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SITREP 7 12 NOV 04
GENERAL SITUATION
Darfur if anything is getting worse. It is getting worse, if for no other
reason , because the heat and lack of water add dehydration
to the mix. And
there are certainly other reasons aplenty. I am not going to dwell on this
unhappy situation because my insight
is not significantly better than what is
available to you via the media. I believe I’ll stick to the situation here in
the Nuba.
Nomads are providing their usual problems. These include, but are by no
means limited to, grazing and watering their herds
on others’ property,
stealing the odd whatever-is-available and taking the odd child into
“protective custody”. Think of the
’traveling people” (gypsies, tinkers and
the like) of Europe and the U.S.A. armed and on camels and horses, and you
pretty much
have the picture. And in this instance I am referring to the
perpetual wanderers without permanent villages to which they return,
not the
semi nomadic tribes who leave their permanent homes to move their stock to
rainy season grazing lands and return to harvest
their crops when the rains
end.
I heard my first complaint about nomad incursions in this area on Wednesday
at the village of Ngurban. The villagers complained
that the nomads come and
are gone before anyone can summon official assistance. We suggested that the
villagers reform their
committees to negotiate with the nomads in the
traditional manner for compensation for forage and water consumed. It was too
late to
do much for them this time, and it was the first any of us had heard
of nomads this far off their normal migration routes.
I think a few words about the economy, infrastructure and life style may be
instructive. Our highest paid National Monitor, a Regimental
Sergeant Major
with almost forty years of service and experience, draws a monthly salary of
approximately 35,000 Sudanese Dinars (SD).
Sound impressive? That comes to
about $135.00 U.S. And he’s the highest paid. The rest range from 21,000 to
27,000SD
($80.00 to about $104.00 U.S.) per month. Keep in mind that these are
the educated upper middle classes.
There is no such thing as an electrical grid to my knowledge outside of
Khartoum. For most of the country electricity is an unknown luxury.
And while
cell and satellite telephones are slowing making their way into the regional
population centers, they are of little value if they cannot
be recharged. Even
the police rely on messengers to report incidents. I saw the first solar panel
I’ve seen since arriving in country last week
in Karkaria.
Water must frequently be carried by hand for miles from watering sources
that at their fanciest are hand pumps that actually work. And hand
pumps, if
memories from my country childhood are correct, only work down to a depth of
about 28 feet. If the local water table is lower than
that a deep well pump
(which requires a power source) is necessary, and the NGOs who provide these
services will not even bother
drilling. Livestock must also be moved to and
from water as well as grazing on a daily basis.
Obesity, or even overweight, are not problems here. I truly cannot recall
seeing anyone with anything resembling superfluous weight.
Come to Spa Nuba
and become the sylphlike you that you always dreamed of!! In good times the
ruminants are sleek if not fat. The dogs
usually peak out at slender. An
American burro would think that it had gone to Hell if it ever came here.
They’re actually expected to work
hard here. And conversely, a donkey from
here would think that it had gone to Heaven if it got to the States. Laminitis
is not an issue,
nor are farriers required to keep the animals feet trimmed.
I’m not sure there is a paved road outside of the Khartoum area. The
equivalent of the American Interstate, or the German Autobahn,
is a two lane
gravel road. The other primary roads are nothing more than the equivalent of
one lane unimproved farm or woodland tracks
in America. Most are totally
impassable even for 4 WD trucks with mud grubber tires and oversized wheels
during the rainy season.
Medical facilities outside of the population centers are thatched roof
clinics staffed by dedicated personnel, but often lacking even the
most basic
medicines and equipment.
I hope that I have conveyed some concept of the enormous challenges facing
Sudan as a whole and the Nuba in particular even if peace
should come. Please
pray for peace, but don’t forget to pray for the necessities of life after a
C.P.A.
SECTOR 3 OPERATIONS.
Much anti climax.
