Turabi urges support to Sudan’s armed rebels

March 8, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s opposition leader Hassan Al-Turabi has launched a barrage of criticism against the government, and called on his followers to support armed groups seeking to overthrow the regime.

Addressing a conference organized by the students sector of his Popular Congress Party (PCP) in the capital Khartoum on Thursday, Al-Turabi accused the government of devoting public fund to purchases of tanks and weapons to strike oppositionists while giving almost nothing to education and other vital sectors.

He said that the people in the western region of Darfur had no choice but to take up arms after the government killed and displaced thousands of them. He also said that the government did not learn the lesson from South Sudan’s secession.

The PCP leader acknowledged the grievances suffered by southern Sudanese but he expressed confidence that South Sudan will return to unite with Sudan once the current regime is ousted.

“We have spoken to them [southern Sudanese] and we told them we know you have been oppressed but we will come back to you after the revolution,” he said.

He went on to attack the latest campaign by security authorities against dissent and newspapers, saying that the leaders of the regime can’t stomach criticism.

Al-Turabi called on his party’s students as they chanted slogans of regime change to cooperate with other opposition factions and armed groups in order to bring about change. He said he was sure that all carriers of arms will drop them as soon as that change takes place.

The Sudanese government is fighting allied rebel groups in a number of fronts including the border states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan plus Darfur. One of Al-Turabi’s senior aides has been detained since last year on suspicion of cooperating with armed groups.

In January this year, security authorities closed Ray Al-Sha’b newspaper which is affiliated to Al-Turabi’s party. The paper was suspended after it published statements by leaders of the Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)

However, Al-Turabi warned that the regime would not give up easily and that the upcoming revolution could turn Sudan into another Somalia if it is led by “hungry people” rather than students.

Al-Turabi has been the fiercest critic of the government since he was ousted from power following a bitter struggle with president Al-Bashir. He was detained on several occasions ever since.

(ST)