JEM REPRESENTATIVES ARRESTED IN EL FASHER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000005 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, S/CRS, SE WILLAMSON DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU SU UNSC CD SUBJECT: JEM REPRESENTATIVES ARRESTED IN EL FASHER REF: KHARTOUM 2031 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On December 30 Government of Sudan (GoS) security forces surrounded a house full of Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) members in El Fasher and arrested six JEM members, including the JEM Ceasefire Commission (CFC) representative GEN Mohammed Basher Mohammed. The United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Chief of Staff (COS) described the JEM arrest incident as symptomatic of potential crackdowns to come by the GoS against non-signatory movements. As a precaution against any JEM retaliation aimed at UNAMID, the COS increased force protection for the AMIS/UNAMID troops. The CFC issued a statement condemning the arrest as well as recent fighting along the border (see para 7). END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Late on the night of December 29, Government of Sudan (GoS) security forces surrounded the house in El Fasher where several Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Ceasefire Commission (CFC) representatives reside. After surrounding the house, GoS forces demanded that the three AU Gambian soldiers assigned to protect the JEM representatives leave the house. Via telephone, African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) officials attempted to mediate a resolution to the situation. They achieved the safe departure of the three Gambian soldiers from the house, but could not deter the GoS security forces from entering the house and arresting the JEM reps. The GoS forces arrested six individuals, including General Basher, the chief JEM representative to the CFC. Observers reported that others arrested included Lt. Colonel Hickma Ibrahim, the recently-arrived JEM Humanitarian Coordinator. ¶3. (SBU) The AMIS Deputy Force Commander D/FC told FieldOff on December 30 that GoS CFC representative Colonel Mohammed told him that the JEM members were arrested for their involvement in military operations against the GoS, specifically in El Geneina, Kulbus and Silea. Further, he said the GoS had "credible information" that this group had been involved in coordinating these incidents from El Fasher. The D/FC told fieldoff that he had requested that Colonel Mohammad turn the arrested JEM reps over to AMIS, which would transport them to El Geneina if necessary. The DFC said that Colonel Mohammed agreed to consider this suggestion. ¶4. (SBU) JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim told FieldOff on December 30 that he had received reports of torture of the detainees and that JEM had therefore issued a statement warning the GoS against the use of torture. Khalil said JEM was angry that AMIS had not done more to protect General Basher and the other JEM members, but made no threats of retaliatory actions toward AMIS. ¶5. (SBU) On December 31, AMIS Deputy Force Commander told FieldOff that GoS military intelligence officials told him the GoS would release General Basher and other JEM members under certain conditions, including that they leave El Fasher. The Deputy Force Commander said he preferred that the GoS release the JEM reps into AU custody - at least until a JEM CFC replacement representative can be identified. The D/FC was optimistic that they will be released, although he noted that GoS assurances under similar circumstances in the past had turned out to be false. Separately, UNAMID's DOA told Fieldoff that he was also asking the GoS to release the JEM representatives. ¶6. (U) On December 31, the Chairman of the Ceasefire Commission released a press statement expressing concern at the arrest of the JEM Representative to the Ceasefire Commission. The statement also expressed concern about the fighting in Silea: Begin Text: The Chairman of the Ceasefire Commission (CFC) notes with great concern the arrest of the JEM representative to the CFC, Major General Bashir and five other JEM members in the early morning hours of 30 December 2007 in El Fasher. Despite the relentless efforts of AMIS leadership to prevent the arrest, Government authorities stormed the premise housing the JEM representative at 03.00. The Chairman has been in contact with both JEM and the Government of Sudan to de-escalate the tensions and ensure the safe release of the JEM representatives. The Chairman also deeply regrets the resumption of hostilities between Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Government forces in northern Western Darfur. On 29 December, JEM launched an attack on Government positions in Silea, north of El Geneina. The Chairman condemns this attack and in particular JEM's publicly stated insistence on using force to address the conflict in Darfur. The actions taken by the Government of Sudan in El Fasher and JEM's attack on Silea are in violation of the N'Djamena Ceasefire Agreement of 2004 and jeopardize the ongoing efforts to rejuvenate the peace talks in Sirte. The Chairman calls on all parties to use restraint and renew their commitment to a viable ceasefire. KHARTOUM 00000005 002 OF 002 End Text. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: JEM representative General Basher was well-known among AMIS personnel for his work on the CFC. As a result, his arrest came as a shock to many. The arrests should be viewed in the context of heavy fighting between JEM and FAS and GoS-backed forces (including Chadian rebels) in the area. There is no indication that JEM will retaliate against AMIS or UNAMID for not doing more to prevent the arrests, and neither the AU nor the UN has changed its threat level in El-Fasher. POWERS