Rebel leader accuses Sudan of forced relocation in South Darfur

March 27, 2008 (PARIS) — Sudanese troops are surrounding a displaced camp in South Darfur since three days in order to forcibly relocate civilians, Darfur rebel leader accused today urging international action to stop the move.

Abdel-wahid al-Nur, the historic leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) told Sudan Tribune that Sudanese troops cordoned off Kass camp and prevented aid workers from providing any humanitarian assistance to the 27.500 civilians in the camps.

He further said the security forces want to close the camp and force them to move to nowhere and this despite the refusal of the IDPs.

“Any relocation should be wholly voluntary, in agreement with the internally displaced otherwise it constitutes a clear violation of humanitarian international law and agreements signed with the UN;” he said.

IPDs camp in Kass is mainly formed by civilians belonging to Darfur biggest ethnic group, the Fur. Khartoum backed militia from Riziegat and Terjem groups conducted regular raids during the early stages of the conflict against the Fur and forced them to leave their villages.

There are many IDPs camps in South Darfur including Kalma, Al Salam, Otash, Deriege, Kass, and Al Seref with more than one million displaced.

Abdel-Wahid urged the international community institutions to denounce loudly what he described as new step towards the “final solution” against Darfur civilians. He also wondered why the international organisations and aid workers keeping silent while witnessing Khartoum deeds in the camp.

“I appeal upon the UN, France, U.K. U.S.A. to condemn this forced relocation and to put pressures on Khartoum government to stop it;” he said.

At the end of October 2007, Sudanese authorities forcibly relocated IPDs from Otash camp.
John Holmes, UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator condemned the relocation. He warned that such action could “contribute to more violence.”

(ST)