Reformists should quit NCP if not committed to its decisions, official says
October 3, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – A key member of Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party’s (NCP) leadership office Mohamed Al-Hassan Al-Amin has called on the reformist groups within the party to commit themselves to its decisions or leave.
Last week, more than two dozen officials from the NCP sent a memo to president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir urging him to reverse recent economic measures and put an end to the bloody crackdown on protesters who took to the streets following the lifting of fuel subsidies.
The memo seen by Sudan Tribune, criticized the cutting of subsidies saying it “harshly” impacted the Sudanese citizens, adding that it was not sent to parliament for approval and was even opposed by sections of the NCP.
“Alternatives [to lifting subsidies] were proposed by individuals, experts and political forces but the substitutes were given no consideration and the government insisted on implementing the measures as they are indifferent to their impact and the extent of citizens’ ability to endure them”, the letter said.
Al-Amin added in a press statement on Wednesday that the reformist move was unacceptable and denounced the way the memo was presented, saying that the opposition and media depicted it as a split within the party.
He pointed that the NCP made true efforts to rally political forces around the austerity measures in order to unify the internal front, denouncing opposing views from within the NCP.
Al-Amin disclosed that all the different positions on the economic measures were examined by the president and the preponderant view was adopted after considering all other options.
“I do not know how the party will deal with this group, but in any case this is an unhealthy phenomenon unhealthy and personally I do not agree with them”, he added.
He further demanded the reformists to apologize for their move and pointed that the NCP is an organized and coherent party which takes its decisions collectively; stressing that existence of divergent views within the party is a healthy phenomenon.
(ST)