Sudan: Journalists Charged

S V T G
Sudanese Victims of Torture Group

PRESS RELEASE: 1 November 2001

ALFRID TABBAN, ALBINO OKELY AND NHIAL BOL CHARGED

SVTG can confirm that following the release of Alfrid Tabban and Nhail Bol, on Saturday 27 October, the two men, together with Albino Okely, were charged on Wednesday 31 October 2001 were charged and released on bail of 10 million Sudanese pounds each (about 4,000 dollars).

Tabban and Bol were arrested on Wednesday 24 October and taken to the District Attorney for Crimes Against the State, where they were held for interrogation regarding their work as journalists. They were released after three days detention. Albino Okely, was arrested Sunday and held for about two hours before being released.

Mr Alfrid Tabban is a well-known Sudanese journalist, Khartoum Monitor Board Chairman and a reporter for Reuters and the British Broadcasting Corporation. Nhial Bol is Managing Editor of the Khartoum Monitor and Albino Okely it’s Editor-in-Chief.

They have been charged in the following articles:

Article 51 - Waging war against the state.
Punishable by death, life imprisonment or imprisonment for lesser periods, or confiscation of money.

Article 64 - Provoking hatred against or amongst the sexes.
Punishable with imprisonment for a term of no more than 2 years, or a fine, or both.

Article 159 - Defamation
Punishable with no more than 6 months imprisonment, a fine or both.

Alfrid Tabban was detained for 6 days in April after he tried to attend a news conference by church leaders in Khartoum in protest against the arrests of the Christians from Green Square at the Easter demonstration. Then, in July, Tabban was instructed to report to the Security offices. Mr Tabban, a Christian, was also detained for several months in 1990 for criticising the government.

The Khartoum Monitor has been suspended three times this year and the journalists and staff of the Khartoum Monitor have been under continuous harassment and surveillance by the security.

SVTG believes that these actions are aimed at spreading fear and preventing individuals or groups from expressing their beliefs and opinions.

SVTG considers these actions by the government continued repression of freedom of expression and is against many the Government of Sudan’s international commitments.

SVTG recalls that Sudan is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which obliges state parties to protect freedom of expression.

SVTG calls upon individual governments and the International Community to exert pressure on the Government of Sudan to;

1. To ensure Mr Tabban, Okely and Bol have full access to legal representation and fair trial.

2. To immediately put an end to the harassment of Sudanese journalists by security forces.

3. Abolish all legislation that violates Sudan’s obligations under international human rights laws.

Addresses
His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, People’s Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Telex: 22385 PEPLC SD or 22411 KAID SD- Fax: +249 11 771 7 24

Mr Ali Osman Yasin, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, Khartoum, Sudan. Telex:22459 KHRJA SD or 22461 KHRJA SD (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs) – Fax: +249 11 77740 63

Mr Mustafa Osman Ismail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan, Telex: 22459 KHRJA SD or 22461 KHRJA SD – Fax: 249 11 7740 63

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: +44-207 6258055
Email: [email protected]