Further information on UA 375/92 (AFR 54/33/92, 30 November) - Sudan: fear of extrajudicial execution / torture: David Koak Goak, Farouq Abdalla Gatkuoth, John Dak, Kueth Kang Deng, Peter Lai Nyibek, Waragak Galuak Paguir, Lulut Kok Deng, Lazarus Lai Puol
AI has learned from the Sudanese authorities that: Martin Nyang Kic has been sentenced to four years' imprisonment for alleged criminal misappropriation; Farouq Abdalla Gatkouth has been released on bail pending trial for possession of an unlicensed weapon; John Dak has been released on bail pending trial for and alleged public order offence; Kueth Kang Deng is free on bail pending trial for alleged impersonation of a public servant; Peter Lai Nyibek is free on bail pending trial for an alleged offence. Eight others were released and Lazarus Lai Puol, Simon Tut Yat, Bakok Galuak Paguir, John Gilla Lul and Jimma Bileu Kul are said not to have been detained. AI is concerned that the charges against the above-mentioned may have been brought for political reasons.
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: AFR 54/04/93
Distr: UA/SC
11 January 1993
Further information on UA 375/92 (AFR 54/33/92, 30 November 1992) - Fear of
extrajudicial execution/torture
SUDAN: David Koak Goak - former Local Government Minister Upper Nile State
Farouq Abdalla Gatkuoth - former Secretary General Upper Nile State
John Dak - Assistant Secretary General Upper Nile State
Kueth Kang Deng - Acting Secretary General Upper Nile State
Peter Lai Nyibek - Director Finance Ministry Upper Nile
Waragak Galuak Paguir - Director Agriculture Ministry Upper Nile
Lulut Kok Deng - vet and former Member of Parliament Upper Nile
Lazarus Lai Puol - former Member of Parliament Upper Nile State
Brigadier Gabriel Deng Wuol - former police officer
Lieutenant Colonel Simon Tut Yat - police officer
Major Bakok Galuak Paguir - police officer
John Gilla Lul - former Commissioner Sobat Province
Peter Pal Poc Mar - manager of Jonglei Rice Scheme
Jacob Duong Wuon - Acting Executive Director Sobat Province
Martin Nyang Kic - Executive Director Pibor Province
Pol Bec - civil servant Department of Taxation
Cuang Deng - civil servant Department of Taxation
Paul Kuting Gil - accountant Ministry of Commerce
Jimma Bileu Kung - accountant Ministry of Commerce
John Laa Kerac - Director Malakal Secondary School
Amnesty International has received further information about the men named above
who were reported to have been arrested in Malakal, the administrative headquarters
of Upper Nile State in southern Sudan, which is controlled by government forces
besieged by the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army - Nasir faction (SPLA-Nasir).
The men were reported to have been detained in late October 1992 in the days following
a mutiny by Anya-Nya Two, a southern Sudanese paramilitary force controlled by the
government, which led to fighting in Malakal town.
Amnesty International has learned from the Sudanese authorities that Martin Nyang
Kic has been sentenced to four years imprisonment for alleged criminal
misappropriation. Farouq Abdalla Gatkuoth has been released on bail pending trial
for possession of an unlicensed weapon. John Dak has been released on bail pending
trial for an alleged public order offence under Section 77(2) of the Penal Code.
Kueth Kang Deng has been released on bail pending trial for allegedly impersonating
a public servant, an offence under Section 93 of the Penal Code. Peter Lai Nyibek
has been released on bail pending trial for an alleged offence committed under Section
102 of the Penal Code which relates to refusing to obey an order given by a public
servant. Further details of the alleged offences are not available. Amnesty
International is concerned that these charges may have been brought for political
reasons.
David Koak Goak, Waragak Galuak Paguir, Lulut Kok Deng, Gabriel Deng Wuol, Jacob
Duong Wuon, Pol Bec, Paul Kuting Gil, and John Laa Kerac were released in December.
It is unclear how long they remained in detention, but the authorities have informed
Amnesty International that the releases were due to lack of evidence.
Information that Lazarus Lai Puol, Simon Tut Yat, Bakok Galuak Paguir, John Gilla
Lul and Jimma Bileu Kul were detained is said by the authorities to have been incorrect.
Page 2 of FU 375/92
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail
letters either in English, Arabic or your own language:
- welcoming the release of David Koak Goak and seven other men arrested in Malakal
in late October 1992;
- expressing concern at the imprisonment of Martin Nyang Kic who Amnesty International
believes may have had criminal charges brought against him for political reasons;
- seeking further information on the nature of Martin Nyang Kic's trial, in particular
asking what court tried him, whether he was represented by a lawyer and whether he
has a right of appeal;
- expressing concern that the charges against Farouq Abdalla Gatkuoth, John Dak,
Kueth Kang Deng and Peter Lai Nyibek may have been brought for political reasons
and ask for details of their alleged offences;
- urging that they be brought promptly to trial in a manner that conforms to
international standards of fairness, notably that they are represented by a lawyer
of their choice, that the trial is in public and that they have a right of appeal.
APPEALS TO:
1) His Excellency Lieutenant General Salutation: Your Excellency
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
2) Brigadier-General al-Zubeir Mohamed Saleh Salutation: Your Excellency
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
3) Mr Abdullah Idris Salutation: Your Excellency
Minister of Justice and Attorney-General
Ministry of Justice
Khartoum, Sudan
Telexes: 22459 KHRJA SD or 22461 KHRJA SD (via Ministry of Foreign
Affairs)
COPIES TO:
Mr Jalal Ali Lutfi
Chief Justice
Law Courts
Khartoum
Sudan
Mr Ali Sahloul
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 873
Khartoum
Sudan
Dr A. al-Mufti
Secretary of Human Rights Commission*
Khartoum
Sudan
* The Human Rights Commission is a nominally independent human rights organization
created by supporters of the government which has recently communicated to Amnesty
International information about cases being raised by the organization.
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 22 February 1993.