VZCZCXRO1803
OO RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1315/01 2421426
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 291426Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1755
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001315
DEPT FOR AF/SPG SHORTLEY/SMALL, A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON
NSC FOR BPITTMAN AND CHUDSON
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU
SUBJECT: KALMA CAMP UPDATE, AUGUST 29
1. (SBU) UNDSS Chief for South Darfur Abdalla Janakat provided
additional details on the August 25 attack by GOS police forces on
Kalma Camp. He told poloff in Nyala August 28 that 60 GoS vehicles
surrounded the camp on the morning of the August 25 attack. He said
IDPs likely had intelligence of GoS plans and had assembled in
advance of the arrival of the police, reportedly armed with knives
and sticks. Janakat said the GoS reported that an IDP shot from
behind the line of women and children. He said this shooting, or an
attack by the IDPs with primitive weapons may have elicited an
emotional response from the GoS police and shooting broke out. Some
IDPs reported to UNAMID that there may have been shooting between
GoS police forces as some elements within the force reportedly
turned on their fellow police officers. UNDSS also heard rumors of
IDPs from other camps attempting to run to the defense of Kalma camp
IDPs and being prevented from doing so at GoS checkpoints, however
this has not been confirmed.
2. (SBU) UNAMID's Human Rights Officer and Acting Head of Office
in South Darfur, Marcel Akpovo, told poloff and USAIDoff on August
28 that he personally does not subscribe to the "exchange of fire
theory." He stated that IDPs may have fired isolated shots, but
that it was nothing in comparison to the shooting by GoS forces.
Akpovo stated that the GoS has prevented UNAMID representatives from
accessing the hospital of the wounded. "This is ironic, because we
facilitated the evacuation of these individuals and now we cannot
see them," stated Akpovo. According to Akpovo, UNAMID force
protection should be commended for providing the space for this
evacuation, and it presents a good example of the humanitarian
community (in this case MSF) working with the hybrid peacekeeping
force. Akpovo also repeated the UNDSS story of one GoS policeman
changing sides during the fighting. Akpovo emphasized that the GoS
entry into the camp violates a number of different agreements
including the DPA, which create demilitarized zones around IDP camps
and prevented GoS forces from entering IDP camps without permission.
Like other UNAMID officials, Akpovo stated that a permanent UNAMID
police presence is needed in the camps.
3. (SBU) On August 29, SLM/MM leaders in South Darfur claimed to
poloff that the Kalma camp "massacre" was planned by the GoS,
including the Minister of Defense and Intelligence Chief, several
weeks in advance. According to their latest information from
"respected sources in the camp," 46 IDPs were killed and 110 others
were injured. (The SLM MM leaders stated that, according to their
sources, these are confirmed dead, as "14 women were buried in one
grave, 16 children and elderly in another, and 16 men in another.")
The General Secretary of SLM/MM in south Darfur, Omar Muhammad
Ibrahim, said that the IDP camps are a continual reminder to the GoS
of their "criminal behavior" in Darfur, which resulted in this
massive displacement. According to Ibrahim, GoS entry into the camp
is a direct violation of the DPA. Ibrahim and his colleagues
repeated several times that "the top leadership in Khartoum" is
involved in the attack. The head political secretary for SLM/MM in
South Darfur, Dr. Issam Hama, told poloff that food security in
Kalma is in jeopardy, as no INGOs except for MSF Holland and ICRC
have been allowed in the camp for the last three days. SLM/MM
leaders stated that Minnawi has no representatives in Kalma, as they
were "ejected" and moved to Otash and Al-Salaam camp eight months
after the signing of the DPA. These leaders predicted that this is
only the first move by the GoS to "destroy the camps and get rid of
the IDPS."
GoS entered camp and IDPS approached police, possibly with knives or
blunt weapons.
4. (SBU) Also on August 29, the South Darfur Minister of
Agriculture (SPLM), Omer Abdel Rahman Adam, told poloff that he is
awaiting First Vice President Salva Kiir's approval of his
resignation. Adam said that although he has not/not resigned, he has
"fed something to the press that he will resign." (Note: This
conflicts with many press reports announcing that he has already
resigned. End Note.) Adam stated that six NCP Ministers have
already submitted their resignation to the S. Darfur Wali. The
following members are:
- Ibrahim Abdallah Muhamad, State Advisor
- Salah Muhammad Al-Fadul, State Advisor
- Fatima At-Tahir Kunjong, Commisioner in Presidency
- Abd Raouf Muhammad Abdullah, Commisioner of East Jebel Marra
- Muhammad Ahmed Basi, MP
- Haroun Adam Abu Sada, MP
5. (SBU) Adam showed the written resignation letter of the NCP
officials to poloff. A full text of the letter will be sent to
AF/SPG, but states "events which have occurred since 2002, the last
being in Kalma, have resulted in a great loss of innocent life." It
KHARTOUM 00001315 002 OF 002
notes that as Fur government ministers, this "creates a shame on us,
as we in the government are killing our people." It acknowledges
the large gap that has been created between the GoS and the people
of Darfur and states "for this reason it is not possible for us to
stay in our positions." The letter ends asking the Wali to accept
this letter of resignation.
6. (SBU) Adam stated that the governor will not accept this letter
of resignation. Adam said that although he understands the
officials' motives, he wishes that they would have done this in
coordination with other political parties and ethnic groups. "This
is just not a Fur issue or a personal issue, but something that
requires coordination," said Adam. Adam noted that he is
coordinating with political opposition parties and non-signatory
groups and that several parties including Umma and DUP have
indicated that they may withdraw their ministers. Adam said that if
approved by Kiir, there will be a withdrawal of all SPLM ministers
(and other opposition groups) in the state governments of South
Darfur. Adam stated that he has been in communication with Abdul
Wahid Nur, Abdul Shafie, and other non-signatory rebel leaders.
Adam said that he has had a number of heated discussions with the
Governor and Deputy Governor, and that the latter admonished him:
"We know you will be meeting with a U.S. official, and we don't want
you to tell him all that is going on."
7. (SBU) On August 29, USAID off met Worldvision officials who
stated that a food distribution is scheduled for September 1. They
said the status of food security in the camp is not known.
8. (SBU) Comment: The resignation of six state ministers, if it
actually goes forward, represents a serious political statement
against the regime. If additional ministers join them, this could
become particularly embarrassing for Khartoum. Given the Darfur
initiative agreement between the Umma and the NCP, however, it seems
unlikely that any Umma ministers will resign, though emotions are
obviously running very high in Nyala, and these ministers may ignore
their party leadership. Seen in this light, the Kalma Camp attack
has served to galvanize local feelings against the NCP regime,
uniting Darfurians regardless of party affiliation. Post will be
watching closely to see if NGOs and UNAMID are allowed continued
access to Kalma Camp in the coming days.
ASQUINO