SOAT Sudan Organisation Against Torture

SOAT Press Release: 4 May 2004 Eight arrested and tortured in Jeway Kheen

On 19 March 2004 the armed forces and the military intelligence, under leadership of the First lieutenant, Daffa Ala Mahmoud Almasalli, arrested eight (8) persons from Jeway Kheen village in suspicion of participating in an attack on Bouram town on the 10 March 2004 by the SLA rebel forces. Their details are as follows:

1. Alsadig Ahmed Harba, 32 yrs, Zaghawa, lives in Nyala Hey Althawra 2. Mohamed Ahmed Abu Kantosh, 55 yrs, Barno tribe 3. Haroun Basheer, 35 yrs, Zaghawa tribe, fish trader 4. Abdu, Zaghawa tribe, cooking oil trader 5. Mohamed Youseif, 43 yrs, Zaghawa tribe, sorghum trader 6. Alfaki Abdella Kiraykirro, 45 yrs, Fur tribe, (Islamic cleric)

7. Mohamed Adam Hurry, 45 yrs, Zaghawa tribe, headmaster of Legaid Diba Primary School 8. Zakaria Madibo, Zaghawa tribe, 60 yrs, sorghum trader

Following their arrest they were detained in a military camp in Bouram for nine (9) days then transferred them to Nyala where they were detained in a military prison. On 2 April 2004, one of the detainees, Alsadig Ahamed Harba, was released. The other seven (7) detainee's whereabouts are unknown.

It has been reported that the eight (8) detainees have been subjected to torture during their custody in the military camp in Bouram. Military intelligence officers tied them to each other with robes and put them into a lorry for four (4) days without food or enough water; they were beaten with sticks and gun butts; punched and kicked; tied by the legs and arms upside down against a tree for many hours and Mr. Haroon had metal objects inserted into his rectum. It has been reprted to SOAT that they were not prvided with any food for three days after thier arrival to the militry prison in Nyala

Background

Darfur has been the scene of one of the worst humanitarian crisis. According to the United Nations, 750,000 of its six million inhabitants have been internally displaced by the conflict, while a further 110,000 have sought refuge in Chad. 10,000 have reportedly been killed since the eruption o the conflict, many of whom are civilians. The situation was compounded by the restrictions by the government of Sudan and the escalation of violence and attacks in the region making it a no go area for relief agencies or allow for monitoring of the situation.

Following much international pressure and demands for humanitarian access a ceasefire truce was signed on 8 April 2004 in N'Djamena between the GoS and the two main rebel groups, Sudan Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/M) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), which came into effect on 12 April 2004. Under the terms of the deal signed in the Chadian capital, N'Djamena, the parties have agreed to cease hostilities within 72 hours, for a renewable period of 45 days. They have also agreed to guarantee safe passage for humanitarian aid to the region and to free prisoners of war and to disarm militias 'Janjaweed' who have been blamed for much of the "ethnic cleansing" and "atrocities" against civilians.

These concerns were demonstrated in the Report of the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights mission to Chad, April 5-15, 2004 which reports on a "reign of terror" which includes the following elements:

a.Repeated attacks on civilians by Government of Sudan military and its proxy militia forces with a view to their displacement;

b.The use of systematic and indiscriminate aerial bombardments and ground attacks on unarmed civilians;

c.The use of disproportional force by the Government of Sudan and the Janjaweed forces;

d.That the Janjaweed have operated with total impunity and in close coordination with the forces of the Government of Sudan;

e.The attacks appear to have been ethnically based with the groups targeted being essentially the following tribes reportedly of African origin: Zaghawas, Masaalit, and Furs. Men and young boys appear to have been particularly targeted in ground attacks; and

The pattern of attacks on civilians includes killing, rape, pillage, including of livestock, and destruction of property, including water sources."

SOAT condemns the continued detention of the seven men and urges the

i.Uphold to the ceasefire agreement and order the immediate release of all the detainees in the absence of valid legal charges, or if legitimate charges exist, bring them before an impartial tribunal and guarantee procedural rights at all times.

ii.Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of all the detainees.

iii.Guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of association throughout Sudan in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

The above recommendations should be sent in appeals to the following addresses:

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

Mr Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin Minister of Justice and Attorney General Ministry of Justice Khartoum, Sudan Fax: + 24911 788941

Mr Mustafa Osman Ismail Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan Fax: + 24911 779383

Mr Yasir Sid Ahmed Advisory Council for Human Rights PO Box 302 Khartoum, Sudan Sudan Fax: + 24911 770883

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,

SOAT is an international human rights organisation established in the UK in 1993. If you have any questions about this or any other SOAT information please contact us at:

SOAT The Park Business Centre Kilburn Park Road London NW6 5LF Tel: 020 7625 8055 Fax: 020 7372 2656 Website: <http://www.soatsudan.org/> http://www.soatsudan.org

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