Sudan: Refusal of forced relocation, resulting in the injuring, killing and detention of local residents.

Case SDN 030506 – Case SDN 030506.ESCR

Injuring / Killing / Arbitrary Detention

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 22 April 2006 three people were killed, over fifty were injured and three people were arrested and detained following an attack by the security forces in Marawi.

According to the information received, security forces in Marawi, armed with machine guns and heavy artillery, fired live ammunition into a crowd of villagers whilst they were having breakfast in a nearby school yard, Amri Shool. The incident, which took place at 11.00 am in the presence of police officers, resulted in the death of three people and injured over fifty others, who were taken by local people to the nearest hospital at Kariema town, 25 km from the Amri School. Moreover, following the attack, the security officers arrested and detained three of the victims. The detainees are currently held in police custody in Marawi and are charged under the following articles of the Sudanes Criminal Code: article 51 (waging war against the state, which if convicted carries the death penalty); article 182 (criminal mischief) and article 139 (penalty for causing intentional wounding).

According to the information received, the villagers had gathered in the school to discuss how the building of a dam had affected their livelihoods. It is reported that the dam, which is financed by several Arab funds and executed by Chinese companies, has resulted in the displacements of thousands of people along the riverbanks. Among the people affected by its construction are the Amri people, who have been in negotiations with the government over the past two years regarding resettlement areas: they have requested resettlement in the vicinity of the dam resevoir. The situation in Marawi has been tense since work began on the government-backed project of the dam construction despite the absence of consultation with the local surrounding population, and lack of provisions for compensation scheme for loss of homes and livelihoods. The government has rejected the request of the inhabitants and insisted on resettlement of the Amri people to Bayouda desert. The Amri people have refused to be relocated to Bayouda and allege that the local Dam authorities have already in fact sold their lands to Arab investors.

The details of the three persons killed are:
1. Mr. Atta Al sayed Al Khidir Al Mahi, (30 yrs), farmer from Abu Haraze village.
2. Mr. Yassin Mohamed Al Khair, (20 yrs), farmer, from Al Sor village.
3. Mr. Salah Al Faky Al Kheder, (27 yrs), farmer from Alsweage village.
The details of some of the persons injured are as follows:
1. Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Esaily, (27 yrs), farmer, from Alshegly - Amri.
2. Mr. Tareg Osman Mohamed Ali Farah, (30 yrs), from Attli - Amri.
3. Mr. Hafez Abass Mohamed Abass, (25 yrs), from Burada – Amri.
4. Mr. Monour Osman Abass, (20 yrs), from Burada – Amri.
5. Mr. Gamal Eldin Fath Alrahman Khaleel, (28 yrs), from Albandgawy – Amri.
6. Mr. Mohamed Taha Mohamed Ahmed, (40 yrs), from Marmyah – Amri.
7. Mr. Mosabb Abd Almonaiem Abdalrehman Warag, (20 yrs), from Alturkab – Amri.
8. Mr. Suliman Mohamed Babiker Alkenably, (30 yrs), from Albangawy – Amri.
9. Mr. Hussain Ali Ahmed Mohmed Aursy, (25 yrs), from Alnemara – Amri.
10. Mr. Hussein Alawad Eisa, (25 yrs), from Omsebair – Amri.
11. Mr. Omer Alameen Omer, (25 yrs), from Omhail - Amri.
12. Mr. Alrasheed Alameen Ahmed, (20 yrs), from Almukhada – Amri.
13. Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Alnour, (18 yrs), from Dar Alarab – Amri.
The details of the three men who are detained are as follows:
1. Mr. Ali Mohamed Alhassen Massad, (25 yrs)
2. Mr. Fadalla Idris Alajaimy, (35 yrs)
3. Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Alajaimy, (18 yrs), sustained gun wounds
The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned over these events, and in particular over the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Ali Mohamed Alhassen Massad, Mr. Fadalla Idris Alajaimy and Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Alajaimy.

Requested Action

Please write to the authorities in Sudan urging them to:
i. Guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Ali Mohamed Alhassen Massad, Mr. Fadalla Idris Alajaimy and Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Alajaimy, and ensure that they are provided with medical assistance;
ii. Order their immediate release in the absence of valid charges that are consistent with international law and standards, or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
iii. 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;
iv. Guarantee that adequate compensation is awarded to the families of Mr. Atta Al sayed Al Khidir Al Mahi, Mr. Yassin Mohamed Al Khair and Mr. Salah Al Faky Al Kheder, and to all those who were injured during the attack;
v. 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
  
  
• First Vice-President, Mr Salva Kiir Mayardit, People’s Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax : + 249 11 779977 / 771025
  
  
• Vice-President, Mr Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, People’s Palace PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: + 249 11 779977 / 771025
  
  
• Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mr Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin, Ministry of Justice, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: + 249 183 780796
  
  
• Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Lam Akol Ajawin, Ministry of Foreign Affairs/External Relations, PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax + 249 183 779 383
  
  
• 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
  
  
• 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 Bruxelles. 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, 3 May 2006

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