The Darfur Monitor. Weekly Darfur Summary Report

Transcription

1 The Darfur Monitor December 4-10, 2011 Weekly Darfur Summary Report Security Situation General Rape cases December 5: (Radio Dabanga) An armed group raped an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) from Jebelain camp in Qarsla, West Darfur on Sunday while she was working on her farm in Wadi Mara, 3 kilometers south of the camp. A witness stated that the gunmen took turns in raping the displaced person. No complaint was filed at the police as it is believed that no procedure would be carried anyway as has been the case out as in previous incidents. Abu Tira soldier shoots in IDP camp December 6: (Radio Dabanga) An Abu Tira soldier (central reserve force personnel) opened fire in North Darfur s IDP Zamzam on Monday. No one was hurt in the incident. The soldier was arrested by the police. Policeman killed in attack December 7: (Radio Dabanga) A policeman was killed in the city of Nertiti on Monday after an attack on the old market s guard post in the neighborhood of Omda by a group of 5 armed men attacking the post. According to citizens from the town, the mayor declared a curfew from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. immediately after the policeman s burial on Monday evening, and added that security forces would fire at anyone violating this measure without prior notice. 1

2 Armed group attacks IDPs December 9: (Radio Dabanga) An armed group of five attacked, beat up and looted several IDPs at Ban Jedid Camp, Serbra locality, Western Darfur who were on their way home from the market. Central Reserve Forces search house, injure IDP December 9: (Radio Dabanga) The house of IDP Hater Mansour Tabor from Zamzam camp was attacked and his family threatened by the Central Reserve Forces. When several other displaced came to inquire about what was going on, the forces started to fire randomly, injuring Tabor. Darfur Association student rally attacked December 10: (Radio Dabanga) At least 22 students were injured in Imam Elmahadi University in Jazeera Aba during an attack by students affiliated to the National Congress Party (NCP) armed with knives, sticks and batons on a protest rally organized by the students of Darfur Association on Friday to demand an apology from the NCP students for previous abuses and inappropriate descriptions of Darfuris. Dr Eljak Nour, dean of the faculty of arts at the university, confirmed the clashes in a press conference and attributed the cause to be verbal difference between students during the political rally. Tribal level Banditry Car robbed December 4: (Radio Dabanga) Six people were injured during an armed robbery of a car on the way from Kerenk to the city of El Geneina on Sunday night in the area of Arhad Nabq, between Kerenk and El Geneina. Gunmen opened fire randomly at the car. All six passengers were wounded, including the driver; they were taken to El-Geneina hospital for treatment. Witnesses reported that the armed group robbed 1,5 million Sudanese Pounds from passenger Mohammad Issa as well as money and belongings of the other passengers. Rebels vs. Government SLJM and JEM sign alliance agreement December 5: (Radio Dabanga) The agreement for an alliance between the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudanese Liberation Movement for Justice (SLMJ) has been made official. Representatives (SLMJ leader Dr. Musa Taj Din Hassan and JEM Vice-President Ahmed Adam Bakhit) of 2

