KALMA CAMP UPDATE, AUGUST 28

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001311 DEPT FOR AF/SPG, A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON NSC FOR BPITTMAN AND CHUDSON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: KALMA CAMP UPDATE, AUGUST 28 ¶1. (SBU) As photos circulated on the internet of Kalma IDPs burying their dead from the August 25 violence, political actors in Darfur remain uncertain on how to deal with the events that left 32 IDPs dead, and up to 17 police officers injured. Ali Mahmoud, Wali of South Darfur, was vocal in his defense of the actions by GOS police forces, while the Wali of West Darfur issued a statement condemning the violence. Foreign Minister Deng Alor criticized the Government of Sudan (GOS) for its actions at Kalma camp, but no member of the National Congress Party (NCP) chose to comment. President Omar al-Bashir, visiting Juba to commemorate the signing of a dams-building protocol, did not address the violence. ¶2. (SBU) Poloff met with UNAMID Deputy Joint Special Representative (DJSR) Henry Anyidoho at UNAMID headquarters in El Fasher, Darfur on August 28. Visibly ill-at-ease, Anyidoho detailed the numerous crises that have arisen at Kalma camp in the wake of the shootings. UNAMID's formal investigation is still continuing, as it is not yet fully clear who fired the first shot, even as the GOS continues to insist that armed IDPs fired first from inside the camp. GOS authorities claim between seven and 17 police officers were injured in the armed engagement, but when the DJSR requested to see the wounded, GOS authorities denied access to the officers, which leads him to doubt whether they are truly injured. Anyidoho said he remains concerned that this week's significant rains will flood the camp, an event that GOS authorities in South Darfur may use as an opportunity to dismantle the camp. Two weeks previous, GOS officials told Anyidoho the camp needed to be searched for weapons to protect incoming flights, as the camp sits directly in line with the flight path of Nyala airport, but Aynidoho thought he had reached an agreement with the Wali not to conduct such a search. UNAMID's capacity to respond to such events is insufficient, as only one of out 19 UNAMID Formed Police Units (FPUs) is in place; this Bangladeshi unit is very conservative when it comes to performing patrols, said Anyidoho, and he added disappointedly, "It seems like we are moving forward at a crawling pace." ¶3. (SBU) Poloff met Ali Hassan, the head of UNAMID civil affairs for South Darfur, in Nyala on August 28. Hassan was blunt in his condemnation of the GOS role in the violence, saying, "This is by far the worst incident we've had in the camp since 2005." Hassan showed Poloff photos taken of the dead, photos he said would not be released publicly and would not be distributed internally. Poloff viewed six photos of three women, one child and two men, all of which revealed direct shots to the heads and faces of the victims. Hassan said that it appeared all were shot at close range. Hassan was insistent that GOS officials do not currently understand the gravity of what had taken place. "They haven't seen graphic images such as these," he said. "They don't understand the repercussions this may have, or the magnitude of it." Hassan said that in addition to the 32 known dead (one previously confirmed dead was determined not to be from Kalma camp),51 were wounded and evacuated from the camp; the number of dead and wounded could be far higher, as many were unable to seek immediate medical attention. Stories continue to differ on exactly what happened, but Hassan said the photos prove indiscriminate shooting on the part of GOS forces. "Whatever shooting came from the IDP side does not justify shooting someone in the head." ¶4. (SBU) Hassan said that Kalma Camp remains a highly unstable "flashpoint." Criminal gangs tied to rebel movements rule the camp, prostitution is common, and weapons are displayed in the open. Yesterday, IDPs gathered to dismantle a piece of the railway tracks leading to Nyala, and UNAMID arrived at the scene and urged restraint as GOS forces pulled back. However, Hassan was honest regarding UNAMID's limited capacity for reducing conflict. Given current circumstances, he denied that UNAMID could have acted to prevent this violence without an FPU at Kalma camp full time. When asked how this event will change UNAMID, Hassan replied, "It will make us look at how we can use the resources we do have in a more effective manner." ¶5. (SBU) Comment: There is a growing fear among IDPs that the government is trying to force them out of the camps, and the latest forcible disarmament attempt at Kalma camp only serves to reinforce those fears. This is not particularly helpful at a time when the GOS is attempting to coordinate a new initiative on Darfur. Despite its ongoing lack of capacity, UNAMID must find a way to engage on this issue - whether through training with local police or increased engagement with the police commanders, or both - in advance of the deployment of additional FPUs that should allow for 24-hour patrols. ASQUINO