UNAMID: No mass rape in Tabit, Activist: we have to fabricate one

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Embassy of The Republic of the Sudan in Washington DC, is deeply troubled by the allegations of Mass rape in Tabit, North Darfur and would like to state the following:

1. The first report of the alleged mass rape was broadcast by Radio Dabanga , a Station known for its fabricated reports not only  against Sudan government, but  also against UN-African mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and UN organizations working in Darfur simply because the station employed rebel affiliated reporters who promote the rebel's agenda.
2. Tabit was under the rebel control for years, attacking civilian alike and destroying their properties including Tabit clinic that serves 22 nearby villages. Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) reasserting its authority in 2010 since then the government exerted a tremendous effort to set it as one of several villages for voluntary return. By the help of Qatar government, the goal was achieved and the village witnessed unprecedented voluntary return of citizens from the refugee camps.
3. The accusations of mass rape have been met with the strong resentment of the people of the village of Tabit and the surrounding villages and provoked their anger, raising tensions in the area for the mere fact that such accusations represent an insult and humiliation to Tabit's citizens  before it represent an insult to the government and the army. What makes it harder to swallow is the fact that the alleged victims and the alleged victimizers are their own daughters and sons  because more than forty (40) girls of Tabit are married to elements of SAF.
4. The chief prosecutor for northern Darfur said no one has filed a rape case from Tabit, a UN-African mission in Darfur (UNAMID) team was allowed to visit Tabit and said in a  statement on Nov. 10 that it  had found no evidence to substantiate media reports that Sudanese soldiers had raped about 200 women and girls there: "None of those interviewed confirmed that any incident of rape took place in Tabit on the day of that media report," "The team neither found any evidence nor received any information regarding the media allegations during the period in question." UNAMID team went further to interview the village community leaders who told the peace keepers that the town's residents "coexist peacefully with local military authorities in the area."
5. The fact that UNAMID team was allowed into the village escorted by government troops shouldn't be used to cast doubt on the report knowing that UNAMID have no capacity to secure and ask for the protection of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). The irony is that why the existence of SAF is considered this time as an obstacle not standard security measure in a flammable situation.
6. After providing all the facts and fully cooperating with the UNAMID to do their own investigation nothing left but to hold responsible everyone who participated in spreading these lies and apologize for the innocent villagers of  Tabit - if apology will do any good - it is absurd to turn around and call for reinvestigation. Sudan is not only skeptical about the motives but also will allow no forces to set the stage for submitting a fabricated report to smear Sudan and its government.

Embassy of Sudan Press and Information Office, phone: +1-202-338-8565, or fax: +1-202-667-2406

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unamid-no-mass-rape-in-tabit-activist-we-have-to-fabricate-one-300001381.html

SOURCE Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan

Related Links

http://www.sudanembassy.org/

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