Sudanese police ban opposition symposium
March 24, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s opposition Reform Now Movement (RNM) led by Ghazi Salah al-Din said the police on Tuesday refused to issue it a permission to hold a political symposium in the neighbourhood of Bori within its poll boycott campaign.
RNM leading figure Mahmoud al-Jamal told Sudan Tribune that leader of the movement Ghazi Salah al-Din and the deputy chairman, Hassan Rizq, were supposed to address the symposium in Bori next Monday.
He described the police decision to prevent the event due to security reasons as “lame excuse”, underscoring the government is violating the constitution and the laws.
Al-Jamal said his movement held a symposium in Al-Kalakla superb, south of Khartoum few days ago without causing any security problems.
RNM said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune the one-party government continues to silence and suppresses those who hold contrary opinions while it talks about openness and allowing public freedoms.
The statement denounced what it described as “exclusionary behaviour”, stressing the peaceful nature of its entire political activities.
RNM emphasised the continuation of its poll boycott campaign, saying it met all legal requirements to hold the symposium but the police refused to issue the permission and attributed its decision to “security reasons”.
“They ban our symposium while they open the floodgates to the ruling party to carry out its political activities and exploit the private and official media outlets which constitutes an infringement upon the right of others and violation of the constitution and confiscation of the freedom of expression”, the statement read.
It stressed that holding of political symposiums is a legal and constitutional right, saying the government does not believe in the principle of allowing equal political opportunities.
RNM split from the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in late 2013 over calls for reforms, transparency and democratic changes.
The movement last January decided to suspend participation in the government-led national dialogue until the requirements of a conducive environment are met.
The NCP rejected calls by Sudanese opposition to postpone the general elections scheduled for April until after the national dialogue and formation of a transitional government. Also, the ruling party insists that it is a constitutional requirement that must be met.
(ST)