SITREP 27 & 28

GENERAL SITUATION:

There have been a number of incidents throughout the Nuba during the last week. Although most proved to be minor, or of a

non-political criminal nature, one serious incident occurred at the university at Dilling. There was an election for the student government,

with the student body split along SPLM and National Congress Party (NCP) lines. The NCP is the party represented by the current

national government of Pres. Al Bashir. When it became apparent that the election had gone to the NCP faction, the SPLM affiliated

students rioted, burning and destroying facilities. The police were called in; shots were fired by persons unknown at this time, and the

police opened fire. Although it is unclear at present whose shots actually caused the casualties, at least one student was killed and

twenty or more were wounded.

The army was called in to reinforce the police and order was soon restored. (Dilling is a major GOS center.) While it is sad to see young

people killed and wounded over something as inconsequential as a student government election, prompt action by the police probably

prevented more bloodshed in the long run. Riots and demonstrations in this part of the world tend to get out of hand and become

bloodbaths all too quickly unless halted immediately.

Just a little editorializing from your correspondent: I am at a loss to understand the level of tolerance for this sort of life threatening

behavior that has developed in America over the last few decades. It seems that every time some major athletic event in the States takes

place, supporters of the winners, or losers, or both, seem to feel that they have license to run utterly amok. If nobody has been killed yet in

one of these riots, stand by; it is just a matter of time until someone is.

Unpopular jury decisions are also likely to produce total anarchy. Power outages generate orgies of looting and destruction. People

do die in these breakdowns of law and order, and it seems that it is about time that we took whatever actions are necessary to restore

law and order when such events occur. Better that a few guilty die than any innocent.

SECTOR 3 OPERATIONS:

This week was our turn for peace and tranquility, while the other sectors dealt with ‘alarums and excursions’.

A National Monitor team, led by CPT Timo (SPLA) and 1LT Awad (GOS), has organized a cross line meeting between the sheiks, elders

and other authorities of Um Serdiba. This meeting is scheduled for tomorrow morning. Hopefully this gathering will eliminate some of the

issues that have been emerging from Um Serdiba, particularly since many more SPLM sympathizers have moved back into the area. I think

that in this case the presence of a JMC sector HQ right next door has been an impediment to local problem solving, as there is a

tendency to “let JMC deal with it” every time a difficult decision has to be taken. Many of the outlying communities have worked through

the same kind of problems with little or no assistance from us. It is now time for Um Serdiba to prepare for a post JMC existence. Having the

sheiks from both sides, who heretofore have refused to sit down with one another to discuss issues, meet with one another can only

help the situation.

Rainer, the Sector Commander, returned from leave a few days ago. A new International Monitor from the Netherlands, Peter Rufi,

arrived on Wednesday. He is a retired Dutch Army officer with previous experience in Africa.

MICHAEL’S WORLD:

I have been selected to organize and teach an orientation program for incoming International Military Observers (IMOs) and Force

Protection (FP) command and control elements. I will be leaving Sector 3 with a certain amount of sorrow as I have enjoyed my duties here.

I feel, however, that I will be able to do more good familiarizing incoming UN personnel with what made the JMC mission successful than

I will by participating in the turnover of the Sector 3 operation and facilities to our replacements.

This transfer may result in major changes to the SITREP as I will no longer be involved in day to day operations. It will, however, come out

every week until my contract runs out.

It is still looking as though my next operational posting will be in Darfur. Hopefully we will get some definitive word when the PAE project

manager returns from Washington next week. If this change in fact occurs, it should take place in mid to late June.

I am looking forward to my upcoming leave with growing anticipation… 27 days and a wake up! And that’s it for another week

in the Sudan. Michael · SITREP 28 22 APR 05

GENERAL SITUATION:

JMC continues to move toward handover to the UN. Whether or not the UN will be ready to take over remains to be seen.

The plan at this time is for us to pack and go whether they are ready or not.

JMC has been confronted with a series of minor incidents requiring prompt attention to prevent escalation in recent weeks.

The incidents in Karkaria in which I was involved are just one example. Many of the occurrences are initially non-political, but have

a potential to be seen as politically motivated if not sorted out expeditiously and effectively.

How well the UN personnel replacing us will be able to cope with these ’brushfires’ is a matter for serious concern. They bring

neither

experience with, nor institutional memory of, operations such as the one JMC has successfully conducted for the last three plus years.

If there was ever a time for armed forces in the Nuba it would have been at the inception of the operation, not now. Having been through

the period when such force might have been justified without any necessity for it, there can be no justification for it at this juncture.

The only justification for this course of action is that this is how the UN operates. And, its long record of serial failures notwithstanding,

it is probably not going to change its policies in this instance just to try to emulate the success of its predecessor.

Whenever I watch the UN in action I am reminded of the story of the old farmer in the dust bowl who responded to the young USDA agent

trying to explain soil conserving techniques to him by telling the young man not to try to tell someone as experienced as he how to farm.

He had already worn out three farms in his life, and he did not need some newcomer telling him how to farm!

SECTOR 3 OPERATIONS:

Although I an no longer in Sector 3, I do retain a proprietary interest in their doings after seven months there. I follow their operations

from a distance and am happy to say that they are doing just fine.

MICHAEL’S WORLD:

I am involved in preparing the Familiarization & Orientation Training program for the incoming UN folks. This will be the only opportunity

that JMC or I will have to convince these people that there is a different, and possibly better, way to carry out peacekeeping operations.

My colleague, Nick Burrows, and I will have two days per eight man class to generate an epiphany for these people. (We will also be the

primary instructors.) Nothing like a good challenge!

A Darfur posting has moved from possibility to strong probability for me at the end of mission (EOM) here. I am awaiting word now,

but I may not hear the final decision for a little while. If the job comes through it will probably run through the end of September, 2005.

The onset of the rainy season is imminent, and it could start any day now. Then it will be back on the Lariam (anti malarial prophylaxis).

Dry season=no mosquitoes=no malaria=no need for prophylaxis, and vice versa.

Leave is less than three weeks away. Anticipation grows as it draws closer. And that’s it for this week in the Sudan. Take care. Michael