Displaced condemn Um Jaras Forum as ‘Darfur burns’
The population of the Central and South Darfur camps have denounced the outcomes of the Second Um Jaras Forum. The Forum convened in eastern Chad from 26-30 March. The displaced accuse the Sudanese government of carrying out the policy of “starve your dog, and it’ll follow you”. “The outputs of the Forum do not represent the displaced as they were not part of it, nor consulted,“ the coordinator of the South Darfur camps, Yagoub Mohamed Abdallah, told Radio Dabanga. “On the contrary, the Um Jaras Forum represents a danger to the displaced.” He expressed his concern that the Forum’s outcomes may lead to further abuses, murders, rapes, displacement, and starvation. “Darfur is already burning like a wildfire. Seven out of ten children have become orphans.” “The Second Um Jaras Forum was attended by the traditional elites, who are the cause of the ongoing crisis in Darfur,” the coordinator of the Central Darfur camps explained to Radio Dabanga. He stressed that the Forum, or any other initiative, will not be able to resolve the problem, as the Khartoum regime is carrying out the policy of “starve your dog, and it’ll follow you”. “The solution lies in the demise of the regime and the stoppage of war.” He demanded from the UN and the Security Council to implement all the resolutions on Darfur, and to expedite the arrest of President Al Bashir “so that the weak and oppressed in Darfur will find relief”. “If Al Bashir and all the perpetrators of crimes against humanity in Darfur have a conscience, and a real sense of nationalism, they should submit themselves to the International Criminal Court.” Turning point The Governor of West Darfur State, Haidar Galokuma, has defended the Forum by saying that it represents a turning point for Darfur. “The recommendations suggest that the Forum will contribute significantly to the solution of the Darfur issue,” he told the press on Tuesday. The Governor explained that the Forum brought together the views of feuding tribes, and provided the opportunity to consult the various segments of Darfur. “Besides, the participation of tribal leaders and other leaders of Darfur, as well as the attendance of the Sudan and Chad Presidents, can reinforce the pressure on some parties, and on the armed movements.” File photo: A house set on fire in Darfur (archive Radio Dabanga) Related:‘Displacement policy in Darfur leads to demands for self-rule’: rebel leader (1 April 2014) Um Jaras recommendations: ‘Disarm all but regular forces in Darfur’ (31 March 2014) ‘Problem in Darfur is mobilisation and arming of tribes’: Um Jaras Forum (30 March 2014) Al Bashir, Deby in Um Jaras a ‘show’: Darfur rebels (28 March 2014)More than 1,000 Darfuri displaced attend Kalma conference (1 January 2014)
The population of the Central and South Darfur camps have denounced the outcomes of the Second Um Jaras Forum. The Forum convened in eastern Chad from 26-30 March. The displaced accuse the Sudanese government of carrying out the policy of “starve your dog, and it’ll follow you”.
“The outputs of the Forum do not represent the displaced as they were not part of it, nor consulted,“ the coordinator of the South Darfur camps, Yagoub Mohamed Abdallah, told Radio Dabanga. “On the contrary, the Um Jaras Forum represents a danger to the displaced.”
He expressed his concern that the Forum’s outcomes may lead to further abuses, murders, rapes, displacement, and starvation. “Darfur is already burning like a wildfire. Seven out of ten children have become orphans.”
“The Second Um Jaras Forum was attended by the traditional elites, who are the cause of the ongoing crisis in Darfur,” the coordinator of the Central Darfur camps explained to Radio Dabanga. He stressed that the Forum, or any other initiative, will not be able to resolve the problem, as the Khartoum regime is carrying out the policy of “starve your dog, and it’ll follow you”. “The solution lies in the demise of the regime and the stoppage of war.”
He demanded from the UN and the Security Council to implement all the resolutions on Darfur, and to expedite the arrest of President Al Bashir “so that the weak and oppressed in Darfur will find relief”. “If Al Bashir and all the perpetrators of crimes against humanity in Darfur have a conscience, and a real sense of nationalism, they should submit themselves to the International Criminal Court.”
Turning point
The Governor of West Darfur State, Haidar Galokuma, has defended the Forum by saying that it represents a turning point for Darfur. “The recommendations suggest that the Forum will contribute significantly to the solution of the Darfur issue,” he told the press on Tuesday.
The Governor explained that the Forum brought together the views of feuding tribes, and provided the opportunity to consult the various segments of Darfur. “Besides, the participation of tribal leaders and other leaders of Darfur, as well as the attendance of the Sudan and Chad Presidents, can reinforce the pressure on some parties, and on the armed movements.”
File photo: A house set on fire in Darfur (archive Radio Dabanga)
Related:
‘Displacement policy in Darfur leads to demands for self-rule’: rebel leader (1 April 2014)
Um Jaras recommendations: ‘Disarm all but regular forces in Darfur’ (31 March 2014)
‘Problem in Darfur is mobilisation and arming of tribes’: Um Jaras Forum (30 March 2014)
Al Bashir, Deby in Um Jaras a ‘show’: Darfur rebels (28 March 2014)
More than 1,000 Darfuri displaced attend Kalma conference (1 January 2014)
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