Disappearance and Torture in Darfur
SOAT
1) On 21 February 2005, security forces inside Outash Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), North of Nyala arrested Abdella Souliman Shaibo, 46yrs, Zaghawa tribe, Shaikh (tribal leader), an IDP from centre 2. Mr. Abdella was taken to the police station in the camp. On 22 February 2005, Mr. Abdella family went to visit him but they were informed that he had been transferred to Nyala Police station. His family went to the police station and security offices in Nyala but the whereabouts of Mr. Abdella is unknown. Mr. Abdella was arrested after filling a report to SOAT partner organisation in Nyala, the Amel Medical Centre for Rehabilitation of Torture Victims in Nyala regarding the rape of three women and two girls by Janjaweed Militias on 17 February 2005 near Outash IDP camp.
2) On 19 February 2005, six armed men in civilian clothing arrested Abdel Rahman Yagoub Amir, 32 yrs, belonging to the Zaghawa tribe from his house in Nyala Hey Aljeer, Southern Darfur State on suspicion of supporting the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA). Mr. Abdel was taken to police offices in north of Hey Aljeer in Nyala where he was detained for one night. On 20 February 2005, Mr. Abdel family went to visit him however they were told by the police officers that they had not arrested Abdel Rahman Yagoub Amir and did not know his whereabouts.
3) On 12 February 2005, the armed forces in land cruisers attacked Gedel Haboub, 12 km North-East of Nyala. Reportedly, they flogged the population of the village and fired live ammunition. It appeared the purpose of the attack was to intimate the village, the armed forces accused the villagers of supporting and assisting the SLA. During the attack they arrested 6 men, their whereabouts are unknown. The details of the men are as follows: Mahmoud Ali 30 yrs; Dawood Soulieman 45 yrs; Adam Alnour Mohamed; Abdella Ali Taha; Ahmed Abdel Mahmoud and Adam Ahmed.
4) On 1 February 2005, security forces in Nyala arrested Ahmed Ali Soulieman, 25yrs, belonging to the Tounjour tribe, from his work in a communication centre in Hey Al Jabel, Nyala on suspicion of communicating with the rebel opposition group. Mr. Ahmed was taken to Security Offices in Nyala where he remains in detention without any official charges. Mr. Ahmed family have visited him and they allege that Mr. Ahmed has been tortured with severe beatings all over his body.
SOAT expresses fears for the safety of the detainees and is calling on the GoS to give assurances that they will not be tortured or ill-treated and to investigate the torture of Ahmed Ali Soulieman.
SOAT strongly condemns the continued attacks and terrorisation of civilians in Darfur and urges the Government of Sudan to:
– Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of all the detainees
– To allow detainees immediate and unrestricted access to their family and any medical treatment that they may need
– Ensure that all the detainees have access to legal advice
– 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.
– Immediately cease all attacks on civilians and adhere to it commitments under the ceasefire agreement
– To investigate the attack on Gedel Haboub village and bring the perpetrators to justice.
– Guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of association throughout Sudan in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.