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Sudan: SPLM official on ‘Roadmap’ for Solving Darfur Crisis, ICC Issue | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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London, Asharq Al-Awsat – A leading official in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement [SPLM] led by First Sudanese Vice President Silva Kiir has disclosed aspects of the roadmap which his movement presented for solving the Darfur issue and overcoming the quandary caused by the International Criminal Court [ICC] whose prosecutor demanded the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of committing war crimes in the troubled western province.

The source said the roadmap calls for internal trials of elements involved in war crimes in Darfur supervised by international observers and steps for starting peace negotiations with the armed movements. It referred to the bilateral committee formed by the two ruling parties in Sudan for drawing up a structural framework and timetable for President Omar al-Bashir’s people of Sudan initiative for solving the Darfur crisis.

The official, a prominent SPLM leader who preferred to remain unnamed, told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the roadmap calls for uniting the movements which did not sign the Abuja agreement for Darfur peace, entering into direct negotiations for achieving a fair and comprehensive peace in the province that does not exclude any party, and holding internal trials under international supervision of those who prove to have committed war crimes in Darfur.” He referred to President Al-Bashir’s “people of Sudan’s initiative” and said it does not differ from the SPLM’s roadmap and added that the “peaceful and just solution of the Darfur issue is part of the solution for the crisis with the ICC in The Hague.”

It noted that the SPLM and its partner the National Congress formed a bilateral committee to draw up a structural framework and timetable for action on the people of Sudan initiative, but expected its implementation at the end of the year. He said the initiative” could make a breakthrough in solving the Darfur crisis since Al-Bashir and his party are working seriously to end it.” He added that the Abuja peace agreement remains incomplete and needs to be completed by implementing the demands of the Darfur people and putting an end to the war in the province. He said: “No one opposes achievement of justice against everyone who committed a crime against the people in the province.” He pointed out the possibility of the international support for the Sudanese initiative “if it felt the government and all the other parties were taking serious steps.”