Sudanese opposition forces threaten to boycott 2010 elections
August 15, 2009(KHARTOUM) — Sudanese opposition parties threatened on Saturday to boycott the next year elections if a number of law restricting public liberties are not settled before the end of this year.
However, the opposition forces today have demanded the dominant National Congress Party to change a number of laws particularly the security law and criminal procedure law allow security service to prevent public meetings. Also, the Sudanese press is still subjected to harsh censorship.
They threatened to boycott the upcoming elections if Sudanese government keeps preventing them from freely conducting their political activities and campaigning for elections.
In a meeting held in the premises of the Sudanese Congress Party and attended by the leaders of the main opposition forces, Sadiq Al-Mahdi of the Umma party, Ibrahim Nugud of the Communist party, and Hassan Al-Turabi of the Popular Congress Party, the Sudanese opposition forces discussed the political liberties and the next year elections.
The meeting demanded the government to change laws obstructing free political campaigns and freedom of expression in the country and resolved that the President Omer Al-Bashir should suspend immediately articles related to the restriction of public freedoms while that the parliament should change the concerned laws by mid-October.
The opposition coalition which includes some 24 political parties asked the government also to end the six-year conflict in Darfur before the elections in order to allow the crucial participation of the war ravaged region in the general elections.
They also said opposed to the use of census results in determining the geographical constituencies for the purposes of the elections.
Further, the opposition alliance has sent a memorandum to the national elections commission and the political parties’ council calling for a freezing of laws restricting freedoms, and to create a fair mechanism to solve the difference over census results.
Last July, Sudanese opposition parties had expressed their fears that the dominant party, the NCP, could commit voter fraud in 2010 elections and requested the formation of a national government to conduct the first free election expected in February next year.
They also said the current government formed after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) had lost its legitimacy and it is unconstitutional since July 9th.
However the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and its partner Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) dismissed opposition demands.
Further the NCP Secretary for political relations Mohamed Mandour Al-Mahdi warned that the opposition parties can resort to the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutional status of the government.
He warned that the government will deal firmly with opposition parties “who attempt to work outside the law.”
(ST)
Akol Liai Mager
Sudanese opposition forces threaten to boycott 2010 elections
That’s nothing to NIF leaders since all routes lead to Rome.
With elections no elections, NIF leaders only fear SPLM otherwise the results of such elections are already known.
oshay
Sudanese opposition forces threaten to boycott 2010 elections
I hope that the NCP officials relax all laws preventing parties from exercising their democratic right and I also hope the SPLM stops butchering people it disagrees with.
Biliu
Sudanese opposition forces threaten to boycott 2010 elections
This is a one horse run, put your bet or save it!
Any one who thinks Sudan will be a transparent democratic Country is illusionist, we are not different from our neighboring countries where ruling parties remain on power as long as it take or be overthrown by different methods but not an election.
Such an attitude was expecting from the Sudanese opposition parties, abolishing of the restricting rules on freedom and expression will not bring a change to the facts which already set and properly organized, but at least will help the NCP to wash some dirt on the cheek.
Sudan possessing over 27 parties, some referring to that larges number of parties as healthily political aspect, but I think it’s the opposite, such a huge number means there is no common ground where all those minor parties could blend in and form one or two major and effective party, even with current collation, those parties will not bring any political impact to the NCP, boycotting the election would be a smart action if executed, it will save a lot of public funds and cease a lot headache.
tayeb M. Alhassan
Sudanese opposition forces threaten to boycott 2010 elections
Dear old Falks !!
You have to look at the calendar of 1964 and of 2010, sure, you will figure out the change. You may know how many generations had passed and how many new ones have come. This to help you cope to fix your old brains….. old falks
Aketch
Sudanese opposition forces threaten to boycott 2010 elections
If that is true the government is barring other parties from carrying out theirs political rallies which are their due democratic rights then,is that a democratic or totallitarian state?other political parties should be allowed to exercise their politcal campaign in order to qualify. even SPLA party should not be blinded behind the prominent NCP.Citizens will be closly watchful to any ani-democracy activities prior to upcoming elections