Sudanese president urges national participation in constitution making

KHARTOUM, May 3, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has urged the country’s political organizations and leaders to cooperate in the writing of the transition constitution.

Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir addresses the national assembly in Khartoum Saturday, Jan. 1, 2005. (AP).

Bashir made his comments in a speech to parliament broadcast live by Sudanese TV 3 May. He particularly thanked the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) for their role in the constitution review process.

He also thanked donors, especially Norway, for giving aid towards the reconstruction of southern Sudan. Bashir said there had been a “great improvement” in the humanitarian situation in Darfur, and that the peace deal for southern Sudan offered a framework for a “fundamental solution”.

The following is an excerpt from Bashir’s speech; subheadings inserted editorially:

Praise be to Almighty Allah, and peace and blessing be upon his Prophet Muhammad and his other messengers.

Dear brother, the honourable Speaker of parliament, honourable members, guest – peace and blessing of Allah be upon you all.

I am pleased to address you in this blessed meeting as your honourable parliament is opening its 9th session exceptionally and in obedience to the need of the country which you are responsible for, after taking a break to attend to the matters of development which we have witnessed and appreciated with gratitude.

We pray to the almighty God to regard you for your work and we also thank you.

After war, new constitution needed

Brother [parliament] Chairman, brothers and sisters who are members – The wishes of the Almighty God have bestowed on you the most noble of all responsibilities in the most crucial period in the history of our nations. Your parliament has had the honour of approving the historic and comprehensive peace agreement, which had put out the decade-long fire of war – that war which the [National] Salvation [Revolution, NSR] inherited after the successive government [in Sudan] could not get a remedy to put out its glowing fire which was destroying the lives and resources. It was upon on the NSR to make effort to get a last solution to build a foundation for peace which relies on the contentment of all the Sudanese people, to realize equitable shares which satisfy all warring parties.

NSR did spare anything in this regard and presented the most noble of all its sons in sacrifice for peace, to safeguard the Sudanese soil and religion. Circumstance has not called for the extension of the life of the honorable parliament in order to allow it to complete what it started of the glorious work which will culminate into the approval of the document of the national transitional constitution, which the work of its preparation started on 30 April by a special review commission. The preparation is being participated in by all political and social circles as well all civil society groups.

The political dialogue which was launched by the [ruling] National Congress [NC] and the Sudan People Liberation Movement/Army [SPLM/A] with the political forces, civil society groups, has borne fruit by bringing about a satisfying equation for all the main seats of the 60 seats which make up the review commission – as per the peace agreement – two rotating members which will make up number of the participating members 180 members which will open room for more representation, more experts which will mean more openness and participation in making a constitutional document based on the current constitution and which will refer the articles of the peace agreement to a constitutional law, texts which prevent contradictions and also safeguard the peace agreement under the currently governing constitutional texts.

Urges new constitution as soon as possible

I salute the political and civil forces which participated in the work of the [review] commission. We renew my call to the other [political] forces to participate in this big national responsibility.

I also express my appreciation, praise to the SPLM/A members over the responsible national spirit which they showed since their arrival in their country to take part in delivering their high national responsibility.

I see with a heart full of satisfaction and enthusiasm that the constitutional review commission will achieve its work and prepare the draft transitional constitution in the earliest time possible and should not go beyond the scheduled time in the context of the peace agreement so that it get time to presented to the judiciary by both parties in the agreement. After that, the role of your esteemed parliament will come to approve the draft constitution to add to the list of its achievement, this historic achievement so that your esteemed assembly will write it on the book of Sudan’s history in golden words. [Passage omitted].

“Good result” of donor conference

Brother Chairman, the honorable brothers and sister members. Our country is passing through a very harsh and dangerous period, but we are comfortable that our people will surpass it peacefully relying on God, having self confidence, mobilizing its local and global resources. All the national, regional and global peace loving forces have joined rank and activated themselves with us to support the peace building process, rebuilding and purification of the environment. Their efforts have culminated in the good result which was achieved during the [recent] donor conference in Oslo, which affirmed the success of what we achieved of peace agreement which will realize peace.