3 both groups signed an accord. The two movements hope to mobilize all forces of resistance and change in Sudan in order to topple the current NCP regime. They also aim to achieve structural change within the government, eliminate all forms of political marginalization, economic downfall and social constraints. SAF warns rebels, increases troops December 6: (Radio Dabanga) The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) warned all armed Darfur rebel forces daring to break the region s established security measures would immediately become the target of the SAF. SAF spokesperson Col. Sawarmi Khalid announced the intensification of SAF troops across all sectors of Darfur s three states, in addition to an increase of checkpoints and the doubling of the number of forces along the South Sudan border and border counties. He further said the rebel factions were now limited to small areas around Wadi Hor (North Darfur), with no presence within large cities and counties. The rebel forces mocked the SAF s decision, saying the battle against the Sudanese Government was taking place in Khartoum, not Darfur, the aim being to topple the regime of Al Bashir. Peace & Justice Reactions to ICC arrest warrant for Sudanese defense minister December 5: (Radio Dabanga) The Ministry of Justice considered the request of the Prosecutor of the ICC for the arrest warrant of Defense Minister General Abdul Rahim Mohammed Hussein as a political decision and a selective decision that lacks legal ground and containing clear politicization of justice in terms of timing and events taking place in Sudan. The armed forces asserted in a statement that the targeting of the Minister of Defense was targeting to the armed forces but the arrest warrant would not affect the morale of the Sudanese army. Displaced people in camps in Qarsla coming from Deleij, Arola, Mukjar and Bendasi confirmed that Minister Abdul Rahim has committed the crimes he is accused of and recruited militias with Ahmed Haroun. Imam Saddig Elmahadi, the leader of the National Umma Party called for an investigation of all crimes committed in Darfur and for achieving justice. AU opposes Kenyan court ruling on Bashir arrest warrant December 5: (Sudan Tribune) The African Union (AU) has reiterated its opposition to the ICC prosecution of the president of Sudan, Omer al-bashir, in light of the political furor surrounding an opposing ruling from a Kenyan court. The AU released a statement on 4 December calling for a cessation of hostilities which began when a Kenyan court called for Bashir s arrest on 28 November. Despite the Kenyan Foreign Minister describing the court s ruling as a "judgment in error," Sudan recalled its ambassador from Nairobi and called for the expulsion of his Kenyan counterpart from Khartoum. The Kenyan court had the case brought before it in 2010 by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) a human rights non-governmental organization. The Inter-Governmental Authority on 3

4 Development (IGAD) was quick to condemn the actions of the Kenyan court which it said in a statement puts the fragile peace processes undertaken by IGAD at great risk. The AU "fully associates" itself with the IGAD line on the matter and the chairperson of the commission of the AU, Jean Ping, calls upon the governments of Sudan and Kenya to leave no stone unturned to clear any misunderstanding and defuse tension between their two countries. Signatories of the Rome Statute, upon which the ICC is based and of which Kenya is one, are obliged to enforce its rulings. Amongst international outcry in August 2010, Bashir traveled to Nairobi unimpeded. Chadian president says time for peace in Darfur has come December 5: (Sudan Tribune) Chadian president Idris Deby said on Monday that bilateral relations with neighboring Sudan are strategic stressing that time has come for peace in Darfur. Deby arrived in the Sudanese capital on Monday and was received by President Omer al-bashir at Khartoum Airport. The atmosphere of good relations dominated the reunion, reminiscent of the years of close brotherhood between the two leaders before Speaking to the media on Monday evening, Bashir and Deby, both said they discussed issues related to economic and security cooperation and that strategic "relations are at their best." Speaking about Darfur, Deby reiterated his support to the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) and stressed the peace agreement created a situation of calm and security, ending the war and violence in the region. "The people of Darfur understood well that the time of peace has come, and there is no room for (more) violence, further said. There were no official statements on security issues. However, informed sources said the Chadian president convinced Sudanese rebels not to reignite violence in Darfur and to seek a negotiated settlement with Khartoum. In a separate meeting with the head of the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) Tijani el-sissi who signed the DDPD, the visiting president discussed ways to establish security in Darfur. The head of Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) also said he had discussed the return of 400,000 Sudanese refugees disclosing he will pay a visit soon to Ndjamena to prepare the return of Darfurians to their homeland. Sudan said it boycotted Washington workshop on Darfur in order not to give rebels legitimacy, JEM slams the comments December 4: (Sudan Tribune) The Sudanese government said it did not participate in a Washington workshop on peace in Darfur in order to not give rebel groups legitimacy. DRA head Tijani el-sissi met with President Omer Hassan al-bashir on Sunday to brief him about the outcome of a workshop on "the State and Direction of the Darfur Peace Process" organized by the US Institute of Peace in cooperation with the US State Department on November. The workshop agreed on the need to include the other rebel groups in the DDPD, and to implement urgently a number of issues (compensation, justice, free hand to the DRA) in order to give the framework document more credibility. However, rebel representatives during the insisted on a holistic approach saying it was important to negotiate the problem of the whole of Sudan in terms of governance, power and wealth sharing. Speaking after the meeting, Amin Hassan Omer said the government did not take part in the workshop because it "does not want to give these (rebel) movements a legitimacy they miss." "We do not want to join a discussing table where rebel movements say they want to overthrow the regime," he added. December 6: (Sudan Tribune) The JEM on Tuesday slammed statements by Sudan s former chief negotiator for Darfur Amin Hassan Omer. JEM s adviser on foreign relations Ahmed Hussein Adam said Omer s statements reflect a state of disillusion. It is the regime in Sudan and its head that is wanted 4

