Arbitrary arrests; detention of Beja Congress leadership in Kassala state
SOAT
Sudan Organisation Against Torture
April 5, 2006 — On 03, 04 April 2006, Security Officers in Kassala State, Eastern Sudan arrested leading members of the Beja Congress in what appears to be crackdown on the group. No reason was given for the arrests and detention. The details of the persons arrested are as follows:
Mohamed Din Suleiman, Chairperson of the Secretariat of the Beja Congress in Kassala State – arrested on 03 April 2006
Gafar Mohamed Adam, General Secretary of the Beja Congress in Kassala State General – arrested on 03 April 2006, previously arrested on 10 March 2006
Mohamed Osman Alkhalifa, Member of the Beja Secretariat in Kassala State – arrested on 03 April 2006
Hashim Hangag, Lawyer, Spokesperson for the Beja Congress in Kassala State- arrested on 04 April 2006, previously arrested on 10 March 2006
Alamin Alfaidabi, Member of the Secretariat- arrested on 04 April 2006
Background
The mass arrests of leading members of the Beja Congress in Red Sea state, Kassala and Gadarif states began in March 2006 when security officers arrested the following members of the Beja Congress:
Osman Hassan Al-masri, General Secretary of the Beja Congress in Gadarif State – arrested on 06 March 2006
Alamin Alhaj, Chairperson of the Beja Congress in Gadarif State – arrested on 06 March 2006
Ali Hussain Omer Member of the Beja Congress Secretariat in Kassala State – arrested on 07 March 2006 – transferred form security detention to Kassala Prison, began a hunger strike on 26 March 2006
Ali Omer, Member of the Beja Congress Secretariat in Kassala State – arrested on 08 March 2006
Mahmoud Ibrahim Osman, Assistant General Secretary of the Beja Congress in Kassala State – arrested on 10 March 2006
Ali Omer Mohamed Ali, Member of the Eastern Front – arrested on 07 March 2006, began a hunger strike on 26 March 2006
Haroun Mohamed Ali, Member of Eastern Front- arrested on 07 March 2006, began a hunger strike on 26 March 2006
SOAT condemns the arbitrary arrests and detention of these men without charges. �SOAT expresses concern about the health and well-being of Haroun Mohamed Ali, Ali Hussain Omer and Ali Omer Mohamed Ali and calls on the government to allow them immediate access to medical treatment. Although no reason was given for the arrests of the men, it is suspected that the wave of arrests is aimed at intimidating the Beja Congress from participating in the ongoing peace negotiations in Asmara, Eritrea with the government under the auspices of the UN.
SOAT calls on the government of Sudan to order the immediate release of all the detainees in the absence of valid legal charges, or if legitimate charges exist, to bring them before an impartial tribunal and guarantee procedural rights at all times.����������
The right of freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Sudanese National Interim Constitution, which came into effect on 9 July 2005. Article 40 (1) states, “The right to peaceful assembly shall be guaranteed; every person shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form or join political parties, associations and trade or professional unions for the protection of his interests.” Moreover, article 29 provides that, “Every person has the right to liberty and security of person; no person shall be subjected to arrest, detention, deprivation or restriction of his liberty except for reasons and in accordance with procedures prescribed by law.”
Whilst, SOAT acknowledges that Eastern Sudan remains under State of Emergency rules with many rights suspended, certain rights are non-derogable, including the right to life; the prohibition of torture; and freedom of thought, conscience, and religion
SOAT condemns the targeting and systematic harassment, arrests and detention political activists in Eastern Sudan and urges the Government of Sudan to:
– Immediately investigate the arrests of political leaders in Eastern Sudan
– Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of all the detainees;
– 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;
– Allow all the detainees immediate access to legal advice; to their families and to medical treatment;
– Cease the campaign of intimidation and harassment of political activists in the Eastern region;
– Guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
– 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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