Sudan’s NCP ready to participate in Juba conference under two conditions
August 28, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan dominant party has put two conditions on its participation in an all-party conference in Juba to discuss national issues including how to make unity attractive and the right to self determination for people of Southern Sudan.
The Sudanese opposition parties — including Umma party, DUP, PCP and Communist party– and the Sudan people’s Liberation Movement are preparing to hold during the upcoming weeks a national conference to discuss the political future of the country from the prespective of next year elections and the 2011 referendum.
The exact date of the meeting is yet to be determined but, the chairman of the preparatory committee, Mr. Mubarak Al-Fadil Al-Mahdi, asserted it would be held before the end of Ramadan, third week of September.
The organization of the meeting is decided after long consultations between the SPLM, and the opposition alliance which accuse the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) of exercising hegemony over wealth and power as well as refusing to amend repressive laws.
Mustafa Osman Ismail, Presidential adviser and NCP Foreign Relations Secretary, linked the ruling party’s participation in Juba conference with the acceptance of two conditions.
The NCP would attend Juba Conference if the organizers associate Sudan’s dominant party to the ongoing preparation for the conference and invite all the political forces and not limit it to specific parties and organizations, said Ismail in a statement issued on Thursday.
He further stressed that they want genuine partnership in the preparation and participation in the debate as well as its outputs instead of taking part in a ready work.
Mandour Al-Mahdi, NCP Secretary for political relations, cautioned in separate remarks against transforming Juba conference to a tribune to pass the agenda of the opposition only.
Last July Sudanese opposition parties challenged the legality of the government after the July 9th date saying that elections were supposed to be held by then in line with CPA provisions. They also called to form a national cabinet before the 2010 general elections expressing fears that the NCP would rig the popular vote.
SPLM spokesperson Yen Mathew in the North, said Sudan’s issues cannot be resolved by the ruling partners alone, stressing the need to involve the other political forces on the national issues.
Also he further said the NCP rejection to attend the conference can be explained by lack of awareness and fear of criticism and attack that it would face if they attend the conference.
While Mubarak Al-Mahdi warned that the NCP would isolate its self if it does not attend the meeting.
(ST)