DARFUR: DSRSG DEFENSIVE ON LIGHT PACKAGE, CRITICAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000018

SIPDIS

AIDAC
SIPDIS

STATE FOR A/S FRAZER, AF/SE NATSIOS, IO A/S SILVERBERG,
AF/SPG, AF/RSA, AND PRM
STATE PLS PASS USAID/W
USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP
NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
NAIROBI FOR SFO
NSC FOR PITTMAN, PMARCHAM, MMAGAN, AND TSHORTLEY
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
USUN FOR TMALY
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2027
TAGS: EAID PREF PHUM SOCI PGOV PREL SU UN
SUBJECT: DARFUR: DSRSG DEFENSIVE ON LIGHT PACKAGE, CRITICAL
OF MINAWI

REF: A. A. KHARTOUM 0017


B. B. KHARTOUM 2892

C. C. KHARTOUM 2914

Classified By: CDA Cameron Hume, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: During a January 5 meeting between Charge
d'Affairs Hume and Deputy Special Representative of the
Secretary General (DSRSG) for the United Nations (UN) in

SIPDIS
Sudan Manuel Aranda d'Silva, the two discussed the CDA's
recent visit to UN Light Package elements in El Fasher (ref
A),the humanitarian environment in Gereida (ref B),and
addressed recent allegations of sexual abuse by UN
peacekeepers in South Sudan. DSRSG defended the rapid
initial deployment of portions of the Light Package as a
success and expressed frustration at the decaying
humanitarian operating environment. The situation has
prompted the UN to prepare a strongly-worded press statement,
scheduled for release on Tuesday, January 9. While
acknowledging some degree of validity for previous
occurrences of sexual abuse in South Sudan, DSRSG indicated
that the UN has been addressing the issue since January 2006.
He views the article,s publication as opportunistic and a
potential political attack upon the new UN Secretary General.
End summary.


2. (C) As reported in Ref A, CDA expressed disappointment
with the quality of UN personnel in the Light Package in El
Fasher. DSRSG responded that the UN staffed the initial
deployment by cannibalizing UNMIS and UN staff from the
existing mission. Additional personnel from outside of Sudan
and resources for the Light Package are not yet available.
Moving the Light Package to Darfur represented the fastest
deployment ever conducted by the UN. Admitting that
accommodation for the initial contingent was a problem, DSRSG
expressed confidence that housing for 134 people would be
completed by the third week of January. Due to security
concerns the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called 2
Norwegians contributed to the Light Package and instructed
them to remain in Khartoum. (Note: All other personnel
contributed to date were deployed. End note.) The
international community needs to test and see if the
Government of Sudan's (GOS) acceptance of UN support to the
African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) is a short term game or
reflects an actual change in policy. Progress on the Heavy
Package should continue.


3. (C) DSRSG met with Minni Minawi on January 2 to discuss
the decaying humanitarian environment in ostensibly SLA-MM
controlled portions of South Darfur. Minawi does not control
SLA commanders in Gereida and needs support both to maintain
and re-establish effective influence. Minawi told DSRSG, "my
people in Gereida are lying to me," and did not deny that SLA
carried out the December raid on NGO compounds.
Non-governmental organizations (NGO) have sufficient
resources in place to continue operations in Gereida for
approximately three weeks. After that point the humanitarian
system will start to break down. Maintenance and operation
of the water system for the approximately 128,000 inhabitants
and humanitarian protection remain of particular concern. The
current security environment does not permit humanitarians to
function. DSRSG asked if Minawi could control security in
Gereida and requested placement in Nyala of a high level
military liaison for the humanitarian community. If Minawi
can guarantee security, the humanitarian community would
return. If not, the UN might request AMIS to control the
area as a neutral zone.


4. (C) The decaying humanitarian environment has prompted the
UN to prepare a press statement, scheduled for release on
Tuesday, January 9. DSRSG indicated that NGOs will issue a
letter the same day supporting the UN statement.
Characterizing the security situation to date as fragile yet
stable, now it is partially collapsing.


5. (C) DSRSG acknowledged some problems with UN personnel
involved in sexual abuse in South Sudan, but indicated that
many of the allegations in the article were false. Research

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on the article was completed one year ago and the release on
January 3 was timed with the swearing in of the new UNSYG.
The UN has been taken steps to deal with the problem,
including restricting movements of Bangladeshi troops to
their barracks after dusk, and stressed that this was not "a
Congo situation." DSRSG was pleased wit the SPLM reaction to
the article.


6. (C) Comment: On the margins of the January 29-30 AU
Summit in Addis Ababa, UNSYG Ban is scheduled to meet with
President Bashir. Ban should be prepared to frame
effectively the situation regarding the deployment of the
Light Package, and speak about the urgent need to improve
security for humanitarian organizations on the ground.
Otherwise, President Bashir gets a free ride in his first
meeting with the new Secretary General. End comment.
HUME