DATE=12/24/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=SUDAN EMERGENCY / RECONCILIATION, PART 2 OF 3
NUMBER=5-45115
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=KHARTOUM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// EDS: Second in a series of three backgrounders on
the situation in Sudan. Note opt leadout at end of
script to promo third part in the series ///
INTRO: On December 12, Sudanese President Omar al-
Bashir dissolved parliament and imposed a three-month
state of emergency. He says he acted with the support
of the military to end a power struggle with the
country's influential speaker of parliament, Hassan
al-Turabi. The situation has created fears of
political instability in Africa's largest nation. But
many politicians in Sudan say the emergency also has
created an opportunity for reconciliation after years
of civil war. V-O-A Correspondent Scott Bobb
discussed the prospects for political reconciliation
between government and opposition leaders in Khartoum
recently and has this report.
TEXT: The split in the leadership of the government
of Sudan is being seen primarily as a power struggle
between President Omar al-Bashir and the powerful
speaker of parliament, Hassan al-Turabi.
But Sudan's Information Minister, Ghazi Salah Eldin,
says the emergency measures were taken because the
fight with Mr. Turabi was diverting attention from the
main priority of the Sudanese government as it
prepares for parliamentary elections. He says the
priority is reconciliation with the opposition.
/// SALAH ELDIN ACT ///
Our main priority is to speed up the
negotiations with the opposition parties, after
the state of emergency is finished in three
months' time, prepare for the elections,
hopefully a real multi-party elections. This is
our priority at the moment.
/// END ACT.///
Ironically, Mr. Turabi says despite his conflict with
the president, he also supports opening up the system
to opposition parties.
/// TURABI ACT.///
We prefer the elections with the competing
opposition parties coming into the country, so
that the elections will be genuine competitive
elections and not just, just a form (formality).
///END ACT.///
Mr. Turabi's critics contend he says he advocates
democratization, but actually wants to retain power
through the National Congress and a network of local
bases built up over the years.
Mr. Turabi heads the National Islamic Front, which was
behind the military coup 10 years ago that brought the
Bashir government to power and made Sudan into an
Islamist state. Political parties were banned and the
National Congress was created as the sole political
party organ. Amid rising dissatisfaction with the
single-party state, a new constitution was passed last
year allowing opposition parties to register, but with
tight government controls. The opposition boycotted
the process and said the only solution was to
overthrow the Bashir government.
The leader of the internal wing of the opposition
Democratic Unionist Party, Sid Ahmed al-Hussein, says
the emergency is a good move because it might open up
the system.
/// HUSSEIN ACT ///
It is a step forward. And we are encouraging
Bashir without saying we are with you. No, no.
We are saying the right course to follow is to
give more democracy, is to lift the ban on the
political parties, is to make the freedom and
the multi-party system move ahead.
///END ACT.///
/// OPT ///
One of the most outspoken human rights leaders in
Sudan, Hazi Souleiman, welcomes the offer of
democratization, but says the priority of the Bashir
government should be to end to Sudan's 16-year civil
war.
/// SOULEIMAN ACT ///
He should bring peace to southern Sudan. There
are thousands and millions of Sudanese dying
every year there. Without peace in southern
Sudan, there will be no stability in this part
of Africa.
/// END ACT.///
/// END OPT ///
There are obstacles. Opposition leaders say a lasting
peace can only be reached if it is negotiated by a
broad-based government that includes the opposition.
They say this means the government first must forge a
national reconciliation and hold multi-party
elections. Many say the only way out is to organize a
national conference of all the parties to iron out
(settle) their differences and chart a future course.
/// OPT.///
The head of the communications department of Khartoum
University, political analyst Al-Tayeb Ateya, says the
crisis within the government forebodes more disputes
and more in-fighting. As a result, he says a
conference designed to achieve national reconciliation
must be well prepared if it is to succeed.
/// ATEYA ACT ///
Everybody talks about reconciliation culminating
into a national conference. But from here to the
national conference, what's going to happen? It
seems nobody is giving much attention to that.
And this is the reason why many conflicts will
arise. Within the government they are arising
now, but they will also arise within other
quarters, within the opposition itself.
///END ACT ///
The various parties last September agreed to form a
committee to set the time, place and agenda for a
national conference. But three months later that
committee has yet to be formed.
/// END OPT ///
The leader of a southern rebel group that made a
separate peace and joined the government,
Transportation Minister Lam Akol, says time is of the
essence.
/// AKOL ACT ///
There is an opportunity that has presented
itself. Both the government and the opposition
are now more ready than at any other time before
to talk to each other.
/// END ACT ///
A group of East African leaders is trying to mediate
an end to the conflict with the southern rebels. The
leaders of Egypt and Libya also have launched a
mediation effort. And many Sudanese politicians have
embarked on their own initiatives. As a result,
mediation efforts appear as fractured as Sudan's
political parties.
The Sudanese government says if it is unable to
convene a national conference, it will negotiate
directly with as many opposition leaders as possible
to amend the constitution and hold elections. It says
it cannot wait very long, however, because people want
change after years of frustration over corruption,
economic decline and the never-ending civil war.
(SIGNED)
/// Opt /// Political analysts say the recent crisis
in the Sudanese government has created an opportunity
to forge a peace agreement with rebels in southern
Sudan. V-O-A Correspondent Scott Bobb takes a look at
the prospects and obstacles to peace in the final part
of his series. /// End Opt ///
NEB/SB/GE/JP
24-Dec-1999 10:50 AM EDT (24-Dec-1999 1550 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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