The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Sudan.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Sudan Organisation Against Torture (SOAT), a member of the OMCT network, that on 12 April 2006, Mr. Alsharief Hessain Shareif (35 yrs), headmaster of Alsalam school, was arrested by security officers in Nyala. Mr. Shareif, Fur tribe and resident at Kalma IDP camp, was arrested whilst visiting a relative at Nyala Hey Texsas and taken to an unknown place. The whereabouts of Mr. Shareif is currently unknown.

Moreover, on 15 April 2006, seven men from the Gimir tribe in Nyala were arrested by the Nyala security forces.

According to the information received, the seven men were arrested at different locations across Nyala and taken to a security detention centre in Nyala. No reason was given for their arrests. On 22 April 2006, three of the detainees were released without charge. The other four men remain in detention at the security custody centre in Nyala and are currently facing no charges. Moreover, the family of the detainees have been denied access.

The details of the four men still detained are as follows:

1. Mr. Abdel Rahman Abdella Aldouma Adam, (45 yrs), Merchant, lives in Nyala Hey

Rayig, member of the Popular Congress Party (PNC);

2. Mr. Abdella Aldouma Adam, (42 yrs), Merchant, lives in Nyala Hey Almatar;

3. Mr. Adam Abdella Aldouma Adam, (35 yrs), lives in Nyala Shamal, Merchant;

4. Mr. Omda Abaker Mohamed Aldouma, (60 yrs), lives in Katayla;

The details of the three detainees released on 22 April 2006 are:

1. Mr. Mohamed Aljemay-Abi, (36 yrs), Teacher

2. Mr. Sakin, (40 yrs), Teacher

3. Mr. Omda Gabriel, (42 yrs)

OMCT is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Alsharief Hessain Shareif, Mr. Abdel Rahman Abdella Aldouma Adam, Mr. Abdella Aldouma Adam, Mr. Adam Abdella Aldouma Adam and Mr. Omda Abaker Mohamed Aldouma;

Requested Action

Please write to the authorities in Sudan urging them to:

i. Locate the whereabouts of Mr. Alsharief Hessain Shareif and guarantee his physical and psychological integrity;

ii. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Abdel Rahman Abdella Aldouma Adam, Mr. Abdella Aldouma Adam, Mr. Adam Abdella Aldouma Adam and Mr. Omda Abaker Mohamed Aldouma;

iii. Ensure that Mr. Alsharief Hessain Shareif, Mr. Abdel Rahman Abdella Aldouma Adam, Mr. Abdella Aldouma Adam, Mr. Adam Abdella Aldouma Adam and Mr. Omda Abaker Mohamed Aldouma have access to a legal counsel and to their families;

iv. Order the immediate release of these five men in the absence of valid legal charges, and if such charges exist, ensure that they are given a prompt and fair trial, in which their procedural rights are guaranteed at all times;

v. Order a thorough and impartial investigation into these events, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;

vi. Guarantee that adequate compensation is awarded to all eight men;

vii. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international humanitarian law and human rights standards.

Addresses

? His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, Presidential Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: +249 183 783 223

? First Vice-President, Mr Salva Kiir Mayardit, People’s Palace PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: + 249 11 779977 / 771025

? Vice-President, Mr Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, People’s Palace PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: + 249 11 779977 / 771025

? Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mr Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin, Ministry of Justice, Khartoum, Sudan

Fax: + 249 183 780796

? Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Lam Akol Ajawin, Ministry of Foreign Affairs/External Relations, PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax + 249 183 779 383

? Minister of Internal Affairs, Major General Abdul-Rahim Muhammed Hussein, Ministry of Interior, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: +249 11 774339 / 776554 / 777900 / 773046 / 770186

? Minister of Federal Government, Dr Nafie Ali Nafie, Office of the Presidents People’s Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax : +24911 771651 / 783223

? Dr Yasir Sid Ahmed, Head of the Advisory Council for Human Rights PO Box 302, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: +249 183 770 883

? Dr Abdelmuneim Osman Mohamed Taha, Advisory Council for Human Rights, Rapporteur, PO Box 302, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: +249 183 77 08 83

? Prof. Ali Mohamed Ali Shommou, The National Press and Publications Council, P O Box 11111, Osman Digna St., Khartoum East Sudan, Fax: + 249 183 77 19 25

? His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Mohamed Elhassan Ahmed Elhaj, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva, Avenue Blanc 47, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, Tel: +41 22 731 26 63, Fax: +41 22 731 26 56, Email: mission.sudan@bluewin.ch / mission.sudan@ties.itu.int

? The Embassy of Sudan in Bruxelles, Mr. Ali Yousif Ahmed, Av. F.D. Roosevelt, 124; 1050 Bruxelles. Tel.:0032 (2) 647 51 59 / 0032 (2) 647 94 94, Fax: 0032 (2) 648 34 99, Email: sudanbx@yahoo.com

Please also write to the embassies of Sudan in your respective country.

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Geneva, 26 April 2006