A/HRC/9/13 page 11 investigations such as the Kajbar one take time because of the number of people involved in them, but the Government was still hoping to complete it “in the coming time”. The Special Rapporteur is deeply concerned at the lack of progress in identifying responsibility for the killings and initiating criminal prosecutions. III. EASTERN SUDAN 39. In March 2008 the Special Rapporteur visited Port Sudan in Red Sea State for the first time. She enquired about the killing of 22 civilians and the injury of others during a non-violent demonstration on 29 January 2005 in Port Sudan.9 The incident followed the delivery of a statement by youths to the local government office demanding employment and a share in the wealth generated by the gold mine and harbour, as well as positions of political power. The Special Rapporteur has raised this case numerous times with the authorities and was pleased to have an opportunity to visit the region to gather more information. She requested information on the status of the investigation and prosecution of those responsible and received information that Special Forces were brought to Port Sudan to deal with the unrest and that they used excessive lethal force. An investigative committee was formed by the Government on 18 February 2005. Its members included a judge from Khartoum, a judge from Port Sudan, a member of NISS, a member of the police, a member from the office of the Attorney-General, and an official from the local native administration. The committee undertook a survey of the area of the incident and visited the hospital where those killed and injured were taken. It received witness accounts and many people testified during the one-month period. The report was submitted to the authorities, but the findings were not made public. The only action taken upon conclusion of the investigation was to start the process of compensation settlement through blood money or dia. The Government provided dia to 16 out of the 22 families of those who were killed. Six families refused to accept the blood money. Many of the relatives have faced threats and intimidation for continuing to ask for justice in this case. None of the families have received any information about the outcome of the investigation three years later and no one has been brought to justice. The Special Rapporteur called on the Government to make the findings of the investigative committee public and to bring those responsible to justice without further delay. 40. The Special Rapporteur received reports that NISS continues to harass and violate the rights of citizens through arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and ill-treatment and general abuse of power. According to information received on 21 February 2008, 300 students gathered in Port Sudan for a peaceful demonstration were threatened that if they did not disperse they would be killed, as in 2005. 41. Another critical demand for people in eastern Sudan is development, particularly in the areas of health, education, employment and water. The eastern region, particularly the Red Sea and Kassala States, has been marginalized economically and politically within Sudan for many years, which has generated widespread poverty. The Beja are non-Arabs with their own language; some can read or write Arabic but are confined to low-paying jobs. Allegations were received that certain ethnicities, namely, Beja, Hausa, Fallata and Massalit face discrimination. 9 For further information see A/61/469, paras. 39-44, A/62/354, para. 48 and A/HRC/7/22, para. 55.