Central Darfur displaced protest against ‘re-planning’ camps
Residents of Bindisi camp for the displaced in Central Darfur on Monday morning went to the streets in a mass demonstration to protest against the authorities’ decision to move a grain silo from the camp to the locality’s main office site. The displaced of Ras Ronga camp, Wadi Salih locality, accuse the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) of forcing them to accept a plan to restructure the camp into a “model village”. Speaking to Radio Dabanga one of the Bindisi camp sheikhs reported that security and police troops in two Land Cruisers, mounted with Dushka machineguns, and others on motorcycles arrived on Monday to move a grain silo located near the camp. The silo was to be transported to an area south of Bindisi, at about 3km from the camp. The sheikh said that camps residents tried to prevent the troops taking the silo, by throwing stones and beating them with batons. The security forces responded by firing live bullets, and using tear gas and batons to disperse the demonstrators. The confrontation resulted in the injury of El Faki Musa (70) who was shot in his left leg. Others were slightly injured. One of the motorcycles was set on fire. According to the sheikh, the moving of the silo is part of a plan to dismantle Bindisi camp, especially since the authorities have already relocated the health centre and the grand market of the camp. Five water pumps in the camp have been disabled. The sheikh emphasised that the 26,000 camp residents insist on keeping the silo, explaining that it belongs to the World Food Programme, and not to “the government”. He added that the authorities should think twice before coming again to move the silo. Model village In Central Darfur, the coordinator of the Zalingei camps for the displaced in Central Darfur told Radio Dabanga that the DRA is forcing the Ronga Tas camp residents in Wadi Salih locality to accept the re-planning of the camp into a “model village”. He accused the DRA of implementing the agenda of the ruling National Congress Party. “The DRA uses threats and intimidation to force the 48,012 Ronga Tas camp residents to accept the restructuring of the camp. The camp’s Coordination Committee strongly condemns these practices, which are immoral, inhumane, nor related to religion in any way.” “We hold the authorities and the DRA responsible for the violence used against the displaced,” he added. File photo by Albert González Farran/Unamid Related:Two dead, 24 injured as security forces fire on demonstrators in Central Darfur (17 February 2014) More sheikhs arrested who reject West Darfur camp planning (14 February 2014) Sheikh arrested after West Darfur displaced eject ‘planning experts’ (5 February 2014)Plans to close Nyala camps and house South Darfur displaced in ‘model villages’ (5 November 2013)Darfur displaced question value of ‘model villages’ (24 October 2013)
Residents of Bindisi camp for the displaced in Central Darfur on Monday morning went to the streets in a mass demonstration to protest against the authorities’ decision to move a grain silo from the camp to the locality’s main office site. The displaced of Ras Ronga camp, Wadi Salih locality, accuse the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) of forcing them to accept a plan to restructure the camp into a “model village”.
Speaking to Radio Dabanga one of the Bindisi camp sheikhs reported that security and police troops in two Land Cruisers, mounted with Dushka machineguns, and others on motorcycles arrived on Monday to move a grain silo located near the camp. The silo was to be transported to an area south of Bindisi, at about 3km from the camp.
The sheikh said that camps residents tried to prevent the troops taking the silo, by throwing stones and beating them with batons. The security forces responded by firing live bullets, and using tear gas and batons to disperse the demonstrators. The confrontation resulted in the injury of El Faki Musa (70) who was shot in his left leg. Others were slightly injured. One of the motorcycles was set on fire.
According to the sheikh, the moving of the silo is part of a plan to dismantle Bindisi camp, especially since the authorities have already relocated the health centre and the grand market of the camp. Five water pumps in the camp have been disabled. The sheikh emphasised that the 26,000 camp residents insist on keeping the silo, explaining that it belongs to the World Food Programme, and not to “the government”. He added that the authorities should think twice before coming again to move the silo.
Model village
In Central Darfur, the coordinator of the Zalingei camps for the displaced in Central Darfur told Radio Dabanga that the DRA is forcing the Ronga Tas camp residents in Wadi Salih locality to accept the re-planning of the camp into a “model village”.
He accused the DRA of implementing the agenda of the ruling National Congress Party. “The DRA uses threats and intimidation to force the 48,012 Ronga Tas camp residents to accept the restructuring of the camp. The camp’s Coordination Committee strongly condemns these practices, which are immoral, inhumane, nor related to religion in any way.”
“We hold the authorities and the DRA responsible for the violence used against the displaced,” he added.
File photo by Albert González Farran/Unamid
Related:
Two dead, 24 injured as security forces fire on demonstrators in Central Darfur (17 February 2014)
More sheikhs arrested who reject West Darfur camp planning (14 February 2014)
Sheikh arrested after West Darfur displaced eject ‘planning experts’ (5 February 2014)
Plans to close Nyala camps and house South Darfur displaced in ‘model villages’ (5 November 2013)
Darfur displaced question value of ‘model villages’ (24 October 2013)
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