On the morning of 3rd June, troops of the Rapid Support Forces, backed by the Transitional Military Council and made up of the members of the Janjaweed militia, responsible for extensive war crimes and human rights violations in the civil war in Darfur, took over control of Khartoum and attacked unarmed protesters and other civilians in the city. 118 people were killed, 770 injured and over 70 women and men were raped.
In the 12 days that have passed since, Internet services remain mostly blocked in the country resulting in only trickles of information reaching the outside world. According to what little information we have more than 500 people have been killed in total, with many bodies still being recovered from the Nile. The international response has been horribly quiet.
But what’s all the more shameful is that the largest democracy of the world has been supporting this shamelessly violent regime. India has an annual trade volume of over $ 1.2 billion with Sudan, and has repeatedly provided financial aid of amounts in the excess of hundreds of millions. Several Indian companies operate in Sudan and Indian exports to Sudan, second only to China, include vital industrial machinery and equipment. In light of the nature of its crimes, it is no longer justified for any self-respecting democratic country to support this regime. Hence, we are petitioning the Indian government to cut-off trade relations with Sudan and use other diplomatic means in order to pressurise the Transitional Military Council to cede power to a civilian transitional council.