Mr. Khalid was admitted to the hospital unconscious with severe injuries on 13 April 2005, after being beaten with sticks and guns by police forces. Mr. Khalid sustained his injuries during his attendance at a student demonstration in the centre of Khartoum on 13 April.

Mr. Khalid family have launched legal proceedings into his death.

In a separate incident, on 11 April 2005, Nagmeldin Gafar Adam Eisa, student at Delanj University in Kordofan, (28 yrs) and a member of the African National Front (ANF), a student organisation afflicted to the Sudan People Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) died after being shot by police forces during a protest inside Delanj University premises against the conduct of Students Union Elections. The demonstrators accused the organisers of vote rigging.

During the demonstration, police forces entered the University premises and fired tear gas, and live ammunition on the demonstrating students, killing Mr. Nagmeldin instantly.

Following Mr. Nagmeldin death, the police officers ordered Mr. Nagmeldin uncle to take Mr. Nagmedldin body to his hometown, ALRahad, South of Al Obied, capital of Kordofan, which he did on the same day, 11 April 2005.

In addition, during the demonstration, 24 students were injured and admitted to hospital; two were seriously wounded, and reportedly, 38 students were arrested.

The details of the two seriously wounded are as follows:

Mobarak Mohamed (3year, Faculty of Agriculture)
Abakar adam Sulieman (4year, Faculty of Agriculture)

SOAT condemns the unlawful killing of Khalid Mohamed Nour Okad and Nagmeldin Gafar Adam Eisa and is calling on the Government of Sudan (GoS) to take steps to hold those responsible accountable to demonstrate that it is committed to the rule of law and is working towards ending the culture of impunity. The continuing pattern of police abuse of power and use of excessive force warrants a forceful response and we are calling on the GoS to firmly condemn the death of these students. SOAT calls upon the GoS to undertake a thorough and independent investigation into their death and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association are guaranteed by international human rights law. Article 20 of the Universal Declaration states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.” Article 21 of the Civil and Political Covenant secures the right to peaceful assembly and Article 22 protects freedom of association, which Sudan is state party to.

International standards for the use of force by law enforcement officials as set forth in the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, adopted by General Assembly resolution 34/169 of 17 December 1979 provides under Article 2 that, “in the performance of their duty, law enforcement officials shall respect and protect human dignity and maintain and uphold the human rights of all persons.” Commentary (b) to Article 3 proclaims, “In no case should this provision be interpreted to authorize the use of force which is disproportionate to the legitimate objective to be achieved.”

SOAT urges the Government of Sudan to:

Immediately establish an independent, impartial commission of inquiry into the killings and to bring those who used and ordered excessive force against civilians to justice;

Order the immediately release 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;

Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of all the detainees;

Allow proper research, discussion and dissemination of information on issues related to press freedom;

Guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards;

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

His Excellency Field Marshal Omar Hassan al-Bashir
President of the Republic of Sudan
President' s Palace
PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 783223

His Excellency Ali Osman Mohamed Taha
First Vice-President
People's Palace

PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 771025

Mr. Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Ministry of Justice
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 788941

Mr. Mustafa Osman Ismail
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 779383

Dr. Abdelmuneim Osman Mohamed Taha
Advisory Council for Human Rights
PO Box 302
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 770883

Permanent Representative:

His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Elhassan Ahmed Elhaj

Ambassador

Address:

Avenue Blanc 47

1202 Geneva

Tel: 022 731 26 63

Fax: 022 731 26 56

Email: [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:

SOAT
Argo House
Kilburn Park Road
London NW6 5LF, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7625 8055
Fax: +44 (0)20 7372 2656
E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.soatsudan.org

END.