The villagers at the involuntary relocation facility at Dandur have settled
in and the GOS unit has agreed to provide an escort to their
fields in the Karkary area so that they may harvest their crops in safety. The umda did ask
me to drop by Karkary and to try to spread a
little oil upon the troubled
waters. Those of you who knew me in my teens, twenties and thirties are
probably having a quiet chuckle
at the concept of Michael the Peacemaker.
We returned to Agab, scene of the rather tempestuous “town meeting” some
weeks ago, with W.O. Babakia and SGT Mahmoun
of the GOS Police. The residents
were all out in the fields getting in the harvest and were unavailable for
discussions (and also arguments).
It was, however, an opportunity for Babakia
and Mahmoun to counsel the local police force on effectiive police-community
relations.
And I doubt that two more qualified mentors than these fine
officers could be found anywhere. We will return in a few weeks, when
Ramadan and the harvest are over.
I do not envy the GOS Police units assigned to the SPLM sympathetic parts
of the DMZ. Think of Ft. Apache, but with the cavalry
unarmed and
incommunicado with outside assistance.
Water (or the lack of it) is an ongoing problem everywhere, with political
ramifications in the SPLM areas. There is no doubt that there is
inequity in
the providing of water facilities, and unfortunately the GOS is too often
blamed for the self serving actions of influential
SPLM officials.
Patrolling is getting caught up now that the roads are improving somewhat.
MICHAEL’S WORLD
I am still alive and well in Um Serdiba. I’m still hard at it and enjoying the work.
A little post election humor courtesy of COL Tom Province, VADF: When John
Kerry made his concession call to George Bush,
he asked to be awarded yet
another Purple Heart for the injuries he received in the ass whipping Bush
handed him.
SITREP 8 19 NOV 04
GENERAL SITUATION
Ramadan and Eid (the post Ramadan holidays) are now behind us.
The UN Security Council is meeting in Nairobi in an attempt to speed up
the process toward a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
Hopefully it will
do some good.
The afternoon temperature runs 99-103 F. This is obviously hot, but it is
not nearly as oppressive as the humid heat in the eastern U.S.A.
is at 10-15
degrees cooler. Nights do not require AC to sleep, and mornings and evenings
are quite pleasant. It was 58 F one morning
last week.
SECTOR 3 OPS.
Things have been fairly interesting around here for the last week or so. On Friday, our
R&R day, a gravely ill child was brought to us. Paul Hughes, or
Irish-via-the-Royal Navy Sector Medic pulled off the first of his
two life
saving exploits of the week. The second, another child nearly comatose with falciparum (cerebral) malaria was stabilized and
medevacced out by chopper
from JMC HQ at Tillo. The first child was driven to Kadugli Hospital by our
driver/ interpreter Simon Karlo
and Paul, as no air assets were available.
On Saturday I was advised by a high ranking SPLA officer that he had had
a report of a faction fight within one of the SPLA battalions
from another
brigade to our southeast. Normally this would be a strictly internal matter
which we would monitor from a distance, but there
were also rumors of
outside assistance which created the possibility of political ramifications
that we could not ignore.
Sunday morning we loaded a team plus, with two extra I.M.s, and headed to
the area with all deliberate haste. The sight of numerous
armed
soldiers in
the vicinity of the battalion’s HQ made any plausible denial of problems
within the battalion impossible,
so we were told the story.
It seems a number of members of the battalion, apparently from the same
tribe and unhappy over the lack of promotion which they felt
was tribally
motivated, decided to go to extremes to manifest their displeasure. On
Saturday afternoon they attempted a raid on the
battalion HQ in an attempt
to remove (from this mortal coil) the battalion commander with whom they
felt they had a grievance.