Congratulations to the joint national team from the government and the SPLM/A sides, which prepared the joint national document with the help of the World Bank, which confirms the magnitude of our national capability to absorb the responsibility of building and managing the nation.

Salutations to our friendly country of Norway, which hosted the well-prepared conference. Salutations to all those countries and organizations which greatly pledged financial support. We hope it will be realized as scheduled and transformed into advantageous development projects which will reach all parts of the country. We also hope that this will provide a big portion of development, stability and [political] participation as well as expansion of [government] institutions, increase in resources and healing from all wounds so that Sudan returns to its heyday with its beaming African face, its door for liberation and its bridge to northern and southern corridors as well as with the entire world.

Call for national unity

Brothers and sisters, we are facing a long and tireless national battle which we cannot surpass without collective effort, ironing out of differences and overstepping petty issues so that we collectively confront all sources of problems and as well close all loop holes and make our slogan both in secret and in open Sudan first, second and always. A united Sudan, peacefully and secure in which all its sons are enjoying its resource and hope for its prosperous future should be our endeavour.

“Great improvement” in Darfur

Dear brother Chairman, honorable brothers and sisters. The previous sessions have witnessed various solutions to resolve the Darfur crisis. Its success were seems in the voluntary return of a large number of Internally Displaced Persons [IDPs] to their villages as well as the clear control over the health situation after all the regions affected by the conflicts peacefully surpassed the problems of epidemics with God’s grace and help. Also in this regard, the humanitarian situations particularly in food and shelter have witnessed a great improvement. The face-to-face and the other forms of dialogue have been on and off because of the negative impressions and the unjust pressure by the recent UN Security Council resolution, particularly the resolution 1591 and 1593, which responded to by the mass of our people through their deep political awareness and patriotism which made all [opponent countries] to revisit their positions and stands.

The echo of this nationalistic position [taken by the people of this country] has been reflected in the high standard of your parliamentary debate which was filled with liveliness during your extraordinary session held early this week.

Despite this clouds which will never cover the face of reality, we are anticipating for a peace agreement which will gather the sons of this country at one table of dialogue in the earliest time possible. With the help of the efforts carried out by the African Union [AU] under the leadership of President [Olusegun] Obasanjo, and the welcome political and diplomatic support from the fraternal neighbourhood, particularly Libya, Chad and Egypt and all other fraternals and friends in our African, Arab and Muslim regions. And also other supports which were are given by all honourables in various countries in the world.

Even if the decade-long southern war has now ended with the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement, the articles of that historic peace agreement will represent the general framework of resolving all the problems in our country – first of these problems being the Darfur crisis. This will bring about a fundamental solution, which will end all woes and restore rights of everyone so that all will get the chance to develop and rebuild the country to allow our country to take its position in the nations in terms of security, stability, progress and development.

[Passage omitted on parliament’s plans, government’s development achievements].

Foreign relations “strong”

Brother chairman, honourable brothers and sisters. Our external relations experience growth and progress in all regional and global fields.

Our country will witness and host, God willing, the African Union summit early next year in Khartoum which will come coincidentally with the country’s independence Golden Jubilee celebrations, which will shows a good indication of how strong our relations with our fraternal African neighbourhood. This will be followed by the Arab League summit in Khartoum, which comes to confirm our Arab affiliation. This great events will prepare a good political environment which will boost peace to prepare Sudan to take a leadership role in its African and Arab circles. Also the hosting of African, Pacific and Caribbean summit in Khartoum in the coming year has an great effect in strengthening our country’s relations with this progressing and important international group.

Brother chairman, honorable brothers and sisters. This painful labour which our country is experiencing will in God’s powers go away with the birth of a new country which all its sons and daughters will participate in rebuilding. It will be a country which will symbolize unity in diversity which is the one united Sudan. We have strongly resolved to move forward without hesitation to keep promises, safeguard agreements, do justice and safeguard human rights. With this, we seek the face of Allah, the righteous.

May God help to victory those who stand his cause. He is the most powerful and the most able.

God bless you all.

Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service.