---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: John Ashworth <[email protected]> Date: Mon, Sep 30, 2013 at 7:57 AM Subject: [sudan-john-ashworth] Sudan’s September uprising To: Group <[email protected]>
1. Sudan’s September uprising: what revolutionists need By Mohamed Elshabik September 26, 2013 - The hubris of leadership may yet prove to be the Achilles heel in Sudan where the recent outbreak of demonstrations was triggered by the announcement of oil price increases, deceptively described as ‘cuts to fuel subsidies’. The spark, however, came after the provoking presidential press conference in Khartoum on the 22nd of September. This conference, which was held by the President and not the Minister of Finance, was thought to present brilliant presidential arguments on the economic crisis and the austerity measures his government intends to implement. Instead, the sitting president, who has been in command for 24 years, turned it into a chat-type conference where he told personal stories to an audience of journalists, most of them aligned to his National Congress Party (NCP), who seemed charmed by tales of the president’s bravery and sense of humour. The scattered demonstrations which first began in Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazeera state, have grown and spread geographically to reach Khartoum and other cities in Sudan, along with calls for strikes and civil disobedience. The security forces response to the protests was extreme force with live bullets. It is quite interesting to note the limited use of tear gas in the current and ongoing protests; historically, these are usually the first deterrent used by police forces to disperse demonstrations. Instead, the live bullets used have so far caused the confirmed death of 32 protesters on Tuesday and Wednesday the 24th and 25th of September. Unconfirmed figures reported more than 100 deaths between Wad Madani and Khartoum. The use of live bullets is a sign of who is behind the deadly assaults on civilian protesters: Bashir’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) that was built for such times to be responsible for suppressing any dissent and to protect the ruling party. The number of the death tolls reported in Sudan in those two days provides evidence of how the 80% of Sudan’s budget spend on security forces, is paying dividends for the regime. So far, the protestors have achieved moderate victories; but most importantly, as the fear barrier crumbles, people feel they have nothing to lose, and that a failed, corrupt state is the harvest of 24 years of NCP rule. The people of Sudan have suffered enough from the ruling Islamic party and its president. The failure in running the country has gone far beyond tolerance level, and people in Sudan feel alienated. The struggle now is between the Sudanese and a dictatorship consisting of a president wanted internationally for war crimes in Darfur, and a corrupt party of opportunists who have just extended the president’s mandate as their only possible candidate for the next presidential election in 2015. Protests in Khartoum and other towns and regions throughout Sudan are growing in numbers. The risk is that there is no clear leadership directing the protests. The traditional opposition parties are effectively in alignment with government. One would have thought that they would seize the opportunity to organize, give directions and provide leadership for the volatile crowds in the streets. This has not happened. NCP checks are paying off. Opposition parties are still waiting for the dust to settle to see which side to take. With the current status quo and the absence of clear leadership, the NCP is playing the fear card. Pro-NCP militias are intent on breaking up the protests and are said to be setting fire to petrol stations and to some public and private properties. Their approach is to send a message to the citizens of Khartoum that the choice is between chaos or the NCP, which may be expensive but is a haven of stability. Realizing also the pertinent impact of social media, the government disabled internet facilities sporadically in the first two days of protests. The service is often on for only a short time to enable the NCP to complete their transactions. Activists in Sudan need other options to be able to confront the NCP’s dodgy tactics. The world has long struggled for a solution to Sudan’s apparently intractable problems under NCP rule. Current protests in Khartoum should represent a golden opportunity for a better and more stable future not only for Sudan but for the entire region. Different leadership could bring about the much needed peace with South Sudan and provide a glimmer of hope for Sudan’s other governance problems. ?With the growth of defiance on the streets, protesters and activists in Sudan need protection, media coverage, and international pressure on the Khartoum government to stop killing its people. The ongoing defiance in Khartoum will be fought and won by Sudanese, but the world needs to support these protests with every possible means. Internet connections are vital, and alternative sources are required as intensive media coverage is what the Sudanese rely on. Al Jazeera TV, widely watched in Sudan and in the region, has limited coverage of the protests in Sudan. This does not come as a surprise as the relation between the Islamist junta ruling in Sudan and the Qatri leadership is strong and dynamic. Qatar is seen as one of few remaining allies of the Khartoum regime. An alternative source of media coverage is required. International human rights organizations should watch closely the reports of killings and human right abuses in Khartoum. With no deterrent, security forces in Sudan have shown no mercy in what they are capable of doing. Bashir and his NCP need to be forced to respect the people’s right to protest