28.05.2008 - Source: Amnesty International

At least 30 people arrested in connection with protests against Kajbar Dam; 4 demonstrators killed during peaceful march ("Annual Report 2008") [ID 23354]

"At least 30 people were arrested in June and July in connection with protests against the Kajbar Dam.

During a peaceful march in June the police killed four demonstrators and wounded 11 others.

Among those arrested was a group who came to investigate the killings, including Mohammed Jalal Ahmad Hashim, a lecturer at Khartoum University; members of the committee against the Kajbar Dam, including spokesperson Osman Ibrahim; and journalists.

Detainees, including journalists, were held incommunicado for up to 10 weeks and required to sign a statement promising in future not to comment on the dam."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Police open fire on demonstrators protesting the construction of the Kajbar Dam, killing 4 persons and wounding 10 others ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23060]

"On June 14, Central Reserve police opened fire on demonstrators protesting the construction of the Kajbar Dam, killing four persons and wounding 10 others.

According to newspaper reports, police used live fire to disperse the demonstrators.

On June 19, video footage of the attack appeared on "You Tube," showing footage of corpses with gunshot wounds to the head."

Document(s): Open document

12.09.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

8 men held incommunicado since their arrest on 28 August 2007; possible prisoners of conscience; medical help maybe not provided; fear of torture or other ill-treatment ("Urgent Action 243/07 [AFR 54/053/2007]") [ID 21943]

Document(s): Open document

19.06.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

8 persons are being detained incommunicado and are at risk of torture and ill-treatment; they were arrested following protests against government plans to build the Kajbar Dam in the country's Northern State, which will reportedly affect more than 30 villages in the area ("Urgent Action 156/07 [AFR 54/032/2007]") [ID 21944]

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Darfur: Government continued to place restrictions on humanitarian access; continued harassment of and attacks on humanitarian workers ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19275]

"Despite the 2005 government announcement of a "humanitarian moratorium," or the lifting of restrictions on the issuance of visas and the importation of supplies by humanitarian organizations, the government continued to place restrictions on humanitarian access to Darfur. In some cases, the government continued to wait several months to issue entry visas to humanitarian aid workers; exit visas also frequently took longer than two weeks to process, causing delays and disruptions to humanitarian programs.

The government's Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) continued to request that NGOs refrain from interviewing or selecting staff unless they used a five-person selection panel and had HAC officials present, significantly delaying the hiring of new staff in Darfur.

The government also continued to harass humanitarian workers and detain them on various arbitrary rules and requirements without prior notification. In September the government announced new travel restrictions limiting the movement of U.S. citizens to a 25-mile radius of the Republican Palace in Khartoum; the government lifted the restrictions November 30 (see section 2.d.).

Rebel forces attacked commerce on the roads, including humanitarian aid shipments, and seized goods, vehicles, and persons, including government officials and humanitarian aid workers.

Rebel forces and bandits also obstructed the flow of humanitarian assistance to the Darfur region and were responsible for attacks on humanitarian workers that resulted in death and injury. In June and July, four local humanitarian aid workers were killed, while a fifth was abducted and later found dead.

On December 18, SLA (Minawi) forces attacked three humanitarian compounds in Gereida, North Darfur. The forces assaulted several international and local humanitarian workers and stole 12 vehicles. The attack caused the majority of humanitarian organizations operating in Gereida, home to Darfur's largest IDP camp with 128,000 IDPs, to evacuate due to insecurity. At year's end, none of the humanitarian organizations that withdrew had returned. "

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Darfur: Imam arrested after preaching about lack of economic opportunities for IDPs and criticising government ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19394]

"On September 8, MI officers arrested the imam of Al Medina Al Munawwara mosque in El Geneina, West Darfur, after he preached about the lack of economic opportunities for IDPs and the deployment of UN peacekeepers in Darfur. The imam had also criticized the government for organizing protests against UN forces. He was released without charge, but an official from the Department of Religious Guidance and Endowments visited a few days later and asked him not to preach about controversial issues in the future."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Nationals of some countries encountered difficulties in obtaining visas to work with NGOs in country ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19404]

