Opposition figure calls on Sudanese to keep on struggle for democratic reforms

December 7, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Democratic Unionist Party called today on the Sudanese political forces to continue their struggle in order to achieve full democratic transition in the country.

The call come hours after the ban imposed by the Sudanese authorities in Khartoum for a protest in favor of the passage of bills related to the national security law and referendum.

Ali Mahmoud Hassanein the DUP deputy chairman said in a press release issued today that they had obtained the authorization from the police authorities but the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) decided however to ban the protest for democratic reforms.

He said that today’s repression shows that no free, fair and transparent elections can take place under the rule of the National Congress Party. He added that participating in the upcoming election would only “contribute to give legitimacy to those who do not have legitimacy and contributes to the forgery of the popular will.”

Ali Hassanein who represented his party in Juba conference, urged the opposition parties and the SPLM to implement the resolutions adopted in the capital of southern Sudan last September, which include the boycott of the general election scheduled for April 2010.

Last week, Pagan Amum said they consider taking part in the electoral process and Juba forces would design one candidate for the presidential and coordinate in the legislative election.

The arrest did not include the other political forces but mainly touched the SPLM leaders who speak more about referendum for southern Sudan self-determination. Also President Al-Bashir was keen yesterday to meet with the two main leaders of the opposition DUP and UMMA parties to stress the continuation of dialogue with them on issue of democratic transition.

Only the son of the Islamist leader Hassan Al Tuabi was arrested. Siddig al-Turabi was arrested when Police clashed with the several hundred protesters in Khartoum and Omdurman before the crowds dispersed.

The security forces today arrested the SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum and his deputy for northern Sudan and head of SPLM bloc in the Sudanese parliament.

Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, the head of southern Sudan mission in Washington and chairman of the SPLM in the USA denounced the” unjust detention” of Pagan Amum Okiech and Yasir Arman.

He also said the security forces also arrested “Mayen Dut, Minister of Local Government Khartoum State SPLM, Abdallah Tiyar Kaffi Juma Deptuy Speaker of Khartoum State Parliament SPLM, Malong Majok Yor SPLM MP in the National Assembly.”

(ST)