and make their voices heard. It is high time to help Sudanese break the vicious cycle of violence in Sudan. Mohamed Elshabik is a Sudanese International Social Worker, he publishes his opinions at his blog - http://elshabik.blogspot.com/ - and other Sudanese forums. He can be reached at: [email protected] http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article48214 END1 2. NCP officials call on Sudan’s Bashir to reinstate fuel subsidies and stop killing protestors September 28, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - More than two dozen officials from the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) sent a memo to president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir on Saturday urging him to reverse recent economic measures and put an end to killing of protesters who took to the streets following the lifting of fuel subsidies. On Monday, the Sudanese cabinet formally endorsed a decision that has been circulated the night before by which prices of gasoline and diesel were increased by almost 100%. A gallon of gasoline now costs 21 Sudanese pounds ($4.77 based on official exchange rate) compared to 12.5 pounds ($2.84). Diesel also went from 8 pounds ($1.81) a gallon to 14 pounds ($3.18). Cooking gas cylinders are now are priced at 25 pounds ($5.68) from 15 pounds ($3.40). Violent clashes erupted between the demonstrators and security forces in different parts of the country leading to at least 31 deaths according to official figures and more than a 100 according to activists and opposition. Sudanese authorities said they arrested 600 in connection with the riots and denied using live ammunition against protesters. They accused outside elements of firing at the demonstrators. Today, 31 NCP officials and supporters sent a letter to the Sudanese president including former presidential adviser and ex-head of the NCP parliamentary caucus Ghazi Salah A-Deen Al-Attabani, member of NCP leadership Bureau Hassan Osman Rizk, former member of the 1989 Revolutionary Council and ex-ambassador to Bahrain Salah Karrar, 9 members of the national assembly and other retired members of the military such as Brigadier-general Mohamed Ibrahim Abdel-Jalil who served on Bashir’s security detail and was detained last year in connection with an alleged coup attempt. The memo seen by Sudan Tribune, criticized the subsidies decision saying it "harshly" impacted the Sudanese citizens adding that it was not sent to parliament for approval and was even opposed by sections of the NCP. "Alternatives [to lifting subsidies] were proposed by individuals, experts and political forces but the substitutes were given no consideration and the government insisted on implementing the measures as they are indifferent to their impact and the extent of citizens’ ability to endure them," the letter said. The signatories also asserted that remarks made by Sudanese official to justify the measures were "irritating" to the people with disregard to their feelings. They were likely referring to remarks made by Bashir and his finance minister Ali Mahmood Abdel-Rasool this month in which they said that prior to them coming to power in 1989, Sudanese people did not know what "hot dog" or "pizza" were. The Sudanese president held a two-hour press conference last Sunday which he devoted primarily to defending the move to cut subsidies and reiterated his earlier arguments that most of these subsidies goes into the pockets of the wealthy population at the expense of the poor ones. He gave an example of a house in his neighborhood which has five cars suggesting that this household is not deserving of the subsidies they get when they pump fuel at the station. The memo pointed fingers at the government for violently crushing this week’s protests saying that the demonstrators were not allowed to "peacefully express their views in line with the constitution". "With the lack of opportunities for the peaceful expression, the elements that take advantage of these situations to practice violence prevailed resulting in much destruction and the loss of precious lives between citizens and the police and security forces in clashes which saw the use of live ammunition," the letter read in part. The signatories noted that the 1989 coup led by Bashir came with the pledge of implementing the Islamic Shar’ia laws which prohibits shedding blood and calls for achieving justice among the subjects of the state and securing basic rights including the freedom of belief and expression. "But the package of measures introduced by the government and the subsequent suppression of opponents is far from compassion, justice and the realization of the right to believe and peaceful expression," the letter reads. On Friday, the security service closed the bureaus of UAE-based Al-Arabiya and Sky New Arabic Service television stations, accusing them of false reporting on this week’s events. Al-Sudani and Al-Meghar Al-Siyasi daily newspapers were banned from publication for most of this week. Several other newspapers suspended publication to protest the censorship on coverage of the protests. Journalists of the independent newspaper Al-Sahafa also decided today to resign collectively from the daily for the same reason. The pro-government Al-Intibaha was informed by security services on Saturday that they are suspended indefinitely. Since the beginning of the protests the security services prevented the local press from publishing reports about the demonstrations except from official sources. CALL FOR REFORMS The memo listed a number of reform demands for the country to overcome the current economic and political crisis including • Immediately suspend the economic measures • Assign the economic dossier to a professional national economic team with elements from the various political forces and give them the task of agreeing on a recipe for