{"id":187868,"date":"2013-03-25T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-03-25T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dabangasudan.preview.websight.nl\/umma-party-condemns-official-s-arrest-who-spoke-to-radio-dabanga-s-darfur\/"},"modified":"2013-03-25T22:00:00","modified_gmt":"2013-03-25T22:00:00","slug":"umma-party-condemns-official-s-arrest-who-spoke-to-radio-dabanga-s-darfur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/umma-party-condemns-official-s-arrest-who-spoke-to-radio-dabanga-s-darfur","title":{"rendered":"Umma Party condemns official\u2019s arrest who spoke to Radio Dabanga, S Darfur"},"content":{"rendered":"

The opposition National Umma Party (NUP) condemned the arrest of its state secretary in South Darfur last Friday in the aftermath of a prison break in Buram. Statements Amar Jibril Hamid Ambodi made to Radio Dabanga about the events at the prison are believed to be the cause of his arrest, according to the locality\u2019s party head.<\/p>\n

Last Wednesday night, Buram was overrun by gunmen mounted on horseback and camels who freed dozens of inmates after a firefight at the town\u2019s police station.<\/p>\n

Ambodi, who was in the town at the time of the events, announced the following day what he had witnessed to Radio Dabanga.<\/p>\n

The politician said that what happened was \u201cvery serious\u201d but not the first time Buram witnessed something of the kind. He blamed the state and local authorities, besides the locality\u2019s police chief, for the release of the prisoners.<\/p>\n

\u201cFreedom of opinion violation\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n

National Umma Party, led by Imam Sadiq Al Mahdi, strongly condemned Ambodi\u2019s arrest and said his comments were in line with statements made by the commissioner of Buram locality and of the police.<\/p>\n

According to NUP, the politician\u2019s arrest is \u201cagainst the law and the constitution as it represents a serious violation of freedom of opinion and expression\u201d. The Party demanded Ambodi\u2019s immediate release.<\/p>\n

Dr. Mariam Sadiq Al Mahdi, NUP’s leading figure, told Radio Dabanga the secretary\u2019s arrest \u201crepresents a dangerous new orientation of the government and its security forces against officials of other parties\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe government does not want free media and it does not want anyone else other than its party\u2019s representatives to speak or appear in media. This is a very dangerous new orientation in Darfur\u201d, she declared.<\/p>\n

Al Mahid called upon Darfurians to \u201cspeak loudly about their issues and not to remain silent about injustices and violations\u201d they may be subjected to.<\/p>\n

\u201cSilence means succumbing to death and extinction, which is not at all acceptable\u201d, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201c100 percent true\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Khamis Hamed Tijani, NUP head in Buram locality, asserted the detainee’s statements were \u201c100 percent true\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven if he stays in prison for 100 years, we will not withdraw our comments\u201d, NUP\u2019s head declared.<\/p>\n

Tijani added that Ambodi\u2019s position within the party allows him to express the party\u2019s opinion on all events to the media, not only in Buram or Darfur but in all parts of Sudan. He demanded the secretary’s “immediate” release.<\/p>\n

Photo: Mariam Al Mahid, National Umma Party (alrakoba.net)<\/em><\/p>\n

Related<\/em>: S Darfur police: 17 inmates recaptured after Buram prison break<\/a> (21 March 2013)<\/p>\n

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