Darfur: Arrest and Torture in Military Camp
SOAT
On 7 March 2005, military intelligence arrested Adam Musa Ahmed, (30 yrs), a farmer belonging to the Zaghawa community from Sanya Afondu village, east of Nyala. Mr. Adam was taken to a military camp, 1km West of Sanya Afondu village and detained in a hole in the ground.
While in detention, Mr. Adam was reportedly tortured and received severe injuries. Under the command of Sergeants Aldahawi and Mohamed Soulieman, military intelligent officers reportedly flogged Mr. Adam on his back, tied his legs and hands, beat him with their hands, and kicked him with boots.
On 6 April 2005, Mr. Adam was transferred to security police detention custody in Nyala, Southern Darfur State. Mr. Adam has received no medical treatment and remains in detention despite the severity of his injuries. Mr. Adam is facing no official charges.
SOAT expresses serious concern for the health and well-being of Adam Musa Ahmed who has sustained severe injuries through torture and calls on the GoS to undertake an investigation into the torture and to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Background
In the last few months, SOAT has received reports of the continual targeting of persons from villages associated with the armed opposition groups in Darfur. Along with the clear pattern of government security forces frequent resort to the use of torture on civilians accused of supporting and or joining the rebellion, another disturbing pattern has emerged. SOAT has documented several cases of the arrest by military intelligence and armed forces of civilians from specific villages and their detention in a hole in the ground in military custody where they are subjected to severe torture.
On 22 February 2005, the armed forces arrested Mahmoud Abaker Osman and Diggo Abdel Jabbar, Omda, from the Zaghawa tribe in Shourom village, Nyala province, Southern Darfur state on suspicion of joining the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA). The two men were taken to a military camp in Sanya Afondu village where they were detained in a hole in the ground for 11 days. During this time, eight soldiers, reportedly under the command of Lieutenant Mulazim Awal, beat the men with sticks all over their bodies, beat them with metal sticks on the head and legs, flogged them on the back and chest and burnt their feet and hands with fire. On 4 March 2005, the two men were transferred into the custody of the Military Intelligence in Nyala, where they were detained incommunicado, and denied food for five days. On 13 March 2005, Mahmoud Abaker Osman and Diggo Abdel Jabbar were taken to Nyala Wasat (central) police station and charged under Article 51 (Waging War against the State) and Article 58 (Abetment to Mutiny) of the 1991 Sudanese Penal Code, which carry the death penalty. On 19 March 2005, after six days in police custody, the two men were transferred to Nyala prison where they remain in detention and are awaiting trial.
On 17 February 2005, Janjaweed militias in Marla village arrested a 19 yrs old student from the Zaghawa community and took him to a military camp in Marla, where he was detained in a hole in the ground and repeatedly tortured by the militias. The militias removed his clothes, tied his hands and legs with ropes, flogged him on his back, and beat him severely with sticks. A member of the militia, known as Ababeel (nickname) allegedly inserted grass up the student’s nose and then raped him. On 4 March 2005, he was transferred from Marla to police offices in Nyala and released on the same day and is facing no official charges. The student is seriously injured and is receiving medical treatment for his injuries at the Amel Medical Centre for Rehabilitation of Torture Victims in Nyala.
On 15 February 2005, the armed forces and military intelligence in Nyala arrested Yasir Hassan Osman; Hassan Younis Abdella Ateam; Hussain Younis Abdella Ateam; and Abdella Mohamed Fadul from the Zaghawa tribe in Sanya Afondu village, on suspicion of joining the SLA. The men were taken to a military camp, 1km West of Sanya Afondu village and detained in a hole in the ground where they were subjected to torture and received severe injuries. The men were flogged them on their chests and backs, beaten severely with sticks on their testicles, head, backs, shoulders and legs. Mr. Yasir Hassan Osman was released on 18 February 2005 and he is receiving medical treatment for his injuries at Amel Medical Centre for Rehabilitation of Torture Victims in Nyala, SOAT partner organisation in Nyala. The three remaining detainees are facing no official charges and have received no medical treatment and remain in detention despite the severity of their injuries. Hassan Younis Abdella Ateam is reportedly seriously wounded. Six of the perpetrators were identified, to date; no investigation has been conducted into the allegations of ill treatment and torture.
On 20 December 2004, the armed forces in Nyala arrested 5 men, from the Zaghawa tribe in Marla village on suspicion of joining the rebel forces. The men were taken into military custody in Marla and detained in a hole in the ground where they were tortured by the armed forces and Janjaweed militias. They tied the hands and legs of the men with rope, flogged them on their backs, beat them severely with sticks and with the barrel of their guns on their heads. One of the detainees, Adam Joumma’ Bakour died allegedly from injuries sustained as a result of the torture whilst in the custody of government armed forces, no post mortem was conducted following his death. On 12 January 2005, one of the detainees was released and he is receiving medical treatment for his injuries. The three remaining men are currently detained at the military Offices in Marla with no official charges against them. The details of the men are Adam Joumma’ Bakour, (killed); Idrees Jai Khmees, Souleiman Khatir Khamees, Araiba Adam and Abdella Mohamed Khamees.
SOAT strongly condemns the arbitrary arrests and systematic use of torture with impunity of civilians in Darfur. SOAT expresses fears for the safety of the detainees and is calling on the GoS to give assurances that they will not be further tortured or ill-treated. SOAT calls upon the GoS to give assurances that the detainees will be allowed access to medical treatment and that these cases will be investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice.
SOAT urges the Government of Sudan to:
– Immediately investigate allegations of torture and bring the perpetrators to justice;
– Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of all the detainees;
– Allow them immediate and unrestricted access to his family and any medical treatment that they may require;
– Order the immediately release 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;
– Ensure that all the detainees have access to legal advice;
– 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.
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