DAFURI HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST ARRESTED

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001041 NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM SOCI SU SUBJECT: DAFURI HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST ARRESTED REF: KHARTOUM 760 ¶1. (SBU) On September 2, poloff talked with Hamid Nur, a former U.S. Embassy locally-employed staff member in the political section, to discuss the detainment of a human rights activist. Nur said the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) arrested Abdel Majeed Saleh Abakr Haroun in Khartoum on August 30. Haroun is a Darfuri human rights activist and leading member of the Darfur Democratic Forum. (NOTE: Haroun is also a former grantee of the USAID Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI). END NOTE.) ¶2. (SBU) According to Nur, NISS arrested Haroun and another unidentified Darfur Democratic Forum employee while they were on their way to meet with female Darfuri students who were beaten in June 2009 (reftel). Nur said that the meeting was to follow up on the women's case against some elements of the security service in relation to the Darfuri women's accusation that NISS members beat and sexually harassed them in their dormitory at Khartoum University in June 2009 (reftel). ¶3. (SBU) According to Nur, who confirmed the information with Darfur Democratic Forum members, Haroun remains in NISS custody. He has not been charged or put on trial, and the location of his confinement is unknown. Members of the Darfur Democratic Forum expressed fear for Haroun's health and life. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: This appears to be yet another case of the security services here arbitrarily detaining Sudanese citizens deemed "unfriendly" to the regime. Darfur activists, and particularly those engaged in human rights work, are likely to be continue being security service targets. End Comment WHITEHEAD