JEM: A Statement on National Census in Sudan

JEM: A Statement on National Census in Sudan

28/03/2008: The Secretariat for Foreign Affairs and International Relations, JEM would like to declare JEM’s outright rejection of the planned National Census and Elections scheduled for next year in Sudan.

1. Regime in Sudan is planning to use census and election to create a new demographic realty in accordance with its future strategies to survive and control the country.

2. The Regime has continued its policy of importing foreign elements into Darfur and is now planning to use the census as means whereby IDPs and refugees will be officially banished out of their areas.

3. JEM believes that no legitimate census or election can be undertaken without peace and that going on with these plans will breed more violence and retard future democratic transformation in Sudan.

4. With over 3 million IDPs and refugees and close to two thirds of Darfur’s population outside Sudan, the government must realise that undertaking census and elections at this time is a futile venture. Neither meaningful census nor elections can be carried out in IDP/Refugee camps where freedom does not exist and faith in government staff does not prevail.

5. JEM appeals to all opposition parties and Sudanese people to oppose this Khartoum conspiracy and join JEM in opposing this planned census and election.