Ceasefire Commission: Week of May 21

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000854 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO AU CD SU SUBJECT: Ceasefire Commission: Week of May 21 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Allegations of ceasefire violations appear to be on the up-swing in both Chambers of the Ceasefire Commission (CFC). The CFC Chairman formed a sub-committee to review the objectivity of the report on the April 1 killing of AMIS soldiers in Umm Barru. JEM described the Sudanese Government's refusal to allow Second Chamber representatives to redeploy to the sectors as a violation of the Ndjamena Ceasefire and threatened a withdrawal from the CFC. Despite the CFC Chairman's efforts to investigate potential violations, the Commission's effectiveness is limited by AMIS sector commanders' unwillingness to follow-through on investigations. End summary. -------------- First Chamber: May 21 -------------- ¶2. (U) After two meetings without a Sudanese Government representative, the US observer asked Major Nasr Taj al-Sir for clarification on reports of Government bombing in Deim Bishara. Major Nasr responded that it was a police drug eradication operation. Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)/Peace Wing representative Mustafa Adam Dawood demanded an investigation, and the Chairman tasked Sector 2 to report at the next meeting. The Sudanese Liberation Army/Minawi (SLA/M) representative remarked that there had also been reports of "wide-scale looting and killing" in the area around Shey Shaaban, and called for a prompt investigation and GOS intervention. Finally, the CFC Chairman Brigadier General Ephrem Rurangwa directed members to form a sub-committee to review the objectivity of the report of the investigation of the Um Barru incident on April 1. -------------- Second Chamber: May 21 -------------- ¶3. (SBU) SLA/Non-signatory Factions (SLA/NSF) representative Colonel Abdou A. Ismail demanded an investigation into two days of bombing in North Darfur by the Sudanese Government that began on May 19. The Chairman consented and ordered a team and a party representative to go to Sector 6 to verify the claim. Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) representative Gen. Mohammed Bashier said that there were several attacks by GOS in South Darfur. In an attack South of Geneina, he said eight were killed. In Manjura, Janjaweed with camels and vehicles were spotted. He said that there were indications in several areas that attacks were imminent, and he offered the locations to AMIS. -------------- Second Chamber: May 23 -------------- ¶4. (SBU) JEM representative General Bashier expressed his deep frustration with the fact that his men were not deployed to the sectors because it means they cannot monitor the ceasefire. He said that Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) First Commander Mohammed Mustafa Aldabi's written refusal to allow non-signatory representatives to redeploy to the sectors amounted to an abrogation of the Ndjamena Ceasefire agreement upon which the Second Chamber was based and said JEM and SLA/NSF would have to consider returning to the bush. He called on the international community to pressure the Government to allow redeployment. He promised to issue a statement jointly with other non-signatories within the next few days. (Comment: At many sectors, AMIS does not patrol areas without a movement representative, which inhibits monitoring of ceasefire violations. End Comment.) -------------- First Chamber: May 23 -------------- ¶5. (SBU) When Government representative Maj. Nasr thanked AMIS for its help delivering non-military logistical support (NMLS) on May 22, SLA/Minawi representative Ahmed Gardiya Khamlis said angrily that the delivery "had nothing to do with Abuja" because support should come from the AU, not from GOS. He said the matter merited no discussion as it did not occur under the framework of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). He accused the Sudanese Government of promoting itself to the CFC. The Chairman explained that in lieu of NMLS from the AU, which under the DPA should distribute NMLS only after disengagement, redeployment and verification, the Government's donation should stand as an attempt toward DPA implementation. -------------- KHARTOUM 00000854 002 OF 002 Comment -------------- ¶6. (SBU) While the CFC Chairman has shown a willingness to investigate potential ceasefire violations brought before the commission at Force Headquarters, his Sector Commanders do not follow through with investigations. Where representatives are not allowed to deploy by the Government, AMIS sends no patrols or investigations. For this reason, several movement representatives say they are eager to share details of attacks with the international community, which they hope will keep the pressure on the Sudanese Government and AMIS. End Comment. POWERS