PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 54/050/2003

25 June 2003

Further information on UA 172/03 (AFR 54/043/2003) - Fear for safety / fear of torture or ill-treatment / incommunicado detention New concern: medical concern

SUDAN Ramadan Ismail (m) ]

Abu Nigel El Amin (m) ] all from the

Juma Mahamoud (m) ] Nuba ethnic

Juma Omar El-Nur (m) (note corrected name) ] group

Killed: Awad Ibrahim (m)

Ramadan Ismail and Juma Mahamoud are reportedly still in incommunicado detention in Dongola, Northern Sudan, where they are at risk of torture or ill-treatment. On 22 or 23 June, Abu Nigel El Amin and Juma Omar El-Nur were taken to Khartoum Hospital for medical treatment under heavy surveillance by security forces, having reportedly been tortured in detention.

Juma Omar El-Nur is reportedly unconscious and is in intensive care. His body was reportedly burnt by a solution of sulphuric acid which in Sudan is usually used in car batteries. On 24 June, he was operated on for a kidney injury. Both he and Abu Nigel El Amin have been allowed visits from their families. Security forces reportedly plan to return Abu Nigel El Amin and Juma Omar El-Nur to detention as soon as Juma Omar El-Nur is able to travel. However, there are reportedly no adequate medical facilities in Dongola, and Amnesty International fears that Juma Omar El-Nur’s health could deteriorate further if he is returned.

The four men, who have reportedly been accused of “threatening national security”, were detained on 19 May in Dongola. They were questioned for more than 30 days about their alleged links with the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), a newly formed armed opposition group operating in Darfur, Western Sudan. There has reportedly not been an investigation into the death of Awad Ibrahim, who was arrested together with the four men, and was reportedly tortured to death by security forces in Dongola.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Arabic, English or your own language:

-expressing grave concern at reports that Juma Omar El-Nur and Abu Nigel El Amin were tortured in detention in Dongola, Northern Sudan;

-urging the authorities to provide Juma Omar El-Nur with adequate medical care, and not to transfer him back to detention in Dongola, where no adequate medical facilities exist;

-calling for assurances that Ramadan Ismail and Juma Mahamoud, who are still held incommunicado in Dongola, will not be tortured or ill-treated;

-urging that the four men are given prompt and unrestricted access to their relatives, legal counsel and any medical aid that they may need;

-calling on the government to abide by its obligations under Article 9 of the UN 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, or to set them free immediately;

-expressing grave concern at the reported death from torture of Awad Ibrahim, who was arrested with the four men;

-urging the authorities to open an independent, impartial investigation into the reports of torture of Juma Omar El-Nur and Abu Nigel El Amin, and Awad Ibrahim, to make the results public, and bring to justice anyone found to have used or ordered torture.

APPEALS TO:

Mr Ali Osman Mohamed Taha

First Vice-President

People's Palace

PO Box 281

Khartoum, Sudan

Telegram: First Vice-President, Khartoum, Sudan

Fax : + 249 11 771651 / 779977

Salutation: Your Excellency

Mr Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin

Minister of Justice and Attorney General

Ministry of Justice

Khartoum, Sudan

Telegrams: Justice Minister, Khartoum, Sudan

Fax: + 249 11 771479

Salutation: Dear Minister

Dr Nafie Ali Nafie

Minister of Federal Government

Office of the Presidents People’s Palace

PO Box 281

Khartoum, Sudan

Telegrams: Federal Government Minister, Khartoum, Sudan

Salutation: Dear Minister

Mr Mustafa Osman Ismail

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PO Box 873

Khartoum, Sudan

Telegrams: Foreign Minister, Khartoum, Sudan

Fax : + 249 11 779383

Salutation: Dear Minister

Mr Elhadi Bushra

Governor of Northern Sudan

C/o People's Palace

PO Box 281

Khartoum, Sudan

Telegram: Governor of Northern Sudan, Khartoum, Sudan

Fax : + 249 11 771651/ 779977

Salutation: Dear Governor

COPIES TO:

Dr Yasir Sid Ahmed

Advisory Council for Human Rights

PO Box 302

Khartoum, Sudan

Fax: + 249 11 779173 / 770883