Darfur: Release of detainees; extra judiciary killing; rape in Donkey Dereisa

On 12 May 2006, officers from military intelligence released ten of the detainees arrested between 25 and 26 April from Donkey Dereisa, Nyala, Southern Darfur State. The men were arrested from Donkey Dereisa village, 35 km South of Nyala on suspicion of supporting the rebel opposition group in Darfur, Sudan Liberation Army (SLA). The details of some of the detainees released are as follows:

1. Yousif Tahir Ali

2. Mohamed Mohamed Ali

3. Abdel rahman Ahmed Neel

4. Khamees Haroun Mohamed

SOAT has been informed that contrary to our alert issued on 08 May 2006,

Mr. Ahmed Alrehaid, (40 yrs), a merchant from the Tama tribe, merchant, arrested on 25 April 2006 and Mr. Mohamadain Mohamed Nour, (57 yrs), a farmer from Gimir tribe, arrested on 26 April 2006, from Donkey Dereisa village was not among the persons transferred to military intelligence detention center in Nyala. According to eye witness, Mr. Alrehaid was allegedly killed whilst in military detention custody under the command of Abu Ashara. Mr. Alrehaid is reportedly buried in the military camp. Mr. Nour reportedly died on the same day of arrest in military intelligence custody from injuries sustained from torture. Mr. Nour was allegedly tied with a rope, beaten with sticks on his head and all over his body and flogged on his back.�

In a separate incident, SOAT has received confirmation of the alleged rape of four women by officers from the armed forces in Donkey Dereisa. The women (names withheld) are from the Massalit tribe and are between 25 and 65 years old.

Background

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. Over the ensuing days, military intelligence in Donkey Dereisa under the command of an officer named as Abu Ashara arrested seventeen men from Donkey Dereisa village.

SOAT strongly condemns the continuing terrorisation and attacks including sexual and gender based violence 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 and can only impede the peace process.

SOAT stresses that the continued attacks on civilians in Darfur with impunity is a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement, UNSC resolutions, the African Union brokered Darfur Peace Agreement signed by the Sudanese government and international laws protecting non-combatants and the spirit of the ongoing peace negotiations in Abuja.���

SOAT calls on the Government of Sudan to:

– Investigate the attacks including the reported rapes in Donkey Dereisa and the deaths of Mr. Ahmed Alrehaid, and Mr. Mohamadain Mohamed Nour and ensure that the perpetrators 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;
– 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:

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