‘Stop aerial bombardment of civilians in Sudan’: civil society group

A group of Sudanese and international civil society organisations working for Sudan have expressed their concern about the bombardment of civilians in Darfur, the Blue Nile, and the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan, and the recruitment of minors in order to integrate them in the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Under Elie Wiesel’s motto “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim”, the group issued a press statement today (Monday), calling for the immediate stoppage of aerial bombardments on “innocent civilians”, and “the recruitment of children and others along tribal lines for induction in militias and paramilitary forces, such as the Rapid Support Forces”. According to the civil society group, the government of Sudan has dropped over 3,000 bombs since April 2012 on residential areas in Darfur, South Kordofan, and the Blue Nile State, and millions of people in those areas are in need of humanitarian assistance. Referring to the “history of genocide in the Darfur region”, the group states that the “Government of Sudan is continuously committing major atrocities in avoidable wars in Nuba Mountains/South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur. These conflicts have now affected over six million people. The violence that the government is inflicting on the people of Nuba Mountains/South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Darfur will undermine any serious attempt for genuine national reconciliation and threaten the unity of Sudan. The government has primary responsibility for the well-being of its citizens and any violence conducted by rebel/opposition forces is in no way comparable in scale or design.” The group calls upon all Sudanese citizens, and national, regional, and international actors to join them, and put pressure on the Sudanese government to:   “Stop the indiscriminate aerial bombardments in Nuba Mountains/South Kordofan, Blue Nile and the Darfur regions.” “Protect civilians, and respect international human rights and humanitarian law in particular the principles of proportionality and distinction between military and civilian targets. Remove all restrictions on humanitarian access and allow immediate delivery of humanitarian relief to the people trapped by war in the Nuba Mountains/South Kordofan and the Blue Nile.” “Allow an international independent investigation into the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the systematic bombing of civilians, in the Nuba Mountains/South Kordofan and the Blue Nile.” “Encourage the promotion of truth, justice and reconciliation. If Sudan is to come to terms with its violent past, space must be provided for an independent and inclusive process of truth, justice and reconciliation.” The statement was signed by the African Centre for Justice Peace and Studies (ACJPS), the Blue Nile Centre for Human Rights and Peace (BNC), the Darfur Bar Association, the Darfur Refugee Association in Uganda (DRAU), the Funj Youth Development Association (FYDA), the Human Rights and Development Organization (HUDO), the Human Rights Court South Kordofan and Blue Nile, the International Refugee Rights Initiative (IRRI), the Nuba Mountain Association in Uganda, the Sudan Consortium, the Sudan Democracy First Group (SDFG), and the Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Agency (SRRA). For more information the group refers to the website of the SDFG. File photo: Sudan Democracy First Group Related:Woman killed in air strike on nomads’ camp in Darfur’s East Jebel Marra (4 September 2014)‘Dangerous culture of impunity in Sudan’: Amnesty (4 September 2014)Sudan’s militia recruits more than 3,000 minors in South Kordofan (27 August 2014) Woman dies as Sudan air force bombs East Jebel Marra (24 August 2014) Polluted water kills children, cattle in Darfur’s East Jebel Marra (24 August 2014)