African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies ACJPS | المركز الافريقي لدراسات العدالة و السلام
SUDAN HUMAN RIGHTS MONITOR
DECEMBER 2009 – MAY 2010
Feature: Post-Election Repression Unchecked
On 26 April, the National Elections Commission (NEC) announced that the incumbent President Omar al-Bashir had been re-elected by a 68.24 majority. In the North, National Congress Party (NCP) candidates at local and parliamentary levels were elected by a landslide, but in elections that were marred by procedural and technical irregularities.
Despite the election win, the NCP is feeling threatened domestically as major opposition voices have rejected the election results. In addition, external pressure – particularly from traditionally sympathetic African and Arab leaders – has undermined legitimacy. The NCP’s response has been to close the very narrow window of political openness allowed during the campaign period for political parties to organise and campaign. In the past several weeks, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies has observed several incidents of arbitrary arrest, torture, and deaths in police custody. Taken together, these incidents are evidence of a serious crackdown.
These developments are all the more troubling in light of the imminent end of Sudan’s interim period with the 2011 referendum for self determination in the South. Over the past five years, the NCP has been forced under the framework of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to extend political space to the opposition forces within Sudan. The elections, however, signaled the sunset of the agreement. The focus by the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the international community on the referendum has reduced pressure on the NCP to continue to alternate signals of openness and repression. The reduction of the CPA’s programme of national transformation to a narrow focus on the referendum has opened the door to this NCP crackdown.
In this context, there is an immense danger that repression may worsen. The Interim National Constitution (INC) of 2005 included significant safeguards for internationally recognised human rights. The INC is only binding throughout the interim period, and will have to be renegotiated for either the possibility of unity, or the more probable case of secession. A less favourable constitution would likely further strengthen repression.
The actions taken by the NCP in silencing opposition voices and targeting political leaders, human rights defenders and civil society have sent clear signals to the human rights community within Sudan and had public repercussions. On 15 May, National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) members in armed cars arrested Dr. Hassan Al Turabi, leader of the Popular Congress Party (PCP), from his home in Khartoum. While the reasons for his arrest remain murky, it is likely that it was sparked by an interview given to Akhbar Alyoum newspaper in which Turabi accused the NCP of rigging elections and corruption, and threatened to publish proof of these allegations. NISS agents later invaded and occupied the Rai Alshaab newspaper, seen as closely aligned with the PCP. The operation was carried out by the orders of NISS Director General Mohamed Atta, under Articles 25 (d) of the National Security Act of 2010 and 26 (a and b) of the Press and Publications Act of 2009. NISS agents broke down the doors, closed the building, confiscated materials and prevented journalists from entering. Security agents arrested Alnagi Dahab, Rai Alshaab’s manager and editors Ashraf Abd Alaziz, Abazer Ali Alamin, and Abo Bakr Alsamani. In addition, General Atta issued a decree to the NISS to seize the property and liquidate the assets of Alnawda for Media and Press Company, the publisher of Rai Alshaab.
The four arrested journalists were detained in an unknown location before being transferred to Kober Prison, in Khartoum North. Editor Abazer Ali Alamin (pictured above) was subjected to torture, including electric shock resulting in the loss of consciousness. He is currently being held in the “crimes against the state” section of the prison, and faces serious charges of undermining the regime and waging war against the state. Abazer Ali Alamin reported to his lawyer that the other three detainees, Alnagi Dahab, Ashraf Abd Alaziz, and Abo Bakr Alsamani were also being held in the “crimes against the state” section, and that when he saw them in the state security offices all had clear signs of torture. At the time of writing, three had yet to receive a lawyer or have access to their families.
Dr. Turabi was held in solitary confinement in Kober prison. His family was unable to visit him until 20 May, and expressed concerns over his welfare and health. He began a hunger strike to protest the conditions of his detention, and was held in a cell with unregulated air conditioning. The PCP reported that a week after Turabi’s arrest, he had yet to meet with a lawyer or be informed of charges against him. State security agents refused to receive a memorandum from Sudanese lawyers on Dr. Turabi’s behalf on 20 May.
On 19 May, three NISS officers visited the offices of the newspaper Ajras Alhurria, which is perceived as aligned with the SPLM. The officers demanded to see the following day’s edition, and ordered that six out of 12 of the pages of the newspaper be deleted. Much of the material censored by NISS agents regarded commentary on the arrest of Turabi and the closure of the Rai Alshaab newspaper and arrest of members of its staff. Other articles censored included news critical of the attack on civil liberties in Sudan
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On 20 May, NISS officers arrested Farouq abu Issa, a prominent 73-year old lawyer and the spokesperson of the Juba Forces Alliance, from his home in the Alriadh area of Khartoum. The Alliance boycotted the elections and expressed intentions to boycott the results. He was taken to an unknown location and released later that evening. Mr. abu Issa was Secretary General of the Arab Lawyers’ Union from 1983 – 2003. In 1989, he was forced into exile due to his activities as spokesperson of the National Democratic Alliance after the coup that brought President Bashir to power. After the signing of the CPA in 2005, he returned to Sudan and joined the Interim National Assembly.
That same day, Albaquir Al-Afif Mukhtar was detained while at the airport in Khartoum en route to the United Kingdom. Dr. Mukhtar is the Director of the Tamam network, a coalition of over 120 civil society groups who monitored the elections, and the Alkhatim Adlan Center for Enlightenment and Human Development. Security agents took Dr. Mukhtar to their offices and confiscated his passport. He was questioned before later being released with his passport and being allowed to travel.
On 25 May, police forces at the Dalanj University in South Kordofan fired live ammunition and tear gas into a crowd of demonstrating students, killing two and injuring at least 20. Though the exact reasons for the demonstration remain unclear, many have reported that the peaceful protests were in response to the Student Support Fund’s management university dormitories and alleged misconduct. The Students Support Fund, a campus organisation influenced by the National Congress Party (NCP), had assumed administrative control over the dormitories. Through their roles as administrators of the dormitories, the Students Support Fund has been able to control student activities and raise funds.
On 24 May, an unknown armed group broke up an engagement party in the female dormitories at the request of a dormitory supervisor, beating the women with iron sticks. The gang is believed to be affiliated with the Students Support Fund. A third year student in the Faculty of Science, Halima Musa, was seriously injured and later died after being denied medical care by the Students Support Fund and the dormitory administration. The offices of the Students Support Fund were ransacked following Ms. Musa’s untimely death. The following day, Dalnaj University students, calling themselves the “Support the Students Fund” gathered to demonstrate in solidarity with their colleagues and to protest the Students Support Fund’s actions. Police forces from Dalnaj City broke up the demonstration by firing into the crowd and using tear gas. Two students killed were Saadiah Mohamed, Faculty of Social Development, 4th year, and Musa Mohamed Musa, Faculty of Science, 3rd Year. At least 20 students who attended the protests were injured.
As a whole, these attacks on liberties are seen as an effort by the NCP to draw a line in the sand. If they are a signal of what is to come from the regime, this would constitute a major concern. Amidst the constellation of problems facing Sudan, the need to maintain political space and human rights protections in the North must not be ignored.
Download full issue here: SUDAN HUMAN RIGHTS MONITOR ISSUE 5
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