*General Bashir is Personally Responsible for Kalma Massacre*

*It is high time for the UN, US and the International Community to hold the Sudan Government Responsible*

Today, 22 September 2017, the Sudan government forces and its allied militia committed another massacre in front of the eyes and ears of UNAMID.  In his visit to Darfur, General Bashir insisted on harassing his victims of genocide by visiting them at Kalma camp today in a show of force, although the IDPs under UNAMID protection, informed UNAMID and the government that they would not like the very person who committed all violations against them and who is wanted by the ICC to visit them.  In response, General Bashir sent his militia to open fire on the innocent civilians.  This massacre, unlike the others, is being committed in the presence of General Bashir, under his supervision and while he is 1 kilometer away from Kalma camp.  UNAMID admitted 3 IDPs were killed, 26 are injured, and instead of UNAMID taking their responsibility to protect civilians, they are just issuing statements, a complete failure of discharging their responsibilities.  This is not the first time.

It is upon those who are trying to bail out the Sudan government in the meeting of the UN Human Rights Council and those who are calling for the lifting of sanctions by the U.S. government who should be mindful of what General Bashir, his militia and government are capable of doing.   We call upon the UN Security Council to hold the government of Sudan responsible and to provide adequate civilian protection for the people of Sudan, especially in the war zones.  Those who are working to normalize relations with the Sudan government must be sensitive that they are giving General Bashir a blank check to commit more human rights violations, war crimes and genocide.  We remind them of their responsibility as they indicted General Bashir and then they set him free to commit more crimes

Yasir Arman
Secretary General, SPLM-N
22 September 2017