Sudan

Darfur Diary, by William Schulz, Director AIUSA

September 18 -- I have returned today to Khartoum after three days in South Darfur province investigating the conflict and related human rights abuses there. After arriving in Khartoum last Monday, our high level mission met with government officials, including the Ministers of Justice and Interior, before splitting into two teams and heading to Darfur Wednesday.

Those of us who traveled to Nyala, the provincial capital of South Darfur, spent considerable time in two IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps, the immense Kalma camp where 80-100,000 people have been exiled from their villages, largely as the result of attacks by militia forces commonly known as janjawid, and the much smaller Mosay camp whose residents say they were attacked by rebel forces.

Kalma camp, South Darfur

Kalma camp, South Darfur © Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris

Bill Schulz interviews refugees in Kalma camp. © Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris

Refugees in Kalma camp. © Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris

Kalma camp. © Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris

Mosay camp, South Darfur

Bill Schulz interviews refugees in Mosay camp, South Darfur © Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris

Bill Schulz interviews refugees in Mosay camp. © Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris

We also addressed the cases of prisoners held by the National Security police in Nyala about whom Amnesty has expressed concern because they may have been arrested for political reasons. In particular we were eager to learn more about the cases of two lawyers taken into custody in July who have not been formally charged but who have been told their arrests were due to either criticism of the government or support for the rebel cause. Somewhat to our surprise, we were granted unprecedented access to the National Security prison in Nyala where we inspected the prison and held long private conversations with the two lawyers.

National Security Prison, Nyala

National Security Prison, Nyala

National Security Prison, Nyala © Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris

National Security Prison, Nyala

National Security Prison, Nyala © Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris

National Security Prison, Nyala

National Security Prison, Nyala © Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris

National Security Prison, Nyala

National Security Prison, Nyala © Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris

National Security Prison, Nyala

National Security Prison, Nyala © Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris

Later that day I took up their cases with the Governor of South Darfur and asked for his intervention to arrange their release.

Bill Schulz meets with Governor of South Darfur © Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris

On Friday we met with a group of lawyers who have taken cases of victims of the Darfur conflict, including a farmer who was allegedly assaulted by the police.

Bill meets with lawyers representing victims of the Darfur conflict © Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris

Farmer who was allegedly assaulted by police © Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris

Bill meets with farmer © Evelyn Hockstein/Polaris

Before the conclusion of the mission Monday night, we intend to share our findings from our fieldwork with Sudanese officials and make recommendations related to the conflict.