Protest torture in Sudan

Case SDN 250403
Arbitrary arrests and detention / Torture / Risk to personal
integrity

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention in the following situation in Sudan.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the
Sudanese Organisation against Torture, a member of the OMCT network,
of the arbitrary arrests, detention and use or further risks of
torture of members of the Four and Zaghawa tribes in Sudan.

According to the information received, the National Security Agency
and Military Intelligence services have carried out a series of
arbitrary arrests and detentions in Darfour and Khartoum,
specifically targeting members of the Four and Zaghawa tribes. On
April 8th, 2003 the National Security Agency arrested seven men in
Kubkabia, south of the town of Al Fasher in Northern Darfour. The men
that have been detained include: Adam Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Girba
(trader); Mohamed Karama (trader); Khalil Mohamedain (farmer); and
Mohamed Ibrahim Tyrab (farmer) from the Four tribe - as well as: Omer
Hussain Ali (teacher); Adam Haroon Noor (teacher) and Youseif Hussam
(trader) from the Zaghawa tribe. The men have reportedly been
transferred to Shala prison neak Alfashir.

During the first week of April 2003 the Military Intelligence
arrested two men from the Four tribe in Zalengi: Adam Ahmed Abu Jamal
and Abd Al Gader Salim Barakat. During the same time period the
Military Intelligence arrested four men in AL Jenaina in Western
Darfour: Abd Al Rahman Ahmed (trader, Zaghawa tribe), Mohamed Hashim
Abd Al Rahman (trader, Zaghawa tribe), Mohamed Seid Ahmed (employee
with the Department of Zaka and Tax Office) and Seid Bashara (trader,
Zaghawa tribe). It has been alleged that Abd Al Gader Salim Barakat
has been subjected to torture during detention, and there are serious
concerns that the other detainees may also be subjected to ill-
treatment or torture. OMCT has previously intervened on several
occasions concerning the mass arrests of members of the Four and
other tribes in Sudan, several of whom have been subjected to torture
during detention.

OMCT is gravely concerned by this most recent wave of arbitrary
arrests that has been carried out by the National Security Agency and
the Military Intelligence services. OMCT is particularly concerned
for the physical and psychological integrity of the afore-mentioned
detainees. OMCT calls for their immediate release, unless there are
valid legal charges against them that are in line with international
law, and if this is the case, for their procedural rights to be
guaranteed at all times. OMCT calls upon the Sudanese government to
launch prompt and impartial investigations into all allegations of
ill-treatment and/or torture, in order to bring the perpetrators of
these acts to justice and to provide adequate reparation to all
persons have been injured during these events.

Separately, OMCT deeply regrets the lack of a resolution on Sudan
during the 59th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, which
brings about the end to UN human rights monitoring in the country, at
a time when massive and widespread violations of human rights
continue unabated.

Background information

Darfour in Western Sudan has experienced a marked increase in
arbitrary arrests, detention, and torture and ill-treatment,
particularly targeting members of the Four and Zaghawa tribes. Since
May 2002, over 75 people have been killed, many others injured,
livestock and homes destroyed, and villages depopulated and/or
displaced. The Sudanese government claims that these attacks are the
result of "tribal conflict" resulting from competition for limited
resources. The attacks are reportedly carried out by members of the
militia from the Gangawied group of twenty-eight Arab states against
Four, Massaleet, and Zaghawa villages. The Four and Massaleet leaders
have identified the leaders of the militia attacks, but the
government has not reportedly taken any action against the
perpetrators. The Four leaders claim that the attacks are a part of a
government strategy to change the demography of the region, citing
the depopulation of 59 Four villages.

In direct response to these attacks, a group of individuals from the
Four and Zaghawa tribes have taken up arms and created the Sudan
Liberation Army/Movement
(SLA/M). This rapidly growing group reportedly states as its aim the
liberation of all of Sudan and the restoration of democracy and civil
rights. Many of its members are
thought to be hiding in the mountains of the Jebel Marra region of
Darfour.

Action requested

Please write to the authorities in Sudan urging them to:

i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and
psychological integrity of the aforementioned persons ;
ii. order their immediate release in the absence of valid legal
charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and
competent tribunal and guarantee
their procedural rights at all times;
iii. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of
these events, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil
competent and impartial tribunal
and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided
by law;
iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental
freedoms throughout the country in accordance with international
human rights standards.

Addresses

§ His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir, President
of the Republic of Sudan, President's Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum,
Sudan. Fax: + 24911
783223
§ Mr. Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin, Minister of Justice and Attorney
General, Ministry of Justice, Khartoum, Sudan. Fax: +24911 788941
§ Mr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan. Fax: +24911 779383
§ Mr. Yasir Sid Ahmed, Advisory Council for Human Rights, PO Box 302,
Khartoum, Sudan. Fax: + 24911 779173
§ His Excellency Ambassador Mr Ibrahim Mirghani Ibrahim, Permanent
Mission of Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva, PO Box 335, 1211
Geneva, Switzerland, Fax : +4122 7312656. E-mail:
[email protected]

Please also write to the embassies of Sudan in your respective
country.

Geneva, April 25th, 2003

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply.

Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT)
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
Organización Mundial Contra la Tortura (OMCT)
8 rue du Vieux-Billard
Case postale 21
CH-1211 Geneve 8
Suisse/Switzerland
Tel. : 0041 22 809 49 39
Fax : 0041 22 809 49 29
E-mail : [email protected]
http://www.omct.org