Sudan: Darfur Factions Condemn AU Base Attack, Demand International Probe

Excerpt from report by Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV on 30 September

“Ten African Union [AU] soldiers were killed and more than 50 others were missing following an attack on their base in Haskanita in Darfur. The Sudanese Army and rebel groups traded accusations over responsibility for the attack. The United Nations condemned the incident, whereas the AU threatened to punsih the perpetrators.”

At 2005 gmt, Al-Jazirah carries a live satellite interview from London with Yahya Bulad, official spokesman for the Sudan Liberaton Movement – Abd-al-Wahid Muhammad Nur wing.

Commenting on the AU base attack, Bulad says: “We at the Sudan Liberaton Movement, led by Abd-al-Wahid Nur, are fully committed to the ceasefire agreement we signed in Chad in 2004 with the ruling regime in Sudan. We deeply condemen the killing of the AU soldiers in the area of Haskanita. The so-called Sudan Liberation Movement – the Unity Wing, which is affiliated with Minni Minnawi [senior assistant to the Sudanese president] who is now present at the presidential palace, is fully responsible for the crime that was committed in Haskanita. The international community must take the necessary measures regarding this movement.”

He notes that military attacks similar to the attack on the AU base always take place prior to negotitations on peace in Sudan, adding that “there is a need for the presence of the international forces in the Darfur region, especially from the United States, the NATO, Australia, and other countries because the AU has failed to provide security for the civilians in the Darfur Region.”

Following this, Al-Jazeera carries another satellite interview from Cairo with Ahmad Husayn Adam, spokesman for the Justice and Equality Movement in Darfur. [Passage omitted]

Asked about the ramifications of the attack on the AU base, Adam begins by extending his condolences and those of the movement to the families of the dead soldiers. He adds:”We at the Justice and Equality Movement strongly condemn this criminal attack as it violates all laws and international norms. We demand that an international investigation be launched into this incident to identify and punish the criminals.”

He argues that “this incident serves the interests of those parties that do not want peace in Darfur and those who seek to terrorize and intimdate the international forces that will arrive over the next few weeks in Darfur to protect its people.”

He stresses that the attack will not undermine efforts exerted by the international community or weaken the free will of the Sudanese people to reach a just and comprehensive peace in Darfur.

Asked if he accuses a certain party of carrying out this attack, Adam says:”Preliminary invesitgation indicates that the heinous crime was carried out by some pro-government militias. These are the only party that will benefit from this criminal incident.” He reiterats his call for launching an international investigation into the attack so as to determine and punish the real perpetrators.

Originally published by Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, in Arabic 2001 30 Sep 07.

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