The National Democratic Alliance Meeting of the Leadership Council FINAL COMMUNIQUE
The Leadership Council (LC) of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the highest instance of the NDA after the Congress, convened an important meeting at Asmara between 12 to 15 January 1996, to review the activities of the NDA since the Conference on Fundamental Is sues and the historic resolutions that emanated from it, and to map out an action-plan for the ensuing phase. The meeting was attended by all members of the LC and Executive Bureau. Present also was Elamin Mohamed Saeed, Secretary of the Popular Front for Democracy and Justice, some NDA leaders and Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim who attended all meetings as an observer representing Sudanese women. After the completion of the signature of the Asmara documents by all Forces of the NDA and national personalities, Moulana Elsayed Mohamed Osman Elmirghani, President of the NDA, opened the meeting with a note of appreciation of the strnng support given by the Eritrean people and leadership to the people of Sudan in their struggle for the restoration of freedom, peace and democracy. He congratualted the Sudanese people on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Sudan's Independence, and prayed that this occasion be a source of inspiration to our people to galvanize their efforts, intensify their struggle, and consolidate political and military action to uproot the NIF heinous regime, and build, on its remnants, a New Sudan.
Sayed Elamin Mohamed Saeed addressed the meeting both on behalf of the Popular Front and President Assias Afwerki, emphasizing Eritrea's solidarity with the struggle of the people of Sudan, and its readiness to selflessly double its support to the NDA and all people of Sudan, without interference in their internal affairs. Sayed Elamin pointed out that the peoples of the Region look forward to a New Sudan free from suppress ion, and capable of playing its destined role in providing stability and prosperity to the Horn of Africa and its peoples.
On the other hand Dr John Garang de Niabior, Chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLM/A), affirmed in his address to the meeting, the commitment of SPLM/A, as an integral part of NDA, to the unity of the Sudan, a unity based on justice, equality and liberation from all the legacies of the past, which led our country to the brink of collapse. He also indicated that the right of self determination does not necessarily mean separation, provided that the conditions for the establishment of a just unity he pointed out are met in the manner enshrined in resolutions of the Asmara Conference on Fundamental Issues. Dr Garang also manitained that the congruence of internal, regional and international conditions indicate that the MF is a spent force. However, he went on to say that this is not sufficient by itself to bring the collapse of the decaying, but not yet defunct, NIF regime. The overthrow of the regime, he said, requires the convergence of political action by the masses and popular armed struggle, both in the North and South. He added that the fall of the regime, this time, shall mean an immediate end to the war so that the NDA can proceed forthwith with the implenientation of the Asmara resolutions. On the military situation, Dr Garang informed the meeting that the SPLA has regained the initiative in battle and is determined to maintain that initiative. He also briefed the meeting on the NIF crimes with respect to child conscription, and the engagement of those children in the chicket of war without any military training or preparation.
The meeting then lent its ears to a report from the NDA Secretarv General, Sayed Niubarak Elmahdi, which touched on both internal and external conditions which converged to deepen the crisis of the regime. The Secretary General paid a special tribute to the students September Uprising and enumerated the lessons drawn from that Uprising. He also paid tribute to the SPLA in their victories since October 1995.Among those lessons is the realization of that people are able to transcend the threshold of fear that the regime is not invincible. its vulnerablility was demonstrated by its use of excessive force against unarmed young students. However, the Secretary General added that this impels the NDA to ensure armed protection to the masses in their struggle against the NIF repressive regime.
General Fathi Ahmed Ali, NDA Vice President, Chairman of the High Politico-Military Committee, enlightened the meeting on military arrangements. In his report, General Ali concluded that the repressive Turabi/al-Bashir regime has imposed on the people of Sudan, as well as NDA forces, resort to force. The NrF regime alone is, therefore, fully responsible for that option. To achieve that option, General Fathi delineated a unified strategy, including all forms of military action, to be implemented in stages with a view to overthrow the NIF regime.
In addition to Secretary-General, the LC received several reports from members of the Executive Bureau. This included a report from Ustaz Farouq Abu Eissa on the draft transitional constitution, and the draft laws aimed at bringing to justice, during the interim period, all those responsible for corruption, economic ruination, and violations of human rights and the dignity of our people. Sayed ElTigani ElTayeb focused in his report on the NDA organizational work abroad, both at the leadership and branch levels, and suggested measures for rectifying shortcornings. Dr Mansour Kilalid reported on the external situation at the regional and international levels, and the efforts exerted to convey the NDA message to the world, with the aim of deepening the regime's isolation and laying down the foundations for international support to the New Sudan's economic agenda. Dr Farouq Ahmed Adam reported on the NDA activities in the field of public information with special reference to the NDA Radio Service which started broadcast since last August. He analyzed critically all shortcomings and suggested the actions needed to improve performance to the satisfaction of all listeners inside and outside the country. Engineer Hashim Mohamed Ahmed reported on the financial affairs of the NDA and the efforts made to mobilize resources from NDA supporters with specific proposals to develop these resources. UMMa Party of Sudan Information Office UK
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Message-Id: <199602010815.DAA25140@orion.sas.upenn.edu> Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 21:17:20 GMT From: "Abdalla F. ElMahdi" <aelmahdi@CYGNET.CO.UK> Subject: NDA Asmara Final communique