Press Statement (Revised)
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
September 26, 2002
Condemnation of Aerial Bombardment of Civilians by the Government of SudanWe condemn the aerial bombing of civilian targets that the Government of Sudan has carried out in Southern Sudan during the past two weeks. We note in particular the attack of September 21 on a cattle camp near Lui that killed 13 persons, including four children. Members of the humanitarian non-governmental organization Samaritan’s Purse, which operates a civilian hospital in Lui, were able to confirm the details of this attack. Attacks against civilians are unacceptable and must stop now.
We again urge the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army to return to the peace talks hosted by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Machakos, Kenya in order to achieve a just and comprehensive peace settlement.
As proposed by President Special Envoy Danforth, a U.S.-sponsored Civilian Verification Mechanism, to monitor and verify reports of attacks against civilians by either the Government of Sudan or the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, is in the final stages of establishing its logistical infrastructure in Khartoum and Rumbek (Southern Sudan). We are pleased that this mechanism will begin investigations into the recent attacks shortly.
Released on September 26, 2002
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