| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
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S U D A N : N E W S & V I E W S
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Issue No 3 29 May 1994
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+ 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. +
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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
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* 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.
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* '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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