Hi Everyone

Below are some additional information regarding Rumbek conference and Peace in Sudan. I felt it will be good for us read.

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Tong Deng

Garang in bid to quell discontent

Story by DAVID MUGONYI, Nationmedia, Nairobi
Publication Date: 12/04/2004

Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement leader John Garang has moved to quell discontent in his army ahead of signing of the peace agreement.

Dr Garang flew to his hometown of Rumbek in Southern Sudan this week to meet senior military and other leaders to assure them that they would not lose their positions once a peace agreement is signed between the Khartoum government and SPLM.

He told journalists after the three-day conference: "There was a political virus that all organisations develop.

"We were resolving internal problems in the movement which we did successfully – we are now more united and stronger as we move towards the peace agreement this month," he added without elaborating.

The meeting, which brought together more than 200 leaders from the military and other SPLM structures, also addressed the last two key issues that have delayed the last phase of the peace agreement.

The United Nations Security Council ordered the two warring parties to sign a comprehensive ceasefire and ways of implementing the ceasefire before the end of this month.

Dr Garang said the council’s decision was a "demand" which must be adhered to.

"It is a demand by the world body even though we had agreed to complete the negotiations by then," he said.

Sources disclosed that grumbling senior military officials in SPLM/A were worried that they would lose their positions once the peace deal was reached.

Their positions would be taken by highly educated individuals who would work as ministers and administrators.

However, yesterday, Dr Garang said the military men who fought to free Southern Sudan would be as useful as they were during wartime.

"There is absolutely no reason why officers who fought for the last 22 years will be put aside – where will I get other officers?

"Officers of the movement who have sacrificed and fought for the people of new Sudan are the same ones that SPLM/A will have during peacetime," he told journalists at his New Site residence before flying to Nairobi to attend the last phase of the talks.

However, the SPLM/A leader announced that some of them will remain in the army, others would be integrated into the joint unit and civil administration while the rest will be transformed into police, prison and conservation officers.

"They will all without exception be useful during peacetime as they were during the war," he added.

Dr Garang described the soldiers’ fears as normal and reflected in any liberation movement.

The SPLM/A leader was optimistic that the deadline of signing the peace deal would be met without further delay.

Already the Khartoum government and the rebels have agreed on six other issues including wealth, power sharing and security arrangement.

Those who met in Rumbek include the general military council, the SPLM leadership, county commissioners, negotiators in the peace process and other elders.

Apart from addressing the worries of the military officers, the meeting also gave proposals on how to handle the last phase of agreement which started in Naivasha this week.

Dr Garang said once peace was agreed his government would be faced with the task of resettling its six million displaced people.

"My priority will be to resettle the refugees who want to come back. We will be engaged in return, resettlement and reintegration."

He would also try to construct roads, schools and hospitals.

Already his movement was talking to Kenya and Uganda on prospects of building a railway line through Juba.