EDITORIAL

THE NDA LEADERSHIP ACCEPTS EGYPTIAN LIBYAN INITIATIVE

 

Mr Mohammed Osman El Mirghani, Chairman of the National Democratic Alliance, has reaffirmed the approval of the NDA of the recent proposals put forward by the governments of Egypt and Libya, to help solve the Sudanese crisis. He stated that the NDA considers this step as a serious development which merits the support of all forces fighting for a new Sudan. At the same time, the NDA leader has indicated that he and his colleagues will study deeply the proposals and will present their remarks to the representatives of the two governments.

 

It is worthmentioning that the NIF government has also declared its acceptance of the joint initiative.

 

However, it needs to be seen how serious the NIF government is in responding to this last initiative. In the recent past the same government had declared its acceptance of an Eritrean peace initiative, but has taken all steps to torpedoe efforts to achieve a genuine solution to the Sudanese crisis.

 

The new initative stands a better chance, since it comes at a time when all efforts are being pooled to reach a comprehensive peaceful solution to the Sudanese crisis. To achieve that end, the NIF government must indicate its good will by releasing all political prisoners and detainees – including the seven members of the Secretariat of the NDA inside the country – abolish all repressive laws, suspend its constitution and stop forced recruitment of students into the army.

 

These steps – among others – will help to create a conducive atmosphere for talks that can tackle the most serious issues facing the Sudanese people.

 

An agreement on the issues to be discussed is of utmost importance. These should include issues to halt the civil war, separation of religion from politics, rule of law and peaceful transfer of power, new constitution, right to self-determination and recognition of pluralism.

 

While these talks can start between the NDA and the NIF, the NDA and the Sudanese people should continue their struggle to achieve their daily demands. As the pressure exerted by the masses on the NIF will be decisive in helping the talks to reach their end. In other words, while we welcome the talks, we welcome at the same time the

calls to increase all efforts to support the struggle of the mass movement inside the Sudan against the repressive policies of the NIF. The mass uprising is the most important weapon in the hands of the Sudanese people to achieve their goals. The projected talks do not exclude peaceful mass actions. And as such the Intifada remains as a viable option. The consolidation of the struggle of the working people for their rights will strengthen the hands of the representatives of the NDA in the talks and will show the whole world that the Sudanese people under the leadership of the NDA are serious to rid the Sudan once and for all from the vicious circle: the deep crisis that has engulfed it since independence.

 

On the other hand, we should continue our struggle to strengthen the unity of the NDA and try at all costs to propagate its programme among the Sudanese people. Further actions are needed in the diplomatic front to isolate the NIF government and unmask its violation of human rights.

 

All these efforts will strengthen the preparedness and alertness of the Sudanese masses, and at the same time open the way for friends to help to bring the goals of our people much nearer.    

 

 

 

UN CONFERENCE ON THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES,

Brussels, May 14-20, 2001

 

From 14 to 20 May 2001, Brussels hosted the third UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries. The Conference drew up a “Programme of Action for the Fast Development of LDCs and Their Gradual Integration to the Global Economy”.

 

Five thousand participants attended the Conference. The World Bank and the IMF organized a special session devoted to financing growth and development in LDCs. A follow-up to the Conference is already planned since its activities will be integrated in the preparation of another specific Conference on Development Funding to be held in 2002. The ILO organized an important seminar on the subject of human resources. For its part, UNCTAD played a leading role as it organized five different sessions on the following themes:

-                     good management of public affairs;

-                     peace and social stability;

-                     transport;

-                     the role of investment and business development;

-                     the digital economy and IT, and intellectual property rights with special reference to the world of music.

 

A new aspect of the Conference was the participation of the civic society. Broad and representative delegations represented trade unions and municipalities. The trade union delegations actively lobbied the delegates to introduce trade union priorities into the work of the Conference and into the Programme of Action. The representatives of 300 municipalities attended the meeting and discussed cooperation between towns in the North and South. About 600 NGOs (including 250 from the LDCs) held a forum from May 10-12, 2001, and contributed to the debates throughout the Conference.

 

Sceptics from various spheres are disappointed by the failure of the international community to implement other key measures such as the programme of action against greenhouse effect. But the Brussels Conference at least offered an opportunity to draw attention to the plight of the LDCs and mobilized the public opinion on a global scale. The Brussels Conference – because of its participants – constituted a genuine opportunity to help solve the problems of the LDCs by setting up effective mechanisms to eradicate poverty through sustainable development based on respect for human and social rights.

