| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
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S U D A N : N E W S & V I E W S
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Issue No 1 25 April 1994
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+ Sudan: News & Views is a fortnightly Electronic Newsletter. +
+ Questions and comments can be sent to yasin@gn.apc.org or to fax +
+ number +44-81-905 0057. +
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* FOREIGN MINISTER ON HUMAN RIGHTS
The following is a translation of part of an interview with Dr. Hussain
Abu Salih, the Sudanese Foreign Minister, published in Al-Khartoum
newspaper on Sunday 3 April 1994:
Q:
It seems that the involvement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
the issue of human rights in Sudan is very limited. The government
has dealt with it as a purely legal issue left to the Attorney General
to tackle.
Abu Salih:
No.. there is no sensitivity here. Everybody who can contribute in this
matter is welcome. We have not abandoned our duty. We have a legal
administration which is dealing with this matter. We have left this
matter to the justice and judiciary systems because they are more
capable of defense. I, for example, is convinced that the Islamic system
is the best system for human rights in the world, but I might not be
able to explain this to the world. I am not articulate, but lawyers are.
Q:
But is the issue here a theoretical debate on human rights in Islam or
is it about certain practices and violations in Sudan?
Abu Salih:
All..All. Comparing our record with that of Israel and America, we are
angels. Our record is far better. There is no one without mistakes, but
we cannot be compared with America or Israel. This issue is only for
political pressure. We will not discuss this matter anymore because it
is nonsense.
Q:
But the Sudanese people who raise this issue do not compare between
Sudan and America or Israel.They compare between Sudan and Sudan,
because these practices are new to Sudan and has not been experienced
before, throughout the history of Sudan.
Abu Salih:
There are a lot of lies created by the opposition. Do not draw me into
talking about the Opposition. I do not want to talk about these people
who have dishonored Sudan and its people more than anybody else. Please
pardon me, I don't want to talk about them.
Q:
What about the extension of the mandate of Caspar Biro as a Special
Rapporteur for human rights in Sudan and ....?
Abu Salih:
[interrupting] ..Look, this Biro will never set foot in Sudan again.
From now on, he is not going to enter Sudan. He is a kid with little
legal experience. I think the biggest mistake committed by the
government of Sudan is to accept this little kid to come and investigate
us. It is our mistake.
* MINISTER OF JUSTICE ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Abdel Aziz Shiddu, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, in a
local statement has admitted that practices by the security services
has tarnished Sudan's image abroad. He said that it is important for
the Salvation Revolution to abandon its policies of intimidation and
harassment of its citizens by arrest, ill-treatment and other excesses.
He mentioned, as examples of these excesses, the killing of engineer
El-Rasikh and another person in Sinja, in central Sudan, by security
officers. He added that these practices has harmed Sudan's image and
helped in its further regional and international isolation. [source: Al-
Khartoum newspaper 28 March 1994]
* HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT KILLED BY SECURITY OFFICER
Ahmed Hassan Sa'ad, a third year student in Ali El-Sayed Secondary
School in Al-Sahafa - Khartoum, was shot by a security officer in front
of his colleagues on Wednesday 30 March 1994. He died, three hours
later, in the hospital. He was attending a student's political debate,
when he was asked by a security officer to accompany him. When the
student refused, the officer took out his gun and shot him. The killer
joined one of the security services after leaving the same school two
years ago. The student's father, a water engineer, was later visited by
tow people, who introduced themselves as members of the security
service, and offered their apologies for their colleagues action. The
authorities issued a statement denying any political reason for the
killing.
* PRESIDENT FORBIDS CONTACT WITH US AMBASSADOR
Lt. Gen. Omar Hassan Al-Bashir, President of Sudan, has, on 13 April
1994, issued instructions forbidding any contact from anybody with the
US Ambassador in Khartoum. He accused the Ambassador of meddling in
Sudan's internal affairs.
* DISAPPEARANCE OF MARTIN MALWAL
The whereabouts of Col. (ret.) Martin Malwal Arop, an ex-member of the
Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation, are not known and
is feared arrested by the security forces. On 2 April 1994, Martin's
house was besieged by the security forces and his telephone line
disconnected. This action follows the arrest, a few days ago, of a
number of people, originally from Rumbeik in Southern Sudan, from
Martin's house who happened to have a family gathering. The authorities
had accused them of holding a political meeting.
* EX-VICE CHANCELLOR ATTACKS GOVERNMENT EDUCATION POLICY
Prof. Mamoun Humaida, a committed NIF member and previous Vice
Chancellor of the University of Khartoum, attacked the government's
policy on higher education. He said that what is called the 'higher
education revolution' is in reality a tool to destroy the nation's
inheritance of well-established and outstanding universities and
higher-education institutes. He attributed the failure of these
policies to the monopoly of decision-making and the lack of
consultation with the academic institutes. He also talked about the
deteriorating status and living conditions of the academic staff. The
salary of a university professor is now LS23,112 (Sudanese Pound) a
month [equivalent to $30/month at the current rate of exchange]. He
pointed out that 105 staff members had left the University of Khartoum
in the last two years; 50 of them during the period September 1993 to
February 1994. These included the whole staff of the Accountancy
Department in the Business Administration School. He added that "If the
immigration of the university staff members continues at this rate, we
might have to consider using final year students to teach their fellow
students in lower classes". He also said that universities now lack
books, laboratories and other teaching facilities. He gave an example
of Omdurman Islamic University where medical students receive only
theoretical lectures and have not done a single practical lesson. He
expressed fear that the Medical Council might not recognise these
Degrees and the graduates of these universities might not be able to
practice medicine.
