Darfur rebel leader denounces Janjaweed attack in El-Fasher
April 6, 2008 (PARIS) – The leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), Abdel Wahid al-Nur slammed the attacks carried by the Janjaweed militia in the capital of North Darfur today urging international pressures to disarm them.
Al-Nur appealed the international community to condemn this attack and to pressurize Sudanese government to disarm this “state terrorist organisation” which “commits war crimes and atrocities in Darfur since four years.”
The rebel leader pointed out that this attack happened in the capital of North Darfur State where are the premises of the peacekeeping operation which is supposed to protect Darfur civilians.
The pro-ruling party media SMC said the “Border Guard Forces”, a name given to the Janjaweed militia by the Sudanese government, looted the town to protest against the incomplete salary disbursement.
The rebel leader, who demands to deliver security before the peace talks, said that he wants peace today before tomorrow adding that world has to imagine what these militias can do in “the remote villages where isolated civilians are exposed to their violence on daily basis.”
He further said that information received from El-Fasher say that petrified shopkeepers deserted their premises, and the population of the town remained in absolute fear at home.
This attack is not the first against the capital of North Darfur. On October 10, 2006 the pro-Sudanese government militia attacked el-Fasher market followed by another attack against El-Fasher’s cattle market on December 4, 2006.
At that time Minawi threatened to quit his position as senior presidential assistant if the assault was not halted.
(ST)