UNITAMS head calls to refrain from using excessive force against Sudanese protesters
June 3, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Volker Perthes UNITAMS Head called to refrain from the use of violence against the protesters in the planned demonstrations to commemorate the third anniversary of the bloody attack on peaceful protesters in 2019.
Perthes exhorted Sudanese to observe the peaceful spirit of the December revolution in remarks delivered during a function organised by the trilateral mechanism for the families of the martyrs of the December revolution on the occasion of the third anniversary of the raid on the pro-democracy sit-in.
During the commemoration attended by the Sudan Tribune, he called on the security forces to respect the freedom of demonstration and to avoid repression.
“Even if one feels provoked, there is no justification for the excessive use of force,” he said.
The UN official further expressed hope that the implementation of the recent lifting of the state of emergency would be clearly evidenced during the rallies on Friday.
“Human rights violations must stop,” he emphasized.
Despite the government’s decision to lift the state of emergency, the security forces continued to open fire on protesters and arrest protesters and activists.
The visiting UN expert on human rights in Sudan Adama Dieng issued a similar call to abstain from the use of violence against protesters on Friday.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Dieng expressed his solidarity with “the victims and their families in their quest for justice”.
“I call on the authorities to exercise restraint today and to refrain from use of excessive force in response to today’s protests to commemorate the anniversary,” he added.
Dieng arrived in Khartoum on Wednesday evening and held a series of meeting with the government officials, Sudanese human rights commissioner and advocacy groups.
The Senegalese diplomat discussed with the Sudanese foreign and justice ministers the human rights situation and the recent government decision to lift the state of emergency and release political detainees.
The group for the defence of the victims of illegal detention and martyrs of unlawful killing together with the Darfur Lawyers Association said they requested the human rights expert to raise the need to dissolve the joint force tasked with the dispersal of protesters.
After the coup, al-Burhan formed a joint force involving the police, the army, the Rapid Support Forces and the peace signatory armed groups to disperse the protests under the state of emergency.
(ST)