"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing" By Konstantin Josef Jireček, a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.
Communique from Sudan Revolutionary Front provided by Ali Abdelatif, Office of Secretary General, SPLM-N
SPLM-N USA Press Release provided by Anwar Elhaj
Communiqué of the Sudan Revolutionary Front
The Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) convened its second meeting on 11th November 2011. Senior leaders representing the four founding organizations attended the meeting.
Impelled by our patriotic duties and answering the call of our people for just peace, democracy, equalcitizenship, liberty and decent living standards, we in the Sudan Revolutionary Front are committed to the convergence of both civilpolitical action and armed struggle as the means for achieving these aims. We declare to our people, our friends in neighbouring countries and the world at large, that we have agreed, women and men of one mind, on the following:
1. We affirm our resolve to overthrow the National Congress Party (NCP) regime using all available means, above all, the convergence of civil political action and armed struggle.
2. Our four organizations have added the final signatures to the Kauda Declaration.
3. A High-Level Political Committee has been set up to undertake the day-to-day work, complete the programme and set-up the structures of the Sudan Revolutionary Front. Its members are: Al-rai’h Mahmoud, Abu-Algasim Imam, Ahmed Tugud and Yasir Arman.
4. A Joint High-Level Military Committee has been established to conduct the armed struggle forliberation. It’s first responsibility is to repel the NCP’s vengeful, dry season offensive, which is targeting civilians in war zones, in all the theatres of conflict, including Khartoum, the capital.
5. The meeting agreed on a date for a full meeting of the leadership of the Sudan Revolutionary Front, to be attended by all the Front’s organizations’ leaders to approve the programme, the military and political structures, and appoints the heads of the political and military structures.
6. The High-Level Political Committee has been charged with making contact with all the forces of change working for the overthrow of the regime – political parties and civic organizations – to agree a joint platform and a national consensus for the post-NCP governance arrangements. To that end, the High-Level Political Committee held its inaugural meeting to assess the current political situation in our country, and agree its work schedule for the coming period.
The Committee confirmed that the NCP regime, in spite of its continuous attacks and daily atrocities against the daughters and sons of our people through unending violations of human rights, including war crimes and ethnic cleansing, is presently at its weakest – economically, politically and militarily. The regime is imploding and will vanish, like other corrupt regimes around us that have come to rely on repression to retain power. It has humiliated our people and dismembered our homeland. Should its rule continue, it would lead to further division in Sudan. Those who are keen on the unity and the future well-being of Sudan have no choice other than the overthrow of this regime.
The SRF is calling upon all Sudanese political forces to reject the path of partial political settlement with the NCP regime and adopt a holistic approach for changing the regime’s seat of power in Khartoum. This regime has launched war on Sudanese people in the West, East, South and North, leaving little doubt that the resolution of Sudan’s crisis rests in replacing the Khartoum regime and restructuring the centre of power to the benefit of all the people.
The SRF calls upon all Sudanese, not least, women and youths to join in peaceful, popular resistance and the armed struggle to overthrow the regime.
The SRF calls upon the international community to adopt a clear and definitive position against the policies of the NCP of using food as a weapon and refusing humanitarian relief to the needy.
We direct this call to the friends of our people:
Raise the banner of solidarity! Uphold the right to protect civilians facing air attacks! Uphold the right of the Sudanese people to overthrow dictatorship and achieve democratic change!
Signed:
Yasir Arman- Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement- North
Ahmed Tugud- Justice & Equality Movement
Abu-Algasim Imam- Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (led by Abdel-Wahid Nour)
Al-Rai’h Mahmoud- Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (led by Minni Minnawi)
(SRF/11th November 2011)
Rebel groups agree to work together for regime change in Sudan
November 12, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — Four rebel groups agreed Friday to overthrow the government of the National Congress Party (NCP) and to establish a democratic state based on the voluntary unity and neutrality of religion on political matters.
Rebel forces sit on a vehicle as they guard during the visit of JSR Ibrahim Gambari to Fanga Suk village, in East Jebel Marra (West Darfur), on March 18, 2011 (Reuters)
Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the two main factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur (SLM-AW) and Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) announced the establishment of a new alliance called the Revolutionary Forces Front (RFF).
The statement said that RFF is resolved to bring down the regime of the National Congress Party (NCP) through popular and military means. They also announced their determination to fight the regime in all the Sudan’s regions including the capital Khartoum.
The 11 November text is signed by Abul Gassim Al-Haj for the SLM-AW, Ahmed Tugud for the JEM, Al-Rayah Mahmoud representing the SLM-MM and Yasir Arman for the SPLM-N instead of Ramadan Hassan Nimir, who inked a deal on 7 August.
In August, JEM deputy chairman Ahmed Adam Bakheit who represented his group at the talks did not sign the deal but said the group remained committed to the process. At the time, JEM voiced some reserves over the wording of the document on the issue of separation between religion and politics.
However, November’s version of the deal seems similar to what the SLM groups and SPLM-N announced on 8 September.
Sources close to the talks said the parties felt the need to finalise the political agreement before to engaging in joint military operations. The difference over the language of the text should not hinder the activation of the deal particularly the future Sudanese constitution would be decided in future talks, the sources said.
The joint statement released after the signing of the deal says the four representatives of the rebel groups are the members of a political committee. It was also announced that a military committee is formed to lead the alliance forces but no name was disclosed.
The rebels further said the leaders of their groups will meet soon to endorse formally the institutions of the new alliance and to complete the appointments of the political and military positions.
The Sudanese army recently seized Kurmuk town, last SPLM-N stronghold in southern Blue Nile state where hostilities started last September. The army also repelled yesterday an attack carried out by the rebel group in South Kordofan. It was reported that the regular forces inflicted huge loses on the assailants led by SPLM-N deputy chairman Abdel Aziz el-Hilu.
The situation in Darfur has remained calm for several months. The only development was the return of JEM leader, Khalil Ibrahim from Libya, where he was for more than a year. The government says the rebel leader received military and financial support from Gaddafi before the fall of his regime.
The alliance members called on the Sudanese opposition forces to ’reject the partial settlements and to adopt a comprehensive perspective to change the center of power in Khartoum.’
They also said they will contact ’the Sudanese forces of change that work to overthrow the regime, including political forces and civil society organisations to reach a common platform and a national consensus,” for the post- Bashir’s regime.
The main opposition forces remained insensible to the calls of the rebel groups for military action against the government. However, the ruling party accused the Popular Congress Party of Hassan al-Turabi of supporting the rebel groups.
The International Community called on the government and rebel groups to negotiate a peaceful solution to the conflicts. The South Kordofan and Blue Nile conflicts and the eight year war in Darfur might cause a new war between the north and South Sudan which has been independent since July.
Khartoum accuses Juba of supporting the rebel groups in a proxy war over the control of Abyei area and other disputed border regions. On the other hand Juba accuses Khartoum of backing the rebel groups in the South Sudan to undermine the political stability in the newly independent republic and to re-annex it to the north again.
PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.
