Amnesty says Chad failed to protect Darfur refugees from militia
Dec 1, 2006 (LONDON) — Amnesty International accused the government of Chad of failing to act as Janjaweed militia carry out increasing attacks on civilians.
A delegation from the London-based human rights group gathered evidence during a two-week visit to Chad in which it met the prime minister and toured destroyed villages.
They said the material they gathered was “irrefutable proof” that the conflict in Darfur, the troubled western region of Sudan, had become “deeply entrenched” in neighbouring eastern Chad.
A conflict erupted in Darfur with a rebellion early in 2003 that led to a crackdown by Khartoum, which is accused of fighting the rebels and killing the local people of black African origin with a proxy Arab militia, the Janjaweed.
Ethnic violence has killed hundreds of thousands and left millions homeless in Darfur since early 2003 and more than 200,000 people have sought refuge in Chad.
“We have seen a dramatic upsurge in ever more brutal attacks on civilians which have occurred further and further into Chad, yet the Chadian military and police are not even making a token effort to protect their own citizens,” said Alex Neve, a member of the Amnesty delegation.
Preliminary findings from Amnesty’s delegation suggested that Janjaweed attacks on civilians were spreading from the Sudanese border area up to 150 kilometres inside Chad.
They said Janjaweed attacks on civilians had intensified since September and become increasingly brutal, with murder, mutilation and the burning of victims alive more common now rather than attacks focusing mainly on theft as before.
The human rights group said there was a growth of violence against women, including rape, in and around camps for internally displaced people.
Amnesty urged all parties to the conflict, including the Janjaweed, to respect human rights and pressed Sudan to halt cross-border incursions into Chad by the militia group and further, to disarm them in accordance with the Darfur Peace Agreement.
“The international community also bears a clear responsibility,” the human rights group said.
“Amnesty International urges the United Nations Security Council to consider measures to assist the government of Chad to discharge its responsibility to protect, for example through the deployment of an international force as may be necessary for the protection of civilians — including refugees and the internally displaced.
“Amnesty International’s delegation met with Chadian Prime Minister Pascal Yoadimnadji, who clearly indicated that his government is open to and very much requires such international assistance.”
Sudan has agreed to accept non-military support from the United Nations for the African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, a top AU official said Friday after talks in Nigeria.
Meanwhile rebels in Chad attacked government positions at Guereda, in the far east of the country close to the border with Sudan, Chadian military and rebel sources said.
(AFP)