5 by the International Criminal Court for genocide in Darfur, Hussein said. Under normal circumstances we would not sit with a regime like this but for the sake of peace and because we believe in engagement we sat for negotiations. But the fact remains that the regime is inciting conflicts throughout the country he added. The JEM official also claimed Omer has been privately pushing his government to participate in the workshop but his request was brushed aside. The Washington workshop was meant to bring together signatories and non-signatories alike of the DDPD signed in July. According to Adam, the workshop participants agreed the Darfur problems could only be resolved as part of a holistic approach to the crises engulfing Sudan. Most the also agreed that the DDPD is not inclusive and needs to incorporate other rebel groups and stakeholders. Sissi: success of DDPD depends on return of IDPs and refugees December 6: (Sudan Tribune) DRA chairman Tijani el-sissisaid in Khartoum on Tuesday that peace in Darfur depends on the return of IDPs and refugees to their place of origin or choice and the closure of IDP camps in Darfur. The DDPD provides for the payment of compensations to the IDPs and refugees and the facilitation of voluntary return to their villages of origin or any other place they choose. The government is also committed, in accordance to the document, to establish the security, political and economic conditions to ensure the return. In a briefing to the Council of States, the upper house, Sissi pointed out the importance of creating the necessary conditions to ensure the freedom of IDPs and refugees to return to their homes or to settle at any place of their choice and underscored the need to stop violence and to disarm militias and other groups and limit their use to official agencies. In regard to the makeup of the DRA, Sissi said the regional authority will include all the ethnic groups in a way to reflect the different components of Darfur. He further expressed his willingness to resign from his position as chairman of the regional authority to JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim in order to achieve peace and security in Darfur. Moreno-Ocmapo: Government of Sudan will be held accountable December 6: (Radio Dabanga) ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo stated in an interview with Radio Dabanga that the Sudanese government will, sooner or later, be held accountable for its crimes before the court. The people of Darfur should know that a prosecutor is working for their case, he said. Court drops major charges of Darfuris accused of collaborating with Radio Dabanga, Sudanese justice minister orders all charges against to be dropped December 4: (Radio Dabanga) A Khartoum court today released three Darfurians accused of collaborating with Radio Dabanga, an independent radio station reporting on the situation in Darfur. They are part of a group of seven Darfurians who were first arrested in 2010 by the Sudanese security services and were repeatedly tortured during their detention. The court dismissed the prosecution s charges against four of the defendants: Zakaria Yagoub, Abdelrahman al Gassim, Khalid Ishaq and Adam al Nur Adam. Three others, Abdelrahman Adam Abdelrahman, Gaafer al Sabky, and Kwather Abdel Haj were ordered released, but remain charged with the lesser offenses of 'undermining security and public order' and 'spreading lies,' which carry a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment. The seven originally faced charges including conspiracy against the state and espionage, punishable by the death penalty or life imprisonment. Several detainees were released without charges after several months detention. The others were held in detention at undisclosed locations. In June 2011, charges 5

