Darfur: Continual targeting of civilians in Donkey Dereisa

On 29 April 2006, three officers from the government of Sudan armed forces under the command of an officer from the military intelligence named as Abu Ashara reportedly arrested Ibrahim Adam, (42 yrs) whilst he was working on water container in Donkey Dereisa, Nyala, South Darfur State.

According to eye witnesses’ accounts, Mr. Adam was taken to a nearby hut and hanged.� Whilst Mr. Adam was hanging on the rope, the soldiers set fire to the hut. The hut was completely destroyed.

Background

On 25 April 2006, military intelligence in Donkey Dereisa arrested four men from Donkey Dereisa village, 35 km South of Nyala on suspicion of supporting the rebel opposition group in Darfur, Sudan Liberation Army (SLA). The men were taken to a military detention center in Donkey Dereisa where they remain in detention. The families of the detainees have been denied access.

The details of the detainees are as follows:

1. Alshaikh Adam Hassan Mohamed Yousif, (53 yrs), Fur tribe, Farmer

2. Abaker Yahya Mohamed, (40 yrs), Eringa tribe, Farmer

3. Mohamed Ibrahim Bakango, (75 yrs), Fur, Farmer

4. Ahmed Alrihaid, (40 yrs), Merchant

On 26 April 2006, military intelligence arrested fourteen people from Donkey Dereisa on suspicion of the SLA. The men were taken into military detention custody in an unknown place. On 03/04 May 2006, the detainees were transferred to military intelligence detention center in Nyala where they remain in detention are facing no official charges. �The details of the detainees are as follows:

– Adam Hussein Mohamed Yousif, (52 yrs), Sheikh
– Abaker Yahya Mahmoud, (40 yrs), Sheikh
– Yousif Tahir Ali, (37 yrs), Merchant
– Mohamadain Mohamed Nour, (57 yrs), Farmer
– Ahmed Rehaid, (45 yrs), Merchant
– Abdel Rahman Alnil, (35 yrs), Farmer
– Mohamed Mohamed Ali
– Ibrahim Abaker Imam
– Mohamed Souleiman
– Hussein Omer
– Khamees Adam
– Khalid Idris
– Omer Idris
– Mohamed Souleiman Abdella

On 27 April 2006, armed militias working with government forces attacked and looted Donkey Dereisa village. During the attack, the militias burnt over three thousand houses. The government alleges that the there are rebel groups in the surrounding areas of Donkey Dereisa. The attack was reportedly coordinated by Officer Abu Nobu.

SOAT strongly condemns the continuing terrorisation and attacks on the civilian population in Southern Darfur by both government forces and armed militias. These attacks and its effect on security continue to have adverse effect on humanitarian activities by aid organisations, restricting access to the population most in need of such aid.

SOAT stresses that the continued attacks on civilians in Darfur with impunity is a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement, UNSC resolutions, international laws protecting non-combatants and the spirit of the ongoing peace negotiations in Abuja.

In light of the seriousness and the ongoing nature of armed militias’ attacks on civilians, SOAT calls on the Government of Sudan to:

– Investigate the attacks on Donkey Dereisa and to ensure that persons responsible for the extra judicial execution of Mr. Adam are brought before an impartial tribunal and guaranteed procedural rights at all times;
– Investigate the situation in Donkey Dereisa and the surrounding villages and to immediately disperse the militias and all other militias that are operating the area;
– End impunity for crimes committed by government forces and its proxy militias in Darfur;
Ensure safe passage for aid organisations and humanitarian convoys to Shearia;
– Immediately take all steps required to prevent attacks, threats, intimidations and any other form of violence against the people of Darfur;
– Guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country 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:

Argo House
– Kilburn Park Road
– London NW6 5LF, UK
– Tel: +44 (0)20 7625 8055
– Fax: +44 (0)20 7372 2656
– E-mail: [email protected]
– Website: www.soatsudan.org