Major powers accused of using democracy as means for modern colonialism

October 24, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s former presidential assistant, Nafie Ali Nafie, on Friday accused the major powers of using democracy as a tool for modern colonialism saying they seek to weaken third world countries through slogans of personal liberties and freedom of press.

Nafie, who is also the secretary general of the African political parties, said in a lecture on the sidelines of the 4th convention of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), that the major challenges facing democracy lie in the misuse of the concept of liberties by domestic and foreign powers.

He stressed that big powers use democracy as means for modern colonization, pointing the western countries repeatedly call for allowing personal and press freedoms in the third world while they build secret prisons in their own countries.

Nafie reiterated that Africans are proud of their view of democracy, pointing to the double standards applied by the West to exploit and destroy third world countries.

He added that consolidation of democratic practices within political parties need deep and extensive discussion, emphasizing that democracy is an important tool for establishing strong and effective parties as well as means for cooperation among political parties and with the civil society.

The NCP leading figure, al-Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed, for his part, said the universal declaration of human rights did not mention democracy, adding that African nations adopted a charter on democracy in 2007.

He said that political pluralism exist in 42 countries including 7 Arab states and 8 countries in East Asia and the pacific, pointing to differing views on the relation between democracy and political pluralism and the need for democracy besides the localization of democracy.

NCP AND DEMOCRACY

Meanwhile, Sudan’s vice president and head of the NCP political sector, Hassabo Mohamed Abdel-Rahamn, said his party seeks to promote various political values including freedom, democracy, justice, rule of law and agreement among political parties in order to establish a healthy democratic regime far from partisanship, tribalism and regionalism.

He underscored his party’s adherence to the principle of accountability, saying that organisational commitment is an important component of the party action.

Abdel-Rahman called for the need to strengthen media institutions at the party and state levels, pointing to the importance of achieving the necessary balance between freedom and responsibility.

He emphasised that the NCP is committed to practice Shura (consultation) and democracy within its institutions, pointing that the reform document sought to achieve goals of party members.

The vice-president further said the NCP General Convention aims to evaluate the experience through identifying the pros and cons, stressing they opted for dialogue as an approach to remove causes of weakness, tribal conflicts and regionalism.

The four-day meeting is expected to conclude its works on Saturday by the adoption of a political platform eh the coming five years and the endorsement of president Omer al-Bashir as its candidate for the president elections.

(ST)