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To: Tomas who wrote (273)	5/8/1999 2:33:00 PM
From: Tomas	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1713

Sudan Rebels Claim 23 Chinese CNPC Oil Workers Captured CAIRO (AP) May 8 -- Armed Sudanese have taken captive 23 oil workers employed by the Chinese National Petroleum Corp during nearly a week of battling the government in the southern town of Bentiu, a southern rebel spokesman said Saturday. It was not clear whether all were Chinese nationals or precisely when they were taken captive. Yasser Arman, spokesman for the Sudan People's Liberation Army, told The Associated Press in Cairo that residents in oil-rich Bentiu "revolted against the oil companies working in the area," and took the experts captive. He spoke from his office in Eritrea. The SPLA, which has been fighting for 16 years for autonomy for southern Sudan, was not involved in the kidnappings, Arman said. The rebel group, however, is willing to provide residents with any political or material support, he said. Residents, according to Arman, are demanding the government appropriate a share of oil revenues to development projects and the improvement of local services. An official at the Chinese Embassy in Khartoum, who did not provide her name, refused to answer any questions about the oil experts. Saturday was a holiday in Sudan, and officials at the Khartoum office of the Chinese National Petroleum Company were not available for comment. Arman said Bentiu residents revolted May 2 against government troops and were joined by members of the pro-government militia of Riak Machar, president of the Southern States Coordination Council. President Omar el-Bashir set up the council in 1997, including SPLA breakaway factions in running day-to-day affairs in southern Sudan. In Khartoum, Akhbar al-Youm daily quoted Machar in Saturday's newspaper as acknowldedging some of his troops were fighting government forces near Bentiu, 800 kilometers (500 miles) south of Khartoum in Wehda state. He denied knowledge of the oil experts. Machar, also commander-in-chief of the south Sudan defense forces, was quoted by the pro-government Islamist daily Alwan as saying the clashes resulted from "a misunderstanding among field commanders." Throughout the past week, the Sudanese government has been fighting rebels in eastern Sudan who are threatening to cut off oil pipelines and the highway linking Khartoum with the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. On June 30, Sudan plans to export its first shipment of crude through a 1,600-kilometer (1,000-mile) pipeline that connects el-Obeid oil fields in Northern Kordofan province with Port Sudan. SPLA forces are not far from several oil areas, Arman warned, saying that "oil sites are legitimate military targets." The SPLA has been waging an insurrection since 1983, demanding greater autonomy from the Islamic-dominated government for the mainly Christian and animist south. More than 1.9 million Sudanese have died in the fighting and in war-related famines. sudan.net

To: Tomas who wrote (273)	5/8/1999 11:32:00 PM
From: Douglas V. Fant	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1713

Tomas, "Oil for war is ridiculous"-Hassan Al Turabi? I reply simply- can a leopard change its spots??? Heavy heavy fighting in eastern Sudan,as well in the west in Bahr-el-Ghazal where the Arabs are ethnically cleansing the Africans.... You can probably guess where the next blow will fall... It puts the Military Junta in an awkward position- which critical target do you defend? Does Talisman have any contacts with the SPLA? Talisman- I am sure that you read this Board- It might be time for a trip to Washington, DC to meet the SPLA Diplomatic Representative.... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ News Article by SPLM on May 08, 1999 at 15:28:57: SPLM Press Release - 08 May 1999 NDA Forces Score Major Military Victories in Eastern Sudan The second phase of the military operations in Eastern Sudan by the forces of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) under the joint military command (JMC) is achieving its objectives with dramatic successes over the NIF forces. On Tuesday May 4, 1999, NDA forces captured Rasai, a strategic NIF enemy garrison 30 km north of Kassala. The NDA forces are now in full control of Rasai therefore effectively cutting off Port Sudan. Rasai was manned by the recently formed Rapid Deployment Force for the Protection of the Post Sudan/Khartoum Road. This is the first time that the NDA forces have cut the Port Sudan/Khartoum road north of Kassala. The previous operations were on the road south of Kassala. The fleeing NIF soldiers left six dead on the battle field. Seven enemy soldiers were also captured along with a number of war materials. On May 5, 1999 enemy forces in Kassala town hastily organised a convoy to recapture Rasai and to reopen the road but fell into a deliberate ambush by NDA forces. The battle that ensued was a major disaster for the NIF as the ill fated convoy was ambushed and dispersed with heavy casualties in men and materials. The enemy suffered 64 killed in action and 83 taken prisoner of war (POWs) including three officers, one Captain, one First Lieutenant and one Second Lieutenant. This operation was carried out by the New Sudan Brigade (NSB) and the El Fatah Forces of the DUP all under the NDA Joint Military Command (JMC). On another related development the forces of the UMMA Liberation Army (ULA) on May 6, 1999 repulsed an enemy attack on their position near the town of Madisisa south of Kassala towards Khartoum. The ULA killed 12 and wounded 9 enemy soldiers while losing 4 ULA martyrs. The fleeing enemy remnants were pursued to Madisisa town which was then captured by ULA forces. Many more of the enemy soldiers were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. In a third operation, a unified NDA force clashed with the NIF enemy further South of Kassala where our forces inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. This operation has made the recapture of Madisisa impossible as there are no longer any GOS forces in the area. Once more the Joint Military Command hereby warns civilian trucks and vehicles not to use this road for their own safety. The NDA forces are now within reach of the oil pipeline and can strike at any time. The NDA also calls on all foreign companies involved in oil exploitation in the country to evacuate immediately as they will be treated like any other military target. Dr Samson L. Kwaje, SPLM Secretary for Information and Official Spokesman. Nairobi, May 8....