Sudan detains five rights activists in Darfur – Amnesty
Feb 13, 2006 (ED DAIN, South darfur) — Five human rights defenders member of Sudanese organization are being held by the security service in south Darfur without charge, Amnesty International said.
Alrayah Ibrahim Eldaw, Alfaris Ibrahim, Dawalbeit Kabbur and Osman Ali Ismael, staff members of non-governmental organization the Sudan Development Organization (SUDO), and Sayed Abu Bakr, a volunteer for SUDO, are being held incommunicado and without charge by security forces in the town of Ed Dain in South Darfur.
The five human rights defenders were arrested on 13 February at Ed Dain University, as they conducted a training session on human rights monitoring, which had been organized by SUDO.
At 11am, an unknown number of armed security personnel entered the room where the session was being held, and arrested the five men. The men are being held incommunicado at the Ed Dain Security Office. No reason has been given for their arrest, and they have not been notified of any charges against them.
SUDO is a voluntary organization created to promote sustainable development and human rights, and has organized a number of seminars and training sessions related to human rights. It is also engaged in humanitarian activities, providing emergency food and shelter in the war-torn region of Darfur.
The arrest and harassment of staff of human rights organizations occurs frequently in all parts of Sudan but is particularly widespread in Darfur.
The authorities are apparently attempting to intimidate activists into ceasing their work. Sudanese human rights defenders are more vulnerable to such intimidation, and receive less media attention than international humanitarian and human rights workers in Sudan, therefore making them an easier target for the authorities.
A debilitating civil war has raged in Darfur since February 2003, pitting Sudanese rebels against government forces and allied Janjaweed militias. Tens of thousands have been killed and 2 million driven from their homes and forced to flee to miserable camps in Sudan and Chad.
(ST)