CAIRO-BASED ARAB DARFUR REBEL GROUP SENDS LETTER

UNCLAS CAIRO 002711 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO MASS EG SU SUBJECT: CAIRO-BASED ARAB DARFUR REBEL GROUP SENDS LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH Sensitive but unclassified, please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Democratic Popular Front (DPF),a mostly Arab Darfur group with representation in Cairo, recently gave an Arabic-language letter to pol LES for delivery to President Bush, requesting U.S. support for the DPF to fulfill its "responsibilities" in the coming phase of the peace process in Darfur. The letter proposes building a "strategic relationship" between the DPF and the U.S. Specifically, the DPF requests financial support, opening a DPF media bureau in Washington to "direct public opinion," U.S.-based professional training for DPF members, "military support," and infrastructure and humanitarian assistance in Darfur. Complete translated text of the letter is in paragraph 3. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On August 20, Pol LES met Cairo-based DPF President Siddique Ander and DPF Secretary General Osama Mohamed El Hassan to discuss Sudanese refugees and expatriates in Egypt. Ander and El Hassan claim the DPF represents the interests of "Arab tribes" in Darfur (nfi),and passed pol LES a letter for President Bush during an August 20 meeting. (Note: The DPF is part of the United Revolutionary Forces Front, an umbrella group purporting to represent the interests of marginalized Arabs in Darfur. End note.) We have little other information on this group in addition to an August 13 Reuters story, which reported that the Democratic Popular Front Army kidnapped 12 Sudanese soldiers in Darfur in an attempt to force the Sudanese government to cease using militias to counter Darfur rebels, and which quoted El Hassan. ¶3. (U) Begin text of translated letter to President Bush: To His Highness President George Bush President of the United States of America Through His Excellency the Ambassador of the United States of America Greetings The Democratic Popular Front appreciates your efforts to establish security and peace in Darfur. The great people of Sudan in general, and the people of Darfur in particular, will not forget your positions in support of humanity, the weak, and those demanding freedom and dignity. Complementary to your great efforts and to prepare us to bear the responsibility in the coming phase, we would like to propose to Your Highness some demands for which we hope we find some appreciation and response. First: Build a strategic relationship based on cooperation, respect, and shared economic, political, and social interests. Second: Financial support to facilitate work and improve performance. Third: Media support represented by opening a Democratic Popular Front bureau in Washington and a local radio station and satellite channel that can direct public opinion. Fourth: Qualifying our cadres to increase their ability to negotiate, and open opportunities for professional training, university education, and post-graduate studies for our members in your country supportive of human development. Fifth: Military support represented by a number of equipped ambulances, qualifying and training military cadres in different specializations, and a number of 2 (sic) helicopters. Sixth: Establishing roads connecting Darfur with Central Africa, Chad, Libya, and South Sudan. Seventh: Implementing a program for development, based on constructing villages, digging drinking water wells, and building specialized hospitals, schools, internal roads, and electricity. Many thanks, Engineer Siddique Mohamed Abdel Rahman Ander Date: 20-08-2007 President of the Democratic Popular Front End text of letter. RICCIARDONE