South Sudan: Attack at the Home of Human Rights Defender Mr Biel Boutros

Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com, William Nicholas Gomes is concerned over the attack by state security forces on Biel Bourtos' home, as it appears to be directly targeted against him and his family.

Human rights defender Mr Biel Boutros

(WASHINGTON, DC) - On the night of 20 January 2014, more than 30 armed men believed to be part of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) raided the house of human rights defender Mr Biel Boutros. Biel Bourtos is the director of the South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy (SSHURSA), a Juba-based, non-political, not-for-profit organisation that monitors and documents human rights violations in South Sudan and advocates for justice and the rights of vulnerable groups.

At around 11pm on 20 January 2014, several soldiers arrived at Biel Bourtos' compound while firing shots in the air. They had travelled in two cars which they left outside the compound before destroying the gate of the human rights defender's house. Some of the soldiers made defence lines around the premises and four soldiers stationed themselves at each gate of the compound. Upon discovering that Biel Bourtos and his family were not at home, they destroyed much of the interior furnishing of the house. Almost everything in the house was stolen, including files containing official documents.

The soldiers stayed in the compound for a period of three hours, during which time they spoke loudly and joked and shouted in English and Arabic. Although they never mentioned the human rights defender's name directly, eyewitnesses report that they appeared to work under an organized command and wondered aloud at the whereabouts of the compound's inhabitants. Shots were again fired in the air as they departed the house and drove towards Bilpam Military Barracks at around 2am on 21 January 2014.

Upon their arrival home on the morning of 21 January 2014, Biel Bourtos' family members immediately reported the incident to the police at Munuki station. It is reported that just one officer arrived to assess the crime, and that he was unprepared, not even carrying a camera to take pictures. He further made comments to the effect that the soldiers may have been from UNMISS (United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan) not the SPLA, and that the police would not be able to do anything about the attack. After taking some eyewitness statements, he informed Biel Bourtos' relatives that they would have to go with him to the Criminal Investigation Department nearby to testify formally. However, the family had become suspicious and fearful of the officer owing to his statements so they refused to go.

Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com, William Nicholas Gomes is concerned at the attack by state security forces on Biel Bourtos' home, as it appears to be directly targeted against him and his family.

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President Salva Kiir Mayardit Contact via Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva Rue de Varembé 9-11 (Suite 1) 1202 Geneva Switzerland Fax: +41 22 919 40 59 Email: mission.rss.geneva@hotmail.ch Your Excellency, I am William Nicholas Gomes,Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com. On the night of 20 January 2014, more than 30 armed men believed to be part of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) raided the house of human rights defender Mr Biel Boutros. Biel Bourtos is the director of the South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy (SSHURSA), a Juba-based, non-political, not-for-profit organisation that monitors and documents human rights violations in South Sudan and advocates for justice and the rights of vulnerable groups. At around 11pm on 20 January 2014, several soldiers arrived at Biel Bourtos' compound while firing shots in the air. They had travelled in two cars which they left outside the compound before destroying the gate of the human rights defender's house. Some of the soldiers made defence lines around the premises and four soldiers stationed themselves at each gate of the compound. Upon discovering that Biel Bourtos and his family were not at home, they destroyed much of the interior furnishing of the house. Almost everything in the house was stolen, including files containing official documents. The soldiers stayed in the compound for a period of three hours, during which time they spoke loudly and joked and shouted in English and Arabic. Although they never mentioned the human rights defender's name directly, eyewitnesses report that they appeared to work under an organized command and wondered aloud at the whereabouts of the compound's inhabitants. Shots were again fired in the air as they departed the house and drove towards Bilpam Military Barracks at around 2am on 21 January 2014. Upon their arrival home on the morning of 21 January 2014, Biel Bourtos' family members immediately reported the incident to the police at Munuki station. It is reported that just one officer arrived to assess the crime, and that he was unprepared, not even carrying a camera to take pictures. He further made comments to the effect that the soldiers may have been from UNMISS (United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan) not the SPLA, and that the police would not be able to do anything about the attack. After taking some eyewitness statements, he informed Biel Bourtos' relatives that they would have to go with him to the Criminal Investigation Department nearby to testify formally. However, the family had become suspicious and fearful of the officer owing to his statements so they refused to go. I am concerned at the attack by state security forces on Biel Bourtos' home, as it appears to be directly targeted against him and his family. I urge the authorities in South Sudan to: Carry out a thorough, impartial and immediate investigation into the break-in at human rights defender Biel Boutros' home with a view to publishing the results and bringing those to justice in accordance with international standards; Immediately implement security measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Biel Boutros, as well as that of his family and his colleagues; Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in South Sudan are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions. Yours sincerely, William Nicholas Gomes Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com Twitter @wnicholasgomes Email: william@williamnicholasgomes.com williamnicholasgomes.com - See more at: http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/24747/action#sthash.jWK1idtE.dpuf

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