Sudanese Government Attacks Kalma Refugee Camp

September 05, 2008

     Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy is shocked by the recent attack on the Kalma refugee camp in southern Darfur. Sudanese government forces invaded the camp, which has over 80,000 people, early in the morning of August 25th . Sudanese soldiers used excessive force, killing more than 30 refugees - 7 children, 11 women and 13 men – and wounding 54 others. Sudanese forces claimed they were searching for weapons hidden in the camp. But Kalma is heavily guarded by armed government forces, making it almost impossible for weapons to be brought into the camp. This raid was just a mere excuse to attack innocent and helpless refugees. In response to the attack on Kalma, 18 Sudanese government officials withdrew from their posts in the Sudan region. These officials, all members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), protested the attack by severing their relationship with the Sudanese government. The SPLM was the rebel group from southern Sudan that joined the government as part of the 2005 peace agreement ending the Sudanese civil war. Omar Abdul Rahman Adam from the SPLM, minister of agriculture and irrigation for south Darfur, told a news source, “We have agreed to freeze our partnership with the national government. We are waiting in our homes. We are no longer in our positions.” These former SPLM officials will consider returning to their posts when the government starts taking the Darfur crisis seriously. Damanga fully supports the officials who have taken action against the Sudanese government. Something must be done to stop this ongoing slaughter of innocent people. We hope that more Sudanese government officials decide to speak up like these courageous 18 officials.