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The UN accuses SLM-Minnawi faction of torture and detention of Darfur people |
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Friday, 03 August 2007 |
 The United Nations Human Rights special Rapporteur to Sudan, Dr. Sima Samar, has criticized the Sudanese government for limiting the freedom of expression and detaining politicians. Dr. Samar urged the Sudanese government to double its efforts in improving the human rights situation in the Sudan. Speaking to the press in Khartoum Dr. Samar said that the forces affiliated to MinniMinnawi, the senior assistant to the President of the Republic, have committed violations of torture, rape, detentions, and taxation on civilians in Northern Darfur.
"We do receive some violations of human rights by Minni Minnawi people in North Darfur," said Dr. Samar to reporters in Khartoum and added, "as you all heard about some of the violations which took place unfortunately and there is not much accountability to justice on those issues". Dr. Samar emphasised that, "there is taxations, there is torture, they have their own prison, parallel prison to the government prison in the areas which is not according to the DPA he signed". The SLM-Minnawi faction considered the statement of Dr. Sima Samar as not having any documented evidence and it is baseless. Speaking to Miraya FM exclusively, the secretary for political affairs of the SLM-Minnawi faction, Al-Fadil Al-Tijani, said that the movement is having no detention centers in its controlled areas. "I think these accusations are unfounded and lack substantial proofs," Al-Tijani told Miraya FM in an exclusive interview. He further emphsised that, "we hope the human rights and all non-governmental organizations would be accurate in reporting". Al-Tijani said that the profile of the movement in regards to human rights is unblemished and, "it is known that we have no prisons at all". He said that the movement has civil administrations that are responsible for the affairs of the citizens and refugees in the liberated areas by law "and we will never relinquish this law and we even included it in the Abuja Agreement and has become part of the Interim Constitution".
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