Interview
An eye witness of the June 3rd crackdown on protesters at Sudanese Military Headquarters in Khartoum, has testified that the crackdown was planned for by members of the Military Council. Speaking to Khartoum Today, on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the incident, SAS, says he sustained his broken right arm miraculously after being beaten by soldiers belonging to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces or RSF. In this report, we will refer to the eye witness as SAS, for his security reason.
SAS was among thousands of the young people who took part in the protest against the ouster President Omer Al Bashir. He says he join his colleagues at the sit- in site at the Military HQRs and they spent a good time together, supporting each other in solidarity and sharing little they had, since it was the fasting month of Ramadan for Muslims.
• How was it for you and thousands of other protesters to stay at the Sit-in site?
“Sit-in site was like a home to us!”
“It became a routine for us, he said, to stay at the sit- in site till early morning.” “we could stay chanting slogans of the revolution, singing and sharing a lot of positive stories among ourselves” “I used to drive home in the morning at around 6am or 7am, to go and rest and come back to the sit- in site towards the breakfast time. SAS said, they used to take breakfast as a group and pray in the same location. “The sit in site was like a home for us, the togetherness was so beautiful to the extent that it was so boring to stay home”.
• As an eye witness, where there any signs that the sit-it was going to be cracked on?
“I couldn’t believe these rumors!”
As the Month of Ramadan was coming to an end, many families were also planning in their houses to try to prepare for the Eid of Al Fitir, and most probably celebrate together at the sit in site as swell. Day 28 of Ramadan, which was June 2nd, SAS and many others begun to hear some rumors about possible crackdown on the protesters in few days ahead. “I could not believe these rumors, because we were convinced that if anything happens, our army shall give us protection.
SAS drove some neighbors home to Omdurman at around 3:30 am on June 3rd, and came back immediately, after praying the morning prayer at home. “I could not stay home because the rumors now were increasing”, “I decided to come back to the sit in site”. After crossing the Omdurman bridge, SAS said, he could realize, Al Jamhuriya road was blocked and there was a movement of military buses also blocking other main roads as well.
• Can you describe for us the forces which crackdown on the protesters that day? Have you seen them?
“They were dressed in Police and RSF uniforms and well-armed!”
After crossing the bridged, I tried my best through Al Belediya road and parked my car around the Constitutional Court”, some few meters away from the military HQRs. He says he also observed unusual security deployment around the area and “They were well armed, some are even checking their guns and keeping it ready as if they were going to fight. Many of them were dressed in Police uniform and other in RSF’s uniform. They were on newly brand Pickup-Hilux cars, which were numberless.
I tried to rush to the site and inform our colleagues about this development, but before I could arrive, shooting started. “They were shooting live bullets and teargas.”
• Have you arrived to your colleagues, then?
I arrived to the scene and majority of the people at the sit in site were sleeping in tents, since they use to spend the night in chanting slogans of the revolution and doing many other activities. “They took people by surprise and as many were still asleep, they were shooting at the tents, throwing teargas as well in tents”.
• How did you escape from the scene?
Since the incident took protesters by surprise, “We were confused with shootings and we didn’t know where to go”. Some managed to escape eastwards to Burri and others escaped westwards to Al Arabi market. Some of us were on hide behind a wall within Sudan University campus. Bullets were all over. You could hear women, girls and children crying asking for help. But everyone was running for his or her own life.
After going into hiding, I heard a call by mega phone, calling on every hidden person to come out and they will let them go free. I decided to come out with dozens of others, we were faced with beating all over out body, “This is where my arm was broken as I was trying to defend myself.” They beat us with hard stick, and canes some searched our pockets and took everything, “Including my phone and the key of my car, and freed us.” And they let us go.
• What did you do, where have you decided to go to?
“I met with personal body guard of Gen. Himetti!
I decided to head westwards, towards Al Arabi Market, I was trapped with another group, around the junction of MC Nimir and Belediya streets. They asked me to stop and started beating me again. My right eye was also paining and I could not see properly.
Around that streets, I met with dozens of newly brand Land Cruisers, full of RSF soldiers and I noticed one of them, the very personal bodyguards to General Himetti, who used to wear black glass and goes with him everywhere. Some were dressed in a full suits and I could have noticed, they were from the Protocol office at the presidential palace.
One of them called me and asked, Civilians or Military, meaning, do you support Civilians rule or Military rule? “ I kept quiet” He started beating me, and I answered “Military”, he told me while beating on me” Go, run away”.
I was very weak and I was unable to move faster, I could not run, and I went slowly and had rest under one of the old buildings. I was not myself. I remembered falling down in front of Zaituna hospital in Khartoum, some people took me into the hospital and nurses there offered me first aid. They could not do much on my broken arm because I needed to have an X-Ray and see a specialist, but he was not available at that time.
I wake up after three hours and ask for a phone to call my mum, just to let her know, I am still alive.
• Thanks for your time, but lastly, what is your opinion on the investigation committee?
I don’t have much to comment about their work or what kind of a report they will come up with at the end of the day. But everyone knows that it was the Military Council which ordered for the crackdown. We all seen security forces in police and RSF uniform, who attacked people and killed many at the sit-in site. But my personal opinion is that the committee can’t come up with credible and transparent report as long as the military are still the one holding the Sovereign Council.
• Lastly, as we are commemorating the one year of the incident, how can you describe it?
It was a painful memory that is still in our minds. I can’t forget it.
