SPLA ACCUSED OF TOTURING SUSPECTS WHILE SPLA

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000922 DEPT FOR AF/SPG, A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: SPLA ACCUSED OF TOTURING SUSPECTS WHILE SPLA COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE ARREST ANOTHER OFFICER FOR BEATING A DETAINEE ¶1. (SBU) Summary: SPLA military police have been accused of torturing employees of a U.S. company operating in Juba, Sudan. Two of these individuals were reportedly subject to psychological abuse as well as beatings and sodomy. In an unrelated incident, a counter-intelligence officer was arrested for beating a suspect. End Summary ¶2. (SBU) In mid-April of this year eight third country national employees of the U.S. company Dyncorps, contracted by the U.S. Department of State for construction and training programs in Southern Sudan, were taken into custody at the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) headquarters located in Juba. These individuals are employed by Dyncorp to provide services and training to the SPLA. This group, along with 16 SPLA soldiers, were suspected of stealing the SPLA April payroll of approximately 400,000 Sudanese Pounds (about US $200,000). ¶3. (SBU) Upon learning of the arrests, the US Consul General visited the SPLA headquarters to investigate the facts behind the case, and was successful in persuading the SPLA to release four of the detainees after a week of detention. The other four, however, were relocated to a detention facility in the western part of Juba known as "Customs Market." Two of these individuals allege they were forced to stay inside large windowless metal containers without lights while enduring the noise of individuals beating on the sides. During their period of incarceration at this facility these two detainees also allege they were taken to a local cemetery next to the Nile River where they claim they were beaten and sodomized with a foreign object. Other maltreatments allegedly include mock executions and the receipt of false information that the rest of their party had been executed. Three of the four detainees were ultimately moved to a separate location in the vicinity of SPLA headquarters where they allegedly received more humane treatment, to include obtaining food three times a day from their employer. Dyncorps also was allowed to have a doctor examine the detainees periodically, who reported back to the Consul General at the time that they were in fair condition, although they showed signs of having been caned and shackled. The fourth detainee, however, allegedly remained shackled with his arms raised above his head in what has been described by him as a "torturous position." Food deliveries to this individual were alleged to have been more inconsistent. ¶4. (SBU) Upon further notification of this continuing detainment, the acting U.S. Consul General in Juba lodged additional complaints with the SPLA leadership and the Southern Sudan Police Service (SSPS) Inspector General. The SSPS was not aware of these arrests prior to these complaints. The SSPS Inspector General, in turn, lodged formal complaints with the SPLA and the Southern Sudan Human Rights Commission on the grounds that the SPLA, a military organization, had no mandate to hold civilians. ¶5. (SBU) One day after these complaints were made the remaining detainee at the Customs Market detention facility was reunited with the other three. Following additional contact with the SPLA Chief of Staff by the U.S. Consulate General, all were released on house arrest. These detainees were of Kenyan and Ugandan nationality. All the detainees are currently still in Juba and are now continuing their work for Dyncorps. It is not clear whether they are free to leave Sudan at this time or whether they have been formally charged. ¶6. (SBU) A separate event involving the abuse of a detainee resulted in the arrest of a SPLA intelligence officer. According to a member of the SPLA counter-intelligence unit, a SPLA captain was detained after it was discovered that he had beaten a foreign national suspected of belonging to a terrorist group. It is reported that the suspect was beaten so badly that he required hospitalization. His present condition is reported to be satisfactory. ¶7. (SBU) Comment: Post is extremely concerned about these abuses by the SPLA, not only because they were directed at a US contractor, but also because they show the extent to which the SPLA takes matters into its own hands without informing civilian authorities or following due process. CG Juba will continue to follow up with the SPLA and the GOSS to see whether any formal charges were filed or a proper investigation was conducted, and whether the soldiers involved in these incidents have been disciplined. FERNANDEZ