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From: John Ashworth <ashwor...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Sep 30, 2013 at 7:57 AM
Subject: [sudan-john-ashworth] Sudan’s September uprising
To: Group <sudan-joh...@googlegroups.com>
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:
mohamed...@gmail.com
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
ashwor...@gmail.com
+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
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From: John Ashworth <ashwor...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Sep 30, 2013 at 7:57 AM
Subject: [sudan-john-ashworth] Sudan’s September uprising
To: Group <sudan-joh...@googlegroups.com>
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:
mohamed...@gmail.com
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
ashwor...@gmail.com
+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
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