Sudan: Release of ten of the detainees arrested between 25 and 26 April 2006 in Nyala

Case SDN 100506.1 - Case SDN 100506.1.ESCR
Follow up to Case SDN 100506 – Case SDN 100506.ESCR

Release / Death in custody / Arbitrary detention / Extrajudicial killing

Geneva, 30 May 2006

The International Secretariat of OMCT has received new information and requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Sudan.

New Information:

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Sudan Organisation Against Torture (SOAT), a member of the OMCT network, about the release of ten of the detainees arrested between 25 and 26 April 2006 from Donkey Dereisa, Nyala, Southern Darfur State.

According to the information received, on 12 May 2006, officers from military intelligence released Mr. Yousif Tahir Ali, Mr. Mohamed Mohamed Ali, Mr. Abdel Rahman Ahmed Neel, and Mr. Khamees Haroun Mohamed, who had been arrested from Donkey Dereisa village, 35 km South of Nyala, on suspicion of supporting the rebel opposition group in Darfur, Sudan Liberation Army (SLA). The International Secretariat of OMCT does not have the names of the other released persons.

Furthermore, OMCT has been informed that contrary to our alert issued on 10 May 2006, Mr. Ahmed Alrehaid (40 yrs), a merchant from the Tama tribe, arrested on 25 April 2006, and Mr. Mohamadain Mohamed Nour (57 yrs), a farmer from Gimir tribe, arrested on 26 April 2006 from Donkey Dereisa village, were not among the persons transferred to military intelligence detention center in Nyala. Mr. Alrehaid would have allegedly been killed whilst in military detention custody under the command of officer Mr. Abu Ashara. He is reportedly buried in the military camp. Mr. Nour reportedly died on the same day of his arrest in military intelligence custody from injuries sustained from torture. Mr. Nour was allegedly tied with a rope, beaten with sticks on his head and all over his body and flogged on his back.

The International Secretariat of OMCT wishes to thank all of the individuals and organisations that have taking action as a response to the urgent appeal and have written to the Sudanese authorities on behalf of these persons. However, OMCT expresses its deep concern about the death in custody of Mr. Ahmed Alrehaid and Mr. Mohamadain Mohamed Nour and calls for an immediate and impartial investigation into these events.

Brief reminder of the situation:

On 29 April 2006, three officers from the government of Sudan armed forces, allegedly under the command of an officer from the military intelligence named Abu Ashara, arrested Mr. Ibrahim Adam (42 yrs) whilst he was working on a water container in Donkey Dereisa. According to eyewitnesses’ accounts, Mr Adam was taken to a nearby hut and hanged on the same day. The soldiers set fire to the hut, which was completely destroyed.

Furthermore, military intelligence arrested fourteen people from Donkey Dereisa on suspicion of the collaboration with the SLA on 26 April 2006. The men were taken into military detention custody in an unknown place. On 3-4 May 2006, the detainees were transferred to a military intelligence detention center in Nyala where they remain in detention.

The details of the detainees are as follows:
1. Adam Hussain Mohamed Yousif (52 yrs), sheikh
2. Abaker Yahya Mahmoud (40 yrs), sheikh
3. Yousif Tahir Ali, (37 yrs) merchant
4. Mohamadain Mohamed Nour (57 yrs), farmer
5. Ahmed Rehaid, (45 yrs) merchant
6. Abdel Rahman Ahmed Neel (35 yrs), farmer
7. Mohamed Mohamed Ali
8. Ibrahim Abaker Imam
9. Mohamed Soulieman
10. Hussain Omer
11. Khamees Adam
12. Khalid Idrees
13. Omer Idrees
14. Mohamed Soulieman Abdella
Moreover, it is reported that on 25 April 2006 military intelligence in Donkey Dereisa arrested four men in Donkey Dereisa village, 35 km south of Nyala, on suspicion of supporting the rebel opposition group in Darfur, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA). The men were taken to a military detention center in Donkey Dereisa where they remain in detention. The families of the detainees were denied access and no charges were held against them.

The details of the detainees are as follows:
1. Alshaikh Adam Hassan Mohamed Yousif (53 yrs), Fur tribe, farmer
2. Abaker Yahya Mohamed, (40 yrs) Eringa tribe, farmer
3. Mohamed Ibrahim Bakango (75 yrs), Fur tribe, farmer
4. Ahmed Alrihaid (40 yrs), merchant
Lastly, on 27 April 2006, armed militias working with government forces attacked and looted Donkey Dereisa village. During the attack, the militias burnt over three thousand houses. The government alleges that there are rebel groups in the surrounding areas of Donkey Dereisa. The attack was reportedly coordinated by Officer Abu Nobu.

Requested Action:

Please write to the authorities in Sudan urging them to:
1. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of all the above-mentioned detainees;
2. Ensure the immediate release of all persons arrested in the absence of valid legal charges, and if such charges exist, ensure that they are given a prompt and fair trial, in which their procedural rights are guaranteed at all time;
3. 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;
4. Guarantee that adequate compensation is awarded to the family of Mr. Ibrahim Adam, Mr. Ahmed Alrehaid and Mr. Mohamadain Mohamed Nour;
5. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

Addresses:

• His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, Presidential Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: +249 183 783 223
  
  
• His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, First Vice-President, People’s Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: + 249 11 779977 / 771025
  
  
• His Excellency Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, Vice-President, People’s Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: + 249 183 77 10 25
  
  
• Mr Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, Khartoum, Sudan ; Fax: + 249 183 78 07 96
  
  
• Mr Lam Akol Ajawin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs/External Relations, PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: + 249 183 77 93 83
  
  
• Mr. Al Zubeir Beshir Taha, Minister of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Interior, PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: +249 183 77 93 83
  
  
• Dr Nafie Ali Nafie, Minister of Federal Government, Office of the Presidents People’s Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: +249 117 71 651/ 78 32 23
  
  
• 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, Advisory Council for Human Rights, Rapporteur, PO Box 302, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: +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
  
  
• His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Mohamed Elhassan Ahmed Elhaj, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva, Avenue Blanc 47, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, Tel: +41 22 731 26 63, Fax: +41 22 731 26 56, Email: mission.sudan@bluewin.ch / mission.sudan@ties.itu.int
  
  
• The Embassy of Sudan in Brussels, Mr. Ali Yousif Ahmed, Av. F.D. Roosevelt, 124; 1050 Brussels. Tel.:0032 (2) 647 51 59 / 0032 (2) 647 94 94, Fax: 0032 (2) 648 34 99, Email: sudanbx@yahoo.com

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

***
Geneva, 30 May 2006

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