 

The Conference highlighted the fact that the situation of LDCs has not improved since the previous conference in 1990. Only one State, Botswana, the new “diamond eldorado” has been able to leave the “LDC Club” while seven others have joined it in the meantime. Nor is the Club likely to lose more members in the foreseeable future. At most, according to UNCTAD only 8 of 48 countries currently classed LDCs will be able to move up into a higher league within the next 50 years if their growth rate remains at the present level.

 

Even more seriously, LDCs are at risk of becoming increasingly marginalized. Their tiny share in international trade may shrink even more, notably as a result of the digital divide which in turn aggravates disparities in productivity. While the LDCs represent 10% of the world population, they account fore less than 0.1% of Internet users. At the same time, they are facing a constant decrease in publicly funded development aid, their main source of foreign receipts. This factor has been a major contributory cause to the significant drop in real terms in per capita GDP in 22 LDCs between 1990 and 1998. The combined efforts of different elements such as recession, social tensions and political instability threaten to create a vicious circle from which LDCs will find it difficult to extricate themselves, note UNCTAD in Last Year’s Report on LDCs.

 

While publicly funded development aid dwindled, the debt burden increased from USD 21 to 150 billion between 1990 and 1998, which made it imperative to develop the initiative to ease the debt burden of Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC). This initiative, however, must be improved, particularly for the benefit of countries that respect human and trade union rights, insisted the representatives of the trade unions in Brussels Conference which are advocating a framework to ensure more responsibility and accountability. Such a framework would include provisions to promote workers’ rights and to allocate the resources freed through debt cancellation to social welfare sector preferentially.

 

In short, to the majority of the people in the South it is out of question to finance debt reductions by siphoning off funds from development aid which in fact should increase to 0.7% of industrialized GNP. The gap between the pressing needs of LDCs and the puny means deployed to meet them may well persist for some time to come. But by confronting the institutions that profess to promote the development of LDCs with their responsibilities and the balance sheet of their policies, world public opinion and progressive organizations can make them pay a higher political price for any failure to act. Beyond ‘a priori’ disillusionment and forgone conclusions, the Conference offered, in addition to a platform from which to voice peoples’ concern, a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences and learn from “success stories” in other countries.

 

 

 

 

LDC:

Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Fasso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo-Kinshasa, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Republic of Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maledives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanman, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia

 

 

QATAR, AN UNPOPULAR VENUE

 

The choice of Qatar by WTO for its summit is very indicative. It increases doubts about possible reforms in WTO or its openess. Qatar is country where freedoms and democratic rights are non-existent. While WTO claims that it wants more transparency and a more democratic debate with its own structures, the choice of  a country, which is ruled by an absolute monarchy, has no constitution, and where political parties and civil organizations are banned, has caused considerable dismay in international public opinion.

 

Many observers have expressed their concern over the holding of the summit in Qatar, a step which looks like an effort to avoid noisy demonstrations and mass participation by the NGOs. The WTO should be striving to build the global economy on foundations of respect for human rights – not hiding behind governments that systematically violate those rights.

 

As regards workers' rights, while Qatar is less catastrophic than say Saudi Arabia, still the situation is far from normal. In Qatar trade unions are illegal, collective bargaining is prohibited and strike actions are very rare.

 

On the other hand, holding the WTO summit in a country like Qatar will not enhance efforts for reforming WTO to incorporate social, labour, gender, environment and democratic factors. International Non-Governmental Organizations which are committed to achieve economic and social development also believe on the need to change WTO rules in order to improve the prospects for development of developing countries. The evidence shows that the prospects for development are much improved if governments respect the core labour standards which include freedom of association, non-discrimination, prohibition of child labour, and no forced labour. There is also strong  moral argument for the respect of core labour standards since they represent basic human rights. And as they are ILO stnadards which are designed carefully in order to be applicable in all countries, whether rich or poor, there is no excuse for any government with the WTO to pretend that they do not have the resources to respect the core labour standards.

 

 

 

 

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN SUDAN ARE INCREASING

 

UN Representative Accuses the NIF Government

Human rights violations are increasing in the Sudan, with abductions, arbitrary arrests, and the forced displacement of people; a daily reality in the African largest country, a United Nations official stated.

 

«There is a bad climate in Sudan as far as human rights are concerned» said Gerhardt Baum, the special rapporteur on human rights in the Sudan. «The situation now is worse than one year before», he said.

 

Baum who has held this post for six months, came to Britain to press the case for greater European Union involvement in ending the 18 years-old civil war in the Sudan.

 

He held talks with human rights groups and archbishop of Canterbury, Mr George Carey.

 

Already the war has left an estimated 2 million people dead, primarily through war – induced famine and 3 million more uprooted. It has also been blamed for a host of human rights violations, including child soldiers and forced recruitment by the government of young students. 