"Although foreign NGO staff could obtain entry visas and work or travel permits for Darfur, there were numerous reports of continuing delays and restrictions (see section 1.g.). The government generally implemented its policy of issuing humanitarian visas within 48 hours, but nationals of some countries encountered difficulties in obtaining visas to work with NGOs."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Members of opposition and NGOs detained at airport and prevented from travelling abroad ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19406]

"The government detained persons, particularly opposition political figures, at the airport and prevented them from traveling due to "security concerns." For example, on August 20, the government prevented the director of a local NGO working in Darfur from departing the country to attend a conference overseas and confiscated his passport."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

In 2006, various local human rights groups were active in country, but suffered from government harassment ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19834]

"Various local human rights groups were active in the country, but they suffered from government harassment, particularly those groups reporting on sexual gender-based violence. The government was generally uncooperative with and unresponsive to domestic human rights groups. Major local NGOs included SOAT and Sudan Development Organization. In an effort to silence them, the government often charged human rights groups with spreading false information. For instance, NGOs continued to be harassed in Darfur with the intimidation of national staff and the detention and arrests of workers treating victims of sexual violence. Government security forces often detained members of humanitarian staff under the Criminal Act, usually on charges of spreading false information.

For example, on July 9, in Khartoum, three NISS officers arrested Nagib Nagm Eldine, the director of the Amel Center for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture. After keeping Eldine in a holding cell for eight hours, officials interrogated him about reports of summary trials for hundreds of persons arrested during riots following the July 2005 death of former first vice president John Garang. Eldine was released a few hours later.

On September 9 and 10, the National Security Bureau summoned Mohamed Badawi, a human rights lawyer and Coordinator of the Amel Centre for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture, for questioning related to Amel Centre activities; he was released without charge both days.

On December 9, the NISS halted a NGO-sponsored training in Nyala, South Darfur, claiming that the NGO had not received the proper permission from the HAC to hold the workshop. The NISS detained and questioned the NGO facilitator for several days.

The government often resisted the heightened levels of international NGO scrutiny generated by events in Darfur. The government continued to make it difficult for international NGOs to operate in Darfur by delaying visas, holding up the clearance of equipment and supplies at customs, denying permission to travel within the country, and harassing the humanitarian community (see section 1.g.).

The government's HAC, which regulates humanitarian efforts in the country, continued to create difficulties for NGOs operating in Darfur. All NGOs must register with HAC to operate in the country. In March 2005 the HAC assumed a role in hiring NGO national staff, which caused major delays in hiring new staff for Darfur (see section 1.g.). HAC applied rules for NGOs inconsistently, often changing them without prior notification. An August 2005 presidential decree required international NGOs to reregister and did not permit applicants to appeal a denial.

On March 16, the government enacted the Organization of Humanitarian and Voluntary Work Act, which requires government approval before NGOs can begin work on particular projects and places restrictions on the acceptance of foreign money by NGOs operating in the country. Many NGOs believed that the government used the new law to curtail their work on human rights.

Rebels and other armed bandits reportedly abducted and on occasion killed NGO workers and contractors, particularly in Darfur. On May 8, IDPs at Kalma camp near Nyala, South Darfur, lynched a Sudanese translator working for the African Union, accusing him of spying for the government. Between June and July, four local humanitarian aid workers were killed, while a fifth was abducted and later found dead. Banditry and armed robbery of humanitarian convoys by rebel groups in Darfur was common (see section 1.g.). "

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Although law provides for right of association for economic and trade union purposes, government denied this right in practice ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19859]

"Although the law provides for the right of association for economic and trade union purposes, the government denied this right in practice. The Trade Union Act established a trade union monopoly in the government. Only the government-controlled Sudan Workers Trade Union Federation (SWTUF) could function legally; all other unions were banned. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has frequently noted that the trade union monopoly contravened the principles of freedom of association. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions continued to recognize the "legitimate" Sudan Workers Trade Union Federation--the national trade union center that functioned prior to the ban--which operated in exile. [...]

