Darfur JEM claims POW’s tortured by Khartoum

June 3, 2009 (PARIS) – The Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) published a letter it said was leaked from its POW’s alleging torture and ill treatment by Sudanese authorities.

The prisoners were taken after the JEM bold attack on the Sudanese capital a year ago, that was repelled by Sudanese government forces.

The letter signed by JEM prisoners in the notorious Kober prison said that they were divided into two groups, one of which was subject to mock trials and summarily executed.

“A separate group of 15 members of JEM were executed in a firing squad at the White Nile, Ingaz Bridge on May 11th 2009” the letter read.

JEM prisoners in the other groups described being tortured by “electric shocks, whips, iron bars, dogs and sleep and water deprivation” and other forms of ill treatment.

The letter urges the international community to intervene and secure the release of the prisoners.

Sudan and JEM signed a goodwill agreement last February in the Arab Gulf state of Qatar. The accord states that “the State of Qatar and the AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator will maintain contacts with both parties to workout a time-line for concluding the release” of the POWs.”

However, Khartoum insists that it will only release prisoners after a ceasefire agreement is signed.

(ST)