OCTOBER 23/2002

 SUDAN: INDISCRIMINATE ABUSE OF RIGHTS

 Following the alleged aggression on the Sudan by Eritrea, citizens of Eritrea as well as registered Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers are being subjected to gross violations of rights by Sudanese security personnel.

As of Sunday night ( October 20, 2002), security forces have been storming late at night the houses of Eritreans in Khartoum, etc...,beating up the occupants, covering their face with a black piece of close and taking them to an unknown place. Though the official targets are registered Eritreans, Ethiopians have also become victims of this indiscriminate act of harassment. Complaints of money and property lootings have also been received from some places.

 Though details are scanty, some of the released say they have suffered a lot. At the unknown detention center, the detainee are made give their life history, photographed, forced to sign on a paper whatever the written statement is, and warned to bear the consequence if they dare to tell of their ordeal to any one. No one knows what happens to those still under detention and there is no explanation why they are being held.

 Many Ethiopians fear that if this continues for some time, the EPRDF will take advantage to hunt it political enemies.

SOCEPP calls on the government of the Sudan to end the indiscriminate rights abuse to which Eritreans and all other coming from Ethiopia are being subjected to under the present time. Refugees should not be used as scapegoats for the problems between the two governments.

SOCEPP