Opposition NUP denounces security interference in Sudan’s political affairs
April 6, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s opposition National Umma Party (NUP) has announced categorical rejection to the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) interference in the affairs of political parties.
The security service was referring to the Paris Declaration of 8 August and the Sudan Call includes also the opposition alliance National Consensus Forces and the civil society groups .
NISS pointed that these political agreements call for dismantling the one-party state and mobilising all forces “to change the existing constitutional order in the country that carries a military aspect”.
However, the PPAC, on Sunday, rejected NISS’s request, saying it must be proven that the NUP had effectively violated the constitution as it claimed by the NISS.
In a statement issued on Monday, the NUP welcomed the PPAC decision to reject NISS’s request under article 19 of the Political Parties Act of 2007, announcing absolute refusal for the NISS encroachment on the political process and its attempts to intimidate and domesticate political parties.
The statement denounced the recent constitutional amendments which “legitimised encroachment of the NISS on the constitutional functions and tasks of the state’s agencies” including taking over duties of the justice ministry in representing the state before the courts as it was mentioned in the PPAC’s decision.
“[NISS also took over] the executive functions of the police besides formation of regular armed forces, the role which confined to the Sudanese army since independence,” the statement read.
The statement said the PPAC could transfer NISS’s request to the constitutional court if a court sentence verified that the “Sudan Call” violated the constitution.
“This effectively means that the fate of the NUP is linked to the court decision on the case of [opposition leaders] Farouk Abu Issa and Amin Meki Madani who are currently being tried for signing the “Sudan Call”.
Abu Issa who chairs the opposition National Consensus Forces (NCF) and Amin Mekki Medani, chairman of the alliance of the Sudanese Civil Society Organisations, have been detained since the 6 December 2014 after being signatories to the “Sudan Call”.
They are currently being tried before a special terrorism court set up by the chief justice according to the provision of the Terrorism Act on the grounds that charges filed against them include terrorism charges.
The NUP considered the PPAS’s decision a reflection for the lack of freedoms in Sudan including freedom of association and political action, saying the upcoming “comical” and “bogus” elections is nothing but a waste of time and resources.
Sudan’s parliamentary and presidential elections, which are boycott by all the opposition parties, are scheduled for 13 April.
The largest opposition party renewed its adherence to the “Sudan Call”, saying it is also committed to work towards implementing the agreed upon programs, visions and mechanisms to achieve the just and comprehensive peace, full democratic transformation and the state of equal citizenship.
The NUP was among the first political forces calling for an inclusive dialogue process including the rebel groups to end war and adopt constitutional reforms. However it suspended its participation in the national dialogue following the arrest of its leader in May 2014 by NISS agents.
(ST)