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======================================================================== S U D A N : N E W S & V I E W S ======================================================================== Issue No 3 29 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: * THE TNA: VENT, THREAT OR DISSENT? * SENTENCES ON 'EXPLOSIVES TRIAL' * THIRTY MAJOR FIRES IN TWO WEEKS * HUGE INCREASES IN ELECTRICITY TARIFF * FURTHER JOB CUTS IN SUDAN RAILWAYS * DOCTORS AS FOREIGN EXPERTS * SUDAN'S INVOLVEMENT IN YEMEN CIVIL WAR * US-SUDAN RELATIONS * ECONOMIC POINTERS * SHORT NEWS ITEMS -----------------------------------------
* THE TNA: VENT, THREAT OR DISSENT? The Transitional National Assembly (TNA) has 302 members, all of whom are appointed by the President and most of them are either members or sympathizers of the National Islamic Front (NIF), the main force behind the regime. The TNA was created in February 1992, as a show of democracy and liberal policy. Recently an additional 54 members were appointed to the Assembly by Lt. Gen. Omer El-Bashir.They include well-known names of the National Islamic Front (e.g. El-Tayeb El-Nus, Sayed El-Husayni and Yaseen Omer El-Imam). Although the TNA has no legislative or any other powers,it has recently been noted that, some members of the Assembly are beginning to voice criticism and objections to government policy, especially its management of the economy and its foreign policy. Some members were furious of the government's complete disregard for the Assembly's decisions. In April 1994, the TNA objected and refused to approve huge increases in electricity tariffs. Regardless, the government went ahead with the implementation of the increases. The following are examples of the recent debates that took place in the TNA: - Compulsory money transfer for Sudanese working abroad: An amount of $300 for labourers up to $6,000 for businessmen, is to be transferred annually through the official channels. This step was taken because the annual transfer of Sudanese working abroad has dropped from $450m to just $15m. Failure to comply with these new regulations would result in heavy fines. One member in the TNA said that the rate of exchange of 215 Sudanese Pound (SP) to the dollar is plain cheating and is against Islamic Shari'a laws. - Although it was passed by a majority vote, many members objected to certain articles in the new 'Passport, Travel and Nationality' bill. These article included the requirement of the President's approval for issuing new passports. There was also a heated debate on whether adoption is Islamic and whether to issue Sudanese nationality to those whose fathers are unknown. - The Economic Committee of the TNA had presented a report assessing economic performance. The report vigorously criticized the government's handling of the economy and described the economic situation as a complete mess. The report pointed out that the government's wrong policies has led to the activation of the black market, especially in foreign currency, and the reluctance of Sudanese working abroad to transfer their earnings through the official channels and to the sharp drop in exports. The chairman of the meeting has to close the discussion because of the heated debate that followed the presentation of the report. One member said that "this report is a bankruptcy certificate and if we do not trust the people in this committee, we would demand the withdrawal of the report. This report has shattered all our hopes of economic recovery, even in the long run". - The government's foreign policy was also hotly debated. Many members attacked the inflexibility of the foreign policy which resulted in difficult living conditions for most of the population. One member said that "the ordinary citizen should not be obliged to foot the bill of the wrong policies of the government, because now he has to live with higher inflation and higher cost of living". - The TNA debated whether to accept a loan of $10m from Pakistan, because it involves an interest of 7.5% (riba, which is not acceptable under Islamic Shari'a laws). Dr. Isam El-Bashir said "There is a great fault in the government's economic, foreign and information policies. Large amounts of money are lavishly spent in conferences and fancy cars. The government should start by rectifying these faults instead of blaming the international community or crying over the 'civilized project'. For those who demand that the people be patient and bear the hunger and suffering as with our Muslim ancestors during the khilafa of Omer Ibn El-Khatab, I say to them that the model that Ibn El-Khatab portrayed as a leader, can not be compared to our political leaders of today." Dr. El-Tigani Abdel Gadir, a university lecturer, added that "The current economic disaster is the main threat to the Salvation Revolution. The approval of this loan