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'Sudan Govt Not Party to Crimes in West'

The Monitor (Kampala)
OPINION
June 18, 2004
Posted to the web June 18, 2004

By Mohammed Eisa Ismail Dahab
Kampala
In reference to the editorial of The Monitor of May 11titled "Sudan Peace Great
But Darfur Worries", allow me to share with you my convictions and support
regarding the positive and constructive impact of the peaceful solution of the
Sudan civil war on the situation in northern Uganda.
I also highly commend efforts exerted recently by both Sudan and Uganda to
counter and eventually end the LRA insurgency. However it is to be stated that
most of the information contained in the aforementioned article relating to
Darfur was incorrect. Regretfully most of the statements and phrases
highlighted were utterly biased and strikingly misleading.
It was completely baseless to talk about ethnic cleansing in Darfur region or
any other allegations as opposed, to the mere fact of a problem in Darfur which
is mainly labelled and characterised by many credible circles as a humanitarian
crisis escalated by rivalries between different tribes and groups in the vast
and somewhat arid parts of Darfur in search of adequate land, water and
pastures.
Furthermore, some outside interferences and as a reflection of the hidden
agenda especially of the former American administration in which it was
designed to destabilise Sudan and topple its regime by the aid of some of its
neighbours has mainly contributed to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
That was apparently one of the causes behind the insurgency that erupted in
western region of Sudan last year, and which shamelessly invited and encouraged
hungry mouths from certain sick and ill-intentioned circles here and there.
However, some reports have failed to recognise some of the causes behind the
conflict which were mainly derived from the past external economic pressures
against the Sudan which entailed evelopmental deficiencies in Darfur and
elsewhere.
The Sudanese government has spared no effort to cater for the humanitarian
crisis in Darfur region and has indulged in diplomatic and political endeavours
to end the insurgency in Darfur with the aid of neighbouring Chad and its
President Idris Deby.
Many rounds of talks aiming at settling the ensuing conflict were pursued and
with the eventual outcome of reaching in N'djamena, Chad last month, a
comprehensive ceasefire pact to end the fighting of rebel groups in Darfur and
to seek a settlement of other political issues that tend to fuel the crisis.
And now Sudan has hope that the whole issue of the insurgency and the
humanitarian aspects associated with it will be appropriately dealt with in
that region.
It is to be noted that the report presented by the Executive Director of the
World Food Programme, James Morris and the acting UN Commissioner for Human
Rights Bertrand Ramcharan, stated that the rebels were the first party which
instigated the crisis in Darfur.
As to the alleged ethnic cleansing, it is to be clearly stated that it is not
in the culture or norms of Sudan to conduct such practices.
That is why Sudan has, without any reluctance, permitted United Nations fact-
finding missions to freely visit the areas to verify its position.
It is to be stated too that access was granted to various human rights groups
and save havens are granted to NGO's and other United Nations organisations
without hindrance with the aim of reaching the needy displaced persons in
different parts of Darfur region.
The African Union also sent a monitoring team to the region. Most importantly
it is to be recalled that the President of the Republic of the Sudan had
recently issued a presidential decree establishing a neutral high-level fact
finding committee composed of different Sudanese personalities from different
political groups to verify any accusations relating to alleged atrocities or
malpractices against the civilians in the region and all affected areas.
On the other hand, it was hoped that the Ugandan responsible media especially
the independent Monitor, shall strive to reflect the correct facts from
reliable and unbiased sources and base their information on concrete facts
collected by impartial circles and distance themselves from irresponsible
provocations and fabricated reporting.
Mr Dahab is Charge D'Affairs, Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan, Kampala.

   

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