Posted on 06/20/2004 9:23:43 PM PDT by nuconvert
Sudanese President Orders Disarmament of Militia in Embattled Darfur Region
The Associated Press
Jun 20, 2004
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) - Sudan's president, under international pressure to end killings of civilians in the western Darfur region, said the armed forces will disarm the Arab militias blamed for what the United Nations has called a humanitarian crisis. President Omar said in a statement Saturday said he was ordering a "complete mobilization" of all Sudanese army and security forces to disarm all Darfur's warring parties, including the janjaweed - nomadic Arab militia that the government has been accused of supporting.
Fighting between Arab militias and the black African population has killed thousands of people and forced more than 1 million to flee their homes. International rights groups say the government has backed the Arab militia in an ethnic cleansing campaign against the African villagers.
The government has strongly denied the accusations, saying the conflict was a result of tribal conflicts over land and water resources.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Thursday the Sudanese government is responsible for safeguarding civilians in Darfur.
That day, the Security Council adopted a resolution giving the United Nations a green light to start planning for a peacekeeping mission in southern Sudan, though their mission could be expanded to Darfur. The resolution also called for an immediate halt to fighting in Darfur.
Annan said he plans to visit Sudan "sometime soon," but he did not confirm a report in the country's al-Anbaa daily newspaper that he will travel to Darfur for a firsthand assessment of the situation.
U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland has called Darfur the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today.
Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Mohammed Taha, in a visit to Darfur, said the government will let the army restore order.
The plan includes setting up prosecution offices and courts "to hold trials for the looting armed gangs and criminals," el-Bashir's declaration said.
Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail said the presidential declaration is in line with U.N. calls to protect civilians.
The government and two main rebel groups signed a cease-fire agreement in April, but both sides have since exchanged accusations that the other is violating the truce.
Over the last week, the government accused the rebels of moving to areas abandoned by government forces, including Kurma and Shingul Tubay in North Darfur.
It's about frickin' time.
"...Darfur the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today"
And the mainstream media has all but ignored it.
WONDERS NEVER CEASE!!!! Is CNN reporting this?? ((((crickets))))
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