EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: AFR 54/25/95

Distr: UA/SC

19 July 1995

Further information (1) on UA 123/95 (AFR 54/17/95, 2 June 1995) - Fear of Torture / Posssible Prisoners of Conscience

SUDANHassan Hussein, football coach

Abdallah Musa, trade unionist

Mahjoub al-Zubeir, trade unionist

Ali al-Khattib, trade unionist

Haj Musa 'Abd al-Rahim, trade unionist

Moatissim Siam, engineer

Sulieman Khalaf Allah, engineer

Khalil Osman Khalil, businessman

Galal Ismail, businessman

Abdul Rahman al-Amin, manager of an insurance company

Imad Ali Dahab, hotel manager

Said Ashakir, teacher

Faqiri Abdallah, employee of Sudan Ports Corporation

Abdul Azim Abdullah, employee of the Sudan Ports Corporation

Mahir Mekki, employee of Sudan Ports Corporation

The 15 men named above are all still reported to be held in Port Sudan as part of the government's crackdown on political opponents. The men, many of whom hold left-wing political views, were reportedly detained in late May by security officials. Dozens of people remain in detention in different parts of the country.

Amnesty International continues to be concerned that these men are at risk of torture and/or ill-treatment, and that they may be prisoners of conscience. Reports given by several people who have been released in the past few days state the conditions in detention are harsh and food is inadequate; some have reportedly lost significant amounts of weight while in detention.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters either in English, Arabic or in your own language:

- expressing concern at the arrest of the fifteen men named above, who Amnesty International believes may be prisoners of conscience, imprisoned on account of their non-violent opposition to government policies;

- seeking assurances of their physical safety and guarantees that they are not being subjected to torture or ill-treatment;

- urging that they be immediately and unconditionally released unless they are charged with a recognizable criminal offence and brought promptly to a fair trial;

- calling on the Sudan Government to put a stop to arbitrary detention without charge and to the torture and ill-treatment of individuals suspected of being government opponents.

APPEALS TO:

1) His Excellency Lieutenant General

Omar Hassan al-Bashir

President of the Republic of the Sudan

People's Palace

PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan

Telegrams: Lt Gen Omar Hassan al-Bashir, Khartoum, Sudan

Telexes: 22385 PEPLC SD or 22411 KAID SD

Salutation: Your Excellency

2) Dr al-Tayib Ibrahim Muhammad Kheir

Minister of the Interior

People's Palace

PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan

Telegrams: Minister of the Interior Dr al-Tayib Ibrahim Muhammed Kheir,

Khartoum, Sudan

Telexes: 22842 WZARA SD or 22604 IPOL SD

Salutation: Dear Minister

3) Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr Ali Osman Muhammed Taha

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PO Box 873

Khartoum, Sudan

Telegrams: Foreign Minister Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, Khartoum, Sudan

Salutation: Dear Minister

COPIES TO:

Minister of Justice and Attorney-General

Mr 'Abd al-Aziz Shiddo

Ministry of Justice, Khartoum, Sudan

Mr Obeid Haj Ali

Chief Justice

Law Courts

Khartoum, Sudan

Mr Angelo Beda Bambara

Chairman of the Human Rights Committee

of the Transitional National Assembly (TNA)*

Omdurman, Sudan

* The TNA's Human Rights Committee was created by Sudan's government-appointed Transitional National Assembly in December 1992, apparently to counter what the government perceives as hostile human rights propaganda. The Committee's Chairman has said that it investigates reports of human rights violations.

and to diplomatic representatives of Sudan accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 30 August 1995.