct control and will we also do the same should they make similar attempt," Al-Hilu said. Al-Hilu repeated the SPLM-N’s claim that they do not receive any international support maintaining that his rebel group sustains itself from capturing arms from the Sudanese army. The recent attack on Jau, which the SRF say was successful, had boosted moral he said. “The moral of our forces is up and we are prepared to launch more attacks even though we know that Khartoum plans to launch major offensives targeting areas of Alatmour, Nglu, Alburam and Kauda. The goal is to take control of Southern part of Nuba Mountain areas but I think this plan will not succeed”, he said explaining that they have reports indicating that president Bashir has personally promised to organise and supervise offensives in the Nuba Mountains. Al-Hilu said the predicted SAF offensive would be led by Lieutenant General Alnau Jafar Abu Ashara, Major General Maki Basher Albahi and Major General Ahmed Khamis. "The primary objective of this operation targets civilians in order to force them seek refugee and create a situation in which the government in Khartoum would claim control of most of the areas and immediately declare that there are no internally displaced who require humanitarian assistance in Southern Kordofan State”, Al-Hilu said. Sudan has, so far, denied any meaningful access to humanitarian agencies in South Kordofan. Khartoum has also denied the presence of any Sudanese refugees from South Kordofan and Blue Nile were present in South Sudan, having been displaced by the conflict. According to the UN 78,000 displaced from the conflict have been forced to seek shelter in South Sudan since August 2011. The UN have also accused SAF of bombings along the border, including the Yida refugee camp in South Sudan’s Unity state. In January the UN Refugee agency reported that SAF had bombed the Elfoj of Upper Nile state injuring one boy. Khartoum, which denies bombing South Sudanese territory, seems intent on finding a military solution to the conflict, according to Al-Hilu. He claimed that the National Congress Party in Khartoum were planning more attacks and ignoring the possibility of discussions through the African Union, UN and Arab Legue to try and get more humanitarian relief into the conflict zone. However, after the experience of Darfur, where refugee camps became strongholds of support for some of the rebel groups, Khartoum wants to avoid a similar scenario in the new conflict against the SPLM-N. The NCP also believes that humanitarian aid will find its way to rebels and prolong the conflict. It refusal to allow relief into the area has led the US to consider providing assistance without the permission of Khartoum. On Saturday Bashir hinted that US special envoy Princeton Lyman is collaborating with Al-Hilu and the rebels. "They have someone who comes wondering around here" Bashir said in reference to Lyman. "Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu explained his plan to Lyman and got his blessings," Bashir claimed. Al-Hilu told Sudan Tribune that providing humanitarian relief would be hindered by air attacks if a no fly zone was not implemented. (ST) - http://www.sudantribune.com/Sudanese-rebel-calls-for-no-fly,41794 END3 4. Sudan’s rebels say defeated army in Blue Nile State March 4, 2012 (NAIROBI) – Rebels in Sudan’s southern state of Blue Nile said they clashed on Saturday with the country’s army and killed 24 soldiers. The fighting took place on Saturday’s evening in Al-Ahmar Sadak area in Al-Tadamon locality, southeast of Al-Kurmuk town, the official spokesman of the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N), Arnu Loddi, told Sudan Tribune. According to Loddi, SPLM-N forces managed to destroy three Land Cruiser vehicles and seize a great amount of ammunition. He added that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) fled the area leaving 24 dead bodies behind. Sudan Tribune could not reach SAF’s spokesman for comment. “This is another message from the Sudanese Revolutionary Forces (SRF) and SPLM-N to the regime of the National Congress Party (NCP) that we are advancing on all fronts. Our struggle is continuing and our victory is certain” Loddi said. The SPLM-N has been fighting government forces in South Kordofan as of June and in Blue Nile as of September last year. The group forged the SRF alliance in November with three rebel groups from the country’s western region of Darfur, and vowed joint military operations to overthrow the government. Sudan accuses neighboring South Sudan of supporting the rebels but Juba denies the charge. Most recently, Khartoum said South Sudan’s army supported and participated in an attack launched by SRF forces on the border town of Jau on 26 February. (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/Sudan-s-rebels-say-defeated-army,41797 END4 5. Toppling Khartoum regime is the only alternative for Sudan, Darfur rebels tell US diplomat March 3, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — Jibril Ibrahim, leader of Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) reiterated to the United States (US) Senior Advisor on Darfur Dan Smith that toppling the Sudanese regime represents the solution for the political crisis in the country. Jibril who is also the deputy chairman of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) for foreign relations held a telephone conversation with Smith on Friday, according to JEM spokesperson Gibreel Adam Bilal. He briefed the US diplomat about the objectives of the coalition of rebel groups and the humanitarian situation in Darfur. Established in November 2011, the SRF includes JEM, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) and two factions of Sudan People’s Liberations Movements led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur (SPLM-AW) and Minni Minnawi (SPLM-MM). The alliance carried out its first joint attack on the Sudanese army in Jau, South Kordofan last Sunday. The JEM spokesman said that Jibril "assured (Dan Smith) that the Front is seeking to overthrow the (Sudanese) regime by all available means, and will be a responsible alternative to rule the Sudan after the defeat of genocidal regime". "Sudan will be more stable after the demise of the National Congress Party’s regime from power," JEM leader stressed. The US envoy said in the past that his country supported the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) signed between the Sudanese government and the former rebel group Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) last July. The US also seeks to bring JEM and other rebel groups together to resume talks with the government within the framework of the DDPD. But JEM which was part of the Doha process refuses this perspective and proposes to open the peace document for talks, a matter that Khartoum rejects. JEM and its allies in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile say the government refuses to make the needed concession for a permanent peace in terms of democratic rule, public freedoms and regional autonomy. The rebels say the alliance they signed on 11 November allows the other political forces to work with them for the removal of the regime of President Omar Bashir, stressing that his demise is now the only valid option for them. However, Khartoum accuses the rebel alliance of being sponsored by Juba adding that the newly independent state of South Sudan seeks to use them to achieve its own agendas and ambitions particularly over the disputed area of Abyei. Washington is considered by analysts as being overwhelmed by events in Sudan. Khartoum accused US officials of supporting South Sudan and rebel groups. But on the other hand, they failed to achieve any progress with Juba also. (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/Toppling-Khartoum-regime-is-the,41792 END5 ______________________ John Ashworth Sudan, South Sudan Advisor [email protected] +254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile) +211 919 695 362 (South Sudan mobile) +27 82 050 1235 (South Africa mobile) +44 750 304 1790 (UK/international) +88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone) PO Box 52002 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya This is a personal e-mail address and the contents do not necessarily reflect the views of any organisation -- The content of this message does not necessarily reflect John Ashworth's views. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, John Ashworth is not the author of the content and the source is always cited. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sudan-john-ashworth" group. 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