is essential to save the regime from collapse". Dr. Awad El-Jazz, Minister for Presidential Affairs asked the Assembly to approve the loan since the government has already signed the contract despite the knowledge that it contains payment of riba (interest). He said that necessity allows dealing in riba. George Lamor, from Southern Sudan, called upon those who are objecting to the loan on religious grounds to leave aside idealism and be realistic. He said "the beggar cannot force his conditions upon the donors. We should realize that we represent the bottom in International economics.' Hassan El-Beeli, chairman of the Assembly's Legal Committee, said that there is a fatwa (religious decree) in 1973 which allows dealing in riba when necessary. He called for approval of the loan on the basis of this fatwa. Suliman Taha said that the government should not accept any loan with interest and should wait for God's mercy. The matter has been referred to specialized committees for further study. Considering the above cases, the question now is to what extent would the government tolerate such harsh criticism which might lead to dissent?. The answer depends on whether this exercise would be viewed as a harmless venting of the discontent and frustrations felt by the majority of the population or to be seen as a real threat to the stability of the regime. The government's lack of tolerance was clearly illustrated by its harsh reaction to the independent and sympathetic newspaper 'Al-Sudani Al-Dawliyya' and its publisher, Mahgoub Erwa, who is a leading NIF member and also member of the Transitional National Assembly. The paper was closed down and all its editorial staff, including Erwa, were imprisoned for publishing an article accusing leading members of the government and the NIF, including Turabi's son, Isam, with corruption and illegal dealings. What lies ahead for those outspoken members of the TNA remains to be seen. * SENTENCES ON 'EXPLOSIVES TRIAL' A court in Khartoum has, in 1 May 1994, passed sentences on those accused of plotting against the government and of planning a series of bombings and explosions in the capital. The trial has been going for several months following the arrest, on April 1993, of several people accused of planning a bombing campaign in Khartoum. Several members of the 'Legitimate Command' and the Opposition, now living in exile in Egypt, were also implicated and were added to the list. Judge El-Zubair Mohamed Khalil admitted in his summons that some of the accused had been subjected to torture and ill-treatment. He said that they have the right to sue those who tortured them. The sentences passed are as follows: () Ten years imprisonment against ten of the accused. They have been convicted (in absentia since they all live in exile) of waging war against the state and of conspiracy: 1- General (ret.) Fathi Ahmed Ali 2- General (ret.) Abdel Rahman Sa'eed 3- Brigadier El-Hadi Bushra 4- Brigadier Abdel Aziz Khalid 5- El-Sadig Ma'anni 6- Nagheeb El-Khair 7- Mohamed El-Fatih 8- Abdel Azim Sarour 9- Mohamed Osman El-Zubair 10- Abdel Rahman Khogali The judge explained that the reason for not giving them the death sentence is the failure of the prosecution to give the exact date of birth of the accused, since the death sentence would not be passed for those over seventy years of age. () The prison sentences on those who appeared before the court were as follows: 1- Mubarak Jadain 7 years 2- Ga'afer Yaseen 5 years 3- Isam Mohamed 5 years 4- El-Traifi El-Tahir 5 years 5- El-Hassan Ahmed Salih 2 years () The following were acquitted for lack of evidence: 1- El-Tayeb Nur El-dayem 2- Yassir Abu Zaid 3- Imad Mohamed Ahmed Abu Talib 4- Omer Mohamed Ahmed Abu Talib 5- Hayder Abu Alama 6- Taj El-Sir Al-Atta 7- Abu Bakr Kimair 8- Mohamed El-Hassan Haddab 9- Ibrahim Haddab 10- Ahmed Abdel Ra'ouf Karam Alla 11- Mustafa Al-Tay 12- Kamal Omer Ahmed * THIRTY MAJOR FIRES IN TWO WEEKS According to informed sources in the 'Civil Defence Authority' in Khartoum, there were 30 major fires in the Sudanese Capital in just two weeks in April 1994. These included two factories in Khartoum North Industrial Area, two banks, an electric sub-station and many in residential areas. The fires were attributed to carelessness and neglect of proper safety precautions and also to the lack of adequate fire fighting equipment. On the other hand, a committee, with members from the security forces, the police and the Civil Defence, has started investigating the major fire that engulfed the Bank of Sudan on 29 April 94. Reliable sources reported that the committee has ruled out electric fault as the cause and that the act was perpetrated. The fire has completely burnt out important documents including documents related to investigations in the commercial banking system. Also burnt is the Bank's computer, the legal department, the accounts