Sudan arrests Kajbar dam activists

Between Monday 27th and Wednesday 29th August the following members of the Committee against the building of the Kajbar Dam have been arrested. Their names are:

– Mr. Nazmi Mohamed Hamid is a news reader of the Dongala Radio Broadcasting Station. He was arrested and is being detained in Dongola, the capital of the Northern Province (Wilaya).
– Mr. Nayif Mohamed Hamid is the brother of Nazmi Mohamed Hamid above. He was arrested and is currently detained in Dongola.
– Mr. Al Khatib Mohamed Elsir, an engineer was arrested and is detained in Dongola.
– Mr. Maisara Izzeldin Mohamed Munowar, from Amli Village, was arrested and is detained in Dongola.
– Mr. Rami Hassan Farah, arrested and detained in Karma.
– Mr. Faroug Nuri, a government employee of the Ministry of Finance in Dongola, arrested and detained in Dongola.
– Mr. Hisham Abbas was arrested in Wadi Halfa City while travelling to Egypt and is detained in Dongola.
– Mr. Daoud Suliman, a member of the Committee in Kerma. He was arrested and is detained in Karma.
– Mr. Isam Mohamed Fagir, a member of the Committee at Kerma was arrested in Karma.

SOAT also expresses concern over the continuing intimidation exercised by the security apparatus through a number of “brief” arrests and detentions targeting members of the Committee. On the same dates a number of other members of the Committee were arrested and shortly after released. Their names are:

Mr. Osman Ibrahim, the Secretary and spokesperson of the Committee, already arrested (see SOAT human rights alert 20 July 2007) and then released (see SOAT human rights alert, 20 August 2007), was among the new arrests which occurred between the 27 and 29 of August. He was rearrested in Dalgo, Mahas area and then released on bail.

Mr. Ezzeldeen Idris member of the Committee in Firraig, was also arrested in Dalgo of the Mahas Area and later released on bail. He was the object of SOAT’s human right alert of 27 of July 2007 for being at risk.

Mr. Abdel Hakim Nasor, a lawyer and member of the Committee was arrested in Dongola and later released. He was the object of SOAT’s human right alert of 27 of July 2007 for being at risk.

Mr. Mamoun Abdel Aziz, a member of the Committee in Karma was arrested and then released in Karma when he handed himself to the security forces after they arrested his brother, Abdel Razig. They now have both been released.

Mr. Samil Mohamed Samil, a citizen of Firka in the North, was arrested on Monday 27 August in Khartoum in Abu Adam City of the Jabel Aulia local council. He has now been released.

Gravely concerned about the continuing intimidation and harassment of members of communities opposed to Kajbar Dam by Sudanese authorities, SOAT condemns the arbitrary arrests, detentions and harassment of these persons.

Please write to the authorities in Sudan urging them to:

Order the immediate release of 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.

Cease the harassment and intimidation of members of the Committee.

Guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and association throughout Sudan in accordance with its constitutional obligations and international human rights standards.

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir

President of the Republic of Sudan

Office of the President

People’s Palace

PO Box 281

Khartoum, Sudan

Fax: +249 183 782541

Prof. Al-Zubair Bashir Taha

Minister of Internal Affairs

Ministry of Interior, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan

Fax: + 249 183 774339

+ 249 183 776554

COPIES TO:
Dr Abdel Moneim Osman Taha
Rapporteur, Advisory Council for Human Rights

Khartoum, Sudan
Email: [email protected]

Human Rights Committee

The Peoples Hall
Omdurman, Sudan
Fax: + 249 187 560950
E-mail: [email protected]