Press Release

SHRO-Cairo Condemns Sudan Government Air Bombing of Southern Children and Women

February 12, 2002

The recent air bombing of the relief center at Akuem in Aweil, the East County of northern Bahr El Ghazal, which killed the child Akuc Tong Kuan and injured Adior Tong Hol and Adior Akol Tong with five women including Nyanut Mahol Arop, Agel Mawien Diing, Ahok Anei Agek, Achok Deng Lual is a savage crime. The bombing adds a strong evidence to the criminal intention of the Government of Sudan to commit continuous crimes against humanity in the South, regardless of any agreements with the democratic opposition to stop the war.

The policy of the government to abuse any cease fire or peace negotiation for control with military action regardless of the human cost is a major reason for the continuous disaster of the civil war of Sudan. The dishonoring of State agreements with the South is a notorious tradition of the central government of Sudan to subdue the South. There is an urgent need to stop this reckless policy by consistent, active, and responsible national and international campaign versus the ruthless rule of Sudan.

The Sudan Human Rights Organization Cairo Branch strongly condemns the regime's crimes against humanity regarding the brutal killing and wounding of the innocent children and women.

• SHRO-Cairo calls for the trial of the pilots and the commanders who planned and executed this heinous attack on the innocent children and women.
• SHRO-Cairo calls upon the Government of Sudan to honor the cease fire agreements with the SPLM/A to insure humanitarian aid to the needy population without air bombing or any other criminal interruption.
• The Organization asks the government to stop air bombing of the civilian population and establishments of the South, respect the children's and women's rights as specified in international law, appreciate the national sentiment of the Sudanese to stop the war, and make the sustainable permanent and fair peace for the development of the country.