Sudan
20.01.05
Urgent Interventions
Sudan: Arrest and torture of five men by armed forces
Case SDN 200105
Arbitrary Detention / Torture / Death in detention
The International Secretariat of OMCT has received new information concerning 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 20th December 2004, armed forces in Nyala arrested 5 men, four belonging to the Zaghawa and one from the Fur tribe from Marla villate in the Nyala province. The names of the 5 men are:
1. Adam Joumma’ Bakour, 35 yrs
2. Idrees Jai Khmees, 55 yrs, Marla
3. Souleiman Khatir Khamees, 22 yrs, Marla
4. Araiba Adam, 39 yrs, Fur tribe, Marla
5. Abdella Mohamed Khamees
According to the information received, the men were arrested at the market in Marla and detained in a military custody centre in Marla. During their detention, they were taken to an underground room in the military centre where they were tortured by the armed forces and Janjaweed militias. Their hands and legs were tied with rope and they were beaten severely with sticks and the barrel of guns on their heads, as well as being flogged on the back.
One of the detainees, Adam Joumma’ Bakour, allegedly died as a result. The four other detainees received medical treatment at Marla hospital.
On 12th January 2005, one of the detainees (name withheld for security reasons) was released and he is receiving medical treatment for his injuries. The three other men are currently still detained at the military Offices in Marla with no official charges against them.
The International Secretariat of OMCT condemns the killing of Adam Joumma’ Bakour and is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of the three remaining detainees.
Requested Action:
Please write to the authorities in Sudan urging them to:
i. guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the three remaining detainees;
ii. order a thorough and impartial investigation into the arbitrary detention and torture of all 5 detainees, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them to trial and apply to them the civil, penal and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
iii. order a thorough and impartial investigation into the death of Adam
Joumma’ Bakour, including a post-mortem, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them to trial and apply to them the civil, penal and/or administrative sanctions provided by law, and guarantee that adequate reparation is awarded to the victim’s family;
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:
Geneva, 20th January 2005
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
Arbitrary Detention / Torture / Death in detention
The International Secretariat of OMCT has received new information concerning 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 20th December 2004, armed forces in Nyala arrested 5 men, four belonging to the Zaghawa and one from the Fur tribe from Marla villate in the Nyala province. The names of the 5 men are:
1. Adam Joumma’ Bakour, 35 yrs
2. Idrees Jai Khmees, 55 yrs, Marla
3. Souleiman Khatir Khamees, 22 yrs, Marla
4. Araiba Adam, 39 yrs, Fur tribe, Marla
5. Abdella Mohamed Khamees
According to the information received, the men were arrested at the market in Marla and detained in a military custody centre in Marla. During their detention, they were taken to an underground room in the military centre where they were tortured by the armed forces and Janjaweed militias. Their hands and legs were tied with rope and they were beaten severely with sticks and the barrel of guns on their heads, as well as being flogged on the back.
One of the detainees, Adam Joumma’ Bakour, allegedly died as a result. The four other detainees received medical treatment at Marla hospital.
On 12th January 2005, one of the detainees (name withheld for security reasons) was released and he is receiving medical treatment for his injuries. The three other men are currently still detained at the military Offices in Marla with no official charges against them.
The International Secretariat of OMCT condemns the killing of Adam Joumma’ Bakour and is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of the three remaining detainees.
Requested Action:
Please write to the authorities in Sudan urging them to:
i. guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the three remaining detainees;
ii. order a thorough and impartial investigation into the arbitrary detention and torture of all 5 detainees, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them to trial and apply to them the civil, penal and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
iii. order a thorough and impartial investigation into the death of Adam
Joumma’ Bakour, including a post-mortem, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them to trial and apply to them the civil, penal and/or administrative sanctions provided by law, and guarantee that adequate reparation is awarded to the victim’s family;
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:
- His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, President' s Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan. Fax: + 249 183 783223
- Mr. Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, Khartoum, Sudan. Fax: + 249 183 788941
- Mr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affair, PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan. Fax: + 249 183 779383
- Dr. Abdelmuneim Osman Mohamed Taha, Advisory Council for Human Rights, PO Box 302, Khartoum, Sudan. Fax: + 249 183 770883
- 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, +41 22 716 19 70, E-mail: mission.sudan@ties.itu.int.
- Please also write to the embassies of Sudan in your respective country.
Geneva, 20th January 2005
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.