SUDAN/DARFUR: August 3 CFC Meeting in El Fasher

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001858 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO PREF SOCI UN AU SU SUBJECT: SUDAN/DARFUR: August 3 CFC Meeting in El Fasher ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On August 3, the Darfur Ceasefire Commission (CFC) met in El Fasher, North Darfur. Para 2 presents the notes of the U.S. CFC representative. Noteworthy is the resumption of SLM/M participation and the CFC decision to launch an immediate investigation into the fighting in Jebel Moon and Kulkul, despite the strenuous objections of SAF representatives. The U.S. Observer to the CFC is pressing to keep the Jebel Moon and Kulkul reports on the front burner. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) The U.S. Observer's notes are as follows: The Monday CFC meeting was a bit more productive than the recent past. On a good note, the U.S. Observer to the CFC spent Monday morning with SLA (M) CFC reps Col Ali Mukhtar and Adam War, and convinced them to end the SLA (M) boycott of CFC meetings. They had boycotted CFC because of a lack of response from AMIS to letters SLA (M) had written, requesting various support. The meeting lasted a little over an hour, and was highlighted by a CFC decision to launch an immediate investigation into reports of fighting in Jebel Moon and Kulkul. The decision came over the very strenuous objections of the GoS reps. They attempted to block the CFC from taking a decision, citing the lack of standing of a written complaint from the JEM rep to the CFC on the violence. The FC countered with a statement that the complaint had been brought up by the AU and UN jointly (joint statement from AU/UN in Khartoum on the violence),and that the CFC would act based on the AU/UN complaint. GoS countered that the Sector Ceasefire Sub Commission (SCSC) could be the only party to investigate, and that international observers to the CFC could not travel to the sectors to investigate. I countered that the DPA, while not including international observers in the SCSCs, did not prohibit observers from the CFC in El Fasher from participating in investigations. GoS then threw out the oft-used "It is not safe to go there--we can't guarantee your safety" argument. The observers all pledged to the Chairman that they would travel together, anywhere, anytime in pursuit of an investigation, and that guarantees probably were never really possible in Darfur. In another development, the AU Observer, Navy Captain Waswa, asked the Chairman to re-think the issue of AMIS compliance with the GoS curfew in Darfur, stating that most illegal activities occur after curfew by parties who know that AMIS is not out patrolling. The Chairman stated that the curfew was not as big deal as it used to be, and that, with prior GoS permission, AMIS has been allowed to venture out after curfew. He offered examples of medical emergencies, FC attending "functions" after hours, etc. The AU and U.S. reps responded that the value of free access of AMIS, 24 hours a day, would serve a deterrent function and demonstrate AMIS will to operate across Darfur. No audible response from the Chairman to the comments from AU and U.S. reps. Last, the Chairman announced that an AMIS helicopter has been shot at on Tuesday morning, approx 26 km from Nyala, on its way to Sheiria. An employee of PAE (reported to be a Liberian national) was shot in the foot. Injuries were not life-threatening. At last report the employee had been transferred to Khartoum for treatment. The Chairman tasked the GoS and movement reps to find out who had done the shooting. The area in which the helo was operating is reported to be SLA(W)- controlled territory. The FC traveled to Addis Wednesday to attend the Joint Commission meeting on Thursday, 3 Aug. The next CFC meeting is scheduled for Monday, 7 Aug. in El Fasher. The U.S. Observer to the CFC is pressing to keep the Jebel Moon and Kulkul reports on the front burner at the CFC. There is support from the UN and AU observers on this -- the EU observer is in France on leave until 15 Aug. Any help from Khartoum, Addis, and Washington to keep this on the mind of AMIS leadership and AU leadership would be helpful. HUME