MAY 21 ABYEI TIDBITS

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000796 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, SE WILLIAMSON DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID KPKO SU SUBJECT: MAY 21 ABYEI TIDBITS REF: Yesterday's Abyei Cable Abyei Quiet, Kiir River Bridge Intact - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶1. (SBU) With the exception of sporadic, possibly random, firing, Abyei is reported to have been quiet for the previous 24 hours as of early May 24. Contrary to previous reports (reftel),according to the SPLA the bridge over the Kiir River remains intact, although supposedly two aerial bombs fell nearby on May 20. The Abyei Area Joint Military Commission (AJMC) was unable to meet because the SAF (a full colonel) reported that their representative had been killed in the May 20 fighting. SPLM Adopts Resolution on Abyei - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (U) On its closing day (May 21),the SPLM National Convention condemned the "atrocities" against and displacement of civilians and called upon the SPLM Political Bureau to take action via the following resolutions: O Called for charges of crimes against humanity to be leveled against the SAF 31st Brigade, O Reasserted that the JIU should be the only armed force in Abyei, O Condemned restrictions on UNMIS freedom of movement. O Called on IGAD and friends of IGAD to press the NCP to implement the ABC Report and Abyei Protocol generally, O Noted with "utter dismay" the failure to implement the Abyei Protocol and called for increased pressure on the NCP. President Kiir promised in his closing remarks to personally supervise the implementation of the resolution but he also expressed regret for the loss of life of SAF soldiers (killed in an SPLA attack although the obvious connection was not stated). AEC Meeting Rescheduled for May 25 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (SBU) The Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC) emergency meeting to discuss Abyei planned for May 22 in Juba was postponed at the last minute after the NCP announced that they were unable to send a representative because they anticipated a possible conflict with a meeting of the Ceasefire Political Commission or with the daylong NCP Consultative (Shura) Council meeting scheduled for May 22). The Shura Council will discussed the NCP's policies on Darfur, Chad and the confrontation over Abyei. The AEC meeting has been rescheduled for Sunday, May 25 in Khartoum. ¶4. (SBU) UN SRSG Ashraf Qazi told CDA Fernandez late on May 21 that the efforts of multiple players in the international community seem to have encouraged some self-restraint from both sides at the 11th hour but he is concerned that, absent a definitive compromise in the near future, further violence is guaranteed and "each time it becomes harder to return to the status quo." FERNANDEZ