MARCH 19/2001

REFUGEES IN THE SUDAN GO ON HUNGER STRIKE,

POLICE INTERVENE BRUTALLY

 Ethiopian refuigees in the Sudan who had their refugee status stripped off arbitrarily by the UNHCR went on a hiunger strike on March 18 and staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the UNHCR office in Khartoum. Police intervened brutally beating and injuring some 20 refugees.The refugees have subsequently moved to the compounds of the Catholic Church in downtown Khartoum where they are continuing with their hunger strike.

Similarly, 120 protesting refugees in Port Sudanwere detaiend by the police and taken to an undisclosed destination. The UNHCR in Kartoum continues to ignore the plight of the refugees and is acting in a brazen and arbitrary manner against their intetrests. Please express support to the refugees staging the gunger strike and write your protests to the UNHCR and the Sudanese government.

SOCEPP