Amnesty International: Students Arrest
in Darfur, 09 May, 2003
SUDAN
Students at the Zalingei University:
Hana Mohamed Ali (f)
Mawahib Ali (f)
Huda Da'wood (f)
Intisar Abdel Rahman Fadl (f)
Mohamed Al Hassan Rahma (m)
Mohammed Ahmed Khalid (m)
Da'wood Abdel Rhaman (m)
Abdel Azim Daw El Beit (m
Haythem Samba (m)
El Tayeb (m)
Tagelsir (m)
Al Noor (m)
Um Al Hassan Sharoofa (f)
Asha Sharoofa (f)
Released:
Hassan Harri (m)
Ashraf Alhillo (m)
New names:
Muna Hassan (f)
Wafa Abdalla Yousif (f)
Safa Abdalla Yousif (f)
Hasana Abkr Gamoos (f)
On 6 May, a further four students, Muna Hassan, Wafa Abdalla Yousif, Safa
Abdalla Yousif, Hasana Abkr Gamoos were detained by the security forces for
their alleged involvement in public disturbances at Zalingei University in
Western Darfur province. On the same day however, Hassan Harri and Ashraf
Alhillo were released.
Other students arrested in connection with the 1 May disturbances have now
been taken from the office of the Security Services in the town of Zalingei
to the local jail where they were allowed visits from family members. Um Al
Hassan and Asha Sharoofa, who were hospitalised for injuries sustained whilst
reportedly being beaten by security personnel have also been transferred to
Zalingei jail.
The 1 May disturbances by the students were reportedly over payment of grants,
food and transport allowances. No investigation into these disturbances has
yet occurred and the security forces are reportedly awaiting the arrest of
all the students accused of taking part before beginning an investigation.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible,
in English or Arabic or your own language:
- welcoming the release of Hassan Harri and Ashraf Alhillo;
- but expressing concern over the continued detention without charge or
trial of 18 students named above, from Zalingei university, Western Darfur
province; - urging the authorities to open an independent investigation into
reports of beatings of Um Al Hassan Sharoofa and Asha Sharoofa by members
of the security and to bring the perpetrators to justice;
- calling on the authorities to abide by its commitments under Article 9
of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and either
charge the detainees with a recognizably criminal offence and give them a
prompt and fair trial in accordance with international standards or set them
free immediately.
APPEALS TO (Time difference = GMT + 2 hrs / BST + 1 hrs):
Mr Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Ministry of Justice
Khartoum, Sudan
Telegrams: Justice Minister, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 00
249 11 799031
[Salutation: Dear Minister]
Major General Abdul-Rahim Muhammed Hussein
Minister of Internal Affairs
Ministry of Interior
PO Box 281
Khartoum, Sudan
Telegram: Minister of Internal Affairs,
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 00
249 11 774339 / 776554/ 773046 / 770186 / 777900
/ 773046 / 770186
[Salutation: Dear Minister]
General Ibrahim Sulayman
Governor of North Darfur
c/o People's Palace
PO Box 281
Khartoum, Sudan
Telegram: Governor of North Darfur,
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 00
249 11 771651/783223
[Salutation: Dear Sir]
Mr Mustafa Osman Ismail
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 873
Khartoum, Sudan
Telegram: Foreign Minister, Khartoum,
Sudan
Fax: 00
24911 779383
[Salutation: Dear Minister]
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO: His Excellency Dr Hasan
Abdin Mohammad Osman, Embassy of Sudan, 3 Cleveland Row, St
James's, London SW1A 1DD. Fax: 020 7839 7560
AND, IF POSSIBLE, TO THE FOLLOWING:
Dr Yasir Sid Ahmed
Advisory Council for Human Rights
PO Box 302
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 00
249 11 779173 / 770883
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Please do not send
appeal 20 June 2003.