{"id":186728,"date":"2013-10-29T20:59:00","date_gmt":"2013-10-29T20:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dabangasudan.preview.websight.nl\/sudan-s-opposition-parties-reject-president-al-bashir-s-speech\/"},"modified":"2013-10-29T20:59:00","modified_gmt":"2013-10-29T20:59:00","slug":"sudan-s-opposition-parties-reject-president-al-bashir-s-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/sudan-s-opposition-parties-reject-president-al-bashir-s-speech","title":{"rendered":"Sudan’s opposition parties reject President Al Bashir\u2019s speech"},"content":{"rendered":"

President Omar Al Bashir has announced that the upcoming elections will take place early in 2015. He affirmed the state\u2019s determination to establish a national peace council that will launch political initiatives of national nature in the move toward peace by following-up steps to finalize and implement its obligations through wide political consultations.<\/p>\n

The President also expressed his concerns about the September protests against the price increases, stating that \u201csome thought it was an opportunity to overthrow the regime, by inciting citizens to be disobedient and protest, and by prompting criminal groups to destroy, loot and kill\u201d. He reported that investigations have resulted in criminal charges against 58 demonstrators.<\/p>\n

The National Consensus Forces (NCF, a coalition of all the main opposition parties) have described Al Bashir\u2019s speech to the National Parliament on Tuesday as \u201cbad and not in line with the current circumstances\u201d, calling on the Sudanese to \u201cstand up in order to overthrow the regime\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Spokesman for the NCF, Kamal Omar, told Radio Dabanga that they expected the President in his speech to tackle the crisis of the country at large, saying \u201cSudan is burning, its people are trying to survive in a severe economic crisis\u201d.<\/p>\n

Omar also commented on the President\u2019s description of the peaceful demonstrators as criminals who have to be brought to trial, wondering \u201cwho will prosecute the offender? The real offender is the regime that kills people every day\u201d.<\/p>\n

The NCF also rejects Al Bashir\u2019s call for elections. According to Omar this is an empty call. \u201cAsking the political parties to prepare for elections is a matter of only killing time.\u201d He stressed that political parties cannot enter elections of which the outcomes are already known. Omar explained that the \u201cNational Elections Commission belongs to the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), which controls the money and the civil service. All the laws are tailored to suit the NCP, so no sane political party in Sudan would enter the elections.\u201d<\/p>\n

Regarding Al Bashir\u2019s call to all political parties to join the preparation of the Permanent Constitution, Omar said that all the opposition forces reject the call, stressing that \u201ca constitution is made by the will of the people.\u201d Instead, Omar said, the NCF demands an interim constitution that will resolve the issues of power and governance in Sudan, because \u201cno constitution is prepared in a climate of oppression and war,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is clear that the President wants to prepare the constitution by himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Omar also reacted to the President\u2019s proposal to establish a national peace council: \u201dWe have tried to reach peace through the Doha Agreement (signed in 2011) which is now dead. Manipulated by al Bashir\u2019s regime, this peace deal has brought the people of Darfur only more devastation and murder.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the NCF Spokesman, \u201cthis regime of military generals does not want peace; it never wanted peace because it thrives on war, so it must leave\u201d.<\/p>\n

File photo<\/em><\/p>\n

Related:<\/em><\/p>\n

Rebel movements reject Sudanese President’s speech<\/a> (28 October 2013)<\/p>\n

NCP dissidents announce formation of new political party in Sudan<\/a> (28 October 2013)<\/p>\n

Meeting Sadig El Mahdi with Sudan Revolutionary Front postponed<\/a> (25 October 2013)<\/p>\n

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