HUDO Centre Date: 4th September 2018 No. H.K/UA/04/018 URGENT ACTION YOUTH ASSOCIATION IN TALODI FACING INJUDICIOUS TRIAL On 5th September 2018, five members of Talodi youth association for development will face a court trial after being arrested for criticizing the use of cyanide in gold mining without taking precautionary measures that had previously caused serious side-effects. Talodi is a town in South Kordufan in a distance of 81 km South East of Kadogli and it’s the capital of Talodi locality. The arrested youth are members of Talodi youth association for development. The association is recognized by the state association registrar. The arrested youth are:   Emam Ali Hussein, 28 years old, Lab technician and the vice president of the association. Elnaeem Abdelmoneim Alnour, 26 years, university student and the secretary of the association. The rest are members;    Shawgei Elamein Kaloul, 30 years, graduate and self-employed. Mahgoub Mahmoud Jegir, 34 years a self-employed. Hamdan Yagoub Azaz, self-employed. On the night of 18th August 2018, soon after 09:00 pm, the five youth were arrested by NISS in Talodi. The arrest came as a result of the statement issued by their association and submitted to the gold mining factory/ company’s management criticizing the use of cyanide without taking the necessary scientific measures. In their statement, they were requesting them to immediately close the factory which is located 15 km from the town and in the middle of the grazing area. The second day of their arrest, a case was opened against them under Article (69 – disturbance of public peace, 77 – public nuisance) of Sudan Criminal Code 1991 and were released on bail. On 3rd September 2018 they were informed to appear before court on 5th September 2018 for the trial. This will not enable them to seek legal support out of Talodi because it’s the rainy season. HUDO calls upon;    Sudan government to take the youth and community concern and to avoid relying on some individuals. Talodi locality authority to value the community interest and their concern as well as to stop intimidating them while demanding their rights. The organization and lawyers to give the case the needed support and coverage. 1