Sudan security thwarts Khartoum anti-rape vigil

Sudanese Security forces prevented a vigil called-out on Tuesday by a group of organisations including the youth branch of the National Consensus Forces (NCF), concerning the allegations of a mass-rape of women and girls in Tabit, North Darfur. The president of the NCF youth branch told radio Dabanga that the vigil was to be held in front of the EU Commission in Khartoum, but “security services occupied the area with dozens of troops to prevent it from occurring.” At a press conference convened in Khartoum on Wednesday by a number of civil society organisations, it was announced that the vigil has been postponed until a later time. Speaking to Radio Dabanga after the conference, Adila Zebuk, head of the Women’s Union in Khartoum, held the Sudanese army and Unamid responsible for the alleged mass-rape of women and girls in Tabit. “Unamid were not fair and honest in their report,” she said, “which denied the events. Unamid is known as a non-neutral system that complies with orders.” She said that the Women’s Union, along with the NCF Youth and other organisations, “will hand-over a memorandum to the EU Commission demanding a re-investigation of the alleged Tabit crimes”. The memo will call for the formation of a neutral and independent investigation commission not including Unamid. “This is because Unamid is not neutral. They receive their limited powers from the government,” she said. Zebuk also suggested that “the delays in the investigation are designed to give the government time to clear all evidence from the scene of the crime.” Women’s activist and member of an organisation against the oppression of women, Dr Ihsan Fagiri, told Radio Dabanga that “what happened to the women of Tabit represents a stain on the conscience of all Sudanese. The event is considered a crime against humanity and a continuation of the abuses of women in Darfur.” She accused Unamid of lacking credibility in its reports, calling on international organisations and civil society to bring pressure on the Sudanese government to act to stop the continuous violence against the women of Sudan and to bring the perpetrators to justice. News photo: Women’s activist Dr Ihsan Fagiri (left) addresses a press conference in Khartoum (Wednesday 12 November 2014) (Radio Dabanga).Related: Darfur rape allegations: EU, Norway call for accountability (12 November 2014)Political parties demand new inquiry into North Darfur rape (12 November 2014)