Sudan’s NCP can accommodate all views: official

October 18, 2013 (KHARTOUM) -The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) have no issues with members who hold dissenting views and as such departing the party is not necessary, a senior official said here today.

Late last month more than 30 NCP leading figures and supporters submitted a public a memo to president Omer Hassan al-Bashir chiding him for his government’s brutal crackdown on calling for reversing the decision to scale back fuel subsidies that triggered the demonstrations across the country.

The economic measures triggered one of the most violent protests that Sudan has seen in many years which activists and right groups say it claimed the lives of hundreds of people. Authorities said that around 70 people were killed.

Bashir established a commission to probe the signatories of the petition that would submit its findings within a week though some of them publicly stated that they refuse to stand before the panel.

Among them was former presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen Al-Attabani who said that the committee has no legal basis and suggested that its formation showed the lack of tolerance within the NCP to dissenting views.

Last week NCP sources told Sudan Tribune that the inquiry will likely be shelved and no disciplinary actions will be taken those who appeared to be challenging the party chair.

Today the head of the NCP external relations bureau Ibrahim Ghandour was quoted by pro-government Ashorooq TV as saying that “loud voices” within the party thinking about leaving should realize that the NCP structures are big enough for all.

“All that is said including criticism and other [talk] within the party is better than the word that emerges outside the framework of the party, and we have to cleanse our souls from suspicion, doubts and mistrust ” Ghandour said.

The NCP official urged party members to maintain internal unity and self-confrontation through performing duties towards the party and the people and reflecting on the meaning of patriotism and sacrifice.

Ghandour also warned that any attempts to change the government will not succeed except through the national reconciliation, participation in governance, or consensus on the principles of national unity and appeal to the people through the ballot box.

“Overthrowing the government will not be done via demonstrations or rebellion,” he said.

(ST)