Reported Beating And Rape Of Foreigners In Western Sudan (1/30/2002)

Credible reports reaching us indicate that nine foreigners, three men and six women, were badly beaten between Geneina and Seraf Umra by Arab militias in the last week. In addition, the six women were raped. The victims' properties, including cameras and documents, were destroyed or stolen. These white people, probably from France, are still in Geneina hospital on the second floor, and are denied contact with others, including their families back home.

Recently some foreigners have been seen in western Sudan, probably all of them accessing the area from Chad. These foreigners appear to be Europeans, mostly it seems French, who are seen in a more favorable light by the government. It appears some of the foreigners intended to check for themselves the reports of serious human rights violations in western Sudan by different human rights organizations and Sudanese community groups in exile.

The Sudanese government relied on its trusted ally, the Arab militia, to terrorize the intrepid foreigners and discourage future adventurers. Also, this crime is intended to justify the usual assertions that the area is insecure for foreigners, and to justify the brutality of security forces.

Since December 2001 the government has sentenced a number of people to cruel and inhuman punishments, such as amputations and stoning. These persons were sentenced in arbitrary trials by Special Courts set up under emergency laws. Most of the victims are from African tribes in western Sudan who are routinely accused of being fifth columnists in league with the rebels fighting in the South.

The Arab militias are part of the Sudanese security forces that carry out terrible crimes, such as that perpetuated against the foreigners, which the government denies involvement in. These crimes are covered in the press as interethnic problems or acts of banditry which the government is trying hard to contain through amputations and hangings. In truth, these are acts directed by the government security agencies with the full knowledge of the top leadership of the country.