UN mission in Sudan concerned over recent arrests of activists in Darfur

2010-11-04 08:10:54 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations mission in Sudan's Darfur region (UNAMID) on Wednesday expressed its concern over the recent series of arrests of activists and journalists in southern Sudan.

The joint United Nations-African Union mission informed that it also received deeply concerning reports of the closure of the office of a radio station in Khartoum.

"UNAMID calls for the respect of all those detained and arrested and expresses its hope for a swift resolution to the matter," the mission expressed in a statement.

From Saturday until late Monday night, at least 10 activists were arrested in Khartoum just mere weeks ahead of the referendum on the secession of the south. Among the detainees was the lawyer Abderahmane Gassim.

Most of the arrested worked for a local human-rights organization, the Human Rights and Advocacy Network for Democracy (HAND). The charges against the activists have not been disclosed as well as the location where the detainees are being held.

UNAMID was established by the Security Council in 2007 to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes since violence erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and their allied Janjaweed militiamen.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-11-04

No need to worry. Sudan, as an upstanding member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Arab League and Non Aligned Movement group, heartily supports the UN concepts for its people*. Although current President Omar al-Bashir is indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crmes and crimes against humanity, he might be vindicated just a soon as the Arab League and member states of the OIC stop shielding him and he has a court date.

* Conditions apply to this, in particular Christians and humans of darker complexions, commonly referred to in arabic as "kafir" are excluded.