A symposium was held by the Sudan Appeal forces in Omdurman on Thursday evening to mark the release of 259 rebel fighters in an amnesty on 9 March.
The symposium at the National Umma Party headquarters in was addressed by the released prisoners, Sudan Appeal forces home and abroad, political parties and civil society organisations.
Sultan Ibrahim Abakar Harshim, who addressed the symposium on behalf of the released prisoners and convicts, thanked the heads of political parties, Sudan Appeal forces, political parties and civil society organisations.
He paid tribute to the fallen, and the sacrifices paid by refugees and displaced persons.
He said “Sudan Appeal is the first step in the path of the Sudanese democratic state that provides for freedom, justice and equality”. He said the released fighters believe in conciliation because Sudan is in need of peace, “provided that it will be just and comprehensive peace that transcends all the ills that caused the country’s deterioration”.
He regarded the release of all political prisoners and convicts as a condition and entrance to the achievement of comprehensive peace process.
El Saihoun
Abdelalim Abdelhay, secretary general of El Saihoun initiative outlined the efforts undertaken by the initiative for the release of prisoners and praised the movements’ response to the initiative by the release of the prisoners.
He said the government’s release of prisoners and convicts is a good omen for the country and an important step to reach a comprehensive settlement to be agreed upon by the people of Sudan.
He announced his refusal of partial solutions that have proved failure, and called on the Sudanese government to take additional steps and that the settlement needs great sacrifices.
NUP
Imam El Sadig El Mahdi, the President of the National Umma Party (NUP) congratulated the released prisoners and convicts and called them to consider the period they have spent in prisons as a tax for the country. He stressed that their struggle has not been in vain.
He called on them to work with all political forces and activists on removing the oppression set up by the regime in the country so as to set the citizens free to express opinion about their homeland’s fate.
Highlight: ‘The Sudan Appeal forces come as a new balance of powers between the centre and the margin avoiding violence to achieve justice, development, democracy and peace in Sudan…’
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‘The Sudan Appeal forces come as a new balance of powers between the centre and the margin avoiding violence to achieve justice, development, democracy and peace in Sudan…’
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He said that the Sudan Appeal forces come as a new balance of powers between the centre and the margin avoiding violence to achieve justice, development, democracy and peace in Sudan.
He said there is no place for any bilateral agreements. He pointed out that the forces of Sudan Appeal have two options to achieve the goals of the nation either through dialogue roadmap or well organised and well and well thought uprising.
Baath Party
Yahya Hussein, the Head of the Sudanese Baath Party congratulated the prisoners and convicts on their release, adding that the political forces and the armed movements’ leaders paid a high price for their quest to bring solution to the political crisis by suffering arrests and torture.
He said that the forces of Sudan Appeal represent a new shift quality of political action in and out of the cocoon of the traditional political action which reflects a new approach aiming to move to a new horizon in Sudan.
He said he is looking forward to the establishment of state of institutions, democracy and citizenship.
He added that the regime has lost the elements of continuity and called for the convening of a constitutional conference for all the people of Sudan so as to reach a Constitution consensus.
Hamid Ali, the Secretary General of the Civil Society initiative called on the government to release all the detainees and prisoners of conscience from different forces.
He explained that the released prisoners have chosen to fight the regime and have paid a high price for that. He accused the government of spending and employing the country’s resources in order to stay in power and demanded directing those resources to build the provinces that suffer from historical injustices.
He said that Sudan is suffering from racism and exclusion and considered that as the main reason for the unrest and bearing of arms.
He stressed that civil society initiative opposes all human rights violations and selling of the nation's resources such as lands.
JEM
Dr Jibril Ibrahim, the head of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) thanked everyone who has contributed to the release of prisoners and convicts and congratulated the released for regaining their freedom.
He considered the decision as a step in the right direction and expressed hope that the decision will contribute to softening the atmosphere and creating a climate for national dialogue which would lead to national reconciliation and a comprehensive and serious negotiations to end the war and lead to peace and sustainability.
However, Jibril considered the release decision as incomplete because it did not include all the prisoners of the Justice and Equality and the other armed movements.
He called on the regime to evacuate all prisons from prisoners, convicts and politicians.
He stressed that Sudan Appeal forces are with a just and comprehensive peace that gives rights and lift grievances from the Sudanese people.
He explained that the way to do that is to stick to a roadmap of the African mechanism and work to implement them without delay.
SLM-MM
Minni Arko Minawi, the faction head of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) accused the government of eliminating a number of prisoners of the movement; which he considered as a crime for which there is no statute of limitations.
Minawi said that this is the first time that the government has released prisoners from his movement.
He called on the political forces to pressure the government to stop the war and pointed out that the movements took up arms in response to the aggression and defence of the land and honour.
He considered asking the movements to give up their arms just like aiming at stripping the oppressed of the weapon and make it in the hands of the oppressor; which means prolonging the war.