MISSERIYA IN MUGLAD REJECT PCA DECISION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001389 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PBTS KDEM KPKO SOCI SU SUBJECT: MISSERIYA IN MUGLAD REJECT PCA DECISION REF: A) KHARTOUM 862 B) KHARTOUM 1344 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: In meetings with Poloff in Muglad on December 9 and 10, Misseriya from traditional leadership, civil society groups, and local NGOs universally expressed the view that the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling on Abyei (Ref A) was an unjust taking of their land. Members of these groups also universally condemned the border demarcation process as misguided and a barrier to peaceful co-existence. However, Dr. Rahama Azaz, recently-appointed locality commissioner for the area, predicted that the Misseriya will not fight for Abyei. These meetings with a relatively diverse and educated cross-section of Misseriya society limit the hope that the solution to Misseriya concerns about the PCA decision is an awareness campaign, since these individuals were focused not on access or grazing rights, but instead on land ownership. End Summary. -------------- -------------- Traditional Leaders: Ownership is Issue, Not Access -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In a meeting with Poloff in Muglad on December 10, traditional leaders echoed many of the same themes expressed to U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan General Scott Gration on November 19 (Ref. B). Each speaker repeatedly returned to the idea that the PCA decision is a misguided and unjust taking of Misseriya land, and that the parties to the arbitration did not represent Misseriya interests. In response to questioning, speakers acknowledged that the Government of National Unity (GNU) is their government and represents them, except with respect to the Abyei issue. They also stated that the only peaceful way forward is for the decision to be appealed or set aside and a new arrangement made with involvement of Misseriya and Ngok Dinka traditional leadership. ¶3. (SBU) Leaders in this meeting made it abundantly clear that their concern regarding Abyei is ownership of the land, not access or grazing rights. (Note: The PCA decision guarantees Misseriya people secondary rights to Abyei.) Speakers noted that the Misseriya wish for peaceful co-existence with the Dinka, but will fight to keep their land. In response to the idea that the Abyei referendum in January, 2011 will actually decide whether Abyei district becomes part of northern or southern Sudan, leaders rejected a referendum on the status of Abyei. ¶4. (SBU) Traditional leaders focused on border demarcation as the crux of the issue, stating that any form of demarcation is a barrier to peaceful co-existence and will be resisted. Furthermore, these leaders expressed the view that other issues, such as development of the region, are of secondary importance, or simply impossible, without first addressing this issue. For instance, when asked whether there are plans to hold an overdue annual migration conference with Ngok Dinka traditional leadership, Misseriya leaders rejected the idea, and said that the Misseriya cannot look to the future without first solving the demarcation problem. -------------- -------------- Local NGOs - "This is the Opinion of All Misseriya" -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) On December 9, leaders of local NGOs in Muglad, including Elghoni, Angato, Setab, Zamzam, and Shahad, told Poloff that local Misseriya believe that the PCA decision took their land, and that a fence will be built north of Abyei. Local NGO leaders added that they themselves share this belief, stating "this is the opinion of all Misseriya." When asked whether people in the local community know the content of the PCA decision, these leaders said this is the responsibility of the government, as the decision is a political issue, and that there has not been a dissemination campaign. They added that the PCA decision was one reached on behalf of the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM),and therefore does not concern the Misseriya. ¶6. (SBU) NGO leaders stated that it is their goal to build peace and confidence in Misseriya areas, but that these efforts have been damaged by the PCA decision and border demarcation, and any demarcation of the boundary will prevent a durable peace between Misseriya and Ngok Dinka. When asked whether there were plans to hold a peace conference between Misseriya and Ngok Dinka traditional leaders, these NGO leaders expressed support for the idea, but said that to create the foundation for such a conference, the PCA decision must first be suspended or dissolved. -------------- --- Civil Society: Boundary Will Create More Conflict -------------- -------------- KHARTOUM 00001389 002 OF 002 ¶7. (SBU) Civil society leaders from Muglad's youth group and women's union told Poloff that a boundary between Misseriya and Dinka will create more conflict and hinder civil society efforts to foster peaceful co-existence. They repeated many of the same themes stated by traditional and NGO leaders regarding the PCA decision and border demarcation. Women's leaders added that there is a lack of security near the proposed Abyei boundary, claiming that people are being killed in the area and prevented from crossing into the Abyei district. (Note: Poloff has not received any information corroborating killings in Abyei or that Misseriya have been prevented from entering the Abyei district. Poloff did note numerous checkpoints manned by Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and militia forces affiliated with SAF on the road entering and leaving the Abyei district. Mark Rutgers, UN Coordinator for Abyei, reported a gunfight in Unity State on November 26 in which three migrating Misseriya and two Sudan People's Liberation Army soldiers were killed. End Note.) Women's leaders suggested that a peace conference between women from Abyei and Muglad may be helpful at reducing tensions, but stated that currently they do not have the resources for such an event. -------------- Abyei Commissioner: Misseriya Will Not Fight -------------- ¶8. (SBU) On December 10, Poloff met with Dr. Rahama Azaz (NCP), recently-appointed commissioner for Abyei Locality. (Note: Abyei Locality is in the western sector of Southern Kordofan State, and includes Muglad and land north of the northern boundary of the Abyei Special Administrative District. However, it does not include the Abyei Special Administrative District. Azaz is from the Misseriya tribe. End Note.) When asked, Azaz stated that the Misseriya will not fight to block the PCA decision and Abyei referendum, but acknowledged that some Misseriya have joined the Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebel movement (Note: Although JEM frequently boasts of widespread support in Kordofan, any connection between JEM and Misseriya tribal leaders is most likely ideological. End note.) Azaz stated that the Misseriya want development in Muglad, and noted that while coordination with local and international NGOs has been good, the area has many unaddressed needs. Azaz said, however, that what he most wants from the international community is for the UN's disarmament, demobilization and reintegration program to come to his locality, as the amount of weapons in the area is creating insecurity. Azaz stated that dissemination of the PCA decision is not taking place and that it should be the responsibility of the federal government. ¶9. (SBU) Comment: Views expressed in these meetings with a relatively diverse and educated cross-section of Misseriya society debunk the notion that the solution to Misseriya concerns about the PCA decision lies solely in a comprehensive awareness campaign. Misseriya leaders were focused on ownership of the land, not the secondary right of access promised by the PCA. Speakers made a number of references to the situation of the Palestinians, and passions in the community are clearly high. There was no evidence that representatives of these various groups had coordinated their responses in advance, but the same views were repeatedly expressed, often without prompting, and in relation to questions on seemingly unrelated topics. Azaz's statement that the Misseriya will not fight is hopeful, although it may have been politically-motivated. End comment. WHITEHEAD