AU Interpreter, Two Protesters Killed; 11 AMIS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001094 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR D, AF/FO, AF/RSA, AND AF/SPG DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/EA AND DCHA SUDAN TEAM NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS USMISSION UN ROME GENEVA FOR NKYLOH NAIROBI FOR SFO NSC FOR JMELINE, TSHORTLEY USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO PREF UN AU SU SUBJECT: AU Interpreter, Two Protesters Killed; 11 AMIS CivPol Injured in Kalma and Hassahisa IDP Camp Riots Ref: Khartoum 01090 ¶1. Summary: On May 8, IDPs protesting the Darfur peace agreement rioted in the Kalma IDP camp near Nyala, South Darfur, and killed an African Union civilian police interpreter and injured eight civilian police, two seriously. They also severely damaged the civilian police station and two AMIS vehicles. The incident followed the visit by UN U/S Egeland. Also on May 8, IDPs demonstrating at the Hassahisa IDP camp in Zalingei attacked the AMIS civilian police station, seriously injuring three civilian police, destroying the building, burning three vehicles, and vandalizing two other vehicles. The rioters also burned huts near the Sudanese Government military camp; Sudanese Armed Forces soldiers responded by opening fire, killing two protesters. Most aid agencies continued their work in both IDP camps. End summary. ¶2. On May 8, the AU Civilian Police headquarters in El Fasher released the following flash report: (Begin text) FLASH REPORT: IDPs ATTACK ON CIVPOL OFFICERS IN ZALINGEI AND NYALA Sector 7 - Zalingei (Hassahisa IDP Camp) On 8th May 2006 this office received a report that the Civpol Police Station at Hassahisa IDPs Camp in Zalingei has been attacked by the IDPs during a demonstration. According to report the IDPs had burnt down the Civpol Police Station and 3 AMIS vehicles. That 2 other AMIS vehicles had been vandalized whilst three (3) Civpol officers had sustained serious injuries. The demonstrators also attacked the GoS police camp close to the Civpol police station. The Protection Force quickly proceeded to the station and evacuated the Civpol officers to AU camp. The demonstrators later marched to the AU camp and surrounded it. They also went to the GoS Military Camp which is adjacent to the AU camp and started burning some thatched huts. As a result, the GoS Military opened fire and injured two persons who later died whilst receiving treatment at AMIS Clinic in the AU camp. According to the report the IDPs are not happy with the Peace Agreement which was recently signed in Abuja. Sector 2 - Nyala (Kalma IDP Camp) A large group of IDPs attacked AMIS Civpol officers at Kalma IDP Camp on the 8th of May 2006 at about 1140. As a result the Language Assistant attached to Kalma Civpol Police Station was killed during the attack while eight (8) Civpol officers were injured. Two (2) of the injured have since been admitted at AMIS Clinic in Nyala and the remaining six (6) were treated and discharged. Two (2) AMIS vehicles and the Civpol Police Station have been extensively damaged while a Thuraya phone and two hand-held radios (motorolas) are missing. The reasons for the attack has not yet been established. Currently the security situation is very tense in these two areas. Further details to follow as soon as they are available. ¶D. Moenyana (Director) Civpol Commissioner El Fasher (End text) ¶3. Comment: The events took place at the end of UN U/S Jan Egeland's visit to the Kalma IDP camp; he departed for Nyala as crowds gathered. Several vehicles accompanying his delegation were also stoned and damaged. KHARTOUM 00001094 002 OF 002 Most aid agencies continued their operations in Kalma camp on May 8th despite the violence. NGOs plan to send reduced staff to the camp today to assess the situation and resume activities if security permits. Further details will follow in an IIR report to be issued today. End comment. HUME