To Make Peace: Govt must relief DarFur, end repression, and fFree detainees

SHRO-CAIRO

In the world’s celebrations of the International Declaration of Human Rights, the Sudan Human Rights Organization Cairo Office reaffirms its grave concerns for the situation of human rights in the Sudan, in general, and the escalated humanitarian crisis of DarFur, in particular – as clearly indicated in our Quarterly Report, in addition to authenticated reports by the human rights and democracy groups all over the world.

The Organization takes this opportunity to urge the Sudan Government and the Sudanese opposition groups to work together, in close collaboration, to enhance the national process of peace towards the establishment of the regular democracy and the rule of law that, nothing less, will ensure the just and permanent peace for the nation as a whole.

We urge the warring parties of the government troops and militias, as well as the opposition’s armed groups, to honor the approved humanitarian and cease-fire agreements to save the lives of the victimized civilians in the war zones.

Noting with concerns the government’s hostile stands against relief agencies, the Organization urges the authorities to take appropriate measures to improve administrative relations with the humanitarian agencies and the human rights groups, in and outside the country, to help the needy population.

Emphasizing the Sudanese Appeal to the World on the Human Crisis of Darfur (August 2004) to the Government, the International Community, and the Sudan Friends, SHRO-Cairo asks the competent authorities to strengthen with all state powers and legal capacities the Process of Peace for whose sake the Government of Sudan is strongly urged to immediately:

 Release all political prisoners and detainees, including the al-Mutamar al-Sha’bi leader Dr. Hassan Dafa’-Allah al-Turabi and the detained members of his opposition group, the DarFur military personnel, the NDA’s ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Khalid Osman, and the other opponents of the regime who are evidently subjected to interrogation and harassment by the State Security Department, the Attorney General’s Chamber, and other authority bodies.

 Abrogate the protracted anti-peace State of Emergency, the Law of Public Order, and the other arsenal of repressive laws that have been largely abused by the authorities to repress the freedom of the press and the other rights and freedoms; and

 Allow full enjoyment of the international human norms and the best of Sudan laws for the civil society groups and all members of the displaced citizens in the cities or in the other areas of the country to participate freely in the peace process, exercise peaceful assemblies and cultural rights, and promote with the DarFur Call and the other non-governmental efforts the Community’s yearning to support the victims of DarFur and to bring the lasting peace and the good governance all over the country.

Appeal to the World on the Human Crisis of Darfur

The Undersigned appeal to the world, to the civil societies, the labor and trade unions, and all social forums and peoples’ democracy, peace, and human rights organizations to join this Call to stop the human suffering of the Sudanese people in Darfur, Western Sudan. We hold the government of Sudan fully responsible for the perpetration of the civilian atrocities in Darfur.

Aware of the tragic dimensions of the Darfur’s Crisis, which amounts to state-led genocide as it has increasingly perished the lives of thousands as well as the displacement of a million citizens seriously endangered with illness, starvation, and death, the Undersigned support the principles of international intervention for the creation of Peace Corridors in Darfur under the auspices and the ongoing monitoring of the United Nations and the African Union.

The safety of Darfur Peace Corridors must be guaranteed by monitors from the African Union with the backing of the United Nations. The Sudan Government should be held responsible for all security matters along the Corridors. As the main responsible party, the government must be accountable before the United Nations Security Council for all breaches of security along the Peace Corridors.

We call for the creation of safe havens, full re-instating of the victimized indigenous population into their misappropriated lands and for the simultaneous removal of recently settled government militia and their supporters from such lands. Legal, administrative, and financial compensation and humanitarian aid for these victimized people must be fully ensured before they return to their identified homes. We call for the immediate enforcement of these urgent measures with clearly defined mission and objectives.

We hold the government responsible for the perpetration of the conflict in Darfur: the urgent tasks facing us now are to alleviate the present plight of the Darfur victims and to lay the blame for the present humanitarian crisis squarely on the Sudan government. We call on the competent authorities to apprehend and to put on trial all of the war criminals who committed heinous crimes – including killing and other bodily injury, burning of homes, crops and entire villages, looting and pillage, branding and mass rape of women and children – against the innocent civilians of Darfur.

The Darfur war criminals, and their main accomplices, whether Janjaweed militias or government officials, must be fairly tried before an international war crimes tribunal. These trials should be independent, publicly supported, and guided by the principles of international law and customary law.

We believe the final resolution to end the Darfur conflict lies mainly with the Sudanese people. We have no doubt that the Sudanese will end the current dictatorial regime, and will fulfill their aspirations for democracy and the peaceful resolution of all conflicts within the Sudan’s borders. Therefore, we ask the international community to support all efforts of the Sudanese people to bring a comprehensive, lasting and just peace to that presently deeply troubled country.