The attack was beaten back with the loss of one
of the mutineers (KIA). At this point the mutineers must have felt as though
they had
engaged in the equivalent of throwing non-kryptonite coated darts
at Superman. Their only real hope had been to take out the
commander
immediately. Any hope of any sort of outside assistance vanished when their
surprise attack failed. They were now
outnumbered almost three to one, on
their own, and with an unhappy battalion commander who was probably even
more vexed
about their firing up his homestead (with his family present)
than they had been about their lack of promotion. After creating some
more
trouble at a local market, they fled to the west.
This was the situation that obtained when we arrived Sunday morning. We
had a long chat with the battalion commander and his
officers who were there
for a commander’s conference to discuss actions to be taken. It became
apparent that this was, at least barring
facts not yet presented and
confirmed regarding outside interference, an internal matter for the SPLA to
resolve. We said that we would
pass a report of our findings along and allow
our Senior SPLA National Monitor the means to contact his superiors so as to
facilitate their involvement. It was obvious that a speedy solution to the
problem was in everyone’s best interests.
As we proceeded homeward, we came upon a small group of the mutineers.
Since I had the Senior SPLA Monitor with me, I decided to
stop and see what
we could learn. The Monitor, who was well known and respected by the
mutineers, quickly ascertained that they realized
that they had taken very,
very bad decision and were now in grave peril. They wished to terminate the
revolt in the hope that they
would not be terminated in the process. An
agreement to see what could be done was made, and we headed for home.
As of this morning’s op reports the situation remains stable and out of our hands.
On Monday morning a representative of the GOS Police in Um Serdiba came
to our HQ to report that a hand grenade booby trap had
been discovered in
the village, and to request our assistance in removing it. I walked over and
saw that the local police had cordoned
off the area. I then contacted the
Danish Church AidHQ. DCA is an NGO that sponsors demining capability
throughout the Nuba, and
whose HQ is only a few kms from our location. One
of their explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) experts was already coming down
the
road toward our location and arrived within a few minutes. He checked
the UED (unexploded device) and determined that it could be
safely removed.
He proceeded to do so without any disturbing flashes or loud noises.
The prime suspect in the case is a career criminal who fled the GOS area
after similar incidents there necessitated his
absconding rapidly. He sought
sanctuary in the SPLM controlled part of Um Serdiba ( in a manner
reminiscent of the outlaws in
America who would flee from one jurisdiction
to another, or cross into Mexico, to avoid prosecution). He was told that he
could stay,
but that any criminal behavior would not be tolerated. The GOS
Police in Um Serdiba were advised “back channel” by elements of the
SPLM of
Infamous Achmed’s presence, the conditions of his safe haven and that it
might be a good plan too keep this individual under
surveillance when he
came across. As is the case with most of his ilk, it was just a matter of
time before he fell from grace.
His fall this time was occasioned by lust for one of the married women in
the village. Her husband and he had words over his attentions.
Achmed was
seen by the village watchman leaving the vicinity of the husband’s house at
zero dark thirty, and fled when called upon to stop.
Early the next morning, the husband found a child trying to untie the
trip device, a length of twine. He got the child away from the device
and
called for the police. The police cordoned off the area and sent for us. The
officer who initially responded sent word through
members of Achmed’s family
that he was to stay out of the GOS side of Um Serdiba. The actions described
above ensued.
Bright and early the next morning our assistance was again requested.
This time an anti-personnel mine had been found in a track
leading
to the
officer’s farmland. Achmed had left a piece of paper on top of the mine with
his name on it, an intimidation ploy he had used
before.
We again called DCA
for an EOD and mine clearing team, which came, removed the mine and checked
the area for more mines.
None was found.
Both sides were very anxious to ensure the we understood that these were
isolated criminal acts and totally without political motivation
or
implication. The investigation and manhunt are ongoing at this time.
Hopefully this local Ken Rex McElroy will be found soon.
