RAPAR statement on Sudan
05/10/12
The UKBA continues in its attempts to return Sudanese nationals to Sudan, where they face torture and persecution by state officials. Many Sudanese in the UK, coming from all parts of the country, are actively seeking to remove President Al-Bashir and see him account for his actions before the International Criminal Court. The activities of these people – demonstrations, rallies, meetings, etc. – are being monitored by Sudanese state officials, which will surely increase the risk of torture and ill-treatment if they are returned to Sudan.
We call upon the UKBA to stop returning people who have suffered torture and other inhuman treatments at the hands of Sudanese officials and to recognise the danger faced by all Sudanese activists of further and increased persecution if returned to Sudan.
We also call upon all Sudanese in the UK to continue to develop their activism while in the UK and to co-ordinate their efforts in linking regional groups to form a coherent opposition to Al-Bashir and the current Sudanese government. We recognise and support the calls for Al-Bashir to account for his actions before the ICC in The Hague, but warn that this should not be the only course of action, nor viewed as the only hope for change in Sudan. The ICC is at a crossroads, increasing its numbers of arrest warrants and suspects being tried at this time of financial cuts and reluctance from Member States to increase their funding. This process is also time-consuming and reliant upon the governments of other countries arresting Al-Bashir and transferring him to the ICC if he visits any Member countries of the Court (which he has done previously through visiting Kenya and Jordan). The ICC is not a magic fix for Sudan and it should not be relied upon. It is the people of Sudan who, together, embody the potential to overthrow Al-Bashir and forge a future that is fit for their people.