Sudanese opposition can challenge military law before constitutional court: MP
July 20, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – A Sudanese parliamentary official called on the political parties opposed to the amended Sudan’s Armed Forces Act to resort to the justice to challenge the unconstitutionality of the new provisions.
The head of legislation and justice committee in the National Assembly Al-Fadil Haj Suleiman told reporters on Saturday that the text of the amended military law is now awaiting the presidential promulgation.
He further said that the law will come into force within 30 days if the president does not ask the parliament to reconsider it.
He called on the opposition forces to resort to the Constitutional Court to challenge it, should they find that the new dispositions of the military law violate the constitutionally established rights and freedoms.
The Member of the Parliament was reacting to the recent calls by opposition parties and right groups that urged president Omer Al-Bashir to return SAF Act to the parliament arguing that the amended law allows military court to prosecute civilians on several crimes normally are prosecuted by the civilians court.
The new amendments extend the attribution of the military courts to include deserting military service, harbouring a fugitive, disclosing military information, using military uniforms, undermining the constitutional order, inciting war against the state, dealing with an enemy state, spying on the state and allowing escape of prisoners of war among others.
Rights groups said these dispositions conflict with the international human rights standards.
However, the Sudanese defence minister Abdel Rahim Hussein pressed the hesitant lawmakers earlier this month to approve the amended law saying similar texts are included in American, British laws.
He further argued that this news disposition will help bolster security and the army grip over the country, citing activities of rebel groups in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.
(ST)