THE SUDAN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION – CAIRO

December 7^th, 2009

URGENT CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE PUBLIC FREEDOMS, RELEASE SPLM LEADERS

December 6^th, the Khartoum authorities arrested arbitrarily SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum, Parliamentarian Yasir Arman, and other leading figures participating in a peaceful rally before the National Assembly to urge timely approval of key laws that should enhance the elections process in the country. The bills in question include critical acts on state security and public order besides provisions on the right to vote, including the upcoming South referendum on the optional unity.

• The Government of Sudan must release immediately SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum, Parliamentarian Yasir Arman, and all other arrestees.

• The Organization believes that the right of citizens to free expression and peaceful assembly is a fundamental human right that is clearly guaranteed by both international and constitutional laws, especially the Interim Constitution’s Bill of Rights.

The political parties and the civil society groups planning on the rally have already informed the authorities of their will to support the political process in a peaceful manner. The authorities arrests of key leaders of the rally indicates the unwillingness of the Government to create the democratic climates conducive to a smooth transition to a stable democratic rule, as strongly emphasized by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to which all parties and civil society groups in government or opposition are legally committed.

The Government’s political and executive authorities must cease playing dual roles to obstruct the full enjoyment of civil rights and fundamental freedoms in the road to the polls in April 2011. The Government is squarely responsible to implement all agreements with the SPLM and the other opposition forces in accordance with the CPA and Interim Constitution. Government must cease to launch offensive practices at the same time presidential and inter-governmental committees announce repeatedly necessary reconciliations.

The Organization notes with satisfaction that the Elections Commission has thus far allowed a sizeable number of people to register. Still, the government authorities’ tendencies to curtail the right to registration in several registration centers and/or the right to free expression and peaceful assembly posits a serious handicap to the right of voters to engage in legal political activities for the procession of free and fair elections within the few upcoming months.

• The National Assembly is fully responsible to bring to life security and other laws in full compliance with the letter and spirit of the Constitution. The right of people to free expression and peaceful assembly reflects the extent to which democratic standards are possible in the country.

• The political leaderships and the executive authorities in the pre-elections and post-elections times must be prepared to show the maximum level of tolerance and mutual respect.

• The Government of Sudan must release immediately SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum, Parliamentarian Yasir Arman, and all other arrestees.