SLM representative summoned in Slovene envoy trial

Aug 5, 2006 (AL-FASHER) — A Sudanese court trying a Slovene presidential envoy to Darfur on charges of charges of illegal entry and espionage, decided to summon the representatives of a former rebel faction as a witness.

According to the state-run SUNA the judge Hisham Mohamed Yousif decided to summon the representative of the Sudan Liberation Movement Minawi faction before the African Union to the tribunal.

The SLM had earlier declared that Kriznar had entered the Sudan at the invitation of its leader to gain an insight into the situation and publicise it to the world.

The court was responding to an appeal by the lawyer acting in defence of Tomo Kriznar, Slovenian president’s special envoy to Darfur.

The court also decided on the request of his lawyer Mohamed Mahjoub to make a medical examination for Tomo Kriznar.

Slovenia had held intensive talks with Darfur rebels during the race to sign up rebel groups to a peace deal with Sudan’s government in May.

Tomo Kriznar was arrested in Darfur on Wednesday (July 19).

Tomo Kriznar, a peace activist who traveled to Sudan’s troubled Darfur region in February as the Slovene president’s envoy, has been held since July 20 and is to be tried in the coming days, said Ivo Vajgl, a presidential adviser.

Vajgl acknowledged Kriznar entered Sudan without a valid visa, though he didn’t know why. He denied the accusations that Kriznar was a spy.

(ST)