Sudanese parliament to resume work on Monday

December 13, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese parliament will resume work next Monday but the items of the next week agenda do not include the discussion of laws crucial for democratic transition before the 2009 elections.

After 7 days of holidays, the National Assembly announced that the agenda of next week would deal with reports from some ministries and administrations. The most important topics are related to economic projects for 2009 included in a presidential speech, and two reports filled by the ministries of foreign affairs and international cooperation.

Three years after the signing of the peace accords, many laws critical for the democratic transition are not yet reviewed. Last week following a meeting of its political bureau in Juba, the SPLM expressed concern about attempts to end the current session before the revision of laws needed to conduct free and fair elections in the country.

The main partner of the National Congress Party in the national unity government said it would put pressures on the NCP to review laws like National Security Law, Press and Media Law, Code of Criminal Procedure Law
.
The SPLM and the NCP, earlier this month, reached common grounds on the press and media bill but still they disagree on the national security bill.

Southern Sudan Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development Michael Makuei, who is also the chairman of the joint legal committee told reporters on December 2 that the points od disputes are: the appointment of the National Security Service Director, appointment of his deputies, and the power to arrest.

(ST)