Darfur rebel leader urges condemnation of attack against IDPs
August 21, 2007 (LONDON) — In reaction to the attack carried by the Sudanese forces against Kalma camps, the leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement has accused the Sudanese government of annihilating Darfur people. He further urged the international community to condemn “this barbaric attack”.
Abdelwahid al-Nur appealed on the international community to show solidarity with Darfur Internally Displaced People (IDPs). He said it is obvious that after regular attacks and killing of civilians in Darfur, Khartoum government wants now to achieve the “final solution” by eliminating those who succeeded to reach IDPs camps.
Sudanese forces surrounded and attacked Kalma camp in South Darfur on Tuesday to flush out rebels they say are behind recent attacks on police posts last Saturday. One policeman was killed and eight injured when unidentified armed men attacked police near al-Salam camp.
Police Maj-Gen Omar Mohamed Ali, the South Darfur police chief said the police would continue their pursuit of the “bandits” who were terrorizing the public and stealing their property, especially following their attack on the police posts at al-Salam camp.
Al-Nur told Sudan Tribune that police arrested about 25 people. He also denied that Kalama IDPs had taken part in any attack against the police.
“These are false allegations, Kalma people have no weapons; and I want to know for which reason they attack the police,” he questioned. Adding that “If Kalma people are armed, as Khartoum alleges, then why they didn’t use it to defend themselves and repulse this attack.”
“This question of attack against police posts is just a pretext to inflict a psychological defeat and let them feeling that no body can prevent the government from reaching them and hit them whenever it wants.” He said.
The rebel leader said that “World should know when we request security for our people before talks, this demand is justified by the lack of credibility of this government.” He further said Khartoum is not serious when it speaks about peace because they act every day to impose military solution for the conflict.
(ST)