department, internal auditing and the financing department. * HUGE INCREASES IN ELECTRICITY TARIFF The National Electricity Corporation has implemented price increases from the beginning of March 1994, despite the TNA's decision to freeze the new electricity tariff till a more reasonable and affordable tariff is drawn up. Domestic use has been increased by 94%, commercial use by 182% and industrial use by 233%. An ordinary household would now pay a monthly electricity bill of more than 6,000 SP. It is worth mentioning that this is the seventh increase in the last five years. The total percent increase since Jan. 1990 is 7436%. * FURTHER JOB CUTS IN SUDAN RAILWAYS Sudan Railways has decided further job cuts. 1,500 workers will be laid off during the month of June 1994. This will bring the total of those dismissed in the last two years to 15,500 or 51% of the total work force of Sudan Railways. * DOCTORS AS FOREIGN EXPERTS The Sudanese government has called upon all Sudanese Doctors working abroad to return and were promised to be treated as foreign experts. On the other hand, The Sudanese Medical Council had decided to abolish 'Hippocratic Oath' which all doctors are sworn in before they are allowed to practice medicine. The oath will be replaced by a new one said to be compatible with Islamic Shari'a. * SUDAN'S INVOLVEMENT IN YEMEN CIVIL WAR A senior South Yemeni official has, on 11 May 1994, reiterated their claim that Sudanese and Iraqi soldiers are involved in the civil war between North and South Yemen. He said, in an interview to the MBC TV in London, that Sudan allows North Yemen to use its military airports to attack South Yemen. Radio Eden has also repeated the same allegations, while Eden television interviewed a Sudanese Prisoner of War who admitted working for the Sudanese Security forces. He also claimed that Dr. Hassan El-Turabi, the leader of the National Islamic Front, has visited Sana'a secretly many times before the start of the fighting. It is also reported that more than 75,000 Sudanese working in Yemen are now being evacuated by sea. Some had already fled the country to Djibouti. * US-SUDAN RELATIONS It has been reported that the British tycoon, Tiny Roland, acting on a request by the Sudanese government, has started a series of contacts and negotiations with the American administration and with some members of the US Congress to try and bridge the gap between the US and the Sudan. Although it has been arranged for Dr. Ali El-Haj to come to the States in the first week of May to meet with officials in the Clinton administration and with some Congressmen, the visit was suddenly called off. It has been assumed that some groups within the administration were not happy with this arrangement and had applied pressure to cancel the visit. * ECONOMIC POINTERS [] In the last four months, the total income from exports is only $45m. [] The results of a survey, conducted by the 'Industrial General Administration' in the national capital, has shown a marked deterioration in industrial output in the Province. The survey showed that more than 70% of factories are now completely shut down while the rest are operating at less than 20% of their capacity. The reasons are lack of raw materials, fuel shortages and high taxation. [] A recent study by the government's 'Central Statistics Department' has revealed that 85% of the population are now living below the poverty line. * SHORT NEWS ITEMS - The administration of the Gezira University in Wad Medani has ordered the dismissal of another ten students in addition to the 29 students dismissed last month for their alleged participation in demonstrations. - Despite the failure of agricultural production this year and the many warnings from the UN agencies of a looming famine, it has been officially reported that 21,000 tons of dhura has been exported by Sudan during the period December 1993 to April 1994. - The total number of clerical and professional employees dismissed from their jobs in the last five years is 31,543, according to the 'Pensions Department'. The breakdown of this figure, which does not include labourers (both skilled and non-skilled), is as follows: 1989 3,415 1990 4,238 1991 4,591 1992 7,706 1993 11,593 - Amnesty International has issued an Urgent Action on behalf of three prisoners of conscience: Mahjoub Sherif (poet), Salah al-A'alim (trade unionist) and Bushra Abdel-Karim (lawyer) who were reportedly arrested in Khartoum on or around 11 May 1994. It is not known why they have been detained or where they are being held. ***************************************************************** * '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 14:30:29 BST From: Yasin Miheisi <yasin@gn.apc.org> Message-Id: <9407021330.AA00723@gn.apc.org> Subject: SNV-3
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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