Sudan Call forces no longer committed to pre-dialogue meeting: Arman
March 30, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) has denounced Khartoum’s refusal to participate in the national dialogue preparatory meeting, adding that the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) is responsible for its failure.
However, NCP’s political secretary confirmed on Sunday they are not attending this meeting and blamed the AUHIP for not extending an invitation to the dialogue committee. He further stressed they would not take part in such a meeting before the upcoming elections.
SPLM-N secretary general Yasir Arman regretted the cancellation of the meeting and pointed an accusing finger to the NCP and its allied forces, saying they obstructed and impeded the organisation of the pre-dialogue process.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune from Addis Ababa, Arman further said that the “Sudan Call forces are now free from any commitment or any other meeting (with Khartoum) after they fulfilled their pledge to attend the preparatory meeting at any moment before the elections”.
Arman further said that the opposition forces are now reuniting around the other choice of popular intifada as provided in the Sudan Call declaration.
“The Sudan Call documents are consistent with the continuous efforts of the signatory forces to achieve the dismantling of the regime through a comprehensive political solution or its overthrow through popular struggle, alike,” said the text of the political charter.
The SPLM-N secretary and SFR external relations officials said the opposition leaders are consulting now and will make public the details of their position in a statement to be released later.
“We will continue with our people its struggle to topple the regime and mobilise more energies for the unity of the opposition ranks,” he added.
Following a meeting sponsored by the Germen government at the end of February, the Sudan Call forces announced from Berlin their readiness to discuss the requirements and procedures of the dialogue process.
The Berlin declaration was seen as a concession from the opposition because the NCP-led government refuses to create a conducive environment as it is provided the African Union roadmap. Also, the Sudanese government keeps in jail two opposition figures arrested after the signing of the Sudan Call declaration in Addis Ababa last December.
AUHIP mediators didn’t yet issue a statement about the failure of the meeting.
However, Arman said SRF chairman Malik Agar, who arrived in Addis with him and Salah Mana, a leading NUP leading member, will meet AUHIP chief Thabo Mbeki.
He also said they held a series of meetings with American and German delegation in Addis Ababa where they blamed Khartoum for aborting the pre-dialogue meeting.
(ST)