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English edition -4th quarter 1997
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A chance for peace
| Two months ago we spoke about the missed opportunity for a meeting
between Messrs. Bechir and Garang in Pretoria under the aegis of Nelson
Mandela, President of the South African Republic. This incensed Washington
which accused the Khartoum regime of trying to gain time by fostering any
kind of peace initiatives instead of keeping to those of the "IGAD" which
have been on the cards for more than three years.
As a result of this, Messrs. Bechir and Garang decided to meet in Nairobi on the 30 of october to take on board the « IGAD's declaration of principles", which - should we need to remind our readers - means the setting-up of a civil and democratic government for the whole of the Sudan, or otherwise a breaking-away from the South. The Northern opposition was not invited to the meeting. In fact, at the time of the first "IGAD" meetings, the North did not exist as a military force as such. The fact that today it occupies quite a large area in the East of Sudan doesn't make any difference. However, John Garang is the ally of this opposition which lies at the heart of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He certainly will not miss the opportunity to express the opinions of the NDA in Nairobi and, no doubt, will defend them during the negociations with Bechir. John Garang is personally not a partisan of a secession with the South. He has always declared his attachment to a pluralist and civil government for the whole of the Sudan. This is also the wish of the northern opposition which sees this as a chance to come back to power. This is a major preoccupation of Egypt which does not want to see a divided Sudan, which would increase the nomber of interested parties to be satisfied at the "Conference on the Nile waters". Cairo, which until recently was very wary about Garang (a Christian African, a revolutionary and possible secessionist) finally understood that it is necessary to hear him out and invited him to discussions before the 30 october meeting with Bechir. On the Human Rights side, the October edition of the "Sudan Democratic Gazette" states that Mr Gaspar Biro, during his recent visit to the Sudan, was particularly concerned by the welfare of hundreds of boys and girls, taken from the Jonglei region and transferred to Khartoum where they were indoctrinated and reduced in slavery. The girls became concubines and the boys were either sent to military camps or became non-paid domestics. Several newspapers report an attempt to rig the Bar election (Ordre des Avocats) by the National Islamic Front (NIF) - the core of its strength - in its favour at the beginning of september. Two "thugs" were caught in the act of ballot stuffing. In the face of this scandal, the elections were adjourned indefinitely by the authorities and, in the meantime, the former management with "NIF" tendencies was kept in power. Because of the rainy season, military operations slowed down. The S.P.L.A. maintains its blocus around Juba et Wau. In the Nuba Mountains, two garnison towns - Kakoa and Refigi - were retaken by the rebels while the regime continued to bomb and machine-gun the civil population by helicopter. The opposition claims to have consolidated its position near to Kassala in the Gash region as well as close to the Roseires barrage. The regime expressed its concern that the Khartoum-Port Sudan route would be cut-off which would "create a dangerous instability and would be in the interest of no-one". However, John Garang is expecting another government offensive but affirms that opposition is ready to fight on all fronts. This offensive could be supported by Chinese arms financed by Malaysia, arms which could be delivered to the regime in the near-future - and some of them may already be in its possession. |
| (V.G. october 1997) Fomalhaut |