urgent treatment of the economic crisis within two weeks • The formation of a mechanism for national reconciliation comprised of political forces to deal with the important political issues including the political framework in which the economic crisis can be resolved • Cease censorship on newspapers and the media outlets • Enabling basic freedoms as guaranteed by the constitution, including the freedom to demonstrate peacefully • Conduct impartial investigations on the firing live ammunition at citizens and to punish those responsible • Compensate citizens affected by the murder and sabotage The signatories did not say what their next move will be if the government did not meet their demands. "This is a package of expedited procedures to address the current acute crisis, and there are other necessary but deferred procedures that we will address as events unfold. We advise you to deal with these demands in a wise manner. It is in your hands to ward off the crisis or escalate it" they wrote. "The legitimacy of your rule has never been at stake like it is today" they said in their letter to Bashir. (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article48217 END2 3. Sudan's authorities force closure of country's largest daily newspaper Al-Intibah announces indefinite halt to printing after coming under pressure to depict demonstrators as 'saboteurs' Associated Press theguardian.com, Sunday 29 September 2013 18.59 BST Sudan's largest daily newspaper says authorities have forced it to stop printing, the latest publication to stop the press after coming under pressure to depict demonstrators against the longtime autocratic rule of President Omar al-Bashir as "saboteurs." On Sunday, Al-Intibah's official website said that authorities had ordered the halt indefinitely. It did not elaborate. The paper, the country's largest in terms of circulation, is owned and run by al-Tayab Mustafa, the president's uncle. The closure comes after a week of Sudan's most extensive demonstrations in years, which began as a protest against fuel price hikes. Nearly half of Sudan's population lives below the poverty line. More than 50 people have been killed so far in the security forces' crackdown on the marches, which are turning into the heaviest domestic challenge yet faced by al-Bashir. The Sudanese government has so far been spared the sort of anti-authoritarian popular revolts seen around the Arab world in the past two years. Khartoum governor Abdel-Rahman al-Khidri said the government would start distributing cash to compensate for the fuel prices. The education ministry says schools will remain closed until 20 October. Though he has kept his grip on the regime, al-Bashir has been increasingly beleaguered. The economy has been worsening, especially after South Sudan broke off and became an independent state in 2011, taking Sudan's main oil-producing territory. Armed secessionist groups operate in several parts of the country. And al-Bashir himself, who came to power as head of a military-Islamist regime after a 1989 coup, is wanted by the international criminal court over alleged crimes in Sudan's western region of Darfur. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/29/sudan-al-intibah-daily-newspaper-close-demonstrators END3 4. Sudanese police fires on mourners in Khartoum following funeral September 28, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - Fresh protests have renewed in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum by hundreds of demonstrators on Saturday to express outrage at security authorities for the excessive use violence in the face of protests that broke out this week against rising prices and the government ’s economic policies. The funeral of a pharmacist by the name of Salah Sanhoori who was killed by a bullet to his chest on Thursday night turned into a demonstration that called for the ousting of the regime and freedom and pledged to walk on the path of the deceased. Police and security forces surrounded the funeral procession and people who poured into the 60th street in Khartoum and afterwards fired at mourners injuring one of al-Sanhoori’s siblings who was evacuated to the prestigious Royal Care hospital. Activists on the social media site "Facebook" also mourned the death of artist Musab Al- Mustafa who died of bullet wounds he suffered last Wednesday. Another funeral took place north Khartoum suburb of Shambat for Montasir who was shot to death last Friday that also the chanting of ant government slogans. Protesters came out in the Khartoum suburbs of Burri, Central Market and Soba to protest the economic conditions. Protests also continued in the Umbada suburb in Omdurman during which a military helicopter flew at low altitude. Life in the Sudanese capital came to a standstill with shops closed and heavy security presence in the streets and particularly anti-riot police that wandered the streets. The Sudanese interior ministry announced today that they recorded 33 deaths in the protests but suggested that the number will rise in the coming days as more information flows. Opposition and activists put the death toll at more than a 100. The ministry reiterated its accusations that members of the rebel Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) were behind the killings and sabotage incidents. Yesterday the ministry said that they arrested 600 in connection with the riots who will eventually stand trial. (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article48225 END4 5. Analysis: Will Sudan be the next to have a revolution? By ARIEL BEN SOLOMON 09/29/2013 21:40 Jerusalem Post Sudan is at a tipping point. Since the southern part of the country gained independence in 2011, the country has been in a downward spiral, leading to unrest that at any point could topple President Omar al-Bashir’s regime. Sudan, which has aligned itself with