Cablegate: Fur Shura Council Meeting with Cda
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OO RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1365/01 2510938
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 070938Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1841
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001365
DEPT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON, AF/SPG, DRL
NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL PHUM KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU
SUBJECT: FUR SHURA COUNCIL MEETING WITH CDA
REF: A) KHARTOUM 1334
B) KHARTOUM 1333
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On September 4, leaders of the Fur Shura Council
(FSC) told CDA Fernandez that they are suspicious of any NCP-led
investigation into the Kalma camp attack. CDA Fernandez expressed
his condolences for those killed in the Kalma camp attack, while FSC
representatives emphasized the need for unity among Darfur's many
ethnic groups, political parties, and rebel movements. SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) The following members of the Fur Shura Council (FSC)
visited CDA Fernandez at the U.S. Embassy on September 4:
- Dr. Idris Yousif, General Secretary of the FSC, Fur
- Mr. Amin Mahmud, Deputy S.G., Fur
- Dr. Nasreldin Abdul Bari, Fur
- Mr. Gaffar Ibrahim, Dajo
- Mr. Tageldin Sideiq, Birgid
- Mr. Ibrahim M. Adam, Tunjur
(Note: The FSC includes some representatives of some tribes that
have been historically very close to the Fur such as the Tunjur,
Birgid and Dajo. End Note) Many of Sudan's larger tribes have these
"consultative" or Shura Councils to provide a voice for the tribe in
the capital and press their views. The Fur Shura Council has
generally been close to the views of SLM leader Abdul Wahid Nur,
although not in lock-step with him.
3. (SBU) CDA Fernandez opened offering his sympathy and condolences
for those killed in the August 25 attack on the Kalma internally
displaced persons (IDP) camp. Most of the victims came from the Fur,
Darfur's largest tribe, who have borne the brunt of regime attacks
over the past five years in the region named after them. The CDA
described the attack as a "crime" and "massacre" and that he
unequivocally used these terms with GoS officials the week of August
31. The U.S. is looking for swift and public accountability for the
Kalma attack.
4. (SBU) General Secretary of the Fur Shura Council, Idris Yousif
thanked the CDA for the opportunity to visit the U.S. Embassy and
said the Government of Sudan bears total responsibility for the
attack. "This confirms what has been said about genocide,"
emphasized Yousif. He said that they believe that the Wali of South
Darfur and ICC indictee and State Minister of Humanitarian Affairs
Ahmed Haroun were actually in the vicinity of Kalma as the attack
was taking place, which discounts the theory that Khartoum was not
involved in the local operation. Yousif said that the time for empty
words and vague plans has ended and real action is needed by the
GoS. He said that civil society leaders need to help inform rebel
movements and bring them together. Yousif stated that there have
been several successful civil society meetings in Dar Es Salaam,
Khartoum, and Heidelberg, and that more of this civil society work
is needed, especially "another independent meeting free of
government interference in Darfur."
5. (SBU) Deputy Secretary General Amin Mahmud stated that although
the GoS has formed an investigation committee into the Kalma
massacre, he has little faith that it will bring justice to South
Darfur. Mahmud emphasized that the head of the investigation
committee, Babiker Abd Al-Latif, was the chief lawyer who
successfully prosecuted ten Fur individuals for the murder of
"Al-Wifaq" Editor in Chief Muhammad Taha. Mahmud emphasized that
despite being mired with irregularities and distrust, the trial
ended in the death sentences of this large group of Fur. (NOTE:
Latif is also the lead prosecutor for the ongoing murder case of
John Granville and Abd Al-Rahman Abbas. END NOTE.) Mahmud also
stated that another individual named to this committee is Adam
Jamaa', the former mayor of Nyala, an individual allegedly known for
his abuse and hatred of the Fur. Mahmud noted that Jamaa' is likely
one of the rumored 51 potential indictees for the International
Criminal Court.
6. (SBU) The Bergid representative, Mr. Tageldin Sideiq emphasized
that the Kalma camp incident has the potential to change the dynamic
in Darfur. He emphasized that there is growing agreement between
rebel movement and civil society, but that the GoS continues to try
to divide both groups. According to Sideig, the Fur and Bergid have
good relations, and incidents such as this will only strengthen
their relationship. Sideig also stated that without Ocampo's
request for an ICC indictment, Sudan would never have appointed a
special prosecutor devoted to Darfur. (NOTE: On August 5 The
Ministry of Justice Abdel-Basit Sabdarat appointed Nimr Ibrahim
Mohamed as the Darfur prosecutor with three assistants; Kamal
Mahjoub Ahmed, Al-Hadi Mahjoub Makkawi and Mamoun Mekki Hamid. END
NOTE.) Nasr Al-Din Abd Al-Bari alleged that NCP leaders planned the
KHARTOUM 00001365 002 OF 002
camp invasion as part of a conference in Khartoum on August 20 where
NCP leaders discussed breaking up IDP camps. Al-Bari also stated
that the resettlement of Arab tribes from West Africa onto lands
inhabited by the Dajo, Fur, and Bergid is a significant problem that
must be addressed.
7. (SBU) Gafaar Ibrahim, a Dajo representative on the Fur council,
emphasized that any solution for Darfur must come from the people.
He said that tribal reconciliation will require creative solutions
and an environment that encourages self-criticism and
self-reflection. Fur leader Al-Bari noted that the GoS looks at the
ongoing presence of IDPs as a reminder of their own crimes.
8. (SBU) All the members asked that the United States and other P-5
members at the UNSC not sacrifice the cause of justice in Darfur in
exchange for some, probably illusory, concessions for Darfur. CDA
responded that the United States is against impunity, has not
decided how it will vote at the UNSC on an ICC deferral, but is
looking to see real, tangible changes on the ground from the
Sudanese Government, not more "political theater." He added that the
U.S. has no intention of "trafficking in the misery of the people of
Darfur" for short-term game. Kalma was a setback in what is already
a difficult relationship.
9. (SBU) The CDA then inquired about the current relationship
between Darfur's Arab and African tribes. According to General
Secretary Yousif, there has been a "big change" in the Arabs.
Following inter-Arab fighting Arab leaders have realized that the
GoS has deceived, manipulated, and exploited their tribes. Yousif
emphasized that Darfur's Arabs are not a monolithic group as "there
are good Arabs and bad Arabs in Darfur." Yousif stated that
following the widespread arming of the Arab tribes, Darfur needs a
major disarmament program as "weapons are all over the place."
10. COMMENT: The Fur leaders repeatedly offered profuse thanks to
the CDA for the opportunity to be heard following the traumatic
events of Kalma. Their suspicions of Khartoum-led investigations
into Kalma and Darfur are justifiable, and signal that in order for
the investigation to be credible, it must be swift, transparent and
decisive in order to have credibility with a broad representation of
tribes and political parties.
FERNANDEZ