Military

DATE=4/04/02

TYPE=Dateline

NUMBER=7-36139

TITLE=Push for Peace in Sudan

BYLINE=Judith Latham

TELEPHONE=202-619-3464

DATELINE=Washington

EDITOR=Neal Lavon

CONTENT=

INTRO: Sudanese rebel leader John Garang [gah-RANG] recently held talks with U-S officials and members of Congress. They are part of an intensified Western effort to end the civil war that has raged in Sudan since 1983. Both the Sudanese government and the rebels have expressed hope that the peace process can move forward, although they differ on how the United States might be involved. Today's Dateline explores the "Push toward Peace in Sudan." Here's Judith Latham.

JL: Former chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa Howard Wolpe (WOHL-pee) points out that the Sudanese war is one of the "longest running" wars in the world. Two million people have died from fighting and war-related famine since 1983. Mr. Wolpe was part of a forum on the search for peace in Sudan hosted by the Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington [3/25]. The former congressman, who was presidential envoy to Africa's Great Lakes region, says analysts usually reduce it to a struggle between the Arab Muslim north and the largely Christian and animist, non-Arabic-speaking African south. This, he believes, is an over-simplification.

TAPE: CUT #1: VOLPE [FM LATHAM] 0:35

"The Sudanese war is also one of the most complex of the world's conflicts. Religion, oil, race, ethnicity, and ideology have all played a role in fueling the Sudanese war. And it has made difficult the creation of a sustainable peace process acceptable to all of the key parties. (OPT) The challenge for the international community and for the United States is to help the Sudanese construct a viable peace process. (END OPT) Many observers believe that a confluence of factors the events of 9/11, oil-related economic issues, and the military situation on the ground may have produced a window of opportunity to galvanize a sustainable peace initiative."

JL: For the past two decades, former Sudanese Army colonel John Garang, a founding member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and Army, has been a key figure in Sudanese politics. He is a southerner from the Dinka ethnic group. He recently visited Britain, Norway, the European Union in Brussels, and the United States, where he says he has been delivering a "consistent message."

TAPE: CUT #2: GARANG [FM LATHAM] 1:20

"One, we have been saying that the government in Khartoum, the Nationalist Islamic Front government, the N-I-F government, has not changed, cannot change, and will not change. Despite the cooperation with the United States with respect to international terrorism, they still are engaged in domestic and regional terrorism. (OPT) And the three forms of terrorism domestic, regional, and international are one and the same. (END OPT) They are cooperating because of the fear, after September 11th, that they might be treated like the Taleban and be hit. The second message is that there is an alternative to the N-I-F regime. And this is the National Democratic Alliance, which brings us together with the northern Sudanese opposition that does not subscribe to Islamic fundamentalism. The third message is that we are nevertheless willing to negotiate with the government. (OPT) We are committed to the IGAD peace process and the efforts of the United States and other countries. (END OPT) The fourth message is that there is a window of opportunity with respect to what we call "peace through development." We are grateful to U-S-AID for assistance. They have committed $42 million over the next five years for agricultural and educational development."

JL: Rebel leader John Garang describes the current Sudanese model of governance under an "Islamic Arab state" as "untenable."

TAPE: CUT #3: GARANG [FM LATHAM] 0:36

"We envision a Sudan of democracy and respect for human rights, and liberties, where any citizen can aspire to any position in the state, irrespective of race, religion, and gender. (OPT) We call this the "new Sudan model." We've been trying to achieve this model over the past nine years in the IGAD peace talks. (END OPT) The stumbling block has been the issue of religion and the state, or Shari'a [Islamic law code]. We are not for abolishing Shari'a, but we're saying that Shari'a should belong to the personal domain. (OPT) We believe that there must be an interim government that represents all the political forces in the country." (END OPT)

JL: John Garang, commander-in-chief of the Sudanese People's Liberation Army, holds an American doctorate in economics. Sudanese scholar Francis Deng [DUNG], the author of 20 books, currently serves as the U-N Secretary-General's Special Representative for Internally Displaced Persons. Dr. Deng is a Christian from a border area in northern Sudan. He describes the Arabs of the north as "first-class" citizens and southerners as "fourth or fifth class."

