Slovene Envoy must not be forgotten

Aug 10, 2006 — The Aegis Trust is deeply concerned about the plight of Slovene Envoy Tomo Kriznar, currently being held in Darfur by the Government of Sudan. His arrest, on charges of illegal entry and espionage, recalls the detention last year of Paul Foreman, Country head of MSF, following its publication of a report on endemic rape in Darfur.

Sudanese investigators said that Kriznar, who is well-known in Slovenia as a human rights activist and best-selling writer, was taking photographs and shooting video footage of villages in Darfur. Reportedly, he had uncovered evidence of mass graves in the region. In court in El Fasher, he has denied spying charges but admitted entering Darfur without a Sudanese visa.

“Tomo Kriznar was trying to bring to the world’s attention crimes of the most awful nature,” says Dr James Smith, Chief Executive of the Aegis Trust. “If world leaders had an ounce of his moral responsibility, there would be no crisis in Sudan and he would not have felt compelled to enter Sudan unlawfully. Instead, the world bows to the bullying behaviour of Sudan.

“Unlike Lebanon, which has become a news soap opera, very few pictures of the atrocities get out of Sudan to inform the general public of the gravity of the situation. Putting a spotlight on the truth would lead the public to demand protection for the people that the Sudanese Government has been attacking. Khartoum proves the dictum, ?out of sight, out of mind’. Let us not let Tomo Kriznar out of our minds until he is released.”

– For more information, contact Media Officer David Brown, tel: 07812 640873, email: [email protected]