UN human rights envoy to Sudan voices concern over abuses in Abyei, elsewhere

June 8, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The UN human rights specialist for Sudan, Mohamed Othman Chande, has once again expressed serious concerns over widespread abuses in the country, highlighting reports of rape in the hotly contested region of Abyei after its seizure by north Sudan army last month.

In a news conference on Wednesday, at the end of his third visit to the country since his appointment in 2009, Chande pointed out that he had received reports of “killings, rape and other forms of inhuman and degrading treatment during and subsequent to the attack” on Abyei.

North Sudan army on May 21 occupied the region of Abyei in response to an attack carried out two days earlier on its troops by the army of South Sudan, which claims ownership of the oil-producing region.

“I visited Abyei and I am concerned not only of the destruction, massive displacement of the residents, and the attendant human rights crisis, but also the future status and security of the residents of Abyei,” the Tanzanian judge told the news conference.

Reports indicate that thousands of Abyei residents have fled the area since the fighting started amid lack of verifiable information due to restrictions imposed by the Sudanese government on access the area.

The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) this week reported continuation of looting in the region, prompting an angry response by the northern army whose spokesman warned the mission against spreading “misleading reports.”

Chande also complained of the “strictly limited” humanitarian assistance to IDPs in south Darfur, saying that they had not received aid since January. He also noted that the continuation of emergency laws in the western region has curtailed “fundamental rights and freedoms, [including] arbitrary arrests and prolonged detentions without judicial oversight.”

Sudan has been lobbying to have the mandate of Chande terminated, but the UN expert’s critical view of the situation in the country is likely to see his mandate extended.

Chande expressed disappointment that his request to meet with the country’s head of intelligence and security services, Mohamed Atta, was turned down for the second time after his previous trip in March.

The UN expert also demanded that the Sudanese government lifts restrictions on the freedom of press and expression, and said that all detainees must be either released or brought to trial.

Chande further directed criticism at the government of South Sudan, expressing serious concern over reports of human rights abuses “perpetrated by the police and security forces of south Sudan during fighting with rebel militias in the south.

(ST)