Darfur: Incommunicado Detention; Arbitrary Arrests; Fear of Torture; JEM Abduction

1. On 17 April 2006, armed men belonging to the rebel opposition group, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) placed Mohamed Issa Kouko, (35 yrs), Lasayi tribe under arrest. Mr. Kouko was detained from Ala-ayit town, Eastern Nyala, Southern Darfur. �On 19 April 2006, soldiers from the JEM transferred Mr. Kouko to their camp in Haskanita village, East of Nyala where he remains incommunicado.

2. On 12 April 2005, security officers in Nyala arrested Alsharief Hessain Shareif, (35 yrs), Fur tribe, resident at Kalma IDP camp and headmaster of Alsalam school. Mr. Hessain Shareif was arrested whilst visiting a relative at Nyala Hey Texsas and taken to an unknown place. The whereabouts of Mr. Shareif is currently unknown.

3. On 15 April 2006, the security forces in Nyala arrested seven men from the Gimir tribe in Nyala. The men were arrested at different locations across Nyala and taken to a security detention centre in Nyala. No reason was given for the arrests. On 22 April 2006, three of the detainees were released without charge. The remaining four men remain in detention at security custody centre in Nyala and are facing no charges. The family of the detainees have been denied access. The details of the men in detention are as follows:

1. Abdel rahman Abdella Aldouma Adam, (45 yrs), Merchant, lives in Nyala Hey Rayig, member of the Popular Congress Party (PNC);

2. Adam Abdella Aldouma Adam, (42 yrs), Merchant, lives in Nyala Hey Almatar;

3. Alfadil Mohamed Matar, (35 yrs), lives in Nyala Shamal, Merchant;

4. Omda Abaker Mohamed Aldouma, (60 yrs), lives in Katayla;

The details of the detainees released on 22 April are as follows:

1. Mohamed Aljemay-Abi, (36 yrs), Teacher

2. Sakin, (40 yrs), Teacher

3. Omda Gabriel, (42 yrs)

SOAT expresses fears for the safety of the detainees and calls upon the Government of National Unity (GoNU) to ensure that the men are allowed access to medical treatment, to legal counsel and to give assurances that they will not be subjected to torture or ill-treatment.

SOAT calls on the JEM to immediately release Mr. Mohamed Issa Kouko as they have no power to arrest and detain suspects. Mr. Kouko detention therefore amounts to abduction, which is in violation of international humanitarian law.

SOAT calls on the GONU to:

– Investigate the arrest and continuing detention of the detainees and ensure their immediate release 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;
– Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of the detainees and allow them access to legal advice, to their families and to medical treatment;

SOAT strongly condemns the abduction of Mohamed Issa Kouko and calls on the JEM to:

– To immediately release him and to respect international humanitarian law and to end impunity for crimes committed by its members.

– 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:

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