Arman says Bashir’s statements demonstrate his determination to kill civilians

May 28, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – SPLM-N secretary general Yasir Arman denounced Bashir remarks where he announced the suspension of talks with the rebel Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) and termed it as a “genocidal statement”.

“The declaration yesterday( Monday) by General Bashir that he is not going to negotiate and that he is going to continue to fight and annihilate the SRF is a genocidal statement whose price has always been paid by the civilian population during the long dictatorship of Bashir”, Arman said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

Arman further called to form an international committee to investigate human rights violations by both sides in Southern and Northern Kordofan.

“Whoever is found committing crimes and war crimes should be held responsible and accountable”, he challenged.

SRF rebels were accused by the government of committing war crimes and violating human rights during their recent attacks in South Kordofan particularly in Abu Kershola. They are also accused of destroying a power station in Um Ruwaba, North Kordfoan.

But Arman refuted the attack on the power station saying it was bombed by the Sudanese warplanes.

The rebel leader also commented on Bashir’s statement where he warned Juba that his government would stop the oil flow though the Sudanese pipeline if they continue their alleged support to the rebel groups.

Bashir’s statement against the South Sudan ” proves again that General Bashir is not for a peaceful settlement within Sudan and neither for peaceful co-existence with South Sudan. This needs to be noted seriously”, stated Arman who is also SRF foreign secretary .

On Monday evening SRF spokesperson, Abu El-Gassim Al-Haj, announced the “tactical withdrawal” of their combatants from Abu Kershola, saying it was decided for humanitarian reasons, as some 16,000 people remained in the town deprived from food after the blockade imposed by the army.

“The SRF Forces, after they completed their first phase of their operation – Plan A, they decided on a tactical withdrawal from Abu Karshula sector in preparation for executing Plan B”, Arman said.

He said that political and armed struggles are entering a new phase, pointing out that the SRF is extending its message to all sectors of Sudanese society to work together for democratisation and to build a new state based on equal citizenship and rule of law.

The SRF always prefers a peaceful transformation that will bring about a change and a paradigm shift towards equal citizenship and ending discrimination, but we have not found a counterpart who is ready to go through this task, he further said.

(ST)