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SOAT Press Release: 10 May 2004

Arrests of Fur tribe Leaders in Kabkabia



On Sunday, 9 May 2004, security officers in Kabkabia arrested Nour Eldin Mohamed Abdel Rahim, Omda (tribal leader) of Shoba and teacher, and Bahr Eldin Abdallah Rifa, Omda of Jabal Si, both from the Fur tribe. The arrests follow a meeting with the local authorities and Red Cross representatives concerning the human rights occurring in Kabkabia region, Darfur. Mr. Nour Eldin and Mr. Bahr Eldin provided various information regarding allegations of mass graves, killings and other human rights abuses. Red Cross representatives left to Al Fashir straight after the meeting and Mr. Nour Eldin and Bahr Eldin were arrested.



They are currently detained at Kabkabia security offices and denied any visits by family or lawyers.



The arrests of Nour Eldin Mohamed Abdel Rahim and Bahr Eldin Abdallah Rifa are part of a wide scale strategy adopted by the Sudanese authorities to silence any reporting of abuses and human rights violations occurring in Darfur region to the national or international community. The arrests of Nour Eldin Mohamed Abdel Rahim and Bahr Eldin Abdallah Rifa come as a systematic pattern of targeting the Fur, Zaghawa, Massalit and other African tribes leaders in Darfur. Human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, eye witnesses or any other persons who report any incidents are all target of the GOS military and security apparatus. Salih Mahmoud Osman the member of SOAT's lawyers network in Darfur was arrested on the 1st February 2004 by the NSA and still remain in detention in Kober prison without any official charges brought agianst him.



Background



Shoba has been the subject of several attacks by Arab militias and government forces. The first large scale attack was on 28 April 2002 by Arab militias, 17 people were killed and 16 injured. During the attack 604 houses were burnt and more than 1000 livestock and their bodies mutilated.



Nour Eldin Mohamed Abdel Rahim was previously arrested in 21 May 2002 by security forces, with 7 other persons, after they have reported the attack on Shoba to the authorities.



The area was once again attacked by alleged government troops and Arab militia. It was reported that 42 people were killed in the attack, most of them elderly people. Houses were looted and burned and people in the area were forced to flee during the agricultural season.





SOAT condemns the arrests and urges the Government of Sudan to:



Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of Nour Eldin Mohamed Abdel Rahim and Bahr Eldin Abdallah Rifa


Order the immediate release of Nour Eldin Mohamed Abdel Rahim and Bahr Eldin Abdallah Rifa 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


Ensure that Nour Eldin Mohamed Abdel Rahim and Bahr Eldin Abdallah Rifa have access to legal advice


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

The above recommendations should be sent in appeals to the following
addresses:

His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir
President of the Republic of Sudan
President' s Palace
PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 24911 783223

Mr Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Ministry of Justice
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 24911 788941

Mr Mustafa Osman Ismail
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 24911 779383

Mr Yasir Sid Ahmed
Advisory Council for Human Rights
PO Box 302
Khartoum, Sudan
Sudan
Fax: + 24911 770883

His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Ibrahim Mirghani Ibrahim,
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva,
PO Box 335,
1211 Geneva,
Switzerland,
Fax: +4122 731 26 56,
E-mail: [email protected].


SOAT is an international human rights organisation established in the UK in
1993. If you have any questions about this or any other SOAT information
please contact us at:

SOAT
The Park Business Centre
Kilburn Park Road
London NW6 5LF
Tel: 020 7625 8055
Fax: 020 7372 2656
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.soatsudan.org[/B]