Sudanese opposition NDA praises Peace Protocols, sets conditions

ASMARA, July 24, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — The Sudanese opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) praised the peace deal signed between Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/ Army SPLM/A and said it represents a important step towards ending the civil war.

A statement issued by the NDA direction qualified peace agreement as signaling “the end of one era and usher in a period of democratic transformation and consolidation of peace”.

Meanwhile, the NDA said this agreement needs to adopt a series of conditions in order to solve contradictions contained in the deal.

Below the full text of the NDA position over the peace agreement between GoS and SPLM/A signed in June 2004.

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The NDA Position In Respect Of The Peace Protocols

NDA’s Political Option’s For The Forthcoming Period

THE NDA POSITION RELATING TO THE PEACE PROTOCOLS

The NDA acclaims the peace protocols signed between the SPLM/A and the Government of Sudan (GOS) and regards them as an important step towards ending the civil war and addressing the root causes of Sudan’s pandemic crisis. Consequently, they signal the end of one era and usher in a period of democratic transformation and consolidation of peace. The agreement breaks the ground for national reconstruction on new basis and represents a paradigm shift from the different patterns of governance that were pursued since the dawn of independence. The new basis shall be responsive to regional demands within the context of decentralization and popular participation in authority and development. In the meantime they take into consideration balances between the centre and the regions and shall safeguard the country’s unity in diversity: ethnic , religious and cultural. The NDA shall capitalize on the unique opportunity provided by the agreement to address the Sudanese crisis through consolidating and promoting the positive aspects in that agreement, while striving to resolve the contradictions therein. In this regard, the NDA contends that the following conditions need be adopted if the protocols are to be brought to fruition:

First : The Sudanese crisis, given its deep-rooted and overlapping nature (peace, unity , democracy and balanced development), cannot be resolved through an agreement concluded between only two parties, nor can it be dealt with as a by-product of arrangements to end the civil war in South Sudan. In fact this task should be shouldered by all Sudanese political and social forces represented by their various political parties and organizations. Still less, the agreement did not do away with the factors that militate against national unity, and in this connection realizing unity should be the responsibility of all parties in both North and South. Hence, the NDA calls for the presentation of the final agreement concluded by the two parties to a broadly-based forum representing all the Sudanese political forces.

Second: The Sudanese political forces shall endorse a national consensus program to govern the transitional period and which shall be binding to all interim government organs and different political parties. This program shall be anchored on respect of the peace agreement signed between the SPLM/A and the GOS, while in the meantime address the inadequacies of that agreement, particularly the division of the country on religious basis and issues relating to unbalanced political participation in the interim institutions. Pursuant to this program, the NDA shall determine the scope of its participation in the interim organs of government.

Third: The NDA considers it imperative to link the peace agreement to the immediate resolution of the evolving crisis in Darfur in both its humanitarian and political dimensions . The appropriate approach to this problem lies in facing the reality what is happening in Darfur today is a product of the overall Sudanese crisis, which is clearly manifested in ceaseless marginalization of the peripheries, including Darfur. As such the problem is political begging a nationwide political resolution.

Fourth: The GOS shall pledge to put in place all the necessary measures to ensure democratic transformation including guarantees of public liberties, abolishing martial laws and legislation restricting freedoms, lifting the state of emergency, ending press censorship and the ban on political and trades unions activities etc.

Fifth: In the context of the national consensus program called for by the NDA , and in furtherance to the power-sharing protocol signed by the two parties , the NDA emphasizes the importance of creating appropriate and effective mechanism for the rehabilitation of the economy and ending the unbalanced development in the country. In this connection, precedence should be given to the alleviation of the daily suffering in the citizens living conditions. In line with this, the NDA calls for convening a national economic conference during the interim period , provided that its resolutions and recommendations shall be part of the program for the interim period .

Sixth: Addressing the issue of the homeless, displaced and forcibly expatriated with a view to repatriating them to their villages and towns of origin.

Seventh: Addressing the problem of public servants who were arbitrarily and unlawfully dismissed from the civil and military services.

Eighth: Accountability for human rights abuses and economic and administrative corruption committed during the past years.

Ninth: Conducting national reconciliation based on transparency.

THE NDA OPTIONS:

Several cardinal factors shall determine the options to be pursued by the NDA’s in handling the unfolding situation as a result of the agreement:

First: Despite its conclusion of an agreement with the GOS, the SPLM/A is still part and parcel of the NDA and is committed to the struggle to ensure decisive and practical solutions for Sudan’s crisis. In this respect, it is bound by the NDA resolutions in general and Asmara Resolutions on The Fundamental Issues 1995, in particular .

Second : The main condition for achieving democratic transformation and consolidation of peace lies in the NDA’s continued cohesion , unity, common vision and ability to develop its vision, programs and tools of action so as cope up with the evolving situation dictated by the agreement. In this regard , the NDA sets forth a two-fold program of action :

Inside the Sudan: The program shall be based on mobilizing popular forces in order to achieve democratic transformation, support the peace process and render the agreement all-inclusive and accommodating of all groups, including those in the West and the East.

Outside the Sudan: The NDA shall continue to provide all feasible support to the activities of the NDA inside Sudan to follow up, among other things, the envisaged dialogue with the GOS. Afterwards, the NDA shall convoke its Third Congress in the nearest possible time with a view to affirming, as top priority, the unity of the NDA, reflecting on the emerging political situation generated by the peace agreement and overhauling the NDA structures and instruments.

Third: The NDA shall bring all political force to bear in order to realize democratic transformation in the whole country. Nevertheless, its other options (including participation in the interim government) shall be determined by either two possibilities:

The first: If the bilateral nature of the protocols persist and the opportunity for other political forces to debate and endorse them are ruled out, and appropriate mechanisms responsive to inclusiveness and broad-based participation are not afforded.

The second: If all the requirements for democratic transformation are put in place and a common program that shall govern the interim period is agreed upon by all the political forces .

The resolution of this dilemma shall be contingent on two factors:
– 1- The results of the forthcoming round of talks between the SPLM and the GOS
relating to implementation modalities .
– 2- The results of the envisaged negotiations between the NDA and the GOS on the
basis of Jeddah agreement, as well as those of the talks on Darfur crisis .

ASMARA – July 22, 2004