SPLA Withdrawing as Agreed

Khartoum25 July 2007 (Sudan Radio Service)

The governor of Blue Nile state has refuted claims by the Sudan Armed Forces that many SPLA troops remain in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan states.
Malik Agar Ayar, Blue Nile Governor and SPLM Northern Sector Deputy Secretary General, told journalists in Khartoum that most SPLA troops in Blue Nile and southern Kordofan were re-deployed out of those states before July 9th. He added that the only forces remaining in the two states are part of the Joint Integrated Units, or JIU’s.

[Malik Agar]: “What I know about the SPLA forces in Blue Nile is that there are no soldiers remaining in Blue Nile apart from the JIU forces, since the 9th of this month. We have evacuated any soldier that does not belong to the JIU from Blue Nile and it was witnessed by many people and even army generals from the general headquarters of the SAF. Teams from the United Nations were present there. Even as I am talking to you now, there is a team from the UN going to Blue Nile to check the troops. In Southern Kordofan the same thing happened. What we are saying is that re-deployment of SPLA troops has exceeded eighty percent.”

Mr. Agar said the re-deployment of troops was done according to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

However, the United Nations Mission in Sudan says that the SPLA has not completed its withdrawal from Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan. The UN’s Miraya Radio quotes the UN force commander, Lieutenant General Jasbir Lidder, as saying on Monday that the SPLA has started withdrawing its forces from the two regions, but some troops are still there.

General Lidder said that a UN monitoring team is in those regions to verify the current situation on the ground.

Sudan Armed Forces spokesperson Mohammed Al-Agbash stressed that the SAF will not redeploy its 3,600 troops from oil rich areas in Upper Nile state until the SPLA does the same.

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SPLM Commemorates Death of Dr. John Garang

July 30, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Under the slogan of "Two Years for Peace and Democratic Transformation", thousands of Sudanese marked the second anniversary of former SPLM leader John Garang’s tragic death in a helicopter crash, amid renewed calls to uphold the fragile peace deal he brokered.

Pagan Amum (left) and Malik Agar wave their hands to greet people attending the second anniversary of Garang Death, Khartoum, July 30, 2007 (SUNA).
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) commemorated Monday evening at Khartoum Stadium the second anniversary of death of Dr. John Garang, with participation of folklore groups from the different parts of the Sudan to reaffirm SPLM attachment for a united, and democratic Sudan in implementation of the ideas of Late First Vice President John Garang, the organizers said.
The event was attended by members of the SPLM, National Congress, political forces, political parties and a number of members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Sudan.
The commemoration ceremony was addressed by SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amom, who greeted the masses and called for implementation of the CPA for the sake of unity and stability.
Amum affirmed commitment of the SPLM to all provisions of the CPA. He also urged the withdrwal of the Sudan Armed Forces from the oil fields in Upper Nile and Unity States underscoring that security is well established in these regions.
The occasion was also addressed by the Deputy Secretary General of the SPLM Malik Aggar, who reviewed the stances of late Dr. Garang towards the process of peace, unity and justice equality for creating a new Sudan.
He pointed out that late Dr. John Garang had called for solution of Darfur problem, pointing out that the SPLM is endeavouring for realizing stability in Darfur.
The occasion was also addressed by representative of the National Congress Party Salah Mohamed Adam, who said the memory of late Dr. Garang will remain in the hearts of the Sudanese people, pointing out that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) will remain the candle that lights the way for overcoming difficulties.
He affirmed commitment of the National Congress to implementation of the CPA.
The state minister at the ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Anna Essito, hailed Garang’s concern for the equality between men and women and urged the implementation of his vision in this regard to create the New Sudan.
The meeting also was addressed by the Kenyan Ambassador and the US chargé d’affaires in Sudan.

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