European Union slams Sudan’s use of white planes in Darfur

September 23, 2008 (PARIS) — The European Union called today on the Sudanese government to stop the military operations in western Sudan and condemned the use of white aircrafts in these operations.

The European presidency slammed today the painting of Sudanese military planes in white to disguise them as United Nations saying it create confusion with the United Nations aircrafts.

Last August, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) shot a UNAMID plane in the area of Jebel Moon, West Darfur State, and was forced to return to its base. The rebel movement said it believed it had been from the government’s Central Reserve Police.

The hybrid peacekeeping mission reported today that white helicopter not marked with the UN emblem or any identifiable markings was seen Monday flying over a southern area of North Darfur state, where the majority of villages are controlled by the rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) faction led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur.

The government is using planes painted white to make them look like U.N. aircraft to bomb and carry out surveillance of villages in the violence-torn western region. Since April last year a group of experts charged with the implementation of UN resolution 1591 cited such practices in a report to the Security Council.

The European Union also expressed concern about the interruption of humanitarian assistance in affected areas, particularly in Jebel Marra.

The statement called on the Sudanese parties to commit themselves to the ceasefire and to observe the international humanitarian law, conventions on human rights and Security Council resolutions.

They must in particular ensure humanitarian workers and to UNAMID free access to these areas, and the free exercise by UNAMID its mandate to protect civilians, said the statement.

(ST)