With specific emphasis on: Prospects for Disengagement, Reconciliation and Reconstruction in Darfur - Thursday 21 July 2005 Minutes of Session Four – Off the Record 15.10-16.30

Chairman: Mr William Morris, The Next Century Foundation Keynote speaker: Mrs Khadiga Hussein, Sudanese Mothers for Peace: The healing of wounds. How can we undertake the safe repatriation of refugees and subsequent reconciliation be delivered to the people of Darfur?The Report of the Working Group will be delivered to the conference by Mr Al-Harith Iddris, Sudanese Mothers for Peace and Ms Jane Kinninmont, Next Century Foundation.

1. William Morris Next Century Foundation I take Virginia from the African Welfare Association in UK’s point, we have looked at the past painful experiences, they are in the past, it’s our view to use this session to look forward and to bring a strong flavour of hope back to all our friends who have concerns.First, a technical point about the documents being presented in this session, the separate papers by Al-Harith Iddirs and Eiman Hamza are their own personal comments, the timeline was compiled by Max Dannheisser and the working paper coordinated by Jane Kinninmont. An apology for the personal papers, they were not discussed in the working group meetings. Apologies for any misunderstanding. The working paper was discussed in working group meetings and carries forward our view to engage in the wider Sudanese issue,We need to be looking at ways forward including the steps to disengagement. It is important to look at steps beyond disengagement for people going home, and peace and security to enable it the refugees to return. 2. Khadiga Hussein Sudanese Mothers for Peace “Salaam alaikum”, “peace be upon you”. We are seeking and hoping for peace, for the healing of wounds, the safe repatriation of refugees and reconciliation. The title of the conference made me think of Dafur, I’m not a Dafurian, but I lived there for four years, the happiest years of my life, if I go back to remember how we felt towards each other, vivid, generous, self dependent. The area was promising, I lived in Mala and saw fruits of Mediterranean climate, In the 1960’s I was dreaming if only there was an airport here, if only there was a good road link, this is good place to live more beautiful than places we go to in Lebanon etc, but things went from bad to worst. How shall we bring people who are outside their own areas back home safely? There are two kinds of needy people, displaced and refugees. I think both are needed back home and they need to be back home. Whatever you do, I say to English friends, there is nowhere like home and everyone is thinking of going back home. As I know complete villages were smashed out. I heard from a woman who has lost all members of her family and village. I’d ask her to return but where is her village, where is her family? However, it’s our fate, let’s make the best of it. How shall we save the rest of it? How shall we push all sides to do their bit of work so this community can go back to their village? Hospitals, schools and all services are needed. Also what is inside the people is most important in community. Soft, sensitive issues can’t be forgotten; matters of honour linger for a long time – the terrible killings. We need to use the community to reconcile families and communities these tragedies and about the issue of revenge for their lost sons and daughters. In Sudan, if revenge is not taken no member of the family can raise their head because it’s shameful for them. We cannot just deliver support of international community to help them to go back, to plant their farms, to empower the community. We need the help and support of local community organisations- no one can save them but their own people, we must empower the full capacity of the people, so help can be given not just from outside. The government must take full responsibility. There must be security - as people feel secure life can start from the beginning. There is no fear when we see security forces.If we use the culture of Judea- a group of people to whom we have special respect- elders, religious persons, to mediate and solve problems this is more effective than law courts. No one from the outside knows the community like person from the community. We must have the empowerment of the local community; educate them about peace and reconciliation. This is not easy because of feelings inside. To forgive is not necessarily forget, if we want to forgive must first recognise mistakes. As a mother I mourn the loss of life on both sides. Look at the effect in community and family, we need reconciliation and counselling. This is especially important in families with raped girls and the consequences from this such as pregnancies and exclusion from the family. With regards to refugees- I address the international community, the hosting countries. Sudan is hospitable and promising, most outside Sudan want to return but they need security. My suggestion to governments hosting Sudanese refugees instead of paying for them to live in your country, give three years expenses to everyone interested in going home, to give them a chance to start their lives again. 