Shock and anger as dozens killed by men in military fatigues

KHARTOUM: 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 neighborhood. "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.- AFP