Daily Darfur: Rebels Reject Qatar, Clashes Continue (...in other words, more of the same)

Following the led of the Justice and Equality Movement, the Sudan Tribune reports that a faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement issued a statement today rejected the Qatari peace initiative, citing bias and Khartoum's unabated military campaign against Darfur:

“The escalation of military operations shows clearly their intention of pursuing the military options and not serious about reaching a peaceful solution” the SLM statement signed by its spokesperson Islam Al-Hajj.

The group also provided a list of conditions on who should lead mediation efforts:

"The statement said that any country offering mediation the Darfur conflict should not be one of Sudan’s neighbors; has military or security agreements with Khartoum; no economic investments in Sudan; enjoy democracy and human rights; be neutral in the Darfur conflict and not supportive of Khartoum.

"Furthermore the SLM said that the country must have provided aid to the Darfuris or one of the African governments that can easily be influenced by Khartoum."

(Not that the United Nations doesn't appear to be a considerations--the body should perhaps use this as an opportunity to reflect on why.)

The Tribune also reports on continued fighting between groups in South Darfur, resulting in between 70 and 150 deaths. (Quite a span!) The article states that the two groups, the Habaniya and Fallata, have on-going disputes over cattle and resources (common, in the regions increasingly harsh environment, and a root cause of the genocide), and that both are government-allied tribes. (Which just goes to show how complicated this conflict has become--it's not just one side against another.)

Of interest:

Nat Hentoff considers the possibility of an ICC arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, and asks:

"Is it possible that, like Robert Mugabe so far, Bashir will remain immune as the genocide and the raping go on and on.

"How deeply would you care?"

Annie Kate at the Life in Small Bites Environment Blog discusses a UN report on the genocide's detrimental impact on the environment in Darfur.

John at Darfur: An Unforgivable Hell on Earth tells us that the time to "reflect" has long past--it's time to act.