LJM collective operation to start

The commissioner of security arrangements at the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) announced that a collective operation of Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) forces will take place shortly, Radio Dabanga has learned on Thursday, 18 October. Major general Taj al-Sir Abdul Rahman Abdullah said in a press statement the operation will begin in November after a delay that he attributed to security arrangements and to differences between parties regarding an investigations related to the operation. He explained that security arrangements for these groups will be conducted in three stages: the first includes LJM forces; the second armed forces and groups that signed the Abuja agreements or other local agreements; the third includes paramilitary groups. Abdullah added that paramilitary groups must be coordinated between the ministries of interior and of defense, as they will either be integrated into the army military or will be released. Minister of Interior On his turn, federal minister of interior Ibrahim Mahmoud revealed in the national parliament that he made arrangements to reduce Darfuri movements who signed the Doha, Abuja and local agreements. He said he considers these groups as outlaws and he does not want to integrate them into the army, who is responsible for maintaining security and enforcing the law. Mahmoud said the state has two options to deal with rebel movements: either to eliminate them or sign a peace agreements with them. He also announced that the state issued a decision to halt all blood money paid to people whose relatives died in tribal conflicts in Darfur, adding that perpetrators should pay it, not the state.