Sudan must let victims speak out, says Amnesty

FOR the people of Sudan it remains to be seen whether the visit of British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, the last-minute commitments by the government of Sudan to allow access by international organisations and recent steps to arrest some members of the Janjaweed will translate into real action to end the cycle of violence, rape and killing.

In its report, Intimidation And Denial, Amnesty International documents how, far from protecting community leaders and human rights activists, the government of Sudan has been arresting and torturing any who speak out.

Amnesty International is calling on the Irish Government and its partners in the international community to keep up the pressure to ensure the protection of the civilian population.