Anti-International Intervention Campaign

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000606

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI US AU SU
SUBJECT: Anti-International Intervention Campaign
Continues

REF: A) Khartoum 00590, B) Khartoum 00571, C) Khartoum
00548, D) Khartoum 00500, E) Khartoum 00467, F) Khartoum
00447


1. (SBU) Summary: Sudan continues its campaign against
U.N. intervention in Darfur, with a steady stream of
protests and actions taken by the press, government, and
public to reject the introduction of international forces
to replace those of the African Union. End summary.

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Protests of March 7 and 8: Internat'l Interference Cited
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2. (SBU) During the March 8 protest (Ref A),protesters
rallied against UN intervention in Sudan, delivering a
letter to the UNDP office. On March 7 (Ref B),a handout
from protesters claiming to represent the Muslim Brothers
student sector of Nilein University cited a number of
anti-Islam concerns, and stated that the group rejects
"American demands that call for foreign intervention that
will take us back to the era of darkness and humiliation"
(unofficial Embassy translation). Demonstrators
reportedly also called on UN Special Representative Jan
Pronk to leave Sudan.

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President Bashir Sends Messages to African Presidents
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3. (U) According to the Sudan News Agency (SUNA),on
March 7, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Al-Samani Al-
Wasila departed for South Africa, Lesotho, Tanzania,
Kenya, and Mozambique. The purpose of his trip is to
convey a message from President Bashir appealing for
African support for the continuation of African Union
forces in Darfur.

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VP Taha To Explain Rejection of UN Troops in Brussels
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4. (U) Pro-government Sudan Vision stated that Vice
President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha had departed for
Brussels for EU meetings in order to "explain Sudan's
view on the rejection of deployment of UN forces in
Darfur or replacement of the AU forces stationed in the
region by the UN."

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Council of States Debates Issue
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5. (SBU) In an extraordinary session held on the evening
of March 6, the Council of States, a national legislative
body composed of two members from each of Sudan's 25
states, met explicitly to discuss international
intervention in Darfur. Also no proclamation ensued, and
12 SPLM members argued in favor of UN intervention, the
majority appeared to favor rejection of UN re-hatting.

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People's Commission for Defense of Faith/Homeland Warns
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6. (U) At a press forum at the Sudan News Agency on March
6, the People's Commission for the Defense of Faith and
Homeland warned that any international forces in Darfur
would "face a fierce resistance by all categories of the
Sudanese people." The Commission also warned the African
Union peace and Security Council not to transition its
forces in Darfur to international peacekeepers.
Commission Chairman Hussein Suleiman Abu-Salih stated
that the Sudanese people rejected UNSC Resolutions 1590,
1591, and 1593, which he said were unjust and posed an
attempt to "undermine Sudan's sovereignty." Chair of the
Sudanese Women's Union Raja Hassan Khalifa warned of the
repeat of "the same atrocities which happened in Iraq,"
and called on the negotiating parties in Abuja to "speed
up the process to reach a quick peace agreement, which
will prevent Sudan and Darfur from intervention of
international forces."

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Acting FM Receives UNSP Pronk
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7. (U) According to the Sudan News Agency, Acting
Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Karti met on March 6

KHARTOUM 00000606 002 OF 002


with UN Special Representative Jan Pronk. Karti stated
that the efforts being exerted by "foreign powers" were
having a "negative impact on the peace process in
Darfur," and sent "negative signals to the Darfur rebel
movements, pushing them to adopt yet more intransigent
stands during the peace talks." Pronk maintained that
the UN seeks peace in Darfur, and is independent. He
noted that efforts should concentrate on supporting the
peace negotiations and halting security violations in
Darfur.

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Darfurian Opinions Aired
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8. (U) The Pro-government Sudan Vision also published an
article, "International Forces in Darfur: A Blessing or
a Curse?," which cited a series of individuals as stating
international intervention in Darfur would involve: "open
interference in our internal affairs," "a breach of
national sovereignty," a "threat against national
security," "some hidden agenda," "an American plan to
impose hegemony," a plan to allow "access to Sudan's
wealth and resources," and "a threat to the "country's
unity" and its "social fabric."

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