Sudan’s Bashir says NCP bases foiled attempts to stage mass protests

October 29, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir on Saturday hailed the unity of his party in front of what he described as attempts of “infiltration” and “incitement” while expressing confidence that his 22-years old rule is immune from any uprising.

Addressing the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) energising conference in the Sudanese capital, Bashir asserted that his party is not a totalitarian one and did not abandon the principle of Shura (consultation) in all issues relating to the country and its citizens.

Bashir said that the NCP’s truthfulness to its people and handling of their problems made citizens demonstrate in support of the government rather than against it.

“Today people fear facing the public and standing in front of them to talk about their problems and possible resolution. We are servants of the people and came to solve their problems,” he said.

The Sudanese leader said that the NCP bases thwarted attempts to mobilize the people to take the streets and topple the government.

He also mocked opposition parties, saying that they lack democracy from within and urged them to make use of the NCP’s practice.

“We ask the [opposition] parties that advocate democratic transformation to start wit their own because the empty hand has nothing to give,” Bashir said.

“We want them [to be] democratic, Shuriya (consultative) parties to reassure citizens that the leaders believe in their slogans,” he added.

Bashir also acknowledged the economic crisis resulting from loss of oil that resides in the now independent south but said he has no regrets and emphasized that livelihoods of people are determined by god and not from petroleum or gold.

The NCP chief noted that the US, as well as Europe are also facing economic problems.

Sudanese officials have routinely dismissed ay chances of an uprising similar to the ones in Libya, Yemen, and Egypt, claiming that people here enjoy more freedom than these countries.

But lately there have been waves of small protests in different part of Sudan mainly over poor public services and rising food prices. Several attempts by youth groups to call for mass demonstrations have yielded very low turnout and were quickly dispersed by Sudanese security.

The ruling party has also expressed frustration with opposition parties for resisting invitations to join the upcoming government, accusing it of seeking a regime change by force.

Analysts say that the government is under a great deal of duress as a result of an acute economic crisis as well as military conflicts in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

(ST)