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Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre
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Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre For Immediate Release Geneva, 13th May 2008 Darfur Insurgents Attack Sudan’s capital On Saturday 10th May 2008 a group of armed assailants believed to be members of the Darfur insurgent group Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) attacked Omdurman, Sudan’s twin capital city. Large numbers of government security forces and paramilitary groups were mobilized. The government repulsed the attack some hours after it was launched. This military operation is the first in which Darfur insurgents attack Sudan’s capital and cause panic all over the country. This operation is expected to have serious repercussions on the political crisis in Sudan. We observed an intensive use of the government-controlled media in a public mobilization campaign portraying the assailants as “Chadian mercenaries.” The ongoing campaign is very dangerous as it has the effects of flaring-up ethnic hatred against the people of Darfur. Government sources revealed that at least 400 attackers perished while 100 security men were killed during the confrontations. A few civilian causalities were reported so far. On Monday 12th May government sources indicated that the security forces have arrested between 300 and 400 of the attackers and destroyed or confiscated more than 100 vehicles as well as vast amount of weapons and ammunition. Currently the security forces are conducting a massive manhunt operation all over Sudan particularly in Omdurman, Khartoum and Khartoum North. The security forces declared that it is in search of individuals suspected of taking part in the attack. In this process thousands of men from Darfur, some of them are long time residents of the national capital, were arrested from their homes, places of work or schools, especially in Umbada and other residential areas in Omdurman, Khartoum and Khartoum North. Family members and relatives do not know the fate of the detainees or their whereabouts. It was also reported that Islamicist leader Dr. Hassan Al Turabi and some of his aides were briefly arrested in connection with this attack. DRDC is deeply disturbed by this serious development in the history of the conflict in Darfur. DRDC condemns all kinds of violence and calls for peaceful resolution of armed conflicts. In this regard DRDC once again calls on all parties to the armed conflict in Darfur to engage in genuine political negotiations to end this crisis. DRDC reminds the government of Sudan of its obligations under International Humanitarian Law in particular the provisions of article 3, which are common to the Four Geneva Conventions and which apply in the situation of armed conflict not of international nature. Because of interminable antecedents of summary execution and maltreatment of war captives in Sudan, DRDC urges the international community to ensure that all persons arrested by the government of Sudan in connection with the recent attack against Omdurman are treated according to international law. JEM combatants currently in government custody should be treated as prisoners of war according to international law. The names, identity and whereabouts of all persons in government custody should be made known to competent UN agencies and to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Ends.
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