Source:

The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) [ID 12135]

"The brutal oppression, ethnic cleansing and genocide sponsored by the Khartoum Government left the people of Darfur with no other option but to resort to popular political and military resistance for purposes of survival. This popular resistance has now coalesced into a political movement known as the Sudan Liberation Movement and its military wing, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLM/SLA), which we are happy to announce today to the Sudanese people and to the world at large.


The Objective of SLM/A

Although the SLM/A has originated from Darfur as a matter of necessity in response to the brutal genocidal policies of the NIF Government in that region, we want to affirm and underline that the SLM/A is a national movement that aims along with other like-minded political groups to address and solve the fundamental problems of all of Sudan. The objective of SLM/A is to create a united democratic Sudan on a new basis of equality, complete restructuring and devolution of power, even development, cultural and political pluralism and moral and material prosperity for all Sudanese.


SLM/A Position on the Unity of Sudan

The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army is of the view that Sudan’s unity is of paramount importance, but it should not be maintained and cannot be viable unless it is based on justice and equality for all the Sudanese peoples. Sudan’s unity must be anchored on a new basis that is predicated on full acknowledgement of Sudan’s ethnic, cultural, social and political diversity. Viable unity must therefore ultimately be based on the right of self-determination and the free will of the various peoples of Sudan. The fundamental imperatives of a viable unity are an economy and political system that address the uneven developmen t and marginalization that have plagued the country since independence, so that the interests of the marginalized majority are adequately catered for and they are brought to the same level of development of the ruling minority. The SLM/A shall work with all political forces that ascribe to this view.


SLM/A Position on Human Rights and Democracy

The SLM/A shall struggle for the full realization and respect for human rights and democratic pluralism in accordance with international standards leading to equal development and the eradication of political and economic marginalization."

12.11.2003 - Source: Amnesty International

Foundation of the "Sudan Liberation Movement/Army" (SLM/A) ("Sudan - UA 325/03") [#17566],  [ID 12133]

"In February 2003, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), mostly formed of members of the Fur and Zaghawa ethnic groups, took up arms against the government authorities in Darfur, in the west of Sudan. They stated that they were fighting because of the lack of government protection of their people from raiding Arab ethnic groups and the marginalisation of the region. More than 400,000 people are said to have been internally displaced or left the country as refugees, because of attacks by government and raiding groups sometimes said to be allied to government forces."

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10.2003 - Source: UK Home Office

The Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) ("Country Report - October 2003") [#17341],  [ID 12134]

"6.143 Members of the sedentary groups in Darfur formed the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) in February 2003 due to what they perceive as a lack of government protection and marginalisation of their region [11h]. In July 2003, the SLA stated that a list of demands had been sent to the Government and that they had told the Government delegation that they "have to stop fighting, and after that we can negotiate". According to IRIN news, there was no independent verification of the SLA's claims that fighting is continuing but UN sources have stated that Kutum and Teinah have been declared no-go areas. The insecurity in Darfur was reported to be rapidly deteriorating by the end of July 2003 with widespread looting by the SLA, ongoing intertribal conflicts and retaliatory attacks by the Sudanse government forces. People were reportedly subjected to arbitrary arrests and interrogation and the situation was said to be particularly worrying because of the absence of independent monitors.

6.144 In late August 2003, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) reported that the SOAT had brought the arbitrary detention and alleged ill-treatment and torture of twenty-five Sudanese men to the attention of its International Secretariat. The men, all of whom are from the Fur tribe, were reportedly suspected of supporting the SLA and have been detained incommunicado [46]. However, the IRIN reported that the Government and the Sudan Liberation Army had signed a ceasefire accord on 3 September 2003 that was due to take effect on 6 September 2003 for a period of 45 days. The agreement was said to cover a cessation of activities contributing to the deterioration of the Darfur situation, methods of controlling armed irregular groups and the release of all prisoners of war and detainees"

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