6 were brought against the remaining seven. The prosecutor alleged that the detainees had been illegally broadcasting from a studio in Khartoum. Court sessions were repeatedly delayed at the prosecution s request as witnesses could not be produced. On December 4, the court heard from prosecution witnesses and allowed cross-examination of the detainees, before moving to dismiss most charges. The next court session is scheduled for December 13 on the lesser charges of threatening security and public order (article 63 of the Penal Code) and spreading lies (article 66). December 8: (Radio Dabanga, Sudan Tribune) The Sudanese minister of justice Mohamed Bushara Dusa on Thursday stopped criminal proceedings against seven journalists working for Radio Dabanga and against journalist Jaffar Al Sabki working for the Khartoum-based Arabic daily Al-Sahafah charged with "undermining the constitutional system" and "calling for violent resistance of the state." The defendants were arrested on 30 October 2010 as Sudanese security agents raided the office of the Human Rights and Democracy Network in Khartoum 2 area. Dousa stated on Thursday that he ordered to halt the criminal proceeding and take all the necessary measures to end the case, saying the decision came in line with the directives of President Omer al-bashir to uphold press freedom and provide amnesty for all journalists accused of offending public order. Sources close to the case in Khartoum said Bashir was approached by influential journalists in Khartoum to issue a presidential pardon. The General Union of Sudanese journalists, a pro- government body, praised the amnesty saying it comes in line with the new era which calls all the Sudanese to resolve their differences through dialogue. Radio Dabanga, which is one of few media outlets still reporting on the Darfur conflict, was seen by the government as a tool used by the rebels to communicate with Darfuris. Calls for release of all Darfur crisis related prisoners December 10: (Radio Dabanga) To commemorate World Justice Day, the Darfur Lawyers Association on Friday called for the release all those sentenced, imprisoned or under trial in cases related to the Darfur crisis. Head of the association Mohammed Abdulla Duma said the body demands the release of all the arrested Darfuris and Sudanese prisoners of conscience, currently held in different parts of the country by the ruling regime. He further called on the government to respect and implement human rights laws and give room for political freedom as well as lift all restraints that limit political practice, freedom of expression, media and opinion. Prisoners, human rights activists, refugees and displaced people described the humanitarian situation in Sudan in general and Darfur in particularly as terrible and still deteriorating with human rights non-existent, stressing that no justice and freedom would come to Sudan unless the regime was changed. Humanitarian Situation World Food Program answers to allegation in regard to IDP re-registration December 5: (Radio Dabanga) Adham Muslim, the director of the coordination World Food Program (WFP) said the re-registration cards of the displaced people in the province was part of a full strategy and program of the WFP to modernize and renew the data of the IDPs. The data was renewed to 6

7 assess the food situation and determine adequate food rations for displaced people as well as to learn of new births and the number of those who lost their cards or had their cards destroyed, Muslim said, since it now was seven years since the last registration. Donor countries demanded the renewal of the procedures to assess the reality and see what is going on in the province. According to Muslim the registration is also a way of knowing who should be receiving food and the exclusion of non-eligible in addition to taking into account the beneficiaries who were not registered. Adham denied the statements by IDPs the WFP having dropped its responsibility of providing food to the affected people, giving this responsibility to the traders, explaining that traders were just tools for the distribution of food rations. He also denied the existence of any shortage or manipulation of food rations, whether from the WFP or traders noting that the size and quantities of food quota of the displaced people were organized accurately and that there are follow-ups and strict control of traders. He confessed, however, that there were delays in the distribution of food rations and a stop in the activity in Kalma camp in South Darfur because the old registers could not be used any longer and sheikhs of the camp rejected the re-registration process. December 6: (Radio Dabanga) Ali Abdul Rahman, the sheikh supervising the Kalma IDP camp s sheikhs, urged the WFP to provide food for the camp s displaced people: It has been two months since we last received our shares, and there is great suffering in the camp due to the lack of food distribution, especially among women, children and the elderly, he explained. He said the displaced did not reject the idea of reinstating registration cards, but wanted guarantees from WFP officials that these would not be used as an instrument of pressure to make them return to their original villages. The WFP wants to re-register the IDPs in Kalma camp, a process the IDP originally rejected fearing the loss of their only identification document. Fire in camp destroys houses December 5: (Radio Dabanga) A fire broke out in Riyadh camp in El Geneina at 1 a.m. on Monday morning, destroying six houses in sector A of the camp. According to the camp residents, the fire caused extensive damage to property but no casualties. Number of homeless children rises in South Darfur December 6: (Radio Dabanga) The advisor of South Darfur on Women and Children s Welfare and head of the Committee against Gender-based-violence Fatma Konjom revealed that the number of homeless children in Nyala alone has reached 2,873 with poverty and the poor economic status of the state due to the conflict being the major reasons. In addition, she said the state had to deal with an illiteracy rate of 60 per cent. Lack of blanket leading to illness in IDP camp December 6: (Radio Dabanga) Activists in Zamzam IDP camp said about 80 percent of those coming to the health centers every day were children complaining about severe inflammation in their chests due to extreme cold. A lack of blankets and wearing out of the older blankets is reportedly causing the illness. 7

