MULET BRIEFS COUNCIL ON ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000100

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO UNSC SU
SUBJECT: MULET BRIEFS COUNCIL ON ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN
DARFUR

REF: USUN 000555


1. (SBU) Summary: As requested by the United States, A/SYG
Mulet briefed the Security Council on February 3 for the
second time in less than a week on escalating violence in
Darfur. Mulet reported that JEM forces had withdrawn from the
vicinity of Muhajeriya, scene of much of the recent violence,
but that the Government of Sudan had nevertheless asked
UNAMID to remove its personnel from the area. He said that
UNAMID was determined not to evacuate, especially because
thousands of local residents needed mission protection, and
that SYG Ban had personally engaged Sudanese President Bashir
on the issue. UK Perm Rep Sawers indicated that his
delegation would circulate a draft PRST for the Council's
consideration. The U.S., France, Mexico, Burkina Faso,
Austria, Croatia, Costa Rica, Uganda, and Turkey expressed
support for a PRST. Russian Perm Rep Churkin stated that the
PRST must send a strong signal to rebel groups. Libya
maintained that the Council should consider an Article 16
resolution for deferral of the ICC decision. End Summary.

Twenty-Eight Bombings in One Morning
--------------


2. (SBU) UN Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping
Operations, Edmond Mulet, briefed the Security Council on
February 3 on recent fighting around Muhajeriya. Mulet said
that within the last twenty-four hours, Government of Sudan
(GOS) forces dropped twenty-eight bombs in the Muhajeriya
area. He said that two thousand civilians seeking UN
protection remain huddled around UNAMID facilities in the
area. He confirmed UNAMID reports that the Justice and
Equality Movement (JEM) had withdrawn its forces 50 to 60
kilometers away from Muhajeriya and declared its willingness
to withdraw completely if the area were pronounced a UN
demilitarized zone. He said the GOS rejected this offer in a
press release. Mulet also noted that UNAMID had been
prevented on February 3 by GOS forces from traveling to
Muhajeriya, and underscored the GOS obligation to honor its
Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) guaranteeing UNAMID
unrestricted freedom of movement throughout Darfur.


3. (SBU) Mulet detailed the GOS request for UNAMID personnel
to leave Muhajeriya, noting that when the Deputy Wali of
South Darfur met with the UNAMID head of office, he asked
UNAMID to relocate personnel from Muhajeriya, saying this was
necessary to "prevent any unnecessary loss of life . . .
similar to Haskanita." Mulet said that the UN also received
two letters, one from the Deputy Wali and one from the senior
GOS liaison with UNAMID requesting that UNAMID personnel
relocate because the GOS could not guarantee their safety.
Mulet indicated that despite the GOS request, UNAMID elected
to stay in Muhajeriya. Mulet confirmed that
Secretary-General Ban met with President Bashir on the
margins of the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis and urged
the GOS to exercise restraint and guarantee the safety of UN
personnel. Additionally, the UNAMID Joint Special
Representative, Rodolphe Adada, met with officials in
Khartoum, while AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator Djbrill Bassole
met with JEM members. Adada and Bassole will travel to Chad
for further discussions with JEM leadership.

U.S: GOS Must Stop Bombing
--------------


4. (SBU) Ambassador Rice said that the GOS refusal to cease
all military action, given confirmation that JEM had
withdrawn from Muhajeriya, was disturbing, as were GOS
restrictions on UNAMID's freedom of movement. She expressed
U.S. support for UNAMID's decision to remain in Muhajeriya
and commended SYG Ban's diplomatic efforts to reduce tension.
She warned members to watch for indications that the recent
GOS actions were a prelude to much more aggressive action in
the area even though JEM had pulled back. She urged the
Council to speak with one voice and to call for a ceasefire
and an end to the GOS bombing campaign in a PRST. She also
asked Mulet for confirmation of whether the GOS had used
white airplanes in its bombing campaign, in contravention of
its recent pledge in the tripartite process between the UN,
AU and GOS.

Like-minded Members Weigh In
--------------


5. (SBU) The UK argued that, in the face of mounting
tensions, the Council must act. Therefore, the UK indicated
it would circulate a draft PRST for Council consideration.
The U.S., France, Mexico, Burkina Faso, Austria, Croatia,
Costa Rica, Uganda, and Turkey indicated their support for a
PRST. France and Croatia called on all parties to suspend

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military actions and comply with humanitarian obligations.
Austria expressed concern for internally displaced persons
and commended UNAMID for remaining in Muhajeriya. Burkina
Faso noted that the upcoming meeting in Chad between Bassole
and JEM leaders is encouraging and characterized JEM military
action as linked to the ICC issue. Costa Rica, in response
to other member states reference to the ICC, argued that it
was not appropriate to mention the ICC in a PRST on the
current violence and reiterated that parties must meet their
ICC obligations.

. . . And So Do Others
--------------


6. (SBU) Libya said that no sovereign government would allow
a rebel movement to control part of its territory. Libya
urged the Council to adopt decisive measures -- including
sanctions -- against JEM. Libya argued that as long as the
Council fails to act against rebels, violence will continue.
Libya also argued that JEM activities had damaged the
relationship between Chad and Sudan and undermined Libya's
work in facilitating renewed diplomatic relations between the
countries. Libya reiterated that efforts to pass an Article
16 resolution deferring ICC action against President Bashir
must continue.


7. (SBU) China joined Libya in asserting that the GOS was
within its rights to combat actions jeopardizing peace.
China said that an ICC decision against Bashir would
jeopardize peace and the Council must ensure the political
process is not impeded. China charged that JEM has "great
ambitions," and called on the Council and individual Council
members to exert pressure on JEM. Russia claimed that the
primary flaw in Council discussions on Darfur has been the
failure to address rebel groups. Russia noted that rebels
refuse to negotiate or accept ceasefires, and the Security
Council does not seem to be able to address this because it
has no real channel to them. Russia expressed hope that the
draft PRST would send a strong signal to rebel groups.
Vietnam said that the Council's priority should be urging JEM
to cease its provocation. Vietnam observed that the GOS is a
recognized state and UN member, while JEM is an illegal
group.

Mulet Responds to Questions
--------------


8. (SBU) In response to Ambassador Rice's question about the
GOS use of white aircraft, Mulet noted that the GOS had
denied it but the UN would investigate this further. Mulet
also noted that the conversation SYG Ban had with Bashir
would be detailed in the upcoming UNAMID SYG report. Mulet
also said that, although JEM had withdrawn, the situation is
fluid; rebels move quickly and could be back in Muhajariya
within two hours. Mulet closed by noting that, so long as
UNAMID's movement is restricted (in violation of the SOFA),
UNAMID cannot accurately report the situation on the ground
in Darfur.
Rice