 

Human rights groups believe that oil revenue controlled by the Islamic government of Sudan is funding its war. «It is a fact that oil is fueling the war», said Baum, adding that the war is often falsely portrayed as a religious war. «It is not a religious war. Religion is misused», he said. «It is a power struggle.»

 

Many of the human rights violations in Sudan are being committed under the cover of war; the NIF government, when tries to explain the violations, answers: «we are at war.» For example, a State emergency has been declared, allowing the government to rule through provisional acts. Also the security forces operate without any control or restraint.

«It is an extremely dangerous situation for many, many people», Baum said.

 

 

New Repressive Measures

Since President Al-Bashir came to power in 1989, the work of human rights defenders has been severely curtailed. Those suspected of opposing the government, including lawyers, journalists, trade unionists and human rights activists have frequently been detained incommunicado, tortured or harassed. Those who oppose the government of the NIF remain at risk of illegal secret detention and torture or ill treatment. Under the National Security Act and Law against Terrorism, the security forces can keep people in detention for up to 63 hours before they are charged. The act was amended in December 2000, and detainees right to challenge detentions of less than 93 days through the courts was removed. At the discretion of the authorities, this period can be renewed for a further three months. This means in fact that detainees can be held for an indefinite period of time without charge. 

 

 

World Organization Against Torture Addresses Sudanese President

The Secretariat of the World Organization Against Torture sent a letter to the Sudanese President in which it expressed its concern over the detention and interrogation of Ms Mahasin Abd Aal, Ms Niemat Kokor, Ms Umeima Almardi and Dr Atta Al Batthani. All four were arrested while participating in a workshop at the Gender Centre in Khartoum on 23^rd June 2001. The letter stated that the detention «forms a pattern of systematic repression against defenders of human rights of women». The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which Sudan is a party contains several provisions which guarantee equality between sexes and prohibit discrimination based on gender. Article 9 of ICCPR provides the right for the freedom of the individual that «no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention». The World Organization Against Torture demanded respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Sudan.

 

 

Detention of NDA Leaders

For the second time, the security forces have detained the Secretariat of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) inside the Sudan. The seven members were first detained while attending a meeting with a US diplomat on 6^th December last year. Again the members of the NDA Secretariat were rearrested  in the evening of 10^th of May 2001. It is expected that the NDA representatives will be put on a trial accused of inciting popular uprising, disrupting national security and supporting the SPLA.

 

We appeal to those involved in the struggle for democracy and protection of human rights to raise their voices and demand that the National Islamic Front government free the NDA leaders. Please, write to the nearest Sudanese Embassy to demand their physical and psychic safety.

 

 

 

DAR FUR – THE FORGOTTEN WAR

 

Since the beginning of summer, there has been a flow of news and commentaries in the newspapers about the deterioration of living conditions and security situation in all three districts of Greater Dar Fur Province. The first week of April this year witnessed introduction of emergency laws and arrival of special troops instructed to surround and deal with the armed robbery groups.

 

Almaidan, the Sudanese Communist Party's organ, confirms that such developments have occurred and it is expected that the repression will increase throughout this summer. It is quite probable that this development might stop for a while during autumn, but will start again by the beginning of the dry seasons and reach its climax in summer.

 

Factors which led to this catastrophic situation in Greater Dar Fur Province can be summarized in the following five points:

1)                  Desertification and scarcity of rain in pasture areas. People with their cattle herds have to move southwards around the pasture belt seeking water and expecting rains.

2)                  The Libyan role in the Chadi-Chadi war had opened the door wide for the introduction and spread of modern arms, use of lorries as launching sites, etc., etc.

3)                  Dar Fur is considered a safe area by the Chadi opposition, where it can retreat in order to reorganize its ranks and plan launching attacks against Ngamena. Those who were in power like Jockoni, Habry, Dabi, etc. fly to Dar Fur seeking protection and support. Likewise, all Chadi tribes ask for support from the sister tribes in Dar Fur or render their support to those sister tribes in their fight against other tribes.

4)                  The intervention of the NIF regime in the social and tribal structure, ruining and cutting it into pieces through the division of the province into number of districts and appointing governors to impose the Islamic Front doctrine, to exert and strengthen its control over the area, has resulted in the further deterioration of the situation.

5)                  The traditional attempts for reconciliation and restoration of peace between the different tribes have lost their effectiveness due to the fact that the size of conflict has gone beyond the fight between one tribe and another for water and pasture. It turned out to be a fight between the many different tribes. It became a tough fight for life and existence.

