London conference on alternatives to Sudan’s government, Darfur

LONDON, June 26, 2004 (Mathaba) — An important conference being held by Sudanese civil society this evening in London will explore the alternatives to the current Sudan islamist dictatorship regime based in Khartoum.

The leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement, Abdelwahid Nur will also be informing the public about the latest developments in Darfur. Mr Nur is chairman of the main rebel movement which took up arms in defense against the attacks by the government and its allies on the villages of Darfur which resulted in over one million people being displaced.

The United Nations has termed the Darfur situation the worlds current “worst humanitarian disaster” and is planning a visit to the area in the coming week. U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, is also visiting Darfur next week. The London conference is therefore timely as it will be analysing the Sudanese civil society response and expectations from these visits.

Today’s seminar on the alternatives to the current regime in Sudan concludes a series of six meetings which started in February and have been held monthly. Previous sessions analyzed the islamist regime’s policies and programs in the areas of Economy, Foreign Relations, Defense and Security, Social Engineering as well as the Governing System.

The Sudanese Civic Foundation which is hosting the seminar has extended a public invitation to Sudanese civil society as well as all those with an interest in Sudan and Darfur to attend as the session will also include questions and answers and an opportunity to hear the very latest news from Darfur as well as the implications of the visit to Sudan by Kofi Annan and Colin Powell.

The seminar commences at 5pm and the venue is in London at the Wech Community Center in Elgin Avenue, off Harrow Road. The nearest London Underground station is Westbourne Park or by short bus ride from Edgware Road. Directions can also be sought by contacting the organizers on 07903 416 591.