International activists hold vigil over Sudan elections
April 10, 2010 (CAIRO) – Activists from 19 countries on Saturday held a global day of action as part of the ‘Sudan 365’ initiative, which supports the South Sudanese referendum due to take place in 2011.
The global day of action is meant as a way to call on Sudanese parties “to ensure that the upcoming elections do not become a flashpoint for increased violence and human rights abuses,” according to a press release from the activists.
A coalition of groups supports the Sudan 365 initiative including Amnesty International, Arab Coalition for Darfur, Darfur Consortium, Enough Project, FIDH, Human Rights Watch, Italians for Darfur, IKV Pax Christi, Refugees International, Save Darfur Coalition, and members of the Sudan Forum Norway.
The press release claimed that “events are taking place from Mali to Norway, South Africa to Senegal, Jerusalem to Northern Ireland.”
Sudan’s elections are the first that are supposed to be ‘free and fair’ since the current regime came to power in a coup in 1989. The main opposition parties – Umma and SPLM Northern Sector, along with some other factions – are boycotting the vote after surprise decisions last week.
Haggag Nayel, Secretary General of the Arab Coalition for Darfur, said “Arab states must ensure they cannot be perceived as silent actors in the face of the events and the possible threat of violence in Sudan. The role of the Arab League is essential in bridging views between the Sudanese parties, and this role in monitoring the elections is welcome, with high expectations.”
The activists say they will be monitoring the website www.sudanvotemonitor.com, which was launched by Sudanese civil society groups.
“Violations of human rights – particularly restrictions on freedom of assembly and freedom of the press – are threatening prospects for a free, fair and credible vote across Sudan,” said Georgette Gagnon, Africa Director of Human Rights Watch.
In a related development, on Friday, 33 parliamentarians from 12 countries issued a statement expressing their concern about the upcoming elections in Sudan. They said “the building blocks of a free and fair election – from legislation to logistics – are not in place.”
On the other hand, the National Congress Party calls on Sudanese to participate in the elections as a national duty. Nafie Ali Nafie, presidential advisor, last week criticized individuals who “continue to trade on the Darfur case in western countries.” The rest of his remarks indicate that he may have been referring particularly to certain exile-run Darfuri civil society or media initiatives.
(ST)