Sudanese court sentences ten more Darfur rebels to death
April 15, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — A Sudanese special court sentenced to death ten rebels from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) for their participation in an attack against the Sudanese government in Khartoum where more than 220 people were killed last May.
The court stated that the rebels were found guilty of involvement in an attack on Khartoum’s twin city of Omdurman on May 10, 2008. Also the judges ordered the release of three others.
The Sudanese government and the rebel group signed a goodwill agreement last February in Doha providing that the two parties would exchange prisoners of war. Both sides released some of the detained prisoners, as a goodwill gesture.
Reacting to the death sentences, the spokesperson of the rebel movement, Ahmed Hussein Adam condemned the verdicts saying they had been issued by an “Inquisition Court” that was implementing “the political will of the regime.”
He also reminded that the government delegation had agreed in the Doha deal that the detained rebels are prisoners of war and they should be treated as such.
The rebel official further said that these sentences breach the Geneva Convention on the POWs besides the Doha Agreement.
The attack on Khartoum was the first time any rebel group had brought their fight to the capital. The rebels were stopped at bridges over the river Nile a few kilometers (miles) from the presidential palace and army headquarters.
JEM suspended, last month, the peace process brokered by the Qatari government and the joint peace mediator in order to end the six year conflict in Darfur. The Doha agreement meant to create a conducive environment for the peace process through a series of measures to build confidence between the warring parties.
However, the rebel movement accused the Sudanese government of violating the signed deal because of the expulsion of 13 international aid groups working in the region. Sudan justified its decision by saying the NGOs had been cooperating with the International Criminal Court which had issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir.
JEM asked Khartoum to reverse its decision and allow the return of the expelled aid groups while Sudan says it will fill the humanitarian gaps with local organizations.
(ST)
Busta
Sudanese court sentences ten more Darfur rebels to death
Sudan is pretending as if there is justice on the ground.
How could they sent ten Darfur rebels to death yet Bashir is just bulshitting here waiting for ICC day to go and face Saddam rope.
Bahir just enjoy this moment your turn will come soon when we will waiting on TV.
Dear Darfur rebels may almight God take your soul into internal Peace. Amen.
Ben-Fu
Sudanese court sentences ten more Darfur rebels to death
Simple an Arabs wish and a way to kill the black Sudanese and Darfurian.
If black Sudanese don’t form their own strong justice system to question these killing, they will be kills one by one. Our leaders need to question these killing and speak up about hanging 10 men for the sake of one journalist. Do you think this is justice? it just to find ground to kills more people using arabsmailing.
Sudanthinker
Sudanese court sentences ten more Darfur rebels to death
To qualify for the title of POW one must first belong to a state army, not some banditry armed group.
If anybody could be considered a POW then every thief in town could claim to be a POW and hence avoid prosecution and punishment.
I think the blame for the loss of the lives of these 10 Sudanese citizens lies squarely with JEM and its leadership who sent them to Omdurman “to deliver a message”. Well the message has been received as we can see.
Does anyone remember that JEM speaker on BBC saying that they control Omdurman and they are going to take Khartoum in a few hours?
I hope he sees these men today and he gets the “message”.
Didn’t this country have enough of war already?