Peace partner urges Sudan president to pardon death sentenced rebels
July 30, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement requested a presidential pardon for rebels who are captured after a raid by the Justice and Equality Movement on the Sudanese capital last May.
On Tuesday, one of the special courts established to try the arrested rebels sentenced eight to death finding them guilty of terrorism. Rebels denounced the unconstitutionality of the verdict.
SPLM Deputy Secretary General for northern Sudan, Yasir Arman, urged the Sudanese president to amnesty and free the condemned rebels and to stop the trials of the others. He termed their release as necessary confidence-building measure.
Arman, who was speaking in a rally to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of Garang’s death held in one of Khartoum suburbs, Haj Youssef, further added that the rebels should be considered as “Prisoners of War” till the signing of a peace deal with their movement.
The SPLM official considered the death sentences could complicate the situation stressing that Bashir has to ignore ratifying the verdict and pay attention only to solve the Darfur crisis.
He also said the SPLM is determined to work with the National Congress Party and the other political forces to adopt a political declaration in order to end the five year crisis, and to build good relations with neighbouring countries, especially Chad and Libya.
Addressing the western diplomats who attended the gathering, Arman said it is necessary for the country to cooperate with the International Criminal Court in order to clear the indictment of the Sudanese president for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
(ST)