Sudan: Re-arrest of NDA members
SVTG has received confirmed information that the Security Forces have re-arrested 5 members of the NDA political leadership secretariat. The arrests took place between late Thursday evening 10 May and between 1 and 2 am, on Friday 11 May, 2001. The men were arrested from their homes in Khartoum, before being taken to local police stations.
SVTG Press Release
Friday 11 May, 2001
Re-arrest of NDA members
SVTG has received confirmed information that the Security Forces have re-arrested 5 members of the NDA political leadership secretariat.
The arrests took place between late Thursday evening 10 May and between 1 and 2 am, on Friday 11 May, 2001. The men were arrested from their homes in Khartoum, before being taken to local police stations.
Those arrested are as follows:
1) Ali al-Sayyid – DUP
2) Mohd. Mahjoub - SCP
3) Joseph Ukello – USAP
4) Mohd. Wida Ala - NDA spokesman
5) Dr Mohd. Suleiman - Trade Union Alliance
The men were first arrested on 6 December 2000, following a meeting with an American Diplomat in Khartoum, on the grounds that NDA members were part of a conspiracy planning to incite a popular uprising, disrupt national security and support the rebel movement with American logistical support. They were released on bail two weeks ago, following an appeal by their lawyers to the Appeal Court. However, the government appealed against this decision to the Supreme Court, which took the descion to re-arrest them on Thursday 10 May.
According to the Ministry of Justice procedure, there should be no arrest after 2pm, and since Friday is a holiday day in Sudan, the first possible day the men could have been arrested, would have been Saturday. However, the security forces, acting independently, arrested the men at their own decision.
The lawyers Syndicate have said they will appeal; against the re-arrest and will hand the appeal to the judiciary on 12 Saturday 2001.
SVTG is extremely concerned about the mental and physical well being of these individuals as torture and ill- treatment are well documented in Sudanese secret locations of detention, and they are at present are totally deprived of their legal and constitutional rights.
SVTG calls upon the Sudanese government to:
i. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of these individuals and identify their whereabouts.
ii. Put an end to the harassment of political activists by security forces.
iii. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards.
SVTG is an independent non-governmental human rights organisation. For further details on this press release or any other information please contact;
The Sudanese Victims of Torture Group
Park Business Centre
Kilburn Park Rd
London NW6 5LF
UK
Tel: +44-20 7625 8055
Email: [email protected]