8 213 infected by diphtheria December 10: (Radio Dabanga) The epidemic bacterial diphtheria has spread from North Darfur s Tawaisha to El-laiet Jar Elnabi County and infected at least 213 people in the regions of Fataha, Elmashrout and Shaq El-lieon, sources told Radio Dabanga on Friday. Witnesses and medical aid workers stated the disease spread in the region of Elmashrout West of Haskanita where 72 cases of the disease were registered, adding that a medical team was sent to Elmashrout on Thursday to assess the situation. Development Mineral resources revealed in Darfur December 7: (Radio Dabanga) Sudanese Minister of Mines Abdel Baki Jilani disclosed the presence of gold, diamonds, uranium and copper, along with other minerals in Darfur during an interview with Radio Dabanga. The minister compared the region to a mini Democratic Republic of Congo. Mr. Jilani also announced the signing of an initial agreement between the government and the Indian Mahesh for Mining Ldt. Company which will be given the squares SD11 and SD13 in South Darfur and Nyala for exploration. Acoording to Jilan, the company committed itself to the implementation of a socially responsible project, the provision of a variety of social services such as access to health, education and water as well as the employment of local staff. Repression by the Government

9 Miscellaneous Turabi calls for revolution December 5: (Radio Dabanga) The leader of the Popular Congress Party, Hassan al-turabi, called on the supporters of his party to start a revolution and take to the streets to topple the NCP regime of the and on all political forces to agree on a transition system. Youth protests against 1.3 bn pounds misuse December 6: (Radio Dabanga) The youth of the locality of Ruhaid Berdi in South Darfur renewed their demand for the government of South Darfur to send an audit committee to investigate the alleged misuse of 1.3 billion Sudanese Pounds originally given to the county by the state for development purposes. They also called on the tax office to audit on money it had previously donated to fire victims, as it apparently never reached them. North Darfur prison guards beat rebel inmates after riot December 9: (Radio Dabanga, Sudan Tribune) Sudanese Security forces opened fire on inmates in El- Fasher prison on Thursday when they attempted to prevent the execution of some rebels sentenced to death, rebel and independent sources said. Shala prison authorities in the capital of North Darfur called on some 26 rebels to execute them. However, as rumors were already spread inside the prison, the inmates attempted to prevent the move of the first batch of five prisoners and clashed with the security forces. At least seven inmates were severely injured when the guards and other security forces started to beat the protesters. Sources also said one guard opened fire on the protesters but according to JEM spokesperson Gibreel Adam Bilal the authorities meant to shoot the prisoners and despite the grave injuries sustained by the protesters, the guards put the wounded inmates in small cells and denied them treatment, food and drink for three consecutive days. All 600 prisoners are allegedly also deprived health services, water, and food. The rebels say Khartoum should not execute the prisoners because they are prisoners of war, but the government considers them as common-law prisoners. UNAMID distributes radios to Nyala s vulnerable December 10: (UNAMID) UNAMID in collaboration with the South Darfur State Advisory for Child and Women Affairs, distributed self powered radios to vulnerable people of the local community in Nyala. The handover of the sets to widows and girls took place in the Office of the State Advisor for Women and Children, Fatima Tahir Kenjoum, who thanked UNAMID and described it as an added value to the efforts towards empowering women in South Darfur. The distribution of the radios came as part of the Mission s community outreach programs which target needy communities in Darfur. One of the beneficiaries, Sarah Ahmed, said the radio will help her connect with the world while carrying out her house duties without having to leave home. The UNAMID-donated radios will be distributed to beneficiaries in Nyala and other localities in South Darfur. Self powered by rewinding or solar energy, the sets can run for several hours when fully charged and operate on AM, FM and SW frequencies. For more information, please visit HAND s website at: 9