Darfur rebel leader lashes out at US special envoy for Sudan

Darfur rebel leader lashes out at US special envoy for Sudan
By Wasil Ali

December 12, 2007 (PARIS) — The leader of a Darfur rebel group expressed “ deep disappointment” over statements made by Andrew Natsios, Special Envoy for Sudan last week.
“Natsios seems to be in a state of denial about the party who has been and still is obstructing peace in Darfur, so he is now putting the blame on us” Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur, leader of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) told Sudan Tribune by phone from Paris France.
“Over the last four years, the Sudanese government routinely snubbed a handful of UN Security Council resolutions on Darfur ranging from arms embargo to flight ban to extraditing war criminals” Al-Nur said.
“Today and four months after resolution 1769 was adopted, Khartoum is putting one obstacle after another to prevent the peacekeeping force from being deployed in Darfur to protect my people. Yet Natsios is faulting us the victims for the instability” he added.
Natsios, speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington last Friday, said that Al-Nur is “in discussion and maybe in alliance” with Mohamed Ali Hamiditi who is the leader of a Janjaweed group.
The US envoy said that Hamiditi despite being funded by Khartoum felt betrayed by the central government.
The influential rebel leader said that he will work with anyone “for the safety of his people”.
“It is my responsibility to do everything in my power to protect my people and stop the genocide. I do not need the permission of anyone to carry out this task. The international community has so far given us nothing but empty words and false promises” Al-Nur said.
Al-Nur said that Hamiditi has defected from the Sudanese government and is fighting against it.
“Contrary to what Natsios thinks, this is not a new phenomenon. We had many members of Arab militias join the ranks of the SLM as recent as April after they realized Khartoum manipulations. The defection of Hamiditi is the culmination of this trend” he added.
Natsios also accused Al-Nur’s forces of making physical threats against IDP’s who participate in the election process to choose their advisory council.
However the SLM leader categorically denied Natsios allegations.
“This is totally absurd and ridiculous to say the least. The SLM has democratic practices in place and we would never use force against our people. We defend the rights of the displaced and they elect their representative from the base to the leadership, all of whom are displaced elected by the displaced. If these were our tactics, our people would have rejected us outright from day one” Al-Nur said.
The US envoy said that despite Al-Nur being popular in IDP camps he has reasons to believe that his support is dwindling because “people are getting impatient”.
But the rebel leader scathingly dismissed Natsios claims.
“This is wishful thinking by Natsios. He can dream all he wants but the fact remains that the SLM enjoys support from the majority of Darfur refugees. The SLM is not about me but it is an embodiment of the principles my people are yearning for” he said.
Al-Nur called on Natsios to join hands with him to end the misery and tragedy of the Darfurian people.
“The people of Darfur are indebted to the US administration and the American people for the leading role they have played and the humanitarian assistance they provided. But Natsios has to understand that I will not sign a quick unworkable agreement. Security for our people is paramount to anything” he added.
Al-Nur has refused to participate in peace talks before the deployment of peacekeepers and achieving security on the ground.
His demands have caused deep frustration among diplomats and the Sudanese government who called on France to expel him.
Sam Ibok, advisor to the African Union Special Envoy for Darfur, speaking along with Natsios called on Al-Nur to return to Darfur instead of “living in the luxury home of Paris”.
Al-Nur said he “regretted” Ibok statements.
“Unfortunately brother Ibok is simply repeating Khartoum’s bland pronouncements. I will not sink to that level of talk with him.” Al-Nur said.
International experts estimate 200,000 people have died in the conflict, which Washington calls genocide, a term European governments are reluctant to use. The Sudan government says 9,000 people have been killed.