Darfur rebels deny accusations of mistreating captured Sudanese officers

March 3, 2008 (LONDON) — The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) dismissed report published by Amnesty International on the mistreatment of four Sudanese officers captured by rebel group.

Amnesty International, in a statement issued on Friday February 29, accused JEM rebels of committing war crimes and violating Geneva Convention. The rights group said that the four officers are “suffering ill-treatment and their lives are in danger.”

In a press statement on Sunday, JEM denied the use of Sudanese army officers as human shields. ” AI’s claim that JEM puts its war prisoners in a truck ahead of their attacking force is a bizarre accusation.” The rebel group said.

Also it said it allowed them to phone to their families and assure them of their safety and good treatment dismissing accusation of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

“The allegation that JEM further mistreats its prisoners is not correct. JEM has no hotels or houses in the field. Its prisoners experience the same hardship that is faced by JEM soldiers. They all share the same food, water and shelter.”

The four officers were captured in Darfur, Lieutenant Colonel Mahdi Hamed and Lieutenant Abdel Moneim Mohammed Zein in West Darfur in the area of Siniya in December 2007, Brigadier General Kemaleddin and Lieutenant Colonel Ihab in Haskanita area in South Darfur earlier that year.

Amnesty had said it received information about the Sudanese officers from three men, who were arrested with them, belonging to a splinter group, JEM Collective Leadership and managed to escape on February 7 from captivity.

However, JEM said Amnesty had to check its information and not to rely on what is said by a “JEM splinter group which cannot be neutral.”

It also invited the rights group to visit its war prisoners describing Amnesty report as “false allegations.”

(ST)