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African Centre for Justice condemns mass arrests in Khartoum

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies Condemns Mass Arrests in Khartoum

Contact: Osman Hummaida, Executive Director at
Phone: +44-2032872745
E-mail: [email protected]

(15 December 2009) On Monday 14 December 2009, Sudanese security forces dispersed a peaceful protest organised by the Juba Declaration Forces, and aimed at presenting a petition to parliament detailing needed legislative changes and demanding the establishment of an enabling environment for free and fair national elections. The crowd was disbursed using tear gas and rubber bullets which led to at least seven people being seriously injured. People were pursued into private homes, pulled out and forced to sit down and be beaten.

One victim, Rania Musa Tahir, sustained a serious head injury and a broken arm. Shames Aldeen Abdelraheem, a man in his 70s, also sustained a serious head injury and injuries to his shoulder. A rubber bullet also hit Mutaz Mohammed and seriously injured him. All three were taken to the hospital.

Nine journalists were arrested, including seven from Soaut el Umma newspaper, and Lucia John from Al-Sharouk TV and Rashan Oshi, a journalist from Al Tayar newspaper. These detainees were reportedly beaten in police custody. Several other journalists and correspondents of international media were beaten in the streets and a number had their cameras and other equipment confiscated.

A number of other people were arrested, as well, including:

· Hala Abdelhaleem, the leader of the HAQ or New Forces Movement

· Mubarak El Fadil Mahdi, the head of the reformist branch of the Umma party

· Mariam al Sadiq al Mahdi, of the Umma party

· Abdullah Deng Nyal, of the Popular National Congress

· Mohammed Jalal Aldeen Hashim, an activist and university professor

· Faisal Shabu, communist party

· Makki Ali Bilail, head of the Justice Party and a former minister of government

A total of 118 people were detained, and a fuller list of detainees is available upon request. 48 faced trial today.

In addition, parallel demonstrations in other cities were also disrupted. In Atbara , in the North of Sudan, 13 people were arrested. Among those arrested there was Sid Ahmed Alkhatib, a medical doctor and a well known trade unionist. In Sinja, in Southern Blue Nile, five people were arrested.

Available information indicates that the protesters were seeking only to peacefully voice their political opinions. Their right to do so is protected by Article 39 of the Sudanese Interim Constitution and should be respected. The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies calls on the government of Sudan to immediately charge the detainees with an internationally-recognised criminal offense or release them. In addition, we emphasise that the suppression of such protests undermines not only national and international guarantees with regard to freedom of expression, but also impedes the process of carrying out free and fair elections in Sudan scheduled for April 2010, and the full implementation of the democratisation programme envisioned by the CPA.

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies is dedicated to promoting human rights and the rule of law in Sudan through ongoing monitoring of human rights violations in the country, promotion of legal reform and the understanding of legal challenges facing SUdan and national and international advocacy on these issues.

www.acjps.org

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