Protesting Central Darfur students beaten

Protesting students at the University of Zalingei in Central Darfur on Tuesday were subjected to beating by the security forces. One of the students told Radio Dabanga that security forces attacked a group of students at the Zalingei market. The students were distributing leaflets denouncing the “military fees” imposed by the government on traders and shop owners last week in support of military operations. The student said that three of his fellow students were severely beaten. He could not confirm whether any arrests were made because they fled in different directions. On Monday, Radio Dabanga reported that all shops and stalls in the markets of Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur, were closed from Thursday to Sunday, in protest against the imposed “military fees”, of between SDG250 and SDG500 ($44-$87). File photo: Students of the University of El Geneina, West Darfur (Albert Gonzalez Farran/Unamid) Related:21,500 Central Darfur shops closed in protest against ‘army fees’ (20 January 2014)Central Darfur traders denounce ‘fees for military campaigns’ (17 January 2014)