Conflicting accounts of Zalingei demonstration from Darfur authorities, displaced

The Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) has denied “any trend for re-planning the camps or forcing the displaced to accept the issue”. Speaking to Radio Dabanga from Zalingei, Azahari Shatta, DRA Commissioner for voluntary return, resettlement and reconstruction, stressed that the DRA “not in the process, or planning to do so”. Shatta stressed that “the issue of voluntary return and resettlement of the displaced is optional, voluntary, cannot be realised without the consent and choice of the displaced. The DRA has no desire to force them.” He explained that what occurred in the area of Ronga Tas in Azum locality, Central Darfur, was the result of a package of model services developed there by Qatar for between 15,000 and 20,000 people as top priority for the displaced residing west of this region. “The DRA has not taken any particular measures to resettle the displaced persons of camp Ronga Tas, who can decide on the issue of resettlement themselves.” Full welcome Commissioner Shatta said that during a visit by the DRA head and himself on Tuesday, “the residents and displaced of Bindisi and Mukjar camps voiced their full welcome any ideas which will help them to return to their areas and villages of origin or resettle in Bindisi or Mukjar.” He denied the arrest of any displaced persons or Sheikhs in Darfur because of re- planning, saying: “the entities that promote this information and the purpose of those who stand behind them are known to us”. Shatta also denies that any displaced were killed or wounded at Monday’s peaceful demonstration in Zalingei. He told Radio Dabanga that during the deliberations of the three-day DRA workshop on peace and social security, “a group of more than 50 people came out of camp Hamidiya, crossing the street, shouting slogans against peace, and refusing the deliberations of the workshop. He denied there were any dead or wounded among the protesters. He added that “what has been circulated by some displaced in this regard is far from truth; it as a kind of provocation aroused by entities.” False and fabricated However, the displaced of the Zalingei camps of have strongly refuted Shatta’s version, calling it “false and fabricated”. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, the coordinator of the Central Darfur camps named those shot by government forces at Monday’s demonstrations as Muhamad Ali Yagoub (17), and Mohamed Ibrahim Karkab (30). “The two men were buried on Monday in a cemetery known as Mengabie. Unamid did not respond in spite of being called by leaders of the displaced. “They said that they do not have permission to enter the camp or take pictures of dead bodies. The dead were buried for reasons of hygiene after their relatives were unable to report the incident, or take them to a mortuary for autopsy. “The security forces did not allow the families to leave the camp and go to the city,” he added, stating that eight people are still being treated for injuries at Zalingei, while Abkar Sharif has been transferred to a hospital in Khartoum. Demonstrated peacefullyA witness who attended the demonstration on Monday, as well as participants in the workshop, told Radio Dabanga that the displaced people gathered from early morning not far from the headquarters of camp Hamidiya. They stressing that the displaced people were organised, carrying banners, chanting slogans against the Doha agreement. “They demonstrated peacefully in one place for about four hours. At about midday, the demonstrators turned into the headquarters at the moment when Dr Tijani Sese entered to deliver his speech.” The witness said that the police in charge of securing the conference opened fire in the air and at the demonstrators with Duschka machineguns. Also attested to having visited Zalingei hospital where he saw three wounded with shots in the abdomen and legs.Youth arrested The security services arrested the 17-year-old displaced youth, Mujahid Jaafar Khalil from Camp Hamidiya in Zalingei during the demonstration, one of the leaders of Camp Hamidiya revealed to Radio Dabanga. They have not released him yet. The leader also said that three of the displaced youths from the camp were robbed while on their way to the hospital. “Three Abu Tira militiamen took motorcycles, mobile phones, the food they were carrying, and then beat them with rifle butts.” The Sudanese refugees of eastern Chad camps have denounced the security forces’ excessive use of force against the displacedof Zalingei camps. Haidar Suleiman Gardiya, head of camp Touloum told Radio Dabanga that the refugees condemn the use of force and the killing and wounding of displaced. Gardiya says they hold the Sudanese government responsible. “As experience has shown, the death of the innocent occurs after the signing of each partial agreement”. File photo: A convoy of lorries carry 1,500 displaced returnees from Kalma camp near Nyala, South Darfur, to their original villages in West Darfur in December 2010 (Albert Gonzalez Farran / Unamid) Related: Darfur displaced demand investigation into ‘Zalingei massacre’ (19 February 2014)Murnei displaced reject re-planning of West Darfur camp (19 February 2014)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)