North Darfur camp residents protest killers’ escape from prison

Residents of the Zamzam camp for the displaced staged a demonstration in front of the police station of the southern section of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, on Sunday.They protested against the escape of four troops of the Central Border Reserve (also known as Abu Tira) convicted for the killing of three camp residents, and demanded from the authorities to immediately pursue and arrest the escapees.   According to the Khartoum based El Mijhar newspaper, the authorities explained in a press conference that the detained Abu Tira troops managed to escape by digging a hole in the prison wall. They did not present any further details about how they dug the hole or what instruments were used.   On 26 November, Abu Tira troops posted at the Zamzam camp, suddenly and without a reason, opened fire on people attending a wedding. When paramedics rushed to help the wounded, they were shot too. Three people died and 14 others were injured. The camp residents earlier reported that since 2011, when the Abu Tira troops were posted at the camp, they have killed more than 20 people in the camp, based on ethnicity. They have been involved in assaults, rapes, and robberies. The residents said that the authorities have not responded to any of their complaints, let alone bringing the offenders to trial. File photo: The patch used by Sudan’s Central Reserve Forces (Abu Tira) shows an eagle with spread wings, clutching a red sun, over an Eye of Horus. The Arabic text below the eagle reads, “Central Reserve: The Police in Service of the People.” (Enough Project/Flickr) Related:Thousands attend funeral of people killed at wedding in Zamzam camp (29 November 2013) Abu Tira fire at wedding party in North Darfur’s Zamzam camp (27 November 2013)