Sudan welcomes ‘the choice’ of the Tunisian people
January 15, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government on Saturday responded to the events in Tunisia by saying that it welcomes the choice of their people.
Moussa said that the foreign ministry is closely monitoring the situation in Tunisia and affirmed that Sudan will maintain brotherly relations with the Tunisian people and will respect its democratic choices.
He further said that the Sudanese embassy stands ready to assist its nationals over there but added that it appears no one was harmed so far.
People in the Arab world including Sudan have been thrilled by the turn of events in Tunisia where more than three weeks of demonstrations managed to topple one of the most ruthless authoritarian regimes in the region.
Opposition movements and human right groups in these countries hope that they could replicate the events and challenge entrenched governments across the Middle East.
Mariam Al-Mahdi, a leading figure in the opposition Umma party and daughter of Sudan’s former prime minister ousted in a coup, said she had mixed feelings about the Tunisian riots: excitement the president was overthrown but sadness that her people haven’t done the same.
Sudan’s President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir, who is wanted on an international indictment for war crimes in the western region of Darfur, faces the division of his country after a vote for southern independence, a rebellion in the west and east, and internal opposition.
“What caused this in Tunisia is so little compared to what we are going through,” Al-Mahdi told the Associated Press. “Our country is being divided; our sovereignty is lost and we are humiliated, and this is happening in Tunisia … I feel ashamed.”
Sudanese people took the streets in 1964 and 1985 and ousted the regimes of military rulers Ibrahim Abboud and Jaafar Nimeiri but some observers have expressed doubt that such a scenario could be repeated again given the weakness of opposition parties and the firm control of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on all state political, security and economic organs.
Attempts to stage demonstrations in Sudan over the last few years have been crushed by authorities.
Last December Al-Mahdi herself suffered multiple fractures in her hand after Sudanese police beat her after besieging the Umma Party HQ. She was treated in Jordan and a surgery was performed on her hand.
However a group of Sudanese youths encouraged by events in Tunisia are hoping to use same technique in the coming weeks.
Reuters said that fresh from this week’s demonstrations against rising prices, young Sudanese are circulating calls on Facebook, Sudanese websites and by text message calling on families to stand outside their houses and light a candle for 30 minutes at 7 p.m. (1600 GMT) every day — starting on Saturday.
“People will stand for one day, two, three, seven – soon it will reach the media … then it will hit the streets and topple this tyrant,” Wail Jabir wrote on Facebook, where more than 400 people have already signed up for the protest.
“This is just a beginning,” another comment said
Students demonstrating against rising food and petrol prices clashed with police on Wednesday and Thursday in three towns in the mostly Arab north, including Khartoum.
(ST)
AAMA
Sudan welcomes ‘the choice’ of the Tunisian people
The Government wants to ride the wave of welcoming the change in Tunisia, while it is the main candidate in the region for the same fate, and, if that happens, then the whole world will be celebrating it and not just the countries in the region. Like Mariam said, what is happening in Sudan is nothing compared to Tunisia and a revolt is imminent, the question is when? and led by who?. Because with all due respect Mrs Mariam, your old school parties have proved to us that they are not fit for leading the Sudanese people to the future they deserve, and their weakness is a direct product of the lake of democracy within them. Today, the people are loyal to ideas and not to individuals as before, so, the old school parties have to exercise democracy within them first and then the people can support them and the volcano can erupt. Otherwise, eventually the people will establish their new parties and ways for change and your old school parties will be extinct.
Offcourse, as in 64 and 85, the trigger will be the south problem and the failed policies by the government, the only difference is that there will be a lot of blood this time and the south will be gone forever which can be a blessing if we learned from its experience or a curse if we didn’t.
Peace.
Deng Magot Riem
Sudan welcomes ‘the choice’ of the Tunisian people
“The Sudanese government welcomes the choice of the Tunisian.” This would be nothing if not rediculous. The Sudanese government failed several times to recognize the call of its citizens within the country, but quickly responded to affairs of the foreign nation. This is nothing other than seeing a “speck in somebody’s eye when you have a log in your own eye.”
just a reminder to foreign affairs minister, Sudan isn’t an arab country, but and African as its name suggest. Though the history has been distorted, it won’t disappear. It will keep on haunting you guys till you realize it.
Lokaku
Sudan welcomes ‘the choice’ of the Tunisian people
The Youth of North Sudan, what are you waiting for? Your fathers did it in 1965 and 1985. It is your turn to do it in 2011. We in the South will support you. We shall also get rid of our tribally based Government in the South once we are independent.
Jada Lotole
Sudan welcomes ‘the choice’ of the Tunisian people
Shame on Sudan governement for thier statement which holds no water at all ! Sudan government has never been able to respect the choice of its people since time imemorial ! Make your house tiddy first before attempting to make other peoples’ houses tiddy you hypocate NCP led governement!