Sudanese opposition forces to organize demos over Darfur
Nov 10, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — Opposition political parties and forces are intending to organize a large demonstration in Khartoum to present a petition to the government and draw the international community’s attention to the necessity of exerting pressure on all sides to speed up the resolution of the Darfur problem and resolve the humanitarian situation there.
The Sudanese al-Khabar newspaper said, the demonstration, which is expected to be organized within the next few days, is due to coincide with sit-ins in other Sudanese state capitals and in front of Sudanese embassies abroad. Their aim is to send a clear signal to the world that the situation in Darfur cannot bare further delays and that it is necessary to find radical solutions to protect Darfur’s citizens after the AU had failed in this regard.
During a meeting to discuss the Darfur problem organized by the opposition Ummah Party, representatives of opposition parties and forums said the crisis had become more complicated and called for the unification of Darfur citizens. They said they considered it was a political problem which meant all sides needed to adopt a constructive debate approach in order to resolve it.
They further called on the international community to have a more active role in the protection of Darfur citizens after the AU had proven it’s weakness in carrying out its duties. Those attending the meeting recommended it was necessary to reach solutions to security, administrative and humanitarian issues.
Leader of the opposition Ummah party, al-Sadiq al-Mahdi described the Abuja talks between the government and Darfur rebels as futile saying that even if it came up with solutions they would be ineffective. He further described all the initiatives the government said were national as pointless exercises adding that he was calling for the creation of a project based on the demands of Darfur citizens in order to resolve the problem.
The meeting was attended by head of the sons of Darfur forum, Lt- Gen Ibrahim Suleiman, political secretary of the Popular Congress party, Bashir Adam Rahmah, spokesman for the Communist Party, Yousif Hussein and representatives of Baath party, the Darfur lawyers association and voluntary organizations in addition to the UN representative to Sudan.
(ST)