* STUDENTS REBELLION AGAINST ILL-TREATMENT IN PDF CAMPS
Seven hundred students receiving Popular Defense Force's military
training have rebelled against the bad treatment they receive in El-
Markhiyat camp - in the outskirts of Omdurman. The students walked out
of the camp and staged a demonstration in Omdurman city. The Minister of
Higher Education, Prof. Ibrahim Ahmed Omer, had warned that the
students will lose their places in the universities if they fail to
return immediately to the training camp. He stressed that this training
is a pre-requisite for joining any university or higher-education
institute in Sudan. It is intended to teach the students discipline and
the values of Jihad. Many students expressed their unwilling to go back
unless they receive guarantees of better treatment and improved
conditions, even if this meant their dismissal from the university.
* SUDAN AIRWAYS PLANE HIJACKED
A Sudanese citizen, Adil Mahgoub Hussain, 26, has hijacked a Sudan
Airways plane (Boeing 737) in an internal flight from Khartoum to
Dongola in Northern Sudan on 6 April 1994. The plane which was carrying
93 passengers and 6 crew, was forced to fly to Egypt. The Egyptian
authorities directed the plane to Aluqsor airport where the hijacker
gave himself up to the Egyptian police and demanded political asylum in
Egypt.The plane and its passengers returned safely to Sudan.
* PRESIDENT DOESN'T READ PAPERS OR WATCH TV
In a television interview, President Omar Al-Bashir said that he
doesn't find the time to read the newspapers or watch television. The
only time he watches TV, he said, is on Friday morning when he watches
the Children's program. He commended the children's program and said
that it is the only program he enjoys watching.
* SUDANESE ECONOMY NEAR COLLAPSE?
The Minister of Finance, this month, has declared an increase of 87.5%
in petrol prices from LS400/gallon to LS750/gallon. This is the sixth
such increase in the last five years. It increased from LS10/gal in 1989
to LS12/gal in 1990, LS110/gal in 1991, LS150/gal in 1992, LS400/gal in
1993 and LS750/gal in 1994. In a statement to the Economic Committee in
the government-appointed National Assembly, the Minister showed the
extent of the economic crisis by telling the Committee that petrol
imports cost US$28.5 million per month while earnings of all the
country's exports are US$12 million. He also told the Committee that
the government's budget deficit in the first half of the current
financial year is LS33 Billion.
Prof. Mohamed Hashim Awad, an Economics Lecturer at the University of
Khartoum and an ex-Minister of Trade and Co-operatives, has also
published an article in one of the government-controlled newspapers in
which he outlined the following facts:
- Sudan's income during the 80's used to be US$1,350 million; $500m as
proceedings of exports and $850m as foreign aid from friendly
countries
and regional and international organisations.
- At present, 10% of the population control 60% of the national income
while the bottom 40% have a share of only 8% of the national income.
- Prices has increased by 1725% since 1975.
- The Sudanese currency has been devalued by 8778% in the past four
years.
The official rate of exchange in June 1989 was 1 US$ = LS4.5. The
current rate of exchange is 1 US$ = LS530.
Since all foreign aid has stopped due to the international isolation of
the Sudanese regime, and the deterioration of its exports' income, the
government has lately resorted to implementing many taxes and fees on
Sudanese working abroad. From April 1994, every Sudanese working abroad
would have to transfer through the official channels, part of his
earnings. The amount to be transferred annually varies from $300 to
$1,000 according to salary. A similar amount is also charged as tax. It
has also been reported recently that the University of Khartoum will
require students whose parents are working abroad to pay tuition fees of
$1,500 to $3,000 per annum in US dollars.
* THE ARTICLE THAT CAUSED THE CLOSURE OF AL-SUDANI INTERNATIONAL
The following is a translation of one of the articles written by
Mohamed Taha Mohamed Ahmed, an NIF supporter, in Al-Sudani
International, the first independent newspaper in Sudan since June 1989.
The series of articles written by Mohamed Taha criticized state
corruption which angered the authorities and resulted in the closure of
the newspaper and the detention of its editors. Asim (the son of Hassan
Turabi, NIF leader and the power behind the regime) has physically
attacked and fired two shots on Taha from his pistol. This article is
written in response to the comments made by Ali Osman Taha, the second
man in the NIF hierarchy and Minister of Social Planning, on the issue
of corruption. Ali Taha said that he considers corruption as a normal
behaviour and does not worry him. His Ministry is at present conducting
a comparative study of corruption under the present and previous
governments.
