Sudan
06.04.04
Urgent Interventions

Sudan: arbitrary arrest, torture and extra-judicial execution of 168 members of the Fur tribe

Case SDN 060404
Arbitrary arrests / Torture / Extra-judicial execution

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 a Sudanese Organisation Against Torture (SOAT), a member of the OMCT network, of the arbitrary arrest, torture and extra-judicial execution of 168 members of the Fur tribe in Sudan.

According to the information received, officers from military intelligence and militia leaders (Janjaweed) reportedly arrested 168 people all belongs to the Fur tribe, and then summarily executed them between March 5th and 7th, 2004, at the security offices in Delaij, Wadi Salih province, Western Darfur State. The names of 118 of these persons, as well as more in-depth background information concerning the ongoing conflict and the deterioration of the situation in Darfur, can be found in the annexed document. The arrests took place in the villages of Zaray, Fairgo, Tairgo and Kaskildo, all south of Garsilla, Wadi Salih province. They were detained for alleged involvement with the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and taken to the security offices in Delaij, a village 30 kilometres east of Garsilla town, Wadi Salih province. During their detention the 168 people were allegedly subjected to torture and were then summarily executed by a firing squad. Reports indicate that they were executed outside of the judicial process and that their rights, which are provided for by Sudanese law and international law were violated.

This information were provided by eyewitness and tribal leaders from the place where the 168 people were executed. Further verification was obtained by independent witness who confirm the incident to SOAT.

The International Secretariat of OMCT deplores this extremely grave case of mass arrests, torture and extra-judicial execution. OMCT calls on the Sudanese Government to immediately put a halt to any further such operations, including by the armed proxy militia, the Janjaweed (armed men on horses), who are reportedly supported by the Government. OMCT calls on the Government to take all measures necessary to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of all members of the Fur and other Arab tribes in Darfur; to order a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances of these events, in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law; and to guarantee that adequate reparation is provided to the families of the victims.

Action requested

Please write to the authorities in Sudan urging them to:

i. take all measures necessary to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the afore-mentioned persons;
ii. order a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances of these events, in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
iii. guarantee that adequate reparation is provided to the victims of these abuses;
iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

Addresses

· President of the Republic of Sudan, His Excellency Lieutenant-General Omar Hassan al-Bashir, President' s Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: +24911 783223 / 771024 / 771651 / 779977

· First Vice-President, Mr Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, People's Palace PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax : + 249 11 779977 / 771025

· Mr Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: + 249 11 788941 / 771479

· Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Mustafa Osman Ismail, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax :+249 11 779383

· Advisory Council for Human Rights, Dr Yasir Sid Ahmed, 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. Ibrahim Mirghani Ibrahim, 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.

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

Geneva, April 6th, 2004

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

Annexe document containing a list of the names of the victims as well as background information.

Attachments