Sudan Human Rights Network

Urgent Action: Stop killing peaceful Demonstrators in Sudan, December 27, 2018 – PDF

Memo From: Sudan Human Rights Network

Date: 27 December 2018

Memo To:Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
UN Independent Expert on the situation of Human Rights in Sudan, Mr. Dieudonne Munyinga

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)
ACHPR Commissioner on the Human Rights Situation in Sudan, Mr. Lawrence Murugu Mute
Arab Commission for Human Rights (ACHR)
President of the Secretariat of the ACHR, Mr. Mohamed Yacoub

Copies to: Amnesty International – Human Rights Watch – Human Rights Organizations

Dear Human Rights Defenders,

We write to you regarding the deeply concerning human rights situation in Sudan. More than 40 people are reported to have been killed since the wave of protests against the government was escalated on December 19, 2018 in many cities around Sudan.

Armed masked men, believed to be members of the ruling party, the National Congress Party (NCP) were the main culprits behind killing the peaceful demonstrators. Men in police uniform, not complete gear, covering their faces with masks, were seen using machine guns while cruising streets on pickup trucks without license plates. Some of them were snipers on high building roofs shooting and killing peaceful demonstrators on the streets of Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan.

Sudan Human Rights Network (SHRN) is deeply concerned about the ill-treatment and excessive force used against demonstrators in Sudan. In recent days, thousands of demonstrators protested across the country denouncing the rising prices of essential commodities and the shortage of bread and fuel, which later escalated into calls demanding the resignation of President Al-Bashir and the removal of the regime.

According to SHRN sources inside Sudan, at least 40 people have been killed in the latest round of protests, the final number is yet to be confirmed. Dozens were injured as a result of use of tear gas and live ammunition.

The peak of the demonstrations took place on Tuesday, December 25, 2018 in the streets of the capital, Khartoum, where thousands flooded the streets in response to a call by the Sudanese Professional Association to march to the Presidential Place to hand over a memo demanding the resignation of the president. The security forces used excessive force in attacking the peaceful demonstrators injuring at least eight demonstrators – four are in serious condition. SHRN has obtained video footage showing protesters wounded by bullets of the security forces and other videos of security agents in plain clothes shooting demonstrators.

SHRN confirms that hundreds of protesters and opposition leaders have been arrested including the chairperson of the opposition National Consensus Forces (NCF) Mr. Farouq Abu Eisa, and thirteen other members of the alliance who were arrested during a peaceful meeting on Saturday, December 22, 2018.

SHRN would like to reiterate the right of the Sudanese people to peacefully protest to express their views according to the Sudanese Constitution and international human rights law.

The Sudan Human Rights Network (SHRN) is deeply concerned by the ongoing widespread and gross human rights violations and abuses, and arbitrary detention by Sudanese authorities of peaceful demonstrators, civil society party members, and activists.

SHRN condemns the gross human rights violations in Sudan and recommends that the UN Commission on Human Rights assign human rights field officers to monitor the human rights situation. If strict measures are not taken, we are concerned that the ruling party, the National Congress Party (NCP) militants and government forces will continue to use excessive force against protesters and to arbitrarily detain those who participate in them as they have done repeatedly.

We call on the international community – and particularly the UN Human Rights Council – to take action to end the widespread human rights abuses being perpetrated in Sudan, and to:
• Express concern at the arrest and continuing of detention of prisoners of conscious
• Urge the Sudanese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release prisoners of conscious
• Request assurances that prisoners of conscious are being humanly treated, that they have immediate and regular access to their families, lawyers, and any necessary medical attention.

Sudan Human Rights Network

For more information, please contact:
info@sudanhumanrights.org
shrnusa@gmail.com