KALMA CAMP UPDATE, AUGUST 29

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001315 DEPT FOR AF/SPG SHORTLEY/SMALL, A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON NSC FOR BPITTMAN AND CHUDSON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: KALMA CAMP UPDATE, AUGUST 29 ¶1. (SBU) UNDSS Chief for South Darfur Abdalla Janakat provided additional details on the August 25 attack by GOS police forces on Kalma Camp. He told poloff in Nyala August 28 that 60 GoS vehicles surrounded the camp on the morning of the August 25 attack. He said IDPs likely had intelligence of GoS plans and had assembled in advance of the arrival of the police, reportedly armed with knives and sticks. Janakat said the GoS reported that an IDP shot from behind the line of women and children. He said this shooting, or an attack by the IDPs with primitive weapons may have elicited an emotional response from the GoS police and shooting broke out. Some IDPs reported to UNAMID that there may have been shooting between GoS police forces as some elements within the force reportedly turned on their fellow police officers. UNDSS also heard rumors of IDPs from other camps attempting to run to the defense of Kalma camp IDPs and being prevented from doing so at GoS checkpoints, however this has not been confirmed. ¶2. (SBU) UNAMID's Human Rights Officer and Acting Head of Office in South Darfur, Marcel Akpovo, told poloff and USAIDoff on August 28 that he personally does not subscribe to the "exchange of fire theory." He stated that IDPs may have fired isolated shots, but that it was nothing in comparison to the shooting by GoS forces. Akpovo stated that the GoS has prevented UNAMID representatives from accessing the hospital of the wounded. "This is ironic, because we facilitated the evacuation of these individuals and now we cannot see them," stated Akpovo. According to Akpovo, UNAMID force protection should be commended for providing the space for this evacuation, and it presents a good example of the humanitarian community (in this case MSF) working with the hybrid peacekeeping force. Akpovo also repeated the UNDSS story of one GoS policeman changing sides during the fighting. Akpovo emphasized that the GoS entry into the camp violates a number of different agreements including the DPA, which create demilitarized zones around IDP camps and prevented GoS forces from entering IDP camps without permission. Like other UNAMID officials, Akpovo stated that a permanent UNAMID police presence is needed in the camps. ¶3. (SBU) On August 29, SLM/MM leaders in South Darfur claimed to poloff that the Kalma camp "massacre" was planned by the GoS, including the Minister of Defense and Intelligence Chief, several weeks in advance. According to their latest information from "respected sources in the camp," 46 IDPs were killed and 110 others were injured. (The SLM MM leaders stated that, according to their sources, these are confirmed dead, as "14 women were buried in one grave, 16 children and elderly in another, and 16 men in another.") The General Secretary of SLM/MM in south Darfur, Omar Muhammad Ibrahim, said that the IDP camps are a continual reminder to the GoS of their "criminal behavior" in Darfur, which resulted in this massive displacement. According to Ibrahim, GoS entry into the camp is a direct violation of the DPA. Ibrahim and his colleagues repeated several times that "the top leadership in Khartoum" is involved in the attack. The head political secretary for SLM/MM in South Darfur, Dr. Issam Hama, told poloff that food security in Kalma is in jeopardy, as no INGOs except for MSF Holland and ICRC have been allowed in the camp for the last three days. SLM/MM leaders stated that Minnawi has no representatives in Kalma, as they were "ejected" and moved to Otash and Al-Salaam camp eight months after the signing of the DPA. These leaders predicted that this is only the first move by the GoS to "destroy the camps and get rid of the IDPS." GoS entered camp and IDPS approached police, possibly with knives or blunt weapons. ¶4. (SBU) Also on August 29, the South Darfur Minister of Agriculture (SPLM),Omer Abdel Rahman Adam, told poloff that he is awaiting First Vice President Salva Kiir's approval of his resignation. Adam said that although he has not/not resigned, he has "fed something to the press that he will resign." (Note: This conflicts with many press reports announcing that he has already resigned. End Note.) Adam stated that six NCP Ministers have already submitted their resignation to the S. Darfur Wali. The following members are: - Ibrahim Abdallah Muhamad, State Advisor - Salah Muhammad Al-Fadul, State Advisor - Fatima At-Tahir Kunjong, Commisioner in Presidency - Abd Raouf Muhammad Abdullah, Commisioner of East Jebel Marra - Muhammad Ahmed Basi, MP - Haroun Adam Abu Sada, MP ¶5. (SBU) Adam showed the written resignation letter of the NCP officials to poloff. A full text of the letter will be sent to AF/SPG, but states "events which have occurred since 2002, the last being in Kalma, have resulted in a great loss of innocent life." It KHARTOUM 00001315 002 OF 002 notes that as Fur government ministers, this "creates a shame on us, as we in the government are killing our people." It acknowledges the large gap that has been created between the GoS and the people of Darfur and states "for this reason it is not possible for us to stay in our positions." The letter ends asking the Wali to accept this letter of resignation. ¶6. (SBU) Adam stated that the governor will not accept this letter of resignation. Adam said that although he understands the officials' motives, he wishes that they would have done this in coordination with other political parties and ethnic groups. "This is just not a Fur issue or a personal issue, but something that requires coordination," said Adam. Adam noted that he is coordinating with political opposition parties and non-signatory groups and that several parties including Umma and DUP have indicated that they may withdraw their ministers. Adam said that if approved by Kiir, there will be a withdrawal of all SPLM ministers (and other opposition groups) in the state governments of South Darfur. Adam stated that he has been in communication with Abdul Wahid Nur, Abdul Shafie, and other non-signatory rebel leaders. Adam said that he has had a number of heated discussions with the Governor and Deputy Governor, and that the latter admonished him: "We know you will be meeting with a U.S. official, and we don't want you to tell him all that is going on." ¶7. (SBU) On August 29, USAID off met Worldvision officials who stated that a food distribution is scheduled for September 1. They said the status of food security in the camp is not known. ¶8. (SBU) Comment: The resignation of six state ministers, if it actually goes forward, represents a serious political statement against the regime. If additional ministers join them, this could become particularly embarrassing for Khartoum. Given the Darfur initiative agreement between the Umma and the NCP, however, it seems unlikely that any Umma ministers will resign, though emotions are obviously running very high in Nyala, and these ministers may ignore their party leadership. Seen in this light, the Kalma Camp attack has served to galvanize local feelings against the NCP regime, uniting Darfurians regardless of party affiliation. Post will be watching closely to see if NGOs and UNAMID are allowed continued access to Kalma Camp in the coming days. ASQUINO