 

So, Jabal Marah, where there is an abundance of water and pasture, has become a hot area of conflicts and fights among the Fur tribes. The belt of rains moving southwards had led to the danger of the intermixture of the tribal conflicts with the civil war in the South.

 

The outcome of the policies and practices of the so-called «NIF» in Dar Fur has resulted in phenomenon of armed robberies and tribal conflicts which take a shape of planned military attacks. The Chadi opposition and other groups which are considered to be pro-Libyan have taken part in those attacks against the Fur villages. More than 500 fighters armed with moder machine guns took part in these attacks agains the Fur population. The result was that more than 70 villages  had burnt, 400 persons had been killed, among them women and children, property had been plundered, shops robbed, etc.

 

The Sudanese Communist Party organ in Dar Fur had issued a statement about the famine there and the situation in general. It revealed in figures and percentage the facts about the dangerous situation both in Dar Fur cities and villages.

 

The statement appealed to the Sudanese people inside and outside the country to send their financial and material contributions and support to the province people. The statement also appealed and called upon the international organizations and relief agencies to continue their help. The statement demanded that the authorities should undertake measures to restore security and render protection to the citizen and facilitate provision of aid and support to these areas of conflict in Dar Fur.

 

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY

 

Solidarity with the NDA

Fourty-three Workers, Socialist and Communist Parties have signed a statement demanding the immediate release of the NDA Secretariat inside the country.

 

The NDA Secretariat was arrested after they met with a US diplomat. They were accused of plotting to overthrow the regime.

 

Furthermore, the statement demanded the restoration of democratic rights and liberties and respect to human rights in Sudan. The statement was addressed to the NIF government last December.

 

 

AKEL's Congress

On the invitation of the Central Committee of AKEL, a representative of the Sudanese Communist Party attended the 19^th Congress of the Progressive Party of the Working People of Cyprus (AKEL), held in Nicosia in December 2000. The 19^th Congress was attended by over 50 parties from all over the world.

 

During the Congress a meeting of Workers, Communist and Socialist Parties was held. The one-day meeting was devoted to the discussion on «The Necessity and Means to Organize to Face the New Order and the Globalization of the Economy».

 

The Congress has elected a new Central Committee. Comrade Demetris Christofios was reelected General Secretary.

 

 

16^th Congress of the Greek Communist Party

Over 80 Communist, Socialist and Workers Parties attended the 16^th Congress of the Greek Communist Party. Among those who observed the deliberations of the Congress was a representative of our Party.

 

It is worthmentioning that a meeting of 14 parties from the Middle East and Southern Europe took place and discussed the following topic: «The Developments in Our Region and Our Tasks».

 

Both Congresses of AKEL and the Greek Communist Party were a useful opportunity for our Party to strengthen its relation with a number of fraternal parties and compare experience and exchange opinions on issues of mutual interest.

 

We avail ourselves of this opportunity to once more thank the two fraternal parties, AKEL and the Greek Communist Party, for their hospitality, warm welcome and solidarity as well as wish the two parties every  success in their struggle.

 

 

Messages to Fraternal Parties

During the past period, the Committee for International Relations of the Sudanese Communist Party sent letters of greetings to a number of friendly parties.

 

·                    On the occasion of the 9th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Committee has sent a letter coveying its best wishes for the success of the Congress.

 

·                    A letter was addressed to the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia on the occasion of the 80^th anniversary of the establishment of the Czechoslovak Communist Party.

 

·                    A letter of greetings was sent to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the USA on the occasion of its 27^th National Congress.

 

·                    We have observed the 80^th anniversary of the foundation of the Chinese Communist Party by sending a letter of congratulations to its Central Committee wishing the Party and the people of China every success in their struggle.

 

 

 

 

 

DR. ABD AL WAHAB SINADA IS NO MORE

 

A solemn session was organized by Sudanese Communist Party branch in the Czech Republic to pay tribute to the memory of the outstanding communist, Dr. Sinada.

 

The meeting which was attended by dozens of his friends and family was also observed by the Lebanese, Iraqi and Palestinian communists. The World Federation of Trade Unions was broadly represented. The Sudanese community in the Czech Republic attended in large numbers, as well as some of his Czech friends and colleagues.

 

The meeting was addressed by Yasmin, Sinada's eldest daughter, followed by WFTU Secretary General, and Dr. M. Hamour who spoke on behalf of the Sudanese Communist Party branch in the UK and NI. Mr. Mazen El Husseini, a leading Palestinian Marxist and a close friend of the deceased also addressed the meeting. The last speaker was Dr. Fathi El Fadl who spoke both in his capacity as a close friend of Sinada and the family, and on behalf of the Sudanese Communist Party branch in the Czech Republic.