Current tribal conflicts ‘product of NCP policies’: Darfur lawyers

The current ongoing tribal conflicts in Darfur are a historical product of National Congress Party (NCP) policies, the National Democratic Alliance of Lawyers has said in a press statement. “The fighting in Darfur is a natural product of the NCP’s arming of particular tribal groups with various types of heavy and light weapons in order to confront the rebels in proxy wars,” the Alliance said. “These absurd wars led to the displacement of people to camps in localities throughout Darfur; now the authorities speak uselessly about voluntary return of the displaced people.” The Alliance of Lawyers asserts that in the first quarter of 2003, it presented a memorandum to the then Governor of South Darfur, Adam Hamid Musa, warning of the consequences of arming irregular forces and tribal groups and the danger it might cause to security. “The authorities still perused that policy in spite of our warning, which is now reflected in these absurd tribal wars, the killing of innocent people, and robbing and terrorising citizens in their homes and markets.” The statement continues, underscoring that Darfur is still experiencing “broad and systematic human rights violations under the State of Emergency imposed on the region since 2003”. The Alliance appeals to all tribes “to stop fighting each other, unite around their legitimate cause in sharing power and wealth, direct their struggle to overthrow the authority of the NCP and create a democratic alternative. This would provide them with security, safety and protect their rights and dignity without discrimination on the basis of race, colour or political opinion,” the statement concludes.File photo