FUR MP PESSIMISTIC ABOUT BASHIR'S PROMISES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001713 DEPT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON, AF/SPG, AF/C NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON 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: FUR MP PESSIMISTIC ABOUT BASHIR'S PROMISES ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On November 22, Abulgasim Seifeldin, an influential SPLM Member of Parliament from South Darfur, told CDA Fernandez that he is very pessimistic about the Sudan People's Initiative (SPI) and President Bashir's promises made at the closing ceremony of the SPI. Seifeldin also pleaded for more security for Darfuris, for the creation of one region for all of Darfur, and for the ICC to run its course with an indictment against President Bashir. Seifeldin strongly criticized the NCP's co-option of the Native Administration in Darfur, the GoS's inappropriate adoption of a traditional reconciliation methods (i.e. payments of blood money) and Qatari involvement in the peace process. END SUMMARY. SUDAN PEOPLE'S INITIATIVE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (SBU) Seifeldin, a member of the Fur tribe originally from Jebel Marra, opened by stating that the Government of Sudan (GoS) wasted valuable time focusing on the Sudan People's Initiative. (Note: Seifeldin is also the father-in-law of SLM rebel leader Abdul Wahid Al-Nur, an individual he publicly disagrees with politically and avoids discussing. End Note.) According to Seifeldin, the SPI excluded the real people of Darfur, but included janjaweed and those responsible for the Darfur conflict. "The presence of the janjaweed was an insult to Darfur's victims," stated Seifeldin. He dismissed the promises made in Bashir's closing speech, saying "the GoS has promised development projects many times before and nothing has come of it." CDA Fernandez agreed and said that the Sudanese government has always struggled to follow through on its many peace deals and implement its commitments. SECURITY FIRST - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (SBU) According to Seifeldin, Darfur has become more militarized in 2008, and "there is still more death coming to our region." Seifeldin asserted that UNAMID has not significantly improved security in Darfur. Many of UNAMID's troops arrive ill-prepared for their mission in Darfur and are often quickly bought off by the GoS, stated Seifeldin. Despite Seifeldin's criticism of UNAMID, he asserted that UNAMID should be responsible for all of Darfur's security. The GoS military presence around IDP camps scares the Darfuri civilian population, and "fear is the ultimate goal of this regime," stated Seifeldin. NATIVE ADMINISTRATION, BLOOD MONEY, AND ONE REGION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (SBU) Seifeldin said that the crisis in Darfur and the Government's actions in the region have totally destroyed the native administration of the region. According to Seifeldin, the National Congress Party has "totally co-opted" many of the tribal leaders and as a result "no one respects the tribal leadership anymore." Seifeldin said that Bashir's announced reparation or "blood-money" fund is inappropriate, as conflicting tribes used this traditional mechanism. "When one party is the government, it is inappropriate for me as a taxpayer to cover the Government's crimes - this won't solve the problem and is an insult to all the Sudanese," stated Seifeldin. He asserted that Darfur was once an autonomous region and, indeed an independent sultanate until 1916, and that the Sudanese government needs to respect the peoples' strong sense of unity and independence. The GoS fears that Darfur will eventually become independent, should it create one state for the region. However, preventing one region will only lead to a stronger desire for secession, stated Seifeldin. SKEPTICAL OF QATAR, BUT THANKFUL FOR U.S. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶5. (SBU) Seifeldin criticized the Arab League's involvement in the peace process saying, "the Arabs will always support Bashir, and Qatar will not be different." The Arabs have done "absolutely nothing" in Darfur, asserted Seifeldin and said that the GoS should take responsibility for its actions in Darfur rather than blame the conflict on environmental or tribal factors. Seifeldin also expressed concern over press reports that the U.K. and France would accept an Article 16 postponement of an indictment against Bashir, emphatically responding "thank God" when CDA Fernandez told Seifeldin the reports were entirely fabricated. Seifeldin ended the meeting by stating, "The people of Darfur know who has helped them through this very difficult period and we thank you. The United States will always be remembered for its good work in Darfur." COMMENT - - - - ¶6. (SBU) Although there was little in Seifeldin's presentation that we have not heard before, the intensity of his criticism was remarkable for an acting member of parliament sitting in Khartoum. Certainly, his criticism was not that different from the comments of his estranged son-in-law. Seifeldin's views are also quite KHARTOUM 00001713 002 OF 002 representative of many widespread opinions in Darfur. Despite the GoS's campaign against the ICC, many (if not most) Darfuris do support an indictment against Bashir. His other views on the need for one region, the GoS's deflection of responsibility, the NCP's co-opting of the native administration, and what he regards as the absurdity of blood money payments are also very prevalent throughout Darfur although there is a spectrum of views on these issues by people of good will throughout Sudan (for example, the subverting of Darfur's "native administration" long predates the NCP). FERNANDEZ