Sudan: Arbitrary arrest and torture of two Internally Displaced Persons

Case SDN 150306

Arbitrary arrest / Torture

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 Sudan Organisation Against Torture (SOAT), a member of the OMCT network, that on 12 March 2006, Mr. Hashim Abdella Targiya (18), Zaghawa tribe, and Mr. Alsayid Adam Haroun (32), Zaghawa tribe, were arrested by Police Forces in Otash IDP camp, 5 km North of Nyala, South Dafur State. Both men are IDP’s and live in Otash IDP camp.

According to the information received, Mr. Hashim Abdella Targiya and Mr. Alsayid Adam Haroun were arrested at 21.00h on 12 March 2006 from the local market inside the IDP camp. The two men were taken to Otash police station where they were reportedly tortured by three policemen. The policemen allegedly kicked the two men with boots on their sides, beat them with hands on their faces, tied their hands together with rope and forced the men to turn around in circles. The following day, on 13 March 2006, Mr. Hashim Abdella Targiya and Mr. Alsayid Adam Haroun were released without charge. Both men are currently receiving medical treatment at the Amel Centre for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture in Nyala, South Dafur.

Requested Action

Please write to the authorities in Sudan urging them to:
i. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Hashim Abdella Targiya and Mr. Alsayid Adam Haroun;
ii. Order a thorough and impartial investigation into these events, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
iii. Guarantee that adequate compensation is awarded to Mr. Hashim Abdella Targiya and Mr. Alsayid Adam Haroun;
iv. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international humanitarian law and human rights standards.

Addresses

• Advisory Council for Human Rights, Dr Abdelmuneim Osman Mohamed Taha, PO Box 302, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: +249 11 779173/770883
  
• Minister of Internal Affairs, Major General Abdul-Rahim Muhammed Hussein, Ministry of Interior, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: +249 11 774339/776554/777900/773046/770186
  
• Minister of Federal Government, Dr Nafie Ali Nafie, Office of the Presidents People’s Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax : +24911 771651/783223
  
• His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Mohamed Al-Hassan Ahmed Al-Haj, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva, PO Box 335, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +4122 731 26 56, E-mail: mission.sudan@ties.itu.int; mission.sudan@bluewin.ch.
  
• Dr Yasir Sid Ahmed, Head of the Advisory Council for Human Rights PO Box 302, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: +249 183 770 883
  
• Dr. Abdelmuneim Osman Mohamed Taha, Rapporteur, Advisory Council for Human Rights, PO Box 302, Khartoum (Sudan), Fax No.: + 249 183 77 08 83
  
• Prof. Ali Mohamed Ali Shommou, The National Press and Publications Council, P O Box 11111, Osman Digna St. , Khartoum East Sudan, Fax: + 249 183 77 19 25
  
• H.E. Ambassador Mr. Mohamed Elhassan Ahmed Elhaj, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva, Avenue Blanc 47, 1202 Geneva, PO Box 335, 1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 731 26 56, Email: mission.sudan@bluewin.ch; mission.sudan@ties.itu.int.

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

***
Geneva, 15 March 2006

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