A/HRC/30/60
charged with undermining the constitutional system, waging war against the State,
espionage, unlawful disclosure and receipt of official information or documents, arousing
feelings of discontent among regular forces, breach of public peace and offences relating to
insulting religious beliefs. Following these charges and subsequent hearings on 19 and 31
May, both pastors were allegedly moved to a high security prison in North Khartoum. They
were last seen by their families and pastors from their church on 3 June.
31.
The Independent Expert is concerned about the arrest, detention and possible trial of
the two people, which would be in contravention of articles 18, 19 and 20 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and articles 18, 19, 21, 26 and 27 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that stress the rights to freedom of religion, freedom
of opinion and expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and of minorities. He calls upon
the Government of Sudan to respect the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the interim
national Constitution and to allow the Sudanese people to exercise their rights freely.
D.
Human rights violations committed during the demonstrations of
September 2013
32.
The Independent Expert also met with representatives of some of the family
members of deceased victims of the oil-subsidy demonstrations held in September 2013
across Khartoum State, which resulted in fatal shootings, injuries and the destruction of
property, as well as the arrest and detention of many demonstrators. The “brief report on the
acts of violence of September 2013”, prepared and issued by the Office of the Chief
Prosecutor of Khartoum State, was discussed at length by the previous mandate holder in
his last report (A/HRC/27/69). The family members and their lawyers affirmed that they
had all lost hope in their quest for justice for their deceased relatives, and felt threatened.
33.
The Independent Expert calls upon the Government to ensure that an independent
judicial inquiry is conducted into the killings and various other human rights violations, to
address arbitrary violations of the fundamental right to life, and impunity.
E.
Conflict-affected areas
34.
Armed conflicts and lack of security continue to be major sources of human rights
violations in different parts of the Sudan. In particular, Darfur and the States of Southern
Kordofan and Blue Nile continue to experience sporadic cycles of armed conflicts, violent
attacks and banditry, which have had a negative impact on civilians during the reporting
period.
1.
Darfur
35.
As the conflict in Darfur, which broke out in February 2003, enters its twelfth year,
the situation of human rights continues to be a major concern. While the signing of the
Doha Document for Peace in Darfur by the Government and the Liberation and Justice
Movement was a sign of political progress, the persistence of fighting between the
Sudanese Armed Forces and non-signatory armed opposition groups has been compounded
by clashes between various tribes (the latest reported being between the Rezeigat and the
Maalia in East Darfur) that highlight the vulnerability of civilians in the region.
Indiscriminate attacks against civilians, tribal clashes and heightened criminality continued
unabated, at the most met by a feeble response from law enforcement officials and security
institutions, leading to the loss of lives, civilian injuries and the destruction of civilian
property.
8
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