Sudanese govt frees 15 eastern rebels

KHARTOUM, July 1 (AFP) — The Sudanese government released 15 members of the eastern opposition Beja Congress that had been nabbed following deadly clashes in the Read Sea port city of Port Sudan in January, a member of the rebel group said Friday.

Rebels from Sudan’s Eastern Front parade north of Kassala town, near the Eritrean border, in March 2005. (AFP).

The detainees were freed Thursday night after signing “an undertaking not to participate in riots against the government but were told that they would not stand trial,” Abdel Qadir Bakash told AFP by telephone from Port Sudan.

At least 14 people — and possibly as many as 36 — were killed in the clashes between supporters of the Beja Congress and security forces.

The protests, calling for more power and resources for the region, sparked a security clampdown across eastern Sudan, with the Beja Congress reporting several arrests of activists.

Bakash said a report submitted to the justice minister by an investigation panel into “the killing of 21 demonstrators by the security forces has not been revealed and no steps have been taken against anybody for involvement in the incidents.”

The Beja Congress took up arms against Khartoum in 1994, citing years of marginalization and underdevelopment. It was followed into conflict by several other insurgent groups.

There had been signs that the January 9 signing of a peace deal between Khartoum and southern rebels could lead to an end to the struggle in the east but those hopes all but collapsed following the deadly crackdown on the Port Sudan demonstrators.