Hopefully he will
meet the same end. As McElroy. For those unfamiliar with the McElroy case,
he was the career criminal/town bully/barn
burner who was finally gunned
down on the main drag of Skidmore, OK at about 1100 on a Saturday morning
after the authorities were
repeatedly unable to put him in prison where he
belonged. This took place in 1980 or ‘81 by persons as yet not arrested
because the
entire
town has refused to cooperate with the authorities for
over twenty years. I harbor very strong personal feelings about those who
indiscriminately use explosive devices, especially for personal reasons.
While I firmed up the coordination for the Cross Faction Police
Conference (CFPC) to be held on 18 NOV 04, the rest of the teqam
had a very
productive day in the area of the mutiny. They were able to not only lend
their presence to the resolution of the mutiny
incident, but also to arrange
the start of negotiations between the two factions to open a section of road
that has been
closed to vehicular traffic for months.
On 18NOV 04 the CFPC was held at Tangal at the new Judicial Center. (See
photos) In addition to a very good turnout from both
sides, one of the local
magistrates attended for the first time. We hope to increase the attendance
of these men In the future.
And don’t think you’re going to change the men
only forums out here in the “traditional areas” any time soon , all you
feminists!
Incidentally, I don’t agree with the idea. I just accept that I’m
not going to change centuries old entrenched customs in the time I will
have
here. I just try to effect what incremental changes I can.
In addition to resolutions confirming freedom of movement between sectors
for everyone, dealing with matter of taxation in the
mixed faction souks
(markets) and planning their next meeting on 10 DEC 04, they issued joint
warrants for Infamous Achmed and
Sarir Double (Double Trouble). The latter
is probably Sudan’s only overweight highwayman. This was accomplished in
under two
hours. I said afterward that I thought that WO Babakia and Philip
Moussa, the SPLM Chief of Police for the Tangal District,
should be sent to
Nairobi to negotiate the CPA. They would probably accomplish more in a day
than the professional
negotiators have been able to accomplish to date.
The only other matter of note, which almost got lost in the shuffle of
bigger events, was that the Italian Stallion, Lorenzo Guani, and
one of our SPLM NMs had a spot of bother with some drunken GOS soldiers in Um Durain
during a Village Visit. Lorenzo says that
he thinks that I should have an
opportunity to see Um Durain and that, much as he is looking forward to a
return visit, he will forego
the pleasure so that I may have an opportunity
to travel there. How do I repay such thoughtfulness?
Pictures of the CFPC will be attached or follow. One is a group shot of
the participants, and the other is of me with Philip Moussa
and WO1 Babakia
(on my left).
MICHAEL’S WORLD
Nothing much new to report. Another birthday coming up in a few days.
Imagine, 64!! I’m doing fine and looking forward to leave
in January. My
best to all from Sunny Sudan.
FOLLOW UP TO SITREP #8 EXTRA!!! INFAMOUS ACHMED APPREHENDED!! A Readers of SITREP 8 will no doubt recall the events of
last week described in this issue. Achmed is alleged to have placed one
grenade To date Achmed has not confessed to these crimes, but he
has agreed to take the police and EOD personnel to another grenade that
has This excellent combined police effort is particularly
gratifying to the JMC personnel who worked very hard to facilitate the
CFPC WITH INFAMOUS ACHMED IN CUSTODY CAN THE
CAPTURE
own Ken Rex McElroy, has been apprehended as a result of a fine joint
effort by the GOS and SPLM
Police Forces of Um Serdiba and Tangal.
booby trap and one anti personnel mine in the vicinity of the village of
Um Serdiba (GOS) over a two day period last week. He then fled into
the SPLM AREA, thinking that he would be safe there. At the Cross Faction
Police Conference on 18 NOV 04 a joint warrant was issued
for Achmed’s arrest. Today, only four days later, this career criminal
with a history of the use of explosive devices to intmidate and exact
revenge is now in custody. He is being interrogated by a combined task
force of GOS and SPLM authorities.
cached. It was no doubt being saved for the next incident that he was not
going to commit.
program. The news also made a very nice birthday present for your
humble reporter.
OF SARIR DOUBLE BE FAR BEHIND?