4. Jane Kinninmont Next Century Foundation I feel strongly with the people who work for, and ask for democracy for Sudan today. Democracy helps peace to be sustainable. We should examine past mistakes. Why democracy useful? How can we foster peace and get equitable distribution of resources? Marginalisation can fuel conflict. Our email address for comments on the working paper is ncfSudan.aol.com. Sudan has a multiethnic society, there needs to be more representation. We cannot just transfer existing models, there needs to be model specific to Sudan and local needs, to work with and build on traditional tribal systems. We should recognise that democracy is not just a matter of elections many a dictatorship in the world has held some kind of election. Meaningful democracy must go deeper. The media should be free of censorship, there should be transparency and accountability with budgets and no corruption. More inclusion of regions recommended with a rotating presidency and six deputies of six governors for each region. I’ll wrap because of up lack of time. 5. William Morris Jane Kinnimont reflects the views of the Next Century Foundation’s working group and she’s our organizer for Sudan. 6. Al-Harith Iddris This is my personal view, in my capacity as activist, I have serious concerns twin with those of Dr. Eiman Hamza from King’s College, there are politicians who meet head on with democracy in Sudan. As a lawyer I note in speakers today that they reflect a quest for the fair sharing of resources, and recipe for Sudanese democracy.There are dangerous forces and Dr Eiman sees these challenges, there are dangers to peace agreement linked to business interests. There are also external challenges - international sanctions will effect the flow of aid. Top down democracy can restrain local interests. We must also address poverty, a high inflow of aid can lead to corruption. My argument is that democracy is a catalyst for ethnic differences to be put aside, it will reorder the current structure. It will also help the sharing of resources among grass roots to assuage conflicts and cut UN bills.We must protect and oversee the unfolding of the democratic process that is inseparable from peace, democratisation and human rights education. The Sudanese middle class has been dismantled. We must involve grass roots and address their needs, not those of the ruling elite.The military must be reconstructed to cut bills and to put revenue to other uses such as for the benefit of women and youth. We must give people an alternative to picking up arms and diminish polarity.I’m not advocate international intervention. As a lawyer I suggest that a Sudanese bill of rights be put into the constitution. The international agenda irrelevant. We also need to include women for a new non-violent, counter patriarchal Sudanese culture. We have to trust peace creation, keep peace talks on tract and keep peace on the fast track. War must be renounced and we must engage in constitutional reforms and engage all Sudanese parties in the process. Federalism is one model. The wounds of the past must be erased. 7. Wol Mayar Auec SPLM There is a need for the Sudanese to be more engaged. What is the way forward? The focus of the SPLM is peace in South, there is a CPA blue print for comprehensive peace in Sudan. There have Khartoum referendums for everything but peace. According to eye-witness accounts, people want peace nothing else. I don’t speak for the government before 9 July, I was not part of the government before that. The government is not a government of national unity it’s a caretaker government, it’s not up to some of the resistance movement armies in Dafur to shape unity of Sudan, the unity of Sudan must be based on will of people, that’s most important. This is a time for Sudan, we can’t blame the country’s ills on international community, we have to take responsibility for our ills. The way forward is the CPA, it’s the blue print for peace in Sudan. In Agusut 24 another peace treaty in Abuja. I assure you, before long there will be peace without you knowing it. 8. William Morris I am going to call on the SLM and ask about disengagement, is it moving on the ground or is it all words, are humanitarian organizations allowed in? 9. SLM Spokesperson There is no security, the problem is the lack of security, it’s a humanitarian problem. There is still no move to disarm. The Janjaweed are still committing atrocities. The government of Sudan are signing agreements but not implementing them. There is not much change on the ground. Sudan racist country, people in the country feel they have no right to speak. 10. William Morris Is Jane Kinnimont’s paper of value? 11. SLM Spokesperson Yes 12. Spokesman from the African Welfare Association in UK This conference is in good faith, addressing human rights, democracy, security. However, these causes are not only Sudanese or Ugandaian, we should not ignore there are causes to be addressed elsewhere, not only in the country we are focusing on now, these causes have been with us for a long time. Examples of symptoms of deprivation in the area of Sudan and Africa are poverty and barriers to trade. My recommendation is that there has to be a bottom up approach, to identify needs, plans of action, to provide support to implement decisions, to deliver services locally, there must be a holistic approach. 13. Gillian Lusk Africa Confidential News Letter My point is that the new government has not taken over yet, will it take power? Will there be National Islamic Front control? The issue underneath is, who has the power in Sudan?