Political debate in Juba turns into trial on UMMA and PCP leaders
By James Gatdet Dak
September 29, 2009 (JUBA) – A joint special political debate on Monday involving the three main political parties to the Juba conference that discusses the future of Sudan turned into trial when the participants launched accusations against the former leaders of the country.
The debate which was also open to the public to observe included the SPLM, UMMA and PCP political parties.
The forum was organized by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the Southern Sudan parliament and hosted both Mr. Sadiq Al-Mahdi, Chairman of the UMMA party and former Prime Minister of Sudan, and Dr. Hassan Al-Turabi, leader of the Popular Congress Party (PCP) and former Speaker of the National Assembly.
It was chaired by the Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan and Deputy Chairperson of the SPLM, Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
The panel which was supposed to chart the way forward and create harmony between northern and southern political divides witnessed a dramatic turn when Southern Sudanese politicians launched attacks on the former northern Sudanese leaders condemning their past policies against the South.
The heated atmosphere that looked like a trial left both Dr. Al-Turabi and Mr. Al-Mahdi with no any other option but to defend their past actions with less focus on the policies they currently wanted to sell to the people of Southern Sudan.
They both denied any direct responsibility for any negative policies that befell the Sudanese people and particularly in the South during their respective reigns.
Most of the participants that spoke expressed that it would be wise for the political parties’ conference in Juba to focus on their contribution to formulation of a fair referendum law and how to build a future neighborhood relations between North and South Sudan, arguing that the South had already decided to opt for independence.
They also said that it was too late to make unity attractive within the remaining 14 months to the referendum.
Al-Mahdi’s regime fought in the South between 1986 and 1989 which witnessed massacres in the region before it was ousted by the incumbent President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir in a bloodless coup.
Dr. Al-Turabi was believed to be the chief architect of the Islamic ideology pursued by a number of successive regimes in Khartoum including the current one under which he served as the Speaker of the National Assembly before falling a part with Al-Bashir in 1999.
Both leaders are currently heading their respective political parties to the Juba ‘All Sudanese Political Parties’ Conference’ which began on Sunday and expected to end on Wednesday.
(ST)
agetm4real
Political debate in Juba turns into trial on UMMA and PCP leaders
We as southerners have the right to resent those who were in power that killed innocent children and women for the sake of islam… However we need to be quite for the time being, we need to use the same killers who were ruthless against us for our own benefit. We cannot let emotions catch up to us now, we are close to our ultimate freedom…
We can either obtain our independence through the referendum or have complete military victory over the jallabas of khartoum!
Military victory would be the most effective way to have the whole country in our hands…
To those who say that the south cannot govern itself, we will show them how will rule them.
Our victory tht was close in 1991 is still tangeble.. If we remain united and fight a common enemy, which our cousins had betrayed us in 1991… this time should be different, we Should win militarly without any defaults from tribalism!!
oshay
Political debate in Juba turns into trial on UMMA and PCP leaders
Those two idiots Mahdi and Turabi had it coming for thinking they can convince the SPLM of joining forces with them. The dinka SPLM just wants these 14 months to pass quickly to instill their authoritarian rule on all non dinka southerners.
Machar will be assassinated by one of Pagan Amoum’s thugs.
Dinka Boy
Political debate in Juba turns into trial on UMMA and PCP leaders
Sharing ideas is the most important thing.
I have no problem with Northen parties who came to Juba to discussed the Future of Sudan.
SPLM is always there and Citizens are slso present.
No worry.
Critic_Ngueny
Political debate in Juba turns into trial on UMMA and PCP leaders
Dear Dinka Boy,
I really like your argument toward those confused elements in Southern Sudan.You have to deal with them on this website and I am too ready to deafen them with words of most destruction.Dinkas always hit the nail on the head,We don,t beat around the bush.Our yes is always yes.
Critic_Ngueny from Bor town
Critic_Ngueny
Political debate in Juba turns into trial on UMMA and PCP leaders
Dinkamoi,
You have to bark as much as you need but remember,you are going to be my houseboy in 2011.Anyway,a camel keeps on moving when the dog is barking.
Critic_Ngueny from Bor town
Bol akumdit
Political debate in Juba turns into trial on UMMA and PCP leaders
I have watched the debate in my satellites televise base TV, and became speechless watching each party trying to make an argument about making unity attractive . In my opinion Malik Agera and Mayardit deserve full credit for their remarkable counterargument.
Here is one thing Sadike el mahidi and his team don’t understand, we the southerners’ once and for all will continue to maintain the session of reaching self –autonomy without accepting anything less in bargaining . We have lost so much, the last mistake we can do is to go for unity.
Where was this unity idea in 88-89, when Al Turabi calls for Islamic jihad against the southerners? Where was this unity idea at a time when Sudanese government, bloody murder innocent Sudanese citizen in Darfur?
Once and for all Sudan will never be the same country , African in the south and in all marginalizes regions in Sudan, deserve a better government that will restore their African values.
The same Arabs, who used to call black African in Sudan slave, are the same Arabs who want now to call for unity. It is a shame we can even sit down and discuss such topic with the Arab.