Sudan human right activists lodge complaint against NISS

November 15, 2009 (PARIS) – Three human rights activists who were detained last year by Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) lodged a complained with the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR).

Osman Hummeida, Monim Elgak and Amir Suliman were reportedly ill-treated and tortured after being accused of collaborating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) months before the Hague tribunal issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.

“The application describes how the NISS arbitrarily arrested and detained the three applicants, denied them custodial safeguard and subjected them to torture and ill-treatment in violation of articles 1, 5, 6 and 7 of the African Charter,” the three men said in a statement.

“During their interrogations and torture the applicants were questioned about their work on human rights and the pursuit of justice and accountability in Sudan, in particular their support for the International Criminal Court( ICC)”.

The statement also called for a change in the National Security Law which is hotly debated between the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM).

Mohamed Badawi, another Sudanese human rights activists speaking from Banjul said that the “NISS and the National Security Act which guides its operation continue to be tools of injustice and oppression, used in particular against civic and political rights activists”.

“It is time to end the state of fear deployed by NISS after the arrest and torture of three applicants. This case is a case on behalf of all the independent civil society and human rights movement in Sudan” Badawi added.

Hassan Shire, executive Director of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP) echoed Badawi’s call.

“Reforming the Sudanese National Security Act, the law pursuant to which the three applicants were arrested and held without charge, is urgent ”, said Hassan Shire. “The Security Services should no longer be given policing powers of arrest and detention because of the risk of abuse as highlighted in a recent report by the Project for Criminal Law Reform in Sudan ‘Security for All-Reforming Sudan’s National Security Law.’”.

Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a statement calling for curtailing powers enjoyed by the NISS.

“National security officials have long been implicated in human rights abuses, in large part because the 1999 security law lets them violate human rights with no fear of punishment,” said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “The government should reform this law urgently to create conditions necessary for holding free and fair elections next year.”

HRW urged Sudanese lawmakers to limit the broad powers of arrest, detention, and search and seizure; and to include key safeguards such as the right to be informed promptly of any charges, the right to be brought promptly before a judge, and the right to be tried within a reasonable time.

The NCP has been resisting any changes to the NISS powers saying it is needed to protect the country. Other political powers contend that the NISS should only be allowed to gather and analyze intelligence.

(ST)