WASHINGTON, March 9, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The comments made by the State Department's spokesperson on Saturday March 8th, 2014 about the escalation of violence and insecurity in Darfur are unwarranted, biased and outrageous for the following reasons:
1. It is misleading and a complete fallacy to claim that the Sudanese government is responsible for the violence, while it only responded to violence instigated by the rebels. It is baffling that the same country that sends its soldiers all over the world to defend their perceived national interests would condemn our soldiers when performing their mandated job.
2. The wild accusations that put all the blame on the government clearly demonstrate the partiality and biased attitude. Furthermore, no condemnation was ever issued for all of the atrocities committed by the rebels including the attacks in Haskanita, Twaesh, Alleat, Jarelnabi and other villages in addition to their attacks on the AU-UN forces. These are but a few salient examples of their atrocities in looting and killing innocent people.
3. The statement went on to call on the government (only) to prevent further violence and to cease its own campaign of aerial bombardments!
4. It is worth noting that the statements is quoting an unknown -selected media reports- to support its claim that Rapid Support Forces (RFS) burned homes and attacked civilians while the facts on the ground reported by live reports and supported by the victims' testimony confirmed that the rebels are the ones who committed these crimes.
5. The Sudanese Government has repeatedly extended an olive branch to the rebels, who consistently spoiled it and get away with that. The U.S. and the international community has given the rebels a license to act with impunity by its refusal to hold them accountable for the crimes they commit. The most recent remarks by the State Department spokesperson is clear evidence that the U.S.chooses to continue in this same path, any talk of peace will amount to mere rhetoric; Actions count the most.
6. The Government of Sudan will continue searching for a peaceful settlement for all the conflicts through negotiations while fulfilling its duties in protecting its citizens.
Embassy of Sudan Press and Information Office, phone: +1-202-338-8565, or fax: +1-202-667-2406
SOURCE Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan
