Saturday, July 17, 2004
Rebels Walk Out Of Darfur Talks
The Justice and Equality movement (JEM), one of the primary groups rebelling against the authority of the Sudanese government in darfur, has abandoned peace talks with the Khartoum regime because of its failure to accept JEM demands.
Hopefully, this doesn't cast bad light on JEM or their cause. JEM was completely within its rights to walk out as their demands -- international inquiry into genocide, justice for those who committed atrocities, withdrawal of troops, disarmament of Janjaweed militia, release of POW's, easy passage of aid without harassment and an independent venue for future talks -- were completely within reason.
As far as I'm concerned, the Khartoum regime would have got off lightly had they accepted JEM's terms. As it stands, talk of intervention is gathering pace in DC and New York, suggesting that armed intervention is a greater possibility than it had been several weeks ago.
Hopefully, this doesn't cast bad light on JEM or their cause. JEM was completely within its rights to walk out as their demands -- international inquiry into genocide, justice for those who committed atrocities, withdrawal of troops, disarmament of Janjaweed militia, release of POW's, easy passage of aid without harassment and an independent venue for future talks -- were completely within reason.
As far as I'm concerned, the Khartoum regime would have got off lightly had they accepted JEM's terms. As it stands, talk of intervention is gathering pace in DC and New York, suggesting that armed intervention is a greater possibility than it had been several weeks ago.
