SPLM distances itself from Canadian diplomat expulsion

September 1, 2007 (LONDON) — The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has said it was not part in the expulsion of Canadian diplomat from Sudan, and denounced it, saying this does not help improve foreign relations and impedes the democratic transition in the country.

SPLM Secretary-General Pagan Amum told “Al-Sharq al-Awsat” that the decision of the foreign ministry to expel the Canadian chargé d’affairs in Khartoum and the director of the American CARE organization was taken without consulting the national unity government’s parties.

He added that this decision gives negative signals about the democratic transition process and pointed out that the stage through which Sudan is going at present needs more stability in order to achieve peace in the country.

Pagan disclosed that the SPLM would raise at the meeting of the joint political committee of the SPLM and the National Congress Party (NCP) today the issues of the continued presence of the armed tribal militias, which are backed by the NCP, in the oil-rich Upper Nile and Unity states.

He stressed that the militias’ presence in these areas is a violation of the security arrangements and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, adding that the SPLM will also raise at the meeting with its partner the issue of the continued detention of students from the SPLM in Coper jail, Khartoum.

He pointed out that statements by NCP leaders that the SPLM’s army detained some members of their party “are pure fabrication, a lie, and an attempt to defame the movement.” He added that the “SPLM will present a list of the names of its detained members at the joint meeting and demand their immediate release or a quick trial for them.”

(ST)