The law denies trade unions autonomy to exercise their right to organize or to bargain collectively. The law defines the objectives, terms of office, scope of activities, and organizational structures and alliances for labor unions. The government's auditor general supervised union funds because they were considered public money.

While labor organizing committees have the right to organize and bargain collectively, in practice the government dominated the process of setting wages and working conditions through its control of the steering committees. A tripartite committee comprising representatives of the government, the government-controlled SWTUF, and business set wages. The absence of labor legislation allowing for union meetings, the filing of grievances, and other union activity greatly reduced the value of these formal rights. Local union officials raised some grievances with employers, although few raised them with the government. There were credible reports that the government routinely intervened to manipulate professional, trade union, and student union elections (see sections 1.c. and 2.b.).

Specialized labor courts adjudicated standard labor disputes, but the Ministry of Labor has the authority to refer a dispute to compulsory arbitration.

Strikes were considered illegal unless the government granted approval, which has never occurred. In most cases employees who tried to strike were subject to employment termination; however, workers went on strike during the year and were not terminated. "

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Darfur: Humanitarian aid workers under increasing attack by armed groups ("World Report 2007") [ID 19067]

"Humanitarian aid workers came under increasing attack by armed groups from all sides in the months following the May peace deal, with 12 humanitarian staff killed between May and August 2006. The insecurity caused many international organizations to restrict their movements, particularly along the dangerous roads, jeopardizing the supply of relief to almost half a million of the more than four million people partially or wholly dependent on aid for their survival."

Document(s): Open document

23.05.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

NGOs continue to be target of repression ("Annual Report 2006") [ID 18343]

"On 30 May the authorities briefly detained Paul Foreman, head of the international non-governmental organization (NGO) Médecins Sans Frontières-Holland. They charged him with crimes against the state for publishing an allegedly false report on rape in Darfur, and sought to compel him to disclose the names of confidential sources.

On 29 September, three members of the national NGO, the Sudan Social Development Organization, were abducted from Zam Zam IDP camp, north Darfur, by the Sudan Liberation Army, an armed political group."

Document(s): Open document

20.04.2006 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Creation of new, independent trade unions impossible ("10th European Country of Origin Infomation Seminar Budapest, 1 - 2 December 2005: Final Report on Sudan") [#49770],  [ID 18930]

"The new Bashir regime was also very determined to eliminate the trade unions, which were traditionally aligned with the Communist Party, because they had initiated the downfall of two previous regimes. Instead, a general state-controlled union was established. Until today, it is impossible to create new, independent trade unions."

Document(s): Open document

20.04.2006 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Members of civil society and human rights defenders under surveillance and might be arbitrarily arrested and detained ("10th European Country of Origin Infomation Seminar Budapest, 1 - 2 December 2005: Final Report on Sudan") [#49770],  [ID 18933]

"Civil society is perceived as a threat to the regime, and the regime reacts accordingly. Members of civil society and human rights defenders are under surveillance and might be arbitrarily arrested and detained. Depending on the charges, their status and the location they may then also be subjected to torture.
Civil society has become stronger, also thanks to the UN and international NGOs. Recently a new ordinance was passed whereby all NGOs would have to re-register. If this ordinance is implemented, much of civil society will become illegal and will have to move underground.
HA: The government is not scared of Turabi and other political groups, but alarmed over civil society. In 2001, there were about 30, 40 NGOs working in the field of human rights. Now, there are 108 NGOs only in Khartoum dealing with human rights and humanitarian relief. The government considers this development as a threat. Therefore persons, who work on human rights, especially in very fragile areas like Kassala in South Sudan and Darfur, might be at risk."

Document(s): Open document

10.02.2006 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Darfur: Human rights activists and persons associated with international NGOs subjected to abduction, harassment and intimidation ("UNHCR's position on Sudanese asylum-seekers from Darfur") [#44832],  [ID 18375]

"Some lawyers and others involved in legal aid and human rights networks, together with persons associated with international NGOs have been subject to abduction, harassment and intimidation."

Document(s): Open document