Mohamed Taha Mohamed Ahmed writes in al-Ray (opinion) page in Al-Sudani
al-Dawlia (Reproduced in Al-Khalij, 8/4/94):
"When Mr Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, the former leader of opposition in
parliament, resurfaced as an executive and became Minister for Social
Planning, his appearance did not mean a reduction in the prestige of
the Salvation [Revolution] which rejected sectarianism and declared its
nationalistic credentials. The leader of the opposition did not
participate in any of Sadiq al-Mahdi's governments even during the
coalition with the NIF. For the masses, the man represented its present
struggle and its future hopes, because he was part of them. The son of
a simple soldier who spent his childhood and youth in the poor
districts. A man like him is always close to the hearts and minds of
the masses. This enchantment continues even after those leaders forget
their origins.
Ali Osman Mohamed Taha gained popular trust very early in his life not
because of any special qualities or ingenuity that set him apart from
other Islamiscists, but because the Islamic movement has promoted him
with its media, writers and propaganda. Brilliance in the Islamic
movement does not belong to individuals no matter what they claim or
think, but it is the talent of the Islamic movement as a whole in its
collective thinking, activity, and Jihad. Any individual who try to
promote himself without recognising these facts will get no where and
only collective action will guarantee the survival of the Islamic
movement. We are reiterating the basics to safeguard the cornerstones
that, in order to protect, several were martyred. The Islamic movement
in Sudan today is half a century old; older than most of its current
leaders. Ali Osman Mohamed Taha was the Islamicist candidate in Burri
for the People's Assembly under Nimieri. He was supported by the
Islamicists; students, youth and elders. He was again promoted by the
Islamic movement to become the leader of opposition in 1986 after the
election. Sadiq al-Mahdi considered him to be too young but we were
proud of his enthusiastic youth.
The youth in the NIF were the ones who nominated him for leadership. He
managed to win over more experienced elders such as Ahmed Abdel Rahman,
Mahdi Ibrahim and Ibrahim Ahmed Omer. Above all this, the youth of the
NIF nominated him to the position of the Deputy Leader at the time when
Dr. Hassan Turabi wanted to keep the issue of his deputy unresolved.
We reiterate all this because of Mr Ali Osman Mohamed Taha statement in
al-Multaga magazine, in which he described the criticism of the papers
for the revolution as superficial. He seems to be more concerned about
the revolution when people are calling for the protection of public
money to prevent it from being wasted. People said the revolution knows
the sacred nature of Sudanese wealth when it executed currency dealers.
But not long after that, currency dealers were arrested for one day
only and among them there were the chosen ones. One of them was arrested
for only one hour because he is the son of a leading figure [this is a
reference to Asim Hassan Turabi]. This led to people in the streets
making fun of the whole issue.
All people should be equal in front of the law. You should remember the
story of Omer Ibn al-Khatab with the son of Omer ibn al-As, his governor
in Egypt when he used the power of his father to beat a commoner.
The internal front is strengthened by the rule of law and its supremacy
over the leaders and their sons.
We are saying this despite those who advise us to criticize privately
and behind the scenes, or those who will accuse us of giving the enemy
something to smear the revolution. We say it because there is nothing
more dangerous for the revolution than those who corrupt from within.
There should be no whispering, everything should be said publicly. Mr
Ali Osman Mohamed Taha knows more than any one else that poverty is
much obvious under this regime and people are tolerating the situation
and giving the Islamic program, which is being targeted by the arrogant
world, a chance, but their patience and tolerance is not going to last
if we allow the wealth of the Moslems to be squandered or stolen. Look
at what is happening in Kordofan. Burning will continue because millions
are being squandered. Questions should be asked about several sums and
incidents and the regional government should be investigated."
* SUDANESE AMBASSADOR IN MOGADISHU KIDNAPPED
The Sudanese Ambassador to Somalia, Abdel Bagi Mohmed Hassan, was
kidnapped in Mogadishu last week. The kidnappers who belong to the
Hawadla tribe, demanded that an amount of US$103,000 be returned to
them before they release the Ambassador. They claim that this money has
been confiscated by the Sudanese security from a Somali activist who was
passing through Khartoum, and was detained for three months.
* THREE KILLED IN RIOTS IN CENTRAL REGION
At least three people are reported killed in clashes between
demonstrators and police and security forces in Wad Medani in central
Sudan on 19 and 20 April 1994. The riots were sparked as a result of
acute shortages in essential commodities such as bread and petrol. The
demonstrators burnt one of the Islamic banks in the city. The
authorities have ordered the closure of the University of Gezira and
all schools in the region.
*****************************************************************
* 'Sudan News & Views' is an independent (non-partisan, *
* non-governmental) electronic publication based in London *
* working to advocate peace, human rights and humanitarian *
* aid for the Sudan. *
*****************************************************************
Date: Sat, 2 Jul 94 14:26:34 BST
From: Yasin Miheisi <yasin@gn.apc.org>
Message-Id: <9407021326.AA00570@gn.apc.org>
Subject: SNV-1
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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