Opposition & rebel groups denounce gov’t bloody campaign against protesters
September 25, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Two opposition and rebel forces condemned the use of violence by the Sudanese authorities against the peaceful demonstrations across the country and announced their support to the protesters.
The peaceful protesters chanted slogans against the lift of fuel and basic commodities subsidies and called for regime change.
“The SRF and the SPLM-N condemn the killing of peaceful demonstrators and urge the Sudanese people in Diaspora and the friends of Sudan, civil societies and democratic countries to condemn the Sudan government and urging them to stop killing, torturing and detaining peaceful demonstrators,” said Yasir Arman in a statement released on Wednesday morning.
The SPLM secretary general further reaffirmed their support to the “peaceful uprising” adding it would open a way for a ” democratic peaceful settlement for war issues and building a new society that is based on equal citizenship and democracy”.
Arman who urged their supporters in the different regions to actively participate in the anti-austerity protests was keen in his statement to not mention any intervention or armed support to the demonstration.
However, the SRF spokesperson Abu El-Gasim Imam in a statement issued on Tuesday warned that they would “not stand idly” if the regime continues to wage its bloody campaign against the peaceful demonstrators.
The Sudanese government in the past claimed that rebel groups would use such protest to attack the capital and attack civilians.
The new austerity plan imposed this week is largely unpopular. Reports from the capital Khartoum say it is disapproved even by a large number of the regime supporters.
The government which pledged to increase the salaries of poor people says the “necessary economic measures” are justified by the ” continuing economic sanctions against the peoples of Sudan”.
However opposition parties and rebels accuse the government of using the national resources to fuel its war against the armed groups in Blue Nile, South Kordofan states and Darfur region.
In Khartoum, the National Umma Party (NUP) of Sadiq Al-Mahdi released a statement denouncing the bloody repression of peaceful protesters and announced its support to peaceful demonstration.
“The National Umma Party announces clearly its full rejection of the recent economic decisions lifting the subsidies, and believes that the government want the Sudanese people to shoulder its mistakes in total disregard of the deteriorating situation”, said a statement released following a meeting held on Tuesday evening.
The opposition party further stressed that the current situation proves the economic and political failure of Bashir’s government and renewed its call for a new national regime to realise a comprehensive peace, “full democratic transformation” and to implement an economic reform agreed by all political forces.
Sadiq Al-Mahdi held a series of meetings with the Sudanese president Omer Al-Bashir and reiterated his call for a national roundtable including all the political forces to lay out the basis of a democratic regime and settle the regional conflicts.
(ST)