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SUDAN-UNREST-DEMONSTRATION-INTERNET-VIDEOS
Shock and anger as videos of brutal Sudan raid belatedly go viral
KHARTOUM, July 15, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Days after a blackout on mobile
internet services ended, Sudanese are shocked by the content of online videos
and photographs that appear to document last month’s deadly raid on
demonstrators.
Crowds of protesters were violently dispersed — and dozens killed — by
men in military fatigues during a pre-dawn raid on a weeks-long sit-in
outside army headquarters in Khartoum on June 3.
“The brutal scenes of killings and beatings left me very angry,” said
Hussein Hashim, a 19-year-old university student from the capital’s El-Deem
neighbourhood.
“The perpetrators have no mercy, religion or humanity.”
Demonstrators who had camped at the site demanding civilian rule were shot
and beaten as armed men rampaged through the area, triggering international
outrage.
But the carnage went largely unseen inside Sudan as the country’s military
rulers imposed a nationwide blackout on mobile internet services.
The authorities restored mobile internet only last week, paving the way
for photographs and videos going viral on social media networks.
Services were ordered to be restored after Khartoum based lawyer Abdelaziz
Hassan won a case against 3G and 4G service providers.
“The aim of blocking the internet was to hide information and evidence of
what happened in the massacre,” Hassan told AFP.
“It is the right of every citizen to know the real information so that he
can form his own views.”
One photograph, which could not be verified, has stirred particular anger.
It shows men in military trousers and boots putting their feet on the face
of a purported protester lying on the ground.
Dozens of videos are circulating, including one that shows a group of men
— also in military uniform — surrounding a teenage girl as she yells at a
man who holds her neck in a tight grip.
– Intimidation tactic? –
Several videos show gunmen beating protesters with sticks as thick smoke
billows from the protest site amid the sound of continuous gunfire.
AFP could not independently verify the origins of many of the photographs
and videos, as most were posted on accounts that used pseudonyms.
Prior to the violent dispersal of the protest site, demonstrators had
camped there since April 6, initially to seek the army’s help in ousting
longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir.
The army deposed Bashir on April 11, but protesters continued with the
sit-in after a military council seized power.
Since the internet was restored, groups of people have been seen watching
and circulating videos and photographs in shops, cafes and hotels.
Some have created a Facebook page to document all the images of the
“massacre”.
“We have to hold the perpetrators of this crime accountable,” wrote one
user on the page. Another warned “without accountability, punishment and
revenge, this spectacular revolution will not succeed.” Protesters and rights
groups have accused members of the feared paramilitary Rapid Support Forces
(RSF) of carrying out the raid. While outraged activists and protesters have
themselves shared and spread the videos, some believe the RSF have also had a
hand in sending the images viral, in a bid to intimidate protesters. “These
videos are meant to scare us,” said Samuol, who did not give his full name.
“But the horrific scenes will give us a bigger motive to fight for the rights
of the martyrs,” he added.
– ‘Fabricated’ content –
RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who is also the deputy chief of the
country’s ruling military council, has dismissed the accusation that his
forces were involved in the raid.
“These photos are fabricated,” he said at a recent rally, accusing foreign
intelligence agents of filming and circulating the videos.
“There are some people who have filmed 59 videos in one day … how is
that possible? For sure they have an agenda,” he contended.
Many on the streets do not believe Dagalo’s assertions.
Some footage shows men wielding sticks against protesters and wearing
uniforms usually worn by the RSF.
The protest movement says the raid killed more than 100 and wounded
hundreds in just one day.
“These videos are not fabricated, they have been filmed by gunmen
themselves,” said a driver, showing an AFP correspondent a video in which
groups of men in military fatigues are seen beating the protesters.
“After watching these videos I feel like taking revenge for the victims,”
he said, without revealing his name for security reasons.
Women are also angry.
“I was happy when the internet was restored but now I feel angry and
humiliated,” said a Khartoum resident, after watching the online videos.
“They want to intimidate women, but we will not be afraid and will
continue to participate in protests,” she said without revealing her
identity.
BSS/AFP/RY/1705 hrs