President says “We fought for peace, it is about to be achieved”
BBC Monitoring Middle East
By Sudanese TV
AL-UBAYYID, Nov. 08, 2003 — Amidst massive public attendance from the residents of the Greater Kordofan States [central Sudan], the president of the republic, Staff Lt-Gen Umar al-Bashir, has attended the conclusion of the countries’ festivities on the 14th anniversary of the Popular Defence Forces [PDF] which were organized this year in the capital of the Northern Kordofan State, Al-Ubayyid.
The festivities were attended by a number of ministers and government officials and the governors of Greater Kordofan States.
During the festival, there was a PDF military parade, in which all sectors of the PDF, since its inception, took part, as well as the Mujahidin and Mujahidat [females] of the [three] Greater Kordofan States.
The festival portrayed the progress of the PDF and its successes and its role in supporting the armed forces in defending faith and homeland.
The chairman of the higher committee for the celebrations, Khalid Ma’ruf, explained the achievements of the PDF and its great role in realizing social change.
The general-coordinator of the PDF, Kamal-al-Din Ibrahim, said the holding of the PDF anniversary celebrations was aimed at implementing important activities, concentrating on training and culture. He stressed the importance of the PDF in the post-war period.
The governor of Northern Kordofan State, Ghulam-al-Din Uthman, said his state was promoting peace efforts in the country. He said the massive participation by the people of Kordofan in the festivities confirmed their support for the PDF in the coming period.
The president of the republic, Staff Lt-Gen Umar Hasan Ahmad al- Bashir, saluted the efforts of the PDF and their role in protecting the country’s resources. He reiterated that the PDF’s prospects would still be pursued, noting its role in development and reconstruction in the post-war period. He also touched on the role of the armed forces and PDF up to the current peace period.
[Al-Bashir] The PDF, when we speak about peace, we anticipate peace is coming God willing [applause- God is great]. All of us are for peace. We all want peace. During the war we fought not just for mere fighting, but for peace. What we fought for is about to be achieved. One of the most important achievements of [ruling National] Salvation [Revolution] was the PDF. [Public applause, God is great].”
Meanwhile, during the celebrations, a number of martyrs’ families were honoured in Greater Kordofan States for their efforts of supporting the PDF cause.