EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: AFR 54/28/92

Distr: UA/SC

UA 293/92Fear of extrajudicial executions/torture18 September 1992

SUDAN:David Tombe - priest

Joseph Ladu - army officer

David Kenyi - police officer

Arkangelo Yugu - police officer

Pitia Kenyi - prisons officer

Mark Taban - prisons officer

Simon Jada - wildlife officer

James Duling - wildlife officer

Sarafino Pitya - accountant

Kennedy Khamis - customs official

Taban Elisa - assistant manager Juba airport

Mustafa Abdel Gadir - technician Juba airport

Juma Mohamed - taxi driver

and over 200 other detainees

Amnesty International has just received reports of grave human rights violations, including hundreds of detentions and extrajudicial executions, in the southern Sudanese city of Juba, which is besieged by the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). There is serious concern that these violations are continuing.

The men named above are among hundreds of prisoners reportedly arrested between June and August 1992 because the authorities suspect they have been collaborating with the SPLA. The arrests follow SPLA attacks on Juba in June and July.

There is considerable fear that many of those who have been arrested, including the prisoners named above, are at great risk of being tortured or extrajudicially executed. In the case of David Tombe, a Catholic priest arrested on 2 August, there are reports that he has been transferred to Khartoum. His place of detention in the capital is unknown. The others, however, are believed to remain in detention in Juba.

Amnesty International has also received reports of extrajudicial executions, both of prisoners and unarmed civilians. On 23 June 1992 seven detained southern Sudanese soldiers, who are believed to be from among those arrested in early June, were reportedly extrajudicially executed. In July around 200 civilians were reportedly shot dead deliberately by soldiers engaged in house to house searches for SPLA soldiers who had remained in the city after the government had regained control of contested suburbs. On 16 July a further 40 southern Sudanese prisoners were reportedly extrajudicially executed after nightfall.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Juba, the largest city in southern Sudan with a population of around 300,000, has been encircled by the SPLA for several years. In May 1992 the SPLA tightened its siege on the city and on 7 June and 6 July mounted major assaults in which SPLA troops briefly overran military garrisons and residential suburbs. During the 7 June incursion SPLA troops infiltrated the city's military headquarters under the cover of darkness and surprised the garrison. Their ease of entry led to government suspicions that some southern Sudanese soldiers and paramilitary forces - notably policemen, prisons officers and guards attached to the Department of Wildlife - had collaborated with the rebels. At least 80 southern Sudanese soldiers and members of paramilitary forces were arrested in the days that followed. Arrests intensified following an even larger SPLA incursion on 6 July; this time many leading civilians were also among those detained. Government forces have demolished some of the most densely populated suburbs of Juba leaving over 100,000 people homeless and without shelter from the seasonal

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rains. They are reported to be squatting in and around the old commercial centre of the city. The government has expelled all foreigners and virtually sealed the city to the outside world in an apparent attempt to hide the excesses of its troops.

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

- expressing serious concern at reports of extrajudicial executions and hundreds of detentions in Juba in June, July and August 1992;

- expressing concern that many who remain in incommunicado detention, including the men named above, appear to be at risk of extrajudicial execution and torture;

- seeking assurances that all detainees are being humanely treated, and urging that their whereabouts in custody are made public and that they have immediate and regular access to their families, lawyers and any necessary medical attention;

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

- urging the government to take immediate steps to end extrajudicial executions and torture in Juba and to bring to justice soldiers and security officials alleged to have been responsible for such violations.

APPEALS TO:

1) His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir

Head of State and Chairman of the National Salvation Revolutionary Command Council

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) Brigadier-General al-Zubeir Mohamed Saleh

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior and Deputy Chairman of the National Salvation Revolutionary Command Council

People's Palace

PO Box 281

Khartoum, Sudan

Telegrams: Brig-Gen al-Zubeir Mohamed Saleh, Khartoum, Sudan

Telexes: 22842 WZARA SD or 22604 IPOL SD

Salutation: Your Excellency

3) Mr Abdullah Idris

Minister of Justice and Attorney-General

Ministry of Justice

Khartoum, Sudan

Telegrams: Minister of Justice Abdullah Idris, Khartoum, Sudan

Telexes: 22459 KHRJA SD or 22461 KHRJA SD (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Salutation: Dear Minister

COPIES TO:

1) Mr Jalal Ali Lutfi

Chief Justice

Law Courts

Khartoum

Sudan

2) Mr Ali Sahloul

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PO BOX 873

Khartoum, Sudanand 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 31 October 1992.