Arrests: Those made by the Security Forces between March 11 and April 10 have largely gone unnoticed. Edward Ladu Terso, a journalist working for the Khartoum Monitor, who had been previously detained with Nhail Bol his director March 9-10, was once again arrested on March 11 at the newspaper. After being held at an undisclosed location, he was sent to Khobar prison on March 1(. His family was denied visiting rights. Edward Ladu has written a regular column entitled, “I just can’t understand this” (SOAT). Security Forces reported that he would face “serious consequences” if he continued writing the articles, seen as “ inciting the public and provoking racial hatred” He was reprimanded and released on the condition that he forego his salary for a period of 15 days. (HRW)

Security forces arrested the retired General Tawfig Abu Kadoak, who suffers from diabetes, on March 16. The General, is a human right activist striving for democracy and human rights, lost his son in the war and has been awarded numerous medals. (SHRG).

Two TV reporters from Al-Jazera were beaten by the police during their coverage of a anti-American student demonstration. Even though the cameraman explained his position to the police, they continued to slam him in the knees with a baton. But he managed to escape, and his film was broadcast. On the same day a reporter from Al Ayam, Hadar el Mukashfi, and author of a byline called “Transparence” was interrogated by the security authorities. What you write «  goes beyond the red line, we advise you to change your writings” (Reporters Without Borders).

Mohammed Al Wasila Abbas was arrested March 23 by 12 members of the security forces as they searched his house and others in his neighborhood. He is currently detained incommunicado at an unknown location. It is feared that he is being tortured. He holds a university degree and is married to Salwa Saeid, a prominent human rights lawyer who was abroad at the time of her husband’s arrest. On March 22, Yasir Mohamed Al Hassan was arrested at the faculty of medicine where he worked. He was carted off to the political branch of the security forces near the Farouk cemetery where he is currently held incommunicado. There is concern that he is being tortured, as he was when he was arrested with 11 others for participating in the October 2002 student protests. At that time he was subjected to harsh treatment. Security officers trod on his chest and belly and beat him with a metal bar until he lost consciousness (SOAT).

Hussein Ibrahim Gindeel was arrested by four security officers on the way home to his house in Damazin, Blue Nile on March 24. This important official at the Ministry of Industry is the volunteer director of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) which promotes lasting development and human rights. On March 26 and 27 SUDO planned to hold a forum in Damazin focusing on the role of civil society in the peace process, a considerably sensitive subject to the government. He was sequestrated at an unknown location, then released on March 27. The forum was canceled (HRW).

Hassan Ali, Mohamed Siddiq Omar al-Amin, Mohamed al-Mustapha Hashem and seven other students attending the Bakht-el-Roda-university in El Duiem were arrested by the security forces after a student demonstration calling for student elections banned by the university.

Ammar Najm el-Din, a student was arrested in connection with the student demonstrations hostile to the war in Iraq. He was beaten from 9:30 to 12:30 on the head, back and testicles with piping before loosing consciousness then tortured again from 1:00 to 3:00 on the following day. He was supposed to admit that he had ties to the Sudan Alliance Force. Although he was released, he is at risk of being arrested again, if only to sign a paper swearing that he was not subjected to torture. Sami Yusif Ismail, a student at Kassala University was arrested at his home, tortured like Ammar Najm el Din, then released. Two other students Sharif Hassibullah and Haythem el-Tayeb were killed. Another student, el-Amin Chams el-Din was slain during a protest against the murdering of students attending the University of Sudan. Other students are currently held incommunicado and there is concern that they are being tortured ( Amnesty International and HRW).

South
An international team of American and Canadian experts, including members (Servant’sHeart , the Martur’s voice) went to Liang in the oil rich Upper Nile.  They found fields scattered with human remains, mainly young children. These associations are demanding an inquiry by the CPMT.

Darfour

The New Rebel Movement

Vigilance Soudan reported that according to various sources ethnic cleansing is taking place in the vast hinterland of Western Sudan. The ethnic cleansing is said to be supported by the government, which favors Arab herdsmen over African Muslim farmers in an area under siege, by famine, drought and widespread armed robbery.  The UN Special Rapporteur, Amnesty International and other organizations were aghast at the judicial rulings in Darfour. As a result the government was organizing a meeting of the tribal chieftains in order to cool down things.

Then, a group of about 300 rebels took Gulu the capital of mountainous Jebel Marra province (the highest standing at 3024m) installing their own governmental administration. The rebels have set up training camps in the Marra Mountains from which attacks are launched against the army and the police. They have arms, transport vehicles and modern satellite communications. They might be supported by tribal groups in Chad; the boundary between Chad and Sudan divided tribal populations, but a strong sense of solidarity still exists.

The conference of tribal chieftains was still going on when the rebels proclaimed themselves to be the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), not to be confused with the SPLA/M. The objectives of the SLA/M are to overthrow the regime and create a democratic Sudan, and they have declared, “The unity of Sudan must be based on the right of self determination….and on a political and economic system striving to eradicate inequality and maginalization”. Darfour has been oppressed by years of “ethnic cleansing of its African populations.” The rebels are calling for the separation of State and religion, a constructive relationship with the National Democratic Alliance (made up of Northern opposition parties and the SPLA) and the Arab peoples of Darfour to fight with them.

A Fur delegation [the Fur are African] was sent to talk to the rebels. Governmental sources have said that they are asking Khartoum to instate an intensive development program in Darfour and apply a general amnesty and a cease-fire. However Beshir has refused all discussion. The SLA/M has stated that it has captured the Zaghawa area and the town of Tiné, a stronghold near both Libyan and Chadian borders. After the visit of the Sudanese Minister of the Interior, Chad agreed to close off its borders. Since then, Beshir has met with Debbe, the Chadian president. Meanwhile, the Fur lawyer Abdel Wahib told Africa Confidential by phone, that thousands of armed supporters had rallied to the rebel cause and that they controlled most of the area around Jebel Marra, having beaten back government troops and adjunct militias trying to retake Tiné.

A member of the Arab Militias mortally wounded the prominent 69-year-old Masalit leader Sheik Salih Dakaro while he was traveling with four companions.

The SPLA claims to have no ties to the SLA/M, but justly underlines the fact that since its beginnings the rebels have drawn attention to the marginalization of many groups in Sudan.
Delegates attending the Machakos talks have clearly demonstrated to the inhabitants of Darfour that fighting is a better proposition than sitting back and waiting for miseries to arrive.