Volker Turk: Its time for generals to stop violence
Follow-up - moatinoon
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said that the ongoing conflict, and the decades of military rule before it, had undoubtedly shown us that military rule would not bring stability to the Sudan. In a statement yesterday at the 54th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, he added that military rule would not promote human rights and not improve the economy, but would generate further disruption and great suffering.
He arbitrarily condemned the arrests of civilians by the parties to the conflict on the pretext of supporting one party or opposing the war, and said that at least 500 persons had been reported missing in Khartoum alone.
Turk said it was time for both generals to stop violence, return to political talks and immediately abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights.
The statement of the representative of human rights in the Sudan reviewed the security and humanitarian situation in the Sudan and the killing of hundreds of civilians in the clashes. RSF had occupied hundreds of civilian buildings, including hospitals and apartments, and many had been used for military purposes over the past five months. He added that in the Khartoum area, three quarters of hospitals were closed because of occupation or damage caused by shelling, or faced with severe shortages of medical supplies. Thousands of public buildings and homes were destroyed as a result of airstrikes and shelling.
In Western Darfur State, he said that ethnic attacks by the Rapid Support Forces and allied Arab militias had killed hundreds of non-Arab civilians mainly from the Masalit communities in the capital, El Geneina, and also in at least eight other locations.
Turk expressed concern at calls by SAF officials for the arming of civilians, including General Al-Burhan, as well as similar calls by community leaders, including the Masalit Sultan. He deplored civilians encouragement to participate in hostilities and must not be exposed to the effects of military operations.
He stressed that the time had come to identify, investigate and hold accountable perpetrators of grave violations and break the cycle of impunity. The failure to hold accountable those responsible for crimes and violations of the past had been a major contributor to the Sudans stability for decades and had ultimately encouraged the current escalation of conflicts.