TAPE: CUT #4: DENG [FM LATHAM] 1:21

"That is no way to build a nation. (OPT) What divides the Sudanese in terms of their identity perceptions has a lot to do with distortions of history based on stratification and discrimination. (END OPT) If you became a Muslim who claimed Arab descent, you were elevated above being a black and a heathen and potential slave, if not an actual slave. While northern cities were being elevated to a higher status by Arabism and Islam, the south was a point of confrontation. And the identity of the south became an identity of resistance. (OPT) You have two antagonistic identities that have been formed out of hostility. In the short run, let us recognize these divisive identities. They are not grounds for partitioning the country because there is a lot in common that is still to be explored. So, (END OPT) my prescription for the short term would be some model of coexistence. I would suggest we need to look at how powers can be divided, resources can be divided, so there is genuine equality. (OPT) And no side feels dominated by the other. But allow freedom of movement, freedom of employment, and residence. (END OPT) If in the end it turns out this is not possible, then the Sudanese should say, 'This country cannot be kept together. Let us part peacefully.' "

JL: Former Sudanese ambassador to the United States Francis Deng says he has been "nicely surprised by the amount of attention" the Bush administration has given to problem of the south. But, he says, much of the attention results from U-S concern with international terrorism and regional destabilization rather than from humanitarian concern. Nonetheless, Francis Deng describes the U-S role in achieving a just peace process for Sudan as "vital."

Former Sudanese diplomat Hashim El-Tinay, a Muslim from the Arab north, agrees. Mr. El-Tinay, who is president of the Salaam Sudan Foundation, now lives in Washington.

TAPE: CUT #5: EL-TINAY [FM LATHAM] 0:56

"I am a northerner, but I have always had a position regarding the conflict that is sympathetic to the cause of the people fighting for justice in the south. Salaam Sudan has been advocating for many years that the West should engage the government of Sudan and the Liberation Movement all the protagonists. The Sudanese people in the south and the north have suffered a great deal from this polarized stalemate. Most of the resources of the country have been squandered because of this war. I agree there is a window of opportunity because the new administration in Washington is adopting what we have been preaching that is, to engage the government. (OPT) Without engaging the government, you can't influence peacemaking. I think the Clinton administration was 'extremist' in its attitude toward the government of Khartoum. It was really playing the card of the Christian fundamentalists." (END OPT)

JL: However, Mr. El-Tinay says political leaders who often place personal ambition above the good of their own people present a major obstacle to peace and reconciliation.

TAPE: CUT #6: EL-TINAY [FM LATHAM] 1:17

"We admit that the southerners have suffered because of the myopic vision of the political elite of the north that actually inherited power from the British. However, I understand that [John] Garang is fighting for a cause. But we all know the limitations of a dictatorial way of running the Movement and the secession of many of his colleagues. Just as in the north, it's incredibly similar. The people in the south and the north deserve much better [things] than they are getting because of the polarized ways of the politicians. (OPT) The fact that Colin Powell said, "We want to see reconciliation in the Sudan," sends a very good message in incredible contrast with [former Secretary of State Madeleine] Albright's sort of extremist position of siding with the southerners and saying, "No talking with Khartoum." That was unrealistic and totally naïve. (END OPT) There is a window of opportunity now to do some-thing about peace. With the Bush administration engaging the government, especially after September 11. America has very good relations with the S-P-L-M, the southern movement, and with the N-D-A, the National Democratic Alliance, which is the umbrella organization that groups all the opposition against the government. I think we have all the elements to push for peace."

JL: Many non-Muslims from southern Sudan, as well many regional analysts, say the greatest stumbling block to a peaceful resolution of the conflict is the issue of Shari'a law. But, Mr. El-Tinay is skeptical about the wisdom of setting aside Islamic law.

TAPE: CUT #7: EL-TINAY [FM LATHAM] 0:40

"There is a legitimate acceptance by most Muslims to have Shari'a as their law. But it is also important for Muslims to address the issues of non-Muslim communities, especially in the framework of a new nation-state. This government has agreed that Shari'a will be applied only on Muslims. It will not be applied in the south. But to try to impose a Western model, as the [Sudanese Liberation] Movement has been saying, a separation of state and religion, this is seen by many Muslims as an aggressive Western design. (OPT) People in the Muslim world are proud of Shari'a. And Muslims have the right of self-determination as well." (END OPT)

JL: Hashim El-Tinay of the Salaam Sudan Foundation agrees with many people on both sides who are optimistic that a break-through in the long-term conflict may now be possible.

TAPE: CUT #8: EL-TINAY [FM LATHAM] 0:11

(OPT) "I think the situation now is very opportune. The government is eager to have relations with the United States. It is in their interest to have good relations with the world's only superpower."

JL: Former diplomat Hashim El-Tinay, president of the Salaam Sudan Foundation. (END OPT) The Sudanese ambassador to Washington recently [3/20/02] said his government encourages the United States to "play a positive role" in resolving the conflict by becoming, in his words, a "neutral, impartial broker." The government in Khartoum believes the south is an "integral part" of Sudan. But, Khartoum says it would be "open to southern Sudan becoming independent" if the people of the region vote to do so in a future referendum.

"The Push toward Peace in Sudan" was the subject of today's Dateline. I'm Judith Latham.