Amnesty demands prompt investigation of violence against Darfur students
Amnesty International (AI), in a statement released on Tuesday, condemned the use of violence against demonstrating students at the University of Khartoum on Tuesday afternoon. One student died of gunshot wounds. “The Sudanese security forces must immediately stop the use of excessive and unlawful force against protesters,” the statement urged.Ali Abakar Musa Idris, “a third-year economics student, died in hospital after security forces used tear gas and opened fire with live ammunition to disperse a protest he was taking part in at the university this afternoon. Another student has been severely injured, and a further 110 students were reportedly arrested at the protest, against the recent surge of violence in Darfur, that has left an estimated 50,000 people displaced”. “Credible accounts by eyewitnesses at the University of Khartoum point to police and National Security and Intelligence Services (NISS) officers using tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the protesters. The authorities must rein in the security forces and prevent them from using such excessive force in violation of international law and standards,” Netsanet Belay, AI Africa Director of Research and Advocacy stated. “In particular, international standards are clear that firearms must not be used for dispersing protesters. They may be used only in defence against an imminent threat of death or serious injury, and only when less extreme measures are insufficient to achieve this.” “The authorities must launch a prompt and impartial investigation into the events at the University of Khartoum and must ensure that all those responsible for this and other unlawful use of force are held accountable in criminal and disciplinary proceedings,” Belay stressed. “Any members of the security forces responsible for arbitrary or abusive use of force must be prosecuted under criminal law without resort to the death penalty.” Photo: Sudan riot police (Ashraf Shazli/AFP/Getty Images) Related: ‘Darfur students affiliated with armed movements’: security; JEM condemns ‘the crimes’ in Khartoum (12 March 2014) University of Khartoum suspends classes after death Darfur student (12 March 2014) ‘Limited riots at university’: Khartoum police (11 March 2014) One dies as troops fire on Darfuri students in Khartoum (11 March 2014)
Amnesty International (AI), in a statement released on Tuesday, condemned the use of violence against demonstrating students at the University of Khartoum on Tuesday afternoon. One student died of gunshot wounds.
“The Sudanese security forces must immediately stop the use of excessive and unlawful force against protesters," the statement urged.
Ali Abakar Musa Idris, "a third-year economics student, died in hospital after security forces used tear gas and opened fire with live ammunition to disperse a protest he was taking part in at the university this afternoon. Another student has been severely injured, and a further 110 students were reportedly arrested at the protest, against the recent surge of violence in Darfur, that has left an estimated 50,000 people displaced”.
“Credible accounts by eyewitnesses at the University of Khartoum point to police and National Security and Intelligence Services (NISS) officers using tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the protesters. The authorities must rein in the security forces and prevent them from using such excessive force in violation of international law and standards,” Netsanet Belay, AI Africa Director of Research and Advocacy stated.
“In particular, international standards are clear that firearms must not be used for dispersing protesters. They may be used only in defence against an imminent threat of death or serious injury, and only when less extreme measures are insufficient to achieve this.”
“The authorities must launch a prompt and impartial investigation into the events at the University of Khartoum and must ensure that all those responsible for this and other unlawful use of force are held accountable in criminal and disciplinary proceedings,” Belay stressed. “Any members of the security forces responsible for arbitrary or abusive use of force must be prosecuted under criminal law without resort to the death penalty.”
Related:
‘Darfur students affiliated with armed movements’: security; JEM condemns ‘the crimes’ in Khartoum (12 March 2014)
University of Khartoum suspends classes after death Darfur student (12 March 2014)
'Limited riots at university’: Khartoum police (11 March 2014)
One dies as troops fire on Darfuri students in Khartoum (11 March 2014)
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