Press Release/Commentary by SDEMB posted on July 19, 2004 at 22:46:59: EST (-5 GMT)

PRESS RELEASE: REBELS IN DARFUR OPT FOR FIGHTING

Sudan Emabssy
Washington, D.C., 07:19:04

In a deliberate effort to prolong the suffering of civilians in Darfur, the so-called Justice and Equality Movement, a Darfuran rebel group, issued a joint communiqué from Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, with another armed group, calling itself the Free Lions, confirming its intention to continue fighting until they bring down the Government in Khartoum. The announcement coincided with the rebels walking out of the talks brokered by the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which led to the collapse of the negotiations which were aimed at tackling the political dimension of the conflict in Darfur. The negotiation session was attended by both European and American representatives.

Regrettably these armed groups are enjoying sympathetic coverage in the United States and Europe by placing the blame for the humanitarian situation on the Government of Sudan and militias it is alleged to support. This will only encourage the rebel groups to prolong the suffering of civilians of that region and doom all national and international efforts to rescue the lives of the elderly, women and children, inviting more killing and suffering. Politicization of the situation in Darfur and its use as a tool to destabilize the Government of Sudan must be considered the major factor of the humanitarian disaster there.

People of good will and genuine concern should live up to the real challenge and work hard to hold these rebel groups accountable for the disastrous situation in Darfur. Continuation of fighting would only mean more displacement, more disruption of humanitarian aid, and more death and misery.