Sudanese army airplanes provoke daily panic in Darfur – rebels
July 4, 2007 (LONDON) — Sudan’s air force is conducting daily low-altitude flights over displaced camps in South Darfur provoking panic and fears among the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), a rebel leader said.
The leader of rebel Sudan Liberation Movement/Army Abdelwahid al-Nur accused Khartoum of conducting military low-altitude flights over Kalma and Attash IDP camps in South Darfur.
“Reports received from the region indicate that military airplanes identified as Russia’s MiG are conducting — since the first of July in the morning between 5 and 6 hour — flights below 3,000 feet above ground level”. “These flights provoke panic and fears among the civilians because everyday they give the impression that these planes are coming to bombard them” he said.
Al-Nur Added that a 55 year-old woman has badly broke her hand after falling. “On July 1, when she heard the noise of low altitude flight MiG, the woman then tripped falling awkwardly on her arm. Also the huge noise removes the makeshift tents and clothes of the IDPs”.
“They complained to the African peacekeeping force and to the UN officials on the ground but they have no response.”
Al-Nur who insists that the protection of Darfur civilians is a prerequisite for holding peace negotiations with the government, condemned these flights describing it as “new form of intimidation campaign aiming to terrorize the IDPs and provoke psychological damage.”
He said that traumatized IDPs come to the camps seeking protection of the international community but it seems that Khartoum is determined to harm them and pursue their moral torture.”
ATTACKS AGAINST SLA POSITIONS
The rebel leader further said that the Janjaweed militia attacked a SLA position in Ein Seiro in North Darfur and killed four rebels. The militia also attacked at the end of June another SLA position in the West of Jabal Mara, al-Nur said. “Some of our people are just wounded but there are no causalities among our troops.”
He reminded that his troops are observing the ceasefire agreement signed with Khartoum in 2004, but this has not prevented the Sudanese army and its backed militia from attacking their positions.
Addressing the international community, the rebel leader wondered “how the world continues to believe the lies of a regime that has a proven track record of ill credibility and known for dishonoring deals.”
“The international community has to protect Darfur people if they are genuine in their will to realize peace in Darfur” he urged.
In a position statement for the expected peace talks, al-Nur said that conductive environment should be created before talks through the implementation of: unconditional ceasefire all over Darfur region; a humanitarian intervention, and opening of humanitarian corridors in the region.
He further requested to enforce a non-fly-zone and arm embargo; al-Nur suggested implementation of a oil-for-food programme in order to use the oil revenue to compensate victims of the conflict and reconstruction of the region.
(ST)