Sudan army, Darfur rebels responsible for rights abuses – UN

March 10, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Both Sudanese government troops and Darfur rebels committed human rights abuses during a string of attacks in Sudan’s western Darfur region last month, a U.N. envoy on Human Rights said on Monday.

The government and rebel movements in Darfur had failed to protect civilians in areas under their control and were violating international human rights and humanitarian law, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Sudan Simar Samar said during a press conference at UNMIS’ Khartoum headquarters on 10 March.

“I received reports of killings, sexual violence, arbitrary arrest and detention and impunity for such crimes,” said Samar, who was concluding a visit to the country that began on 27 February and included visits to Port Sudan, Khartoum and Darfur.

The Special Rapporteur said she had visited the village of Abu Suruj in West Darfur, which had been attacked along with Sirba and Silea by Sudanese forces and militia on 8 and 9 February. Serious human rights violations were committed during the attack, notably attacks on civilians, forced displacement and extensive, unjustified destruction of civilian property, she said, requesting an investigation to find those responsible and to bring them to justice.

The attacks were marked by indiscriminate killings, destruction of property and looting and plundering. More than 100 people were reported killed while many others were displaced to nearby villages and towns. An estimated 12,000 of the displaced crossed over the border to neighboring Chad.

On 18, 19 and 22 February, the SAF launched another round of ground attacks and aerial bombardments on villages in the Jebel Moon area, targeting elements of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLA/AW) rebel group. Bombs were reportedly dropped on several locations populated by civilians including one near an internally displaced camp in Aro Sharrow; the UN envoy said in a press statement issued at the end of its visit to Sudan.

Rebels in Darfur took up arms in early 2003 accusing the government of neglect. The government mobilization of mostly Arab tribal militia and rebel divisions have created a chaotic mix of armed groups and a breakdown of law and order.

Samar said she would present a full report on her visit to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 12.

During a visit to Gereida, South Darfur, she enquired about the case of 19 Massalit men arrested by the Sudan Liberation Army/Minni Minawi (SLA/MM) faction who disappeared in September 2006. In October 2006, a mass grave was found containing the remains of some of those who had been arrested.

“I call on the government to investigate and inform the families of the fate of their relatives and bring the perpetrators of human rights violations to justice,” Ms. Samar said.

On a positive note, she said government officials had provided information on steps taken to combat violence against women in Darfur. She encouraged them to focus on prevention and bringing perpetrators to justice as a deterrent to future crimes.

Ms. Samar said she was pleased that the Status of Forces agreement had been signed between the government and UNAMID, which should give freedom of movement to the mission. She also thanked the government for its openness and assistance with her visit.

She expressed “regret”, however, that the government did not allow her access to Kajbar, Amri, Meroe and Makabrab in Northern State to meet with local authorities and affected communities in the Nile valley, where two hydropower dams were being constructed.

“The visit was cancelled by the state security committee the day before I was scheduled to travel to the area. The reasons provided by the government did not justify their decision to prevent access,” Ms. Samar said.

The Rappporteur expressed particular concern about lack of accountability for the killings of protestors in Amri and Kajbar in 2005 and 2006. Noting that an investigative committee had been formed and a report submitted to the Minister of Justice, she urged the government to inform the public about the investigation’s finding and prosecute those responsible without delay.

Ms. Samar also visited Kober prison in Khartoum, where she privately interviewed detainees on allegations of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment during pre-trial detention in the custody of National Intelligence and Security Services or police. She called on the government to address allegations of torture and ill-treatment in detention by National Security and in some cases police, and also allow unhindered access to UN human rights officers to places of detention.

In Port Sudan, Samar enquired about the 20 January 2005 massacre that had resulted in 22 deaths, having received information that forces brought to the city to deal with unrest had used excessive force. “Some people were arrested and held for six months without charge after the incident and later released.”

She added that an investigative committee on the incident had taken witness accounts and submitted a report to the Minister of Interior in 2005. “Three years after the event, the families of the victims have not received any information about the outcome of the investigation and no one was brought to justice.”

Samar noted that the government had provided blood money to 16 of the families, but that six others had refused compensation, preferring prosecution of those responsible for the crime. “They have reportedly suffered intimidation and harassment to force them to accept the blood money.”

During her stay, Samar met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Under-Secretary for Justice, inter-ministerial committee appointed as a focal point for her visit, Dam Implementation Unit and the National Constitutional Review Commission as well as Human Rights Committee of the National Assembly. She also spoke with the Press Council, governors and local state authorities, representatives of the SLA/MM, UN and UNAMID officials, civil society and victims of human rights violations.

(ST)