Debunking the myth around Turabi – Khalil relationship

By Mahmoud A. Suleiman

June 22, 2008 — Political analysts assert that the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) attack marks the first time that the Darfur conflict has reached Khartoum in decades of conflict between the country’s Arab-dominated rulers and fighters from far-flung regions. The Government of Sudan (GOS) readily claimed that their opponent Hassan al-Turabi, the leader of Popular Congress Party (PCP), maintains links with Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) fighters involved in Saturday 10th May 2008 raid on Omdurman. Al-Turabi denied that he has any links to (JEM). Two days after the Omdurman attack, Hassan al-Turabi and ten of his PCP senior members, were arrested by the regime, though some including al-Turabi were quickly released. Khalil denied any relationship with Hassan al-Turabi or his Popular Congress Party (PCP) asserting that linking him to al -Turabi typifies a form of “condescension to the marginalized” by depicting them as “always in need for someone to plan for them and think on their behalf.” He also said that JEM had fundamental differences with the Popular Congress Party (PCP). Khalil said he has changed his allegiance to the National Islamic Front (NIF) as soon as he “discovered that the regime and its troupe had stolen the people’s food and they were not more than a bandit of thieves who exaggerated [their claim] and manipulated Islam. Al-Turabi was the godfather and a key partner of al-Bashir in the coup that brought the National Islamic Front (NIF) to power in June 1989. The allies soon fell out and al-Turabi was jailed. He was released on the condition that he would stay away from political life.

Despite the efforts exercised by the rebel group Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to prove its independence and lack of any link with the Popular Congress Party (PCP) of al-Turabi, elements in the ruling NCP led by Omer al-Bashir and others of the ilk continue orchestrating this issue in their propaganda machine in an attempt to malign JEM in the gossip columns of several media. Despite mounting and abundant evidence to the contrary, allegations made by the rogue regime go on due to geopolitical agenda to burry its nefarious secret activities and evil practices against the people of Sudan in Darfur. Unfortunately, some quarters in the West and their news media trumpeted the regime’s allegations and rushed in collusion with the Khartoum Junta to pass judgement against JEM based on errors, falsehood, circumstantial evidence and conspiracy theories.

In the quest for clear-sighted and dispassionate pursuit of the truth, JEM affirms that:

– The allegation linking JEM and PCP is based on dubious evidence witnessed by swindlers from the infamous ruling NCP security and intelligence services.

– JEM is an independent freedom fighter for a noble cause aiming at restoring the legitimate rights of the people of Darfur and that of the marginalised majority in Sudan

– Anti-JEM rhetoric based on animosity and geopolitical agenda from some well-known hirelings must cease if real sustainable peace in Darfur is sought.

– The previous association of Dr. Khalil with the Islamist regime of Khartoum must not haunt the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and hold it hostage. In party politics it is not unusual that innumerable politicians move from one party to another in quest for career development or in pursuance of common goals. Dr. Khalil in pursuance of his political aims which would not be achieved by being party in the NIF, he has decided to stand for a more altruistic goal of fighting the corner of the marginalised people of Sudan. Despite their diversity, members of JEM believe in the principles declared in the Manifesto and work to implement studiously.

– In spite of the atrocities endured by the people of Darfur at the hands of the NCP government army and its allied militias, JEM is not calling the region to secede from the rest of the Country, bearing in mind that the people of Darfur retain their right to self-determination, a fundamental principle of human rights law which is an individual and collective right to “freely determine political status and [to] freely pursue economic, social and cultural development.”

– JEM has attracted to its membership people from wide range political spectrum, secular democrat, communist, Ba’thist, liberalist, Umma Party, Democratic Unionist Party as well as individuals belonging to more than 67 tribal groups besides their regional representation countrywide: Southern Sudan, Northern Region, Eastern Region, Central Region, Region of Kordofan and Darfur Region.

– Many of the problems encountered in Sudan over the past fifty years or so are deeply interconnected with abject failure of governance style adopted by the minority Riverain elites, who ruled the country, from the Northern Region (Ashimalyia) with an estimated population of only 5% of Sudanese citizens. JEM has decided to bring about wide range and drastic changes to this abnormal situation.

– JEM believes that Khartoum is the National Capital of Sudan and it is a right of every Sudanese citizen to live in it without any restriction or discrimination. JEM thinks that since all the major decisions that have far reaching impact on the lives of the Sudanese citizens including declaration of war are taken in Khartoum, then the Three Town Capital of Khartoum is not a sacrosanct and can be attacked when injustice become the norm as it is now!

– JEM only targets the Genocidal elements of the ruling NCP in the so-called Government of National Unity (GNU) who continue their campaign of terror in Darfur and killing innocent non-combatant civilians, destroying their livelihood and denying them their rights.

– When the Arabised supremacist elements in the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) accuse JEM as a ‘Military Wing’ for PCP of al-Turabi, they reveal their arrogant and contemptuous attitude towards the marginalised people of Darfur and elsewhere. This clique of racists look at people from regions other than the Northern Riverain region as subordinates who must have a master or guardian with legal right and responsibility of taking care of their affairs. This contemptuous assumption of the NCP and others of their ilk. has denied the rights and opportunities for the marginalised people to prove their potentials and abilities for decades.

– We in Darfur need to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery of inferiority complex that leading lack of confidence and expectation that somebody from the Mars must guide us rather than one of us!

– JEM members strongly regard the late Dr. John Garang is probably the greatest Sudanese politician in history. Garang had a different view of what the problems of Sudan really were, and a clear vision/solution to these problems. Accordingly, JEM continue to reiterate that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) achieved by the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army/M (SPLA/M) is a sole property of the people of the Southern Sudan. The CPA can be taken as a model for what is JEM anticipates as a remedy for the political and governance problems which now stand out as potential threats of disintegration of the country. JEM affirms and guarantees that the CPA will be implemented in full even if the most hated NCP regime goes to the history waste bin. Comrade Silva Kiir will be the president of Sudan in the interim period as stipulated by the Naivasha agreement.

– JEM members think that religion in politics in Sudan has been proved divisive factor in keeping the country united. Sudan is a multi-faith multi-ethnic and multi-cultural nation where citizens of diverse background, Muslims, Christians, animists and agnostic or atheist. Accordingly, a large proportion of members do not condone theocratic government that enacts theonomic laws in Sudan, given the way religion has been immorally exploited by the NIF and its offspring the ruling NCP.

– The people of Sudan in Darfur believe that the NCP will eventually come to the negotiating table to talk with JEM despite its present ad hoc rhetoric. Peace talk will be determined by the International Community which the elements in the regime hate and dread to think of! JEM affirms its readiness to talk for the resolution of the Darfur conflict through serious negotiations. Does the National Congress Party (NCP) know that the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) will have no option other than re-entering the Sudanese National Capital if the ruling military junta in Khartoum chooses not to sit at the negotiating table to resolve the Darfur conflict? A Sixty Four Dollar ($64) Question!

Dr. Mahmoud A. Suleiman is the Deputy Chairman of the General Congress for Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). He can be reached at [email protected]