revolutionary Islamic regimes and terrorist groups, maintains close ties with Shi’ite Iran as well as with Sunni Islamist groups such as Hamas. Sudan, which neighbors Libya and Egypt, is being used to smuggle weapons from Libya to the Sinai Peninsula and to the Gaza Strip. It is also being used by Iran to transmit weapons to Hamas. Israel was reported to have bombed an arms factory there in October last year. Prof. Yehudit Ronen of the political science department at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan is an expert on Sudan. She told The Jerusalem Post that Sudan, which is a failed state, is being pushed further toward the abyss as a result of being encircled by failed states, the ongoing, tragic conflict in Darfur as well as the establishment of South Sudan that has cost the state around 75 percent of its oil resources. Its economy, political position and social life have been severely affected and most people are fed up with the regime, Ronen said. The trigger for the current wave of bloody riots was the removal of subsidies on fuel last Sunday, causing prices to almost double for products such as cooking gas and gasoline, which will produce a chain reaction and an increase in the cost of many basic products and services. For example, Ronen says that a gallon of diesel went from 8 Sudan pounds to 14. “Surprisingly, Sudan was not part of the Arab Spring upheavals and it seems now that the riots will not disappear so quickly,” she said, noting that “it is unclear if they will gather momentum and further escalate or, as happened before, the state will brutally and successfully suppress the riots.” As the killing and arrests continue, the people remain in the streets, which Ronen believes is a sign of the deep animosity toward the regime. However, “the regime is definitely not intending to give up power,” she added. Sudanese-Iranian ties have been strong for more than a decade, with the latest evidence of their cooperation coming earlier this month when two Iranian warships docked in Sudan. It was the third such visit in the past year and such activity drew the attention of the Sunni Gulf states, which are in the midst of a regional cold war against Iran. In his new book, Hezbollah: The Global Footprint of Lebanon’s Party of God, Matthew Levitt brings evidence of Hezbollah’s relations with the Sudanese regime. For example, in 2010 Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah offered fighters to help the government deal with unrest in Darfur. Though no evidence exists that the fighters arrived, the governor of Northern Darfur responded positively, saying, “Darfur is a land in which Islam runs deep and we are more than eager to support the Palestinian and Lebanese causes [through] jihad and martyrdom.” In 2010, Khartoum quietly added Hezbollah to its list of terrorist organizations, writes Levitt, pointing out that at the time, Sudan was trying hard “to win Washington’s good graces,” and it is unclear if the designation led to any concrete measures. Backing up the fact that Sudan never really meant to act against Hezbollah, reports this year demonstrate Hezbollah’s support for Bashir’s regime. A report by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies published on Sunday states that sources in the region believe Hezbollah has established permanent bases in Sudan around Khartoum, in Darfur and close to the border with South Sudan. In addition, Iran has dispatched Arabic-speaking Hezbollah trainers to Sudan to train regime-backed militias that could target international forces in Darfur. Furthermore, they would be able to aid Bashir’s forces in any conflict with the South. Lastly, according to the report, such a base could serve as “an ideal launching pad for potential terrorist operations against US targets in the entire region including the Red Sea, the African Horn and provide a sea shore for Iranian activities south of the Suez Canal.” Jonathan Schanzer, vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told the Post on Sunday that without question, Sudan has been a proxy of Iran and has been in bed with groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas. “For that reason Sunni states like Saudi Arabia who have sought to counter Iranian influence would be in favor of toppling the regime,” he said. At the same time, he noted that the Saudis have given aid to Sudan to buy influence. Whether the Gulf states are, or will, actively support the Sudanese opposition and support the protests is not known, but the regime is “brittle,” said Schanzer, adding that US sanctions in place since the 1990s and the international isolation of the regime have taken a toll. http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Analysis-Will-Sudan-be-the-next-to-have-a-revolution-327412 END5 6. There are some pretty horrendous photos of some of the dead and injured from Sudan online. Personally I don't think these pictures add anything to the conversation, but for the record they can be seen at http://www.sndfca.org/crimes/ END6 ______________________ John Ashworth Sudan, South Sudan Advisor [email protected] +254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile) +211 919 695 362 (South Sudan mobile) +27 79 832 8834 (South Africa mobile) +44 750 304 1790 (UK/international) +88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone) PO Box 52002 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya This is a personal e-mail address and the contents do not necessarily reflect the views of any organisation -- -- The content of this message does not necessarily reflect John Ashworth's views. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, John Ashworth is not the author of the content and the source is always cited. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sudan-john-ashworth" group. 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