June 20, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The spokesperson of Darfur internally displaced people slammed the statements made by US envoy to Sudan over the issue of genocide in Darfur and criticized his policy of constructive engagement with Khartoum.

IDPs delegates in Kalma camp seen here in this photo file of Sunday, August 10, 2008 where appears UNAMID Deputy Joint Special Representative Henry Anyidoho (UNAMID)

Hussein Abu Sharati regretted remarks made by Scott Gration last Wednesday about genocide in Darfur. "What happened and still is happening in Darfur is genocide and it is regrettable to see the envoy of President Obama speculating over such sensitive issue," he said.

"Gration was in Darfur and the IDPs he met explained to him their suffering, the precarious security situation and the attacks that the government militias still carry out against them." "So we are deeply hurt and extremely disappointed," further added Abu Sharati.

Bahar Idriss Abu Garda, the leader of the rebel United Resistance Front in an interview with Sudan Tribune today echoed Abu Sharati statements and underlined the contradiction of his remarks with what President Obama had said earlier this month in Germany.

The IDPs representative said their demand for security and the disarmament of the government backed militias before the peace talks finds its root causes in the genocide and attacks committed on daily basis against the civilians.

"This is what he had heard from the IPDs but unfortunately he is working now in his constructive dialogue with Khartoum and this approach could lead easily to this position," he said.

"…The people living in IDP camps and refugee camps have the opportunity to move back to a place of their own choosing and to be able to live in safety and security and dignity," said Gration in a press briefing on Wednesday June 17.

Abu Sharati criticized this remark by the US envoy saying he seems forgetting that the essence of the conflict in Darfur was the control of land.

"The militias are engaged in this genocide because the government had promised them our fertile land that they are now occupying illegally after changing its features." …"So what we want is our land not any other land because what Gration is saying is exactly what the government is trying to implement: settle the IDPs in other places while their lands are given to the pro-government militias and we will never accept this issue."

The IDPs spokesperson stressed they want the international community to take in consideration that the Darfur people have been killed for their land and no solution for this conflict could be sealed without taking into account this demand.

"This is why we ask for security and to evict these people from our land."

Abu Sharati also minimized the importance of the Qatari process saying they do not feel "concerned by the issues discussed there or represented by the rebel movement (JEM) involved in the process."

(ST)