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2009-12-10 Africa Horn
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Clashes on the Streets of Khartoum
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[Asharq al-Aswat] The confrontation between the ruling National Congress party which is led by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and the Sudanese opposition parties and the SPLM spilled onto the streets of Khartoum last Monday. Clashes also broke out between the police and opposition and SPLM supporters in the city of Omdurman, after police banned an opposition demonstration that intended to march on parliament and hand a letter demanding that the democratization laws be passed quickly to the Sudanese Parliamentary Speaker.
The police detained dozens of demonstrators for several hours including MPs and ministers affiliated to the SPLM. The First Vice President of Sudan and SPLM leader, Salva Kiir, called on the Sudanese people for calm in exercising their constitutional right of freedom of expression and [the right to] peaceful protest, and he denied that his movement is seeking a return to [civil] war. Kiir made these remarks following a telephone conversation with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
The opposition said they would continue the demonstrations in the coming days, and that their ranks would swell to the millions. National Congress officials, on the other hand, insisted that what is happening is an attempt to topple the government by inciting a popular uprising.
General Mohamed al-Hafiz Hassan Attia, Director of the Khartoum State police, said that the police forces "dealt with the political march based on the consideration that it is illegal."
There were conflicting figures surrounding these arrests. Sources that spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat said that around 60 people were arrested in front of parliament in various other locations around the capital, including SPLM Secretary-General Pagan Amum, his deputy Yasir Arman, along with a number of SPLM parliamentary MPs. In addition to this, 22 women, five journalists, and two lawyers were arrested.
A National Congress party official claimed that only 34 people were detained during this incident.
The majority of those who have [political] immunity were released after just a few hours. The police said that they had used their authority to prevent an increase in the size of the crowds in order to avoid a breakdown in security. The police clamed to have used the necessary amount of force [in dealing with the demonstration] and that they arrested a number of those participating in the march, but they were not imprisoned as has been reported in some foreign media.
The opposition parties and the SPLM formed an alliance following the Juba Declaration in October, with all parties agreeing to pressure the Khartoum government to accept democratization.
The demonstrators who were released met at the SPLM headquarters in the Muqrin district in Central Khartoum following their release. SPLM and opposition leaders addressed the crowd that had gathered there following the demonstration.
SPLM Secretary-General Pagan Amum vowed that the demonstrations will continue until the National Congress party responds to their demands. He said "We will put pressure on them to awaken their consciences and hand over power to the people."
The leader of the Islamic Popular National Congress Party, Dr. Hassan al-Turabi was also present. He accused the National Congress party of "stealing the power and wealth of the country." He added "they have no supporters, and they have exploited the poverty stricken police officers and used them against the demonstrators." Al-Turabi told the crowd "we will respond to force with force."
Sources informed Asharq Al-Awsat that the opposition parties met on Monday night in order to evaluate the rally, and to develop a plan to initiate more [political] rallies in the coming days.
Violent clashes occurred between the police and demonstrators outside of parliament, and also in the area around the East Omdurman police station, with demonstrators being subject to police violence. A journalist present at the rally told Asharq Al-Awsat that she was hit in the head by a policeman, and that a number of demonstrators were taken to hospital due to their injuries.
SPLM Secretary-General Pagun Amum claimed that his deputy, Yasir Arman, was beaten whilst in police custody, resulting in him being transferred to hospital for treatment. Amum said that Yasir Arman had been released from hospital, and that he was in "good health."
Yasir Arman described the clampdown on the rally as being "a ridiculous scene that not even the Taliban government would have done." He also confirmed that further rallies will be taking place throughout Sudan.
Meanwhile, Ummah Party member, Dr. Mariam Sadiq al Mahdi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the situation is unfortunate, and that what is happening is a flagrant violation of the interim constitution. She said, "The National Congress party clearly showed that it does not respect the peace agreements and the constitution, and that [it believes] that the entire country belongs to it."
She added "there can be no talk about democratization in light of the National Congress using all elements of the State to suppress the people."
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Posted by Fred 2009-12-10 00:00||
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File under: Govt of Sudan
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Posted by gromky 2009-12-10 22:52||
2009-12-10 22:52||
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