Relatives of Khor Ramla hostages call for release

Relatives of the citizens who were abducted by pro-government militias in Khor Ramla, Central Darfur two weeks ago, appealed through Radio Dabanga to UNAMID and international organizations to act for the release of the hostages. The citizens were kidnapped from Milo area, south of Kabkabiya, while they were heading to Golo area in two trucks. Radio Dabanga reported two weeks ago that the kidnappers demanded 30 million Sudanese Pounds (SDG) for the release of each passenger, under the pretext that they were relatives of the perpetrators who killed the kidnappers’ relatives in the area of Jebel ‘Aamer. In this incident, nine gold miners were killed by unidentified gunmen. It has been reported that the kidnappers use their hostages as slaves for work on the plantations and that next to being subjected to forced labor, they are subjected to torture. The hostages’ relatives demanded, through Radio Dabanga, from international organizations to act for the release of their relatives. At the same time, they hold the government of Sudan (GoS) responsible for what will happen to their relatives.The incident was reported to both the local authorities and UNAMID; but neither managed to hunt down the perpetrators nor tried to have the hostages released, the relatives added to Radio Dabanga.Related content: Gunmen request 2.7 billion ransom (20 September, 2012)