BREAKING NEWS: Sudanese police clash with Khartoum University students
July 16, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Police and security forces are currently clashing with students of Khartoum University after they attempted to march in a peaceful protest to the office of the university’s director, activists said on Tuesday’s afternoon, one day after the latter said he rejects police involvement in university affairs. Activists also told Sudan Tribune that earlier on Tuesday the police raided the dormitories of the main campus of the university in downtown Khartoum and fired teargas on the students who refused to vacate in compliance with the University’s decision to close some faculties. UoK has been witnessing increased protests and clashes between student activists and police forces supported by pro-regime militiamen and students known as Rabata since it gave birth on 16 June to widespread demonstrations in response to worsening economic conditions. The most violent confrontation occurred on 11 July, when police firing teargas and Rabata armed with machetes raided one of the university campus in Khartoum and clashed with protesting students. The anti-government youth group Girifna announced on Tuesday’s afternoon via its Twitter account that security forces are currently clashing with students who attempted to stage a marching protest to the university director office. The protest attempt comes after the university’s director, Sidiq Haiati, made a rare appearance in a press conference held on Monday to deny that the decision to close the university is politically-motivated. Haiati claimed that many faculties had already finished their term and that’s why they decided to close during Ramadan. He accused some unknown parties of seeking to profit politically and spreading rumors about his resignation. Haiati was reacting to press reports that said he had tendered his resignation after he was ordered to close the university by the director-general of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Mohammed Atta. The director however stressed that the administration has a clear position on the entrance of police forces into the campuses, explaining that they “rejects” the involvement of the police without prior permission from the administration. (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
