HRW Report on April 2010 Sudan Elections – Post-Election Violations
Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis
July 01, 2010
(http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/166773), "HRW Report on April 2010 Sudan Elections – Pre-Election Violations" (http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/167021) and "HRW Report on April 2010 Sudan Elections – Violations during the Election Period" (http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/167023), I republished parts of a critical HRW Report, released yesterday, namely the Introduction, the Glossary of Acronyms, the Summary, the Recommendations, the Methodology, the Background, the Pre-Election Violations, and the Violations during the Election Period.
In the present article, I republish the chapter on the Post-Election Violations, including the Table of Contents as well. With the next article, I complete the republication of the HRW Report.
Continuing on the same policy path, Khartoum plays directly into the colonial game of Sudan´s worst enemies who have planned the largest African country´s final and comprehensive dissolution. The present Report justifies the most daring anticipations of forthcoming troubles.
Democracy on Hold - Rights Violations in the April 2010 Sudan Elections
http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2010/06/29/democracy-hold-0
Contents
Democracy on Hold - Rights Violations in the April 2010 Sudan Elections
Map of Sudan
Glossary of Acronyms
Summary
Recommendations
To the Government of National Unity and the Government of South Sudan
To the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, Concerned Governments, and International Donors
Methodology
I. Background
II. Pre-Election Violations
Northern Sudan and Darfur
Arrests of Observers and Activists
Suppression of Free Assembly
Freedom of the Press Violations
Control of State-Owned Media
Lack of Security
Southern Sudan
Arrests, Detentions, and Mistreatment: September-December 2009
Arrests, Detentions, and Mistreatment: January-April 2010
Clampdown on Media
III. Violations during the Election Period
Northern Sudan
Darfur
Southern Sudan
Central Equatoria
Western Equatoria
Western Bahr el Ghazal, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and Unity
IV. Post-Election Violations
V. International Response
VI. Conclusion
Acknowledgments
IV. Post-Election Violations
Since the election, the Sudanese government has clamped down even further on political freedoms and opponents in the North. For example, on the night of May 15, officers from the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) arrested Hassan al-Turabi, leader of the opposition People´s Congress Party (PCP), at his home in Khartoum and detained him at Kober prison, where he remains without charge.83 Al-Turabi is a vocal critic of the ruling party and has accused it of rigging the elections.
The same night, national security officers arrested and detained four journalists in a raid on the PCP-affiliated newspaper, Rai al-Shaab, which they shut down. One of the journalists, Abuzar al-Amin, told his family that national security officers subjected him to electrical shocks. Photographs received by Human Rights Watch show marks of abuse on his body. The journalists remain in detention facing charges of terrorism and espionage.
On May 20, security authorities arrested Farouk Abu Eissa, a prominent lawyer and head of a coalition of opposition parties, at his home and questioned him for three hours about the opposition´s support for al-Turabi and the ICC. On May 29, authorities prevented three prominent human rights activists, including a former member of the national parliament, from traveling to Kampala to attend an ICC review conference.84
Authorities also stepped up pre-print censorship of newspapers, a practice al Bashir publicly declared had ended in September 2009. On May 19, security officials censored Ajras al- Huriya, banning articles that reported the arrests of al Turabi and the journalists, and the escalating violence in Darfur. In the weeks that followed, authorities continued to censor Ajras and ordered articles removed from several other newspapers.85 Banned articles included coverage in May of a doctors´ strike over poor working conditions, including the arrest, detention, and mistreatment of at least three members of the doctors´ strike committee. 86 As of late June, six doctors were still being detained without charge.
Separately, national security forces continue to target members of the United Popular Front (UPF), a student group that the government alleges is linked to the Darfur rebel group led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur. On May 11, security officials in Khartoum arrested three members, one of whom was released and reported to family and friends that officers took them to an unknown location, tortured them, and interrogated them about the group´s activities. According to group members, the other two are detained in unknown locations.87
In Southern Sudan, tensions led to violence over the results of the elections, particularly where SPLM candidates ran against independents. For example, at least five soldiers were reportedly killed in Jonglei state on May 14, when SPLA soldiers clashed with forces loyal to General George Athor who lost the election for governor in Jonglei. It was the fourth time in two weeks that Athor´s forces had clashed with SPLA soldiers.88
In Bentiu, Unity state, when the results for governor were announced on April 23, security forces clashed with protestors who supported the incumbent´s challenger, leading to at least two deaths and numerous injuries.89
Human Rights Watch also received reports of increased tensions over results in Central Equatoria, when independent candidate Lado Gore disappeared in late April amid rumors of abduction and an increased presence of armed forces at his residence.90 The post-election period also saw intimidation and arrests during the counting and tabulation in Unity, Western Equatoria, and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states.
On May 10 the Carter Center expressed concern about "incidents of unwarranted detention and mistreatment of High Election Committee Staff by security forces in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Western Equatoria."91 For example, on April 24 in Yambio, Western Equatoria state, authorities reportedly took over the State High Committee premises where votes were being counted. SPLA soldiers arrested two staff members.92 Carter Center observers also reported high levels of intimidation and violence in Unity in particular, including in Leer and Pariang counties.93
Notes
83. "Sudan security arrest opposition leader Turabi," Reuters, May 16, 2010, http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE64F03M (accessed May 21, 2010).
84. "Activists Prevented from Travelling to Rome Statute Review Conference," African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies press release, May 31, 2010, http://www.acjps.org/Publications/Press%20releases/2010/5-31-10ActivistsPreventedfromTravelling.html (accessed June 20, 2010).
85. Human Rights Watch confidential communication with Sudanese journalists (names withheld), June 8, 2010.
86. Human Rights Watch email correspondence with UNMIS staff and journalists in Khartoum (names withheld), June 8, 2010. See also "Sudanese Security Arrests Leaders of the Doctors´ Strike and Intimidates their Supporters," African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies press release, June 4, 2010, http://www.acjps.org/Publications/Press%20releases/2010/06-04-10SudaneseSecurityArrestsLeadersoftheDoctorsStrike.html (accessed June 20, 2010).
87. "Arbitrary Arrest and Harassment of United Popular Front (UPF) Students in Khartoum," Human Rights and Advocacy Network for Democracy (HAND), May 12, 2010, on file with Human Rights Watch.
88. "Five dead in clash with S.Sudan rebel general-army," Reuters, May 14, 2010,
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSHEA467873 (accessed May 21, 2010).
89. "Calm resumes in Bentiu," UNMIS, April 24, 2010, http://unmis.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=511&ctl=Details&mid=697&ItemID=8706 (accessed May 22, 2010).
90. Human Rights Watch email correspondence with journalists and UN staff, Juba, April 2010.
91. "Carter Center Reports Widespread Irregularities in Sudan´s Vote Tabulation and Strongly Urges Steps to Increase Transparency," Carter Center press release, May 10, 2010, http://www.cartercenter.org/news/pr/sudan-051010.html (accessed May 18, 2010).
92. Ibid.
93. Ibid.
Note
Picture: Sudan
From: http://www.map-of-africa.co.uk/images/sudan-map.gif
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