UN expresses alarm over ongoing human rights violations in Southern Kordofan

[News_Editor]

UN expresses alarm over ongoing human rights violations in Southern Kordofan

2011-07-23 03:46:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations (UN) on Friday expressed alarm over reports of mass killings in the Southern Kordofan region of Sudan and human rights violations.

Southern Kordofan lies in Sudan but borders the newly independent South Sudan. The Nubans have reportedly faced exclusion, marginalization and discriminatory practices that have resulted in their opposition to the Sudanese Government, the UN said.

Gay McDougall, the UN's Independent Expert on minority issues, said the group of experts was gravely concerned by "what appears to be strong evidence that atrocities are being carried out right now" and appealed for an immediate cessation of the violence and called for an urgent investigation in Southern Kordofan.

In addition, McDougall said credible reports indicated that "civilians as well as combatants are being killed and targeted for gross and widespread human rights violations by Sudanese Government forces."

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which released the experts’ comments, said "reports suggest that Nuban and dark-skinned people of Southern Kordofan face killings, arbitrary arrest and detentions, disappearances, abductions, attacks on churches and aerial bombardment."

Last week, Ivan Å imonovic, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, said the UN had received "very disturbing" reports from the region that include indiscriminate aerial attacks, shelling, abductions, extrajudicial killings and mass graves in fighting between Government forces and members of the Sudan People's Liberation Army. According to media reports, as many as 100 civilians could be buried in mass graves.

McDougall stated that "worrying reports indicate that persons particularly of Nuban descent have been targeted and killed in incidents that, if they are proved, may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity by those who have planned and perpetrated such acts." She also called for a thorough and independent investigation with free and unfettered access to the region.

On July 9, the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan came to an end after South Sudan became independent, and the Security Council created a UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan. However, the new mission does not have a mandate to operate in Sudan.

Furthermore, the Sudanese Government has repeatedly denied the UN access to the area since the violent confrontations began early last month, Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said last week.

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