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DAMAZIN - 19 Feb 2013

Civilian complaints over emergency law in Blue Nile

Citizens in Sudan’s Blue Nile state have stressed their dissatisfaction with the state’s continuing emergency law.

A number of people told Radio Tamazuj that citizens of the state including those belonging to NCP, the ruling party, enjoy no freedom while emergency law continues to be used in the state. 

“Everybody in Blue Nile is facing challenges whether you are civilian, working or not working, supporting the government or opposition or whether you are participating in the war or not, you are faced by these conditions,” claimed a citizen talking to Radio Tamazuj by phone.

Most civilians, sources claimed, complained about constraints imposed by the authorities following the outbreak of civil war between the Sudanese government forces and rebel groups in Blue Nile.  They added that even members of the ruling party, including Abu-Maden, the state’s deputy governor, were arrested after they called for cessation of the conflict.

Civilians further questioned the government’s claims to have released 23 people detained during these events.  Claiming that they knew of only 18 detainees to be released, they pointed to a large unknown number still being held in government prisons alongside the persecution of civilians.

The authorities in Blue Nile state announced in recent weeks the release of 23 detainees in addition the granting of a trial to a number of others.