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======================================================================== S U D A N : N E W S & V I E W S ======================================================================== Issue No 2 19 May 1994 ________________________________________________________________________ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + 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. + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In this issue: * DR. LAM AKOL FORMS A NEW SPLINTER GROUP * GEZIRA UNIVERSITY DISMISSES 29 STUDENTS * RELIGIOUS SECT STAGES A SIT-IN * US-SUDAN RELATIONS * ARSON OR ACCIDENT? * ECONOMIC POINTERS * SHORT NEWS ITEMS ----------------------------------------- * DR. LAM AKOL FORMS A NEW SPLINTER GROUP Lam Akol, who has been sacked by Riak Machar from his post as Foreign Relations Officer in SPLA United, issued a statement in Nairobi in mid- April, in which he attacked his former colleague Riak Machar for lacking seriousness and for staying away from the battle fields 'which made him isolated from his soldiers'. Akol, who belongs to the Shiluk tribe in Upper Nile Province, has returned to his tribal base in Malakal. Many sources has reported that negotiations had taken place in meetings on 15 and 28 April 1994 between Lam's group and the Government of Sudan officials. * GEZIRA UNIVERSITY DISMISSES 29 STUDENTS Twenty nine students has been dismissed by the administration of the Gezira University in Wad Medani in the Central Region of Sudan. The students were accused of participating in the demonstrations that took place in Wad Medani on 19 and 20 April 1994. The Vice Chancellor had also ordered the freezing of activities of the University's Student Union and the confiscation of all its properties. * RELIGIOUS SECT STAGES A SIT-IN It is reported that Sheikh Abu Zeid Mohamed Hamza, a leader of the Islamic sect Ansar al-Sunna al-Muhammadiyya, has been arrested. Followers of the sect are staging a sit-in in a mosque belonging to the sect in District 1 in Al-Thawra borough of Omdurman. The group is demanding the release of their leader and the return of their mosques which were confiscated by the authorities. The Ansar al-Sunna are outspoken critics of the government and its National Islamic Front backers for using Islam as a political tool. Sheikh Abu Zeid, has been arrested in 1993 and was interrogated many times. On 4 February 1994, five armed men attacked the mosque of Ansar al-Sunna during Friday prayers, killing 19 and injuring 26 of the worshippers. This attack was seen by many as a government attempt to intimidate the Ansar al-Sunna and send a threatening message to other opposition groups. * US-SUDAN RELATIONS The Government of Sudan has reiterated its accusations for the US government of human rights violations. Abdel Aziz Shiddu, Sudan's Attorney General and Minister of Justice, said that their accusations are based on a report by Amnesty International.Shiddu, commenting on a statement issued by the US Embassy in Khartoum on 18 April 1994, added 'We know our duties and do not need anybody to advice us. We refuse the US insults both inside and abroad. All talk about human rights violations in Sudan is part of a plot and conspiracy to undermine the present government.' He described the Embassy's statement as political and he questioned the objectives behind issuing such a statement after 5 months since the accusations were first levied by the Sudanese delegation to the UN. A statement by Sudan was distributed to the members of the General Assembly claiming that far greater human rights are violated in the USA, Israel and the UK than in Sudan. Diplomatic sources in Khartoum had indicated that the Embassy's statement was a response to remarks made by Lt. Gen. Al-Bashir in an interview to Al-Multaga Magazine. Al-Bashir said that the human rights situation in Sudan is far better than in the USA, Israel or the UK. The magazine published a table comparing human rights violations in these countries and Sudan. The magazine claimed that the data is obtained from a report by Amnesty International. In its statement, which was widely circulated in Khartoum, the US Embassy said that the document is not produced by Amnesty International, as claimed by the Sudanese authorities, but most probably prepared by the government of Sudan itself. Amnesty International has issued a statement on 7 December 1993, one day after the controversial document was presented by the Sudanese delegation to the General Assembly, denying any involvement or responsibility in the preparation of this document. The Embassy's statement also described the many occasions where the human rights record of the government of Sudan has been criticized. It referred to Amnesty International reports on 19 February 93 and 29 September 93,the UN General Assembly voting to condemn Sudan for its abuses of human rights on 6 December 1993 and the resolution adopted by the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva in March 1994. The Embassy's statement ended by saying 'We restate the fact that the human rights record of the Government of Sudan is very sad indeed' On another level, the annual US States Department's report accused Sudan of providing sanctuary to international terrorist organisations and having worrying relations with wide ranging fanatical groups through the National Islamic Front which controls the regime. The report also maintains that Sudan is a convenient meeting point and transit for groups supported by Iran and that the current Iranian Ambassador to Khartoum has participated in the occupation of the American Embassy in Tehran and was responsible for Iranian efforts to develop Hizbullah in Lebanon when he was a leading diplomat there. The report went on to say that despite the absence of clear evidence linking the Sudanese government to any terrorist attack around the world, but five of the fifteen being tried for the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York are Sudanese. The report also stated that Khartoum has increased its hostility towards the US. The report cited an example of a Sudanese journalist who called, in a Khartoum mosque, for the slaying ofthe American ambassador in Khartoum. * ARSON OR ACCIDENT? A huge fire has engulfed the building of the Sudanese Central bank (Bank of Sudan), on Friday 29 April 1994. Witnesses claimed that the fire destroyed everything apart from some reinforced safes which contained currency and some documents. It is worth mentioning that this is the fourth major fire on economic establishments during the last few weeks. The government issued a statement claiming that the fire was caused by an electric fault and that currency and documents were not harmed, while the Opposition claimed that the fire was a deliberate act of sabotage by the government to destroy evidence which links NIF supporters with corruption and misappropriation of funds. * ECONOMIC POINTERS Figures released by the Minister of Finance in Sudan for the economic performance during the first half of the current financial year (June 93 -July 94) show the following: [] The actual implementation as a percentage of the original plan is as follows: Development projects 7.8% Higher education 11% Petroleum exploration 6.4% Industrial development 0% [] Total earnings from exports for the 6 months is US$147m. [] There is a sharp drop in agricultural output e.g.: Cotton (the main cash crop) production is 25% of the average production in previous years. Grains 62% Peanuts 57% Sesame 70% of average in previous years. [] Total petroleum imports for 6 months is US$252m. [] Local currency budget deficit is 33 billion Sudanese Pounds. * SHORT NEWS ITEMS: - The only remaining elephant in Khartoum Zoo had died in mid-March 1994. The cause of death was reported by the zoo vet as due to starvation and dehydration. - The government-backed Sudanese Union of Students has announced the death of ten of its members who are university students during the recent fighting in the South.The ten students are members of the Popular Defence Forces (a government militia) which was attacking SPLA forces near Nimoli. - The authorities in Eden, South Yemen, have accused Sudan of involvement in the current civil war in Yemen. Sudan is accused of supplying arms and fighters to the dominantly Islamic fundamentalist North Yemen. The claim was denied by the Sudanese government. - The Arabic weekly Alwasat (published by Al-Hayat in London) published, in its issue of Monday 9 May 1994, a long article about the situation in Sudan which included interviews with government ministers and ordinary citizens. The article which is titled 'Save Us From The Salvation' discussed the economic situation and carried detailed comparisons of wages and the cost of living. A full translation of the article is available with 'Sudan: News & Views' and can be sent by e- mail (free of charge) to anyone who isinterested. ***************************************************************** * '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 14:28:10 BST From: Yasin Miheisi <yasin@gn.apc.org> Message-Id: <9407021328.AA00608@gn.apc.org> Subject: SNV-2
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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