Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said that the Sudanese Air Force has continued to indiscriminately bomb civilians in South Kordofan, in a statement released Tuesday.
This is despite a ceasefire declared by Sudanese President Omar al Bashir last week.
Amnesty's Donatella Rovera said:
Daniel Bekele, Africa Director of Human Rights Watch said,
The report by the two groups follows a similar UN report last month, which was dismissed by Sudan.
Sudan has since asked the UN Security Council to delay discussion of South Kordofan, whilst the government completes its own investigation.
See report by Al Jazeera here:
Indiscriminate bombing
The two non-governmental organisations sent researchers to South Kordofan who compiled this report. Whilst on the ground, researchers witnessed almost daily attacks on civilians, as the SAF’s Antonov aircraft manually dropped unguided munitions into areas with no military targets nearby.
Witnesses also reported that there were no fighters of the rebel SPLM-N in the area at the time of the strikes, nor were they located near sites of armed confrontations.
Use of weapons in a civilian area that cannot accurately be directed at a military objective makes such strikes inherently indiscriminate, in violation of international humanitarian law, said Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
Rovera went on to say,
The Sudanese government has also been accused of blocking aid to the tens of thousands of displaced civilians in the region. A small number of UN flights have been allowed into the area, only to evacuate staff, not to deliver aid.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also urged the Council to implement High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay's recommendations, that an independent inquiry into alleged violations of international humanitarian law should be held and the perpetrators brought to account.
This is despite a ceasefire declared by Sudanese President Omar al Bashir last week.
Amnesty's Donatella Rovera said:
"The Sudanese government is literally getting away with murder and trying to keep the outside world from finding out. The international community, and particularly the UN Security Council, must stop looking the other way and act to address the situation."After meeting on August the 19th, the Security Council failed to agree on a statement or action condemning the violence in South Kordofan. This is thought to be largely due to objections from Russia, China and South Africa.
Daniel Bekele, Africa Director of Human Rights Watch said,
“South Africa’s position is especially troubling. As a leading African state, it should not turn its back on African victims in Southern Kordofan. Instead of blocking action, it should lead the charge in the Security Council.”The report led US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland to comment:
“The United States is deeply concerned about reports of continued Sudanese Air Force bombings of civilian areas in Southern Kordofan, despite President Bashir's announcement of a unilateral two-week ceasefire last Tuesday.”Both organisations urged the Security Council to call for an end to the indiscriminate bombings by Sudan and called for “an independent human rights monitoring presence across Southern Kordofan.”
The report by the two groups follows a similar UN report last month, which was dismissed by Sudan.
Sudan has since asked the UN Security Council to delay discussion of South Kordofan, whilst the government completes its own investigation.
See report by Al Jazeera here:
Indiscriminate bombing
The two non-governmental organisations sent researchers to South Kordofan who compiled this report. Whilst on the ground, researchers witnessed almost daily attacks on civilians, as the SAF’s Antonov aircraft manually dropped unguided munitions into areas with no military targets nearby.
Witnesses also reported that there were no fighters of the rebel SPLM-N in the area at the time of the strikes, nor were they located near sites of armed confrontations.
Use of weapons in a civilian area that cannot accurately be directed at a military objective makes such strikes inherently indiscriminate, in violation of international humanitarian law, said Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
Rovera went on to say,
“Indiscriminate attacks in civilian areas and restrictions on humanitarian aid could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Such attacks must cease and independent humanitarian needs assessment and relief delivery must be allowed immediately.”
"These are no longer allegations, these are findings of the world's two biggest human rights organizations."See footage from HRW and Amnesty’s report here:
The Sudanese government has also been accused of blocking aid to the tens of thousands of displaced civilians in the region. A small number of UN flights have been allowed into the area, only to evacuate staff, not to deliver aid.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also urged the Council to implement High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay's recommendations, that an independent inquiry into alleged violations of international humanitarian law should be held and the perpetrators brought to account.
