SRF rebels say “comprehensive” solution requires regime change
June 1, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The leadership bureau of the Sudanese Revolutionary Forces (SRF), a coalition of armed rebel groups, has held its third meeting and issued a communiqué renewing commitment to a “comprehensive” approach to achieving regime change.
The alliance’s stated goal is to topple the government of President Omer Al-Bashir in Khartoum through a mix of armed struggle in the peripheries and creation of mass civil unrest in the centre.
In a communiqué issued on Friday, the SRF said that its leadership bureau held its third meeting from 28 May to 1 June and conducted an assessment of the current political situation. The communiqué omitted to mention where the meeting was held but said it was attended by the SRF’s chairman, Malik Aggar, and his deputies as well as other members of the leadership bureau.
The communiqué launched renewed criticism against the policies of the Sudanese government and stressed that the only way to end Sudan’s current malaise is to topple the regime.
The communiqué also accused the government in Khartoum of starving refugee population in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan as well as using internationally-prohibited weapons against civilians in these areas.
SRF called on the international community to assume its duty of protecting civilians in these regions from “a regime whose leaders are wanted for crimes against humanity and war crimes” by the same international community.
SRF also said that lasting and holistic change in Sudan must come form a national consensus and lead to changing the regime, not joining it.
The communiqué said that the roadmap to change should include the creation of conditions such as a transitional period, a constitutional conference and the conduct of population census and free elections under the monitoring of the international community.
The rebels said they “welcome” the UN Security Council’s resolution number 2046, which ordered Sudan and neighbouring South Sudan to end hostilities and return to negotiations. The resolution also instructed Khartoum and the SPLM-N to “cooperate” in order to find a solution to the conflict in Blue Nile and South Kordofan.
SPLM-N secretary-general Yasir Arman told Sudan Tribune in an interview earlier this month that his group was “ready” to enter into negotiations with Khartoum despite SRF demands for “comprehensive” talks and solutions
The SLM-AW, which is part of the SRF, refuses any talks with the government and insists on using armed struggle to topple the government.
(ST)