Unprovoked attack on unarmed civilians in Marawi

On 22 April 2006, 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 School, killing three people and injuring over fifty others. The villagers had gathered in the School to discuss how the building of the dam had affected their livelihoods.

The incident took place at 11.00am in the presence of police officers. Following the attack, the security officers arrested and detained three of the victims. The detainees are charged with articles 51 (Waging War against the State) which if convicted carries the death penalty; 182 (Criminal Mischief), and 139 (Penalty for Causing Intentional Wounding).

The details of the persons killed are as follows:

1. Atta Al sayed Al Khidir Al Mahi, (30 yrs), Farmer from Abu Haraze village

2. Yassin Mohamed Al Khair, (20 yrs), Farmer, from Al Sor village, was released from Marawi Dam security offices on 20 April 2006

3. Salah Al Faky Al Kheder, (27 yrs), Farmer from Alsweage village

The wounded persons were taken by local people to the nearest hospital at Kariema town, 25 km from Amri School. Details of some of the persons injured are as follows:

1. Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Esaily, (27 yrs), Farmer, from Alshegly at Amri,

2. Tareg Osman Mohamed Ali Farah, (30 yrs), from Attli -Amri

3. Hafez Abass Mohamed Abass, (25 yrs), from Burada-Amri

4. Monour Osman Abass, (20 yrs), from Burada- Amri

5. Gamal Eldin Fath Alrahman Khaleel, (28 yrs), from Albandgawy -Amri

6. Mohamed Taha Mohamed Ahmed, (40 yrs), from Marmyah – Amri

7. Mosabb Abd Almonaiem Abdalrehman Warag, (20 yrs), from Alturkab – Amri

8. Suliman Mohamed Babiker Alkenably, (30 yrs), from Albangawy- Amri

9. Hussain Ali Ahmed Mohmed Aursy, (25 yrs), from Alnemara- Amri

10. Hussein Alawad Eisa, (25 yrs), from Omsebair- Amri

11. Omer Alameen Omer, (25 yrs), from Omhail- Amri

12. Alrasheed Alameen Ahmed, (20 yrs), from Almukhada- Amri

13. Mohamed Ahmed Alnour, (18 yrs), from Dar Alarab-

Details of the persons arrested by security officers are as follows:

1. Ali Mohamed Alhassen Massad, (25 yrs)

2. Fadalla Idris Alajaimy, (35 yrs)

3. Mohamed Ahmed Alajaimy, (18 yrs), sustained gun wounds

Background

The situation in Marawi has been tense since work began on the government backed project of a 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 dam, which is financed by several Arab funds and executed by Chinese companies, has led to the displacement of thousands of people along the river banks. The Amri people are one of a number of groups who have been affected by the construction. The Amri people have been in negotiations with the government over the past two years regarding resettlement areas. The Amri people have requested resettlement in the vicinity of the dam reservoir. The government has rejected the request 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.

SOAT condemns the violence and the deaths and the arbitrary arrests of the three men. SOAT calls on the government to investigate the incident and to bring all the perpetrators to justice. SOAT urges the government to acknowledge the concerns of all the affected population in Marawi and to respond accordingly through economic, social and humanitarian measures and through respect of the rights of the displaced population. In addition SOAT urges the government to end impunity of its security apparatus operating in Marawi by holding the perpetrators of this extremely violent attack on an unarmed civilian population accountable along with the police officers present at the incident for their failure to protect the civilian population as required under article 10(1) of the Police Forces Act 1999 which states that the role and duty of police officers is one of “Ensuring the security of ….citizens and protecting people’s lives and properties.”

SOAT calls on the Government of National Unity (GoNU) to:

– Immediately establish an independent, impartial commission of inquiry into the incident and to make the commission findings public upon completion;
– Commit to the voluntary resettlement of the displaced population, ensure safe passage, and compensate the local population for loss of livelihood caused by the arbitrary seizure of lands and to return these lands;
– End impunity for crimes committed by government security forces;
– Immediately dismantle the various branches of security forces operating across the Sudan;
– Guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with the National Interim Constitution which provides under article 40 (1) that “…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 interest”.

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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