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The Sudan Organization Against Torture (SOAT)
informs that Mr.
Aba Zer Ahmed Abu Al Bashir, a lawyer and human rights defender,
was arrested by the security forces from his office in Nyala on July 24,
2004.
Mr. Aba Zer was arrested after the submission eight days earlier of a written
request to the Governor of Southern Darfur state to put an end to the
conflict in the state. Ten other peace activists and tribal leaders in
Southern Darfur who were party to the request were also recently arrested in
separate locations. Mr. Aba Zer is currently being detained at the security
Offices in Nyala with no official charges against him. He has been denied any
visits.
Mr. Aba is being detained solely for the peaceful expression of his opinions
and human rights activities.
In recent months there has been an increase in the number of human rights
defenders and activists being targeted and subjected to arbitrary arrest and
detention by the security forces, especially in Darfur. On June 16, 2004, Mr.
Adel Abdullah Nasir Aldeain Saeed, a lawyer with SOAT network in Nyala, was
arrested by the security forces from his office. Mr. Adel remains in
detention, and he has not been charged with any offence. (see Observatory
Urgent Appeal SDN 005 / 0604 / OBS 047 ).
Also, on 5 May 2004, security forces in Zalingy arrested and detained Osman
Adam Abdel Mawla, a human rights activist working for Sudan Social
Development Organisation (SUDO), Nyala branch, a locally registered
Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). (See Observatory Urgent Appeal SDN 003 /
0504 / OBS 035 ).
The Observatory is deeply concerned by these arbitrary arrests of human
rights defenders and urges Sudan to comply with the Declaration on Humans
Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on
December 9, 1998, in particular articles 5.c which provides that “everybody
has the right […] to communicate with non-governmental and intergovernmental
organisations” and 8.2 which provides that everyone has “the right,
individually and in association with others, to submit to governmental bodies
and agencies and organizations concerned with public affairs criticism and proposals
for improving their functioning and to draw attention to any aspect of their
work that may hinder or impede the promotion, protection and realization of
human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
Action
requested:
- Please write to the authorities
of Sudan urging them to:
i. Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological
integrity of Mr. Aba Zer Ahmed Abu Al Bashir.
ii. To allow him immediate and unrestricted access to legal council, to
his family and any medical treatment that he may need
iii. In the absence of valid legal charges, to order the immediate
release of Mr. Aba Zer Ahmed Abu Al Bashir and others in arbitrary
detention, or if legitimate charges exist, bring them before an
impartial tribunal and guarantee procedural rights at all times.
iv. Guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in
Sudan, including the freedom of association in accordance with national
laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses:
· His
Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir, President of the
Republic of Sudan, People’s Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Telex: 22385
PEPLC SD or 22411 KAID SD, fax : + 24911 783223
· Mr Ali
Osman Yasin, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Ministry of Justice,
Khartoum, Sudan. Telex:22459 KHRJA SD or 22461 KHRJA SD (via Ministry of
Foreign Affairs), fax : + 24911 788941
· Mr
Mustafa Osman Ismail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan, fax : + 24911 779383
· His
Excellency Ambassador Ibrahim Mirghani Ibrahim, Permanent Mission of Sudan to
the United Nations in Geneva, Case Postal 335, 1211 Geneva 19, fax : 0041 (0)
22 731 26 56, email: mission.sudan@ties.itu.int.
Given the
lack of working fax numbers for the government officials above, please send
the appeals by standard mail and also write to the Embassy of Sudan in your
country.
Paris -
Geneva, March 5, 2004
Kindly
inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your
reply.
To contact the
Observatory, call the emergency line:
E-mail:
observatoire@iprolink.ch
Tel and fax FIDH 33 (0)
1 43 55 20 11 / 01 43 55 18 80
Tel and fax OMCT + 4122
809 49 39 / 41 22 809 49 29
URGENT APPEAL –THE OBSERVATORY
SDN 006 / 0704 / OBS 062
Arbitrary Arrest
Sudan
July 30, 2004
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