TURABI STILL IN JAIL; PCP CONTINUES TO BE HARASSED

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000256 DEPT FOR AF A A/S CARTER, AF/SPG, AF/E, DRL NSC FOR CHUDSON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPAO KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: TURABI STILL IN JAIL; PCP CONTINUES TO BE HARASSED REF: KHARTOUM 103 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Despite a number of pleas to local and international audiences by the Popular Congress Party (PCP),the organization's leader, Hassan al-Turabi, remains imprisoned by the Sudanese regime. Formerly a leading member of the Sudanese regime that came to power in 1989, Turabi's arrest allegedly resulted from his comments supporting the ICC process against President Bashir and for is alleged plans to meet with members of the JEM rebel movement in London (reftel). END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) On February 24, the PCP-run "Rai al-Shaab" newspaper published a story quoting PCP Assistant Secretary General Ibrahim al-Sanousi as having said that the NCP delivered "contradictory statements" in claiming that Turabi was both arrested "for his own protection" and also that his detention was "because of his support of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)." ¶3. (SBU) Meanwhile, Turabi's son, Siddiq, told PolOff on February 24 that his family is still permitted only one 15-minute visit per week at the prison in Port Sudan. According to Siddiq al-Turabi, Sudanese authorities have not yet charged the elder Turabi with anything, nor have they filed an extension of detention as is required by Sudanese law for all national security detentions lasting more than 30 days. Turabi's son accused the GOS of continuing to interfere with PCP members, noting that two buses of Turabi supporters were intercepted by National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) officers when the former attempted to visit Port Sudan prison on February 17. En route from Kassala in eastern Sudan, the buses were forced to return, with two party members detained and questioned for several hours. Siddiq al-Turabi said the party remains concerned that more members will be targeted by the GOS following the February 15 arrest of PCP Deputy Secretary General Kamal Omer. ¶4. (SBU) The family of Kamal Omer told PolOff on February 24 that they believe Omer's arrest was likewise politically-motivated. Arrested after writing an article deemed "sensitive," the prominent legal advocate was sentenced to six months in prison, a decision that surprised his family, as authorities generally follow the standard practice of fining violators for such offenses rather than imprisoning them. The family did note optimistically that they currently have regular open visits with Omer, who is appealing the verdict in Khartoum. ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: It is ironic that at a time when the Government of Sudan and the Justice and Equality (JEM) Doha Memorandum of Good Will calls for the release of armed conflict prisoners from both sides, the PCP opposition party's Turabi and Omer remain jailed for having made public statements. While pro-Islamist forces inside and outside of Sudan will likely ensure Turabi's eventual release, the timing for the NCP to do so may become tricky as a consequence of the pending ICC arrest warrant against President Bashir. Given Turabi's statements in support of the ICC process, the regime may become more intransigent on releasing Turabi if an arrest warrant for President Bashir is